Pacific Oaks College

Happy Father's Day. 💚🌿

We recognize the influence of fathers in society—as educators, caregivers, leaders, and role models who nurture not just their own children, but entire communities.

June is also Men's Health Awareness Month—a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't weakness, it's wisdom. Mental health matters. Physical health matters. Asking for help matters. You can't pour from an empty cup, and the people who love you need you healthy, whole, and present. 💚

Rep. Judy Chu hosted her annual Congressional Women of the Year ceremony to recognize women across the San Gabriel Valley for service, leadership, and community impact. The 2026 honorees included women from cities such as Altadena, Arcadia, and Pasadena, highlighting grassroots contributions.

On of the honorees was Pacific Oaks College adjunct professor Gayle Nicholls-Ali. Nicholls-Ali is an arts educator, photographer and advocate for Career Technical Education (CTE) and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA).

“She has inspired students for more than 20 years through photography, graphic arts, and computer science at La Cañada High School and the Armory Center for the Arts. And she has served more than 10 years as an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College”, Chu said.

A Teacher Leader with the Connected Arts Network, she supports educators nationwide and serves in leadership roles across multiple arts organizations. After the Eaton fire, she established the Altadena Photographers and now leads community-based storytelling initiatives, fostering healing, connection, and creative expression.

🔗Read more: Pasadena Star-News, Rep. Judy Chu honors San Gabriel Valley Congressional Women of the Year

Student Spotlight: Claudia Contreras 💚🌿

“What drives me is knowing that my daughter’s story can help save lives and bring hope to others.”

On March 31, 2023, Claudia’s life changed forever when her daughter Desiree lost her life at only 19 years old to a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl. “Losing her opened my eyes to the silent suffering so many young people face every day.” In 2024, Claudia made the decision to return to school and completed her A.A. in Sociology. This gave her the confidence she needed to continue forward and is currently pursuing a degree in Social Work at Pacific Oaks College, interning at L.A. CADA, and working at the nonprofit she founded named Beauty from Ashes, from Loss to Purpose.

“Pacific Oaks taught me that pain can be transformed into purpose. The support, education, and compassion I have experienced have helped me find strength in the middle of grief and given me the confidence to continue moving forward.”

Her story is one of a kind, and she continues to inspire us all. 💚

The Power of Community means bringing the campus experience online. Meet Pacific Oaks Alumnus Stephen Anderson💚🌿

For Stephen, the online offering at Pacific Oaks gave him the flexibility to balance work and personal life with his educational goals. All without compromising a sense of support and belonging that extends far beyond the classroom. 💚

🔗 Read the full story here: https://www.pacificoaks.edu/the-power-of-community/

An education that transcends generations.💚🌳

Vanessa Sanchez-Cabral walked the Pacific Oaks stage twice, when she received her bachelor’s in 2004 and again for her master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2008. Decades later, her love for education and deep-rooted community values would inspire her daughter to follow in her footsteps.

Mikayla Cabral came to Pacific Oaks straight after high school, obtaining her bachelor’s in 2024 and master’s in 2026 (at only 21 years old!).

Breaking barriers to higher education. Inspiring families to pursue their dreams on their own timeline. This is what Pacific Oaks is all about.💚

National Higher Education Day reminds us: education should be accessible to everyone, not just those with privilege. 💚

At Pacific Oaks College, we're committed to breaking down the barriers that keep people out of higher education—whether that's cost, flexibility, representation, or the belief that "college isn't for people like me."

We believe:
🌿 First-generation students belong
🌿 Working parents deserve flexible pathways to their degrees
🌿 Career changers can pursue their purpose at any age
🌿 Education should honor your culture, not erase it
🌿 Higher ed isn't about conforming, it's about becoming more fully yourself

At Pacific Oaks, we believe in your potential and we're committed to making higher education work for you. 💚

At Pacific Oaks, our mission has never been vague. We exist to prepare culturally intelligent agents of change serving diverse communities — and every program, every faculty member, and every support structure we offer reflects that commitment. 🌳

It's the kind of clarity that others are starting to recognize. Pacific Oaks College was recently highlighted in University Business as a model of purpose-driven higher education.

🔗 Read more here: https://universitybusiness.com/many-college-mission-statements-say-everything-and-nothing-at-all/

Happy Global Day of Parents! 🌿💚

Did you know? In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly declared the first-ever Global Day of Parents. Today, we honor the caregivers, nurturers, advocates, and first teachers who shape the next generation.

At Pacific Oaks, we believe parents aren't just supporters of education—they're partners in it. Because you know your children better than anyone. You bring cultural knowledge, lived experience, and deep love that no curriculum can replicate.

Parenting is one of the most important, and most challenging, roles anyone can take on. And today, we celebrate every parent who shows up, loves fiercely, and refuses to give up. 💚🌿