Our faculty — Living what they teach

Wayne Huber
As a trumpet player, recorder soloist, choir member and conductor, many organizations have benefited from Wayne Huber's talents including Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, the National Symphony Orchestra Association, the Ice Capades, the New York Philharmonic Chorus, and the San Francisco Early Music Society. At FPU, Wayne has brought his varied influences and experiences to many ensembles and courses over the years, but most importantly to the students upon whom his humble demeanor and extreme kindness have a profound effect.
Marshall Johnston
With broad training in ancient philology, specialized work on Greek and Roman biography and a recent focus on the Gospels and hagiography, Marshall Johnston's enthusiasm for history is evident in his classes and to his students. His appreciation for lively academic and theological exchange as well as his desire to further his own and students' knowledge and understanding explains his involvement in leading a European study tour, serving on undergraduate academic and general education committees and on the editorial board of Pacific Journal, and even organizing judges for Fresno County History Day which FPU recently hosted.
Roy Klassen
Although Roy Klassen's accomplishments as an operatic performer, international soloist and chorister, and respected clinician and adjudicator for choral competitions earn him accolades and admiration from many, it is his guiding role as mentor, director and professor at FPU for over 30 years that demonstrates his commitment to students and his desire to keep the traditions of choral excellence and musical integrity alive at FPU.
Jo Ellen Misakian
Hand-picked by her predecessor to be program director, Jo Ellen Misakian's passion certainly is the school library profession about which she has written books and numerous journal and newspaper articles and for which she sits on a variety of boards and associations. Because of her experience and servant leadership qualities, she also served as interim dean for the School of Education. Her focus on critical thinking and practical application helps produce students who are lifelong learners and educators who are prepared to embrace the challenge of change.
Cynthia Ovando-Knutson
Having been born in Mexico City, and having grown up in Bogotá and Cali, Colombia, as well as Guadalajara, Mexico, Cynthia Ovando-Knutson brings her own real life experiences to her courses in addition to an abundance of knowledge from many years of formal study. Her added interests in human rights issues and gender studies demonstrate her passion for peace and social justice. Students appreciate her teaching philosophy which steers away from boring and factual but instead seeks to make the material accessible and relevant through student involvement.
Walter Saul
Having had two of his compositions performed at Carnegie Hall is only a small part of the long list of Walter Saul’s musical accomplishments which include 14 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) awards, two Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Student Composers Awards and several National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) honors. With over 190 compositions in his catalog, numerous recordings and performances, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to FPU students as he teaches piano, theory and composition. And you can’t miss the integration of faith in his classes as he begins each class period with prayer and a recitation by memory of a chapter out of the Bible.
Alan Thompson
Coming to FPU from Harvard University and University California, Davis, Alan Thompson brings a variety of research interests including understanding oncogenic viruses and the trasformation of regular cells into cancer cells and the biological activity of novel oxidized lipids. He also brings an appreciation for FPU's smaller class sizes and his own ability as professor to give individualized attention here. While committed to core scientific concepts, he also enjoys exposing students to cutting-edge technology.
Richard Unruh
Renowned for years for the academic rigor of his classes, Richard Unruh is also known as mentor and friend to many. It is his goal to not only provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge and experience and help them develop ethical values with which to appraise issues, but he also enjoys developing personal relationships with students, helping to guide and adivse them as they make choices affecting their future and success.
Peng Wen
In addition to being an economics professor in the business program, Peng Wen is a textbook author, authority on monetary policy and pastor of a local Chinese church. Coming from an international banking background and in spite of lucrative offers to work in the world of international business and politics, he brings vast experience and knowledge to the courses he teaches at FPU and the lives of students in which he invests.
Dave Youngs
Integrating the subjects of math and science for educators has long been a passion for Dave Youngs, and he is considered an expert in his field. Although he presents at conferences and workshops around the world, writes books and articles, and conducts research funded through state and national grants, his priority is with FPU students, both undergraduate and graduate who are not math or science majors, to help them learn to like these subjects.