Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with a new member of the PUC community whose work bridges music education and student recruitment. As a faculty member in the music department and part of enrollment and marketing efforts focused on music students, our guest shares what it looks like to support students both inside and outside the classroom. We talk about rebuilding the symphonic wind ensemble, navigating today’s recruitment landscape, and the role music plays in shaping confident, connected students—and a vibrant campus culture.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How this dual faculty/recruitment role came to be
• Restarting a symphonic wind ensemble after a two-year pause
• Recruiting music students in a shifting higher-ed landscape
• Music as both a discipline and a transferable skill set
• Why outreach and collaboration matter for creative programs

Why Listen This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how programs are rebuilt and students are supported through collaboration, adaptability, and advocacy. Even if you don’t work in music, the episode highlights how faculty and staff across campus play a key role in helping students thrive.

In this episode of Unchart(Ed), we sit down with Victoria Wambua, one of PUC’s newest math professors to explore her journey into mathematics, what drew her to teaching, and why math is about far more than equations. She reflects on mentors, meaningful classroom moments, and the creativity and beauty found in mathematical thinking—while sharing what excites her most about joining the PUC community.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Her path into mathematics and the experiences that shaped it • How she helps students who feel anxious or intimidated by math • Why math matters beyond the classroom—and where it shows up in everyday life • Misconceptions about math and what she wishes more people understood

Why You Should Listen

Whether math has always been a favorite subject or a lingering challenge, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how thoughtful teaching can transform students’ confidence and curiosity. It’s also a chance to get to know a new colleague.

In this episode, we talk with Tony Nakashima, PUC’s new Director of Athletics, about how athletics shapes more than just competitors—it shapes character, leadership, and community.

Tony shares how he hopes to build a program that helps student-athletes grow as confident, capable leaders both on and off the field. He also talks about how athletics contributes to the culture and spirit of the college—and how faculty and staff can play a role in supporting student-athletes and the department as a whole.

What you’ll hear:

• How athletics builds leaders and confidence
• The role of sports in campus culture
• Ways faculty and staff can champion student-athletes

Why you should listen: This conversation goes beyond wins and losses—it’s about how teamwork, mentorship, and shared pride strengthen the fabric of our campus. Whether you’re in the classroom, office, or cheering from the sidelines, Tony’s insights offer inspiration for how all of us can invest in student growth and community spirit.

📅 Check out upcoming games: pioneersathletics.com/composite