Our goal is to prepare leaders for a lifetime of ministry and become a worldwide partner of churches and other ministry training institutions supporting the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Meet the president, senior administrators, board of trustees, faculty and administrative staff who oversee all aspects of Life Pacific College.
Office of the President
President’s Greeting
Welcome to Life Pacific College! I’m glad you clicked in today, and hope you’ll drop by anytime–either here online-or in person-for a visit. Now celebrating our 90th year, LPC educates and empowers students for a lifetime of ministry in the church and leadership in the world. Many people are aware of our undergraduate programs, small college feel and engaging faculty; some may not know about our growing adult online and graduate programs. We are passionate about our Christian mission, and privileged to serve.
Whether you are a prospective student, parent, community member, friend, or alumni of one of the historic Foursquare colleges, you will always receive a warm welcome from our LPC team. I hope you enjoy visiting our new website today. It is our pleasure to serve you in any way we can.
Jim J. Adams, Ed.D.
President Elect
Get In Contact with the President’s Office
Please email Karli Albanese, Executive Assistant to the President at kalabnese@lifepacific.edu.
Administrative Leadership
Jim J. Adams, Ed.D.
President ElectA credentialed Foursquare minister since 1977, Jim is passionate about developing leaders in a global context. He has served in ministry, teaching and leadership positions for over 35 years, and his past experience runs the gamut from superintendent and CEO of Western Christian Schools to vice president and COO at Life Pacific College. Jim has extensive experience as a consultant for various organizations, schools and universities. His research and writing interests include international education and leadership, Foursquare doctrine, and developing effective leadership in the K–12 and higher education sectors. Jim’s current professional memberships include the Foursquare Doctrine Committee, the Foursquare Scholar’s Fellowship and the American Educational Research Association. He is actively involved at his home church, NewLife Community Church in Pomona, serving as a volunteer youth leader and on the church council. Jim and his wife, Lori, have two adult daughters.
Angie Richey, M.Ed, M.A.
Vice President, Director of College RelationsAngie has served the past 12 years as Adjunct Faculty at Life Pacific College and 4 years as the Director of College Relations. She received her M.Ed with an emphasis in Curriculum Design and Instruction, an M. A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University and B. A. from Life Pacific College. She also serves as the Assistant Director of Emmaus Road Counseling Center. Angie has taught a variety of grade levels, directed programs and is a frequent presenter at conferences and retreats. She recently completed a documentary with acclaimed Academy Award winning Producer, Arnold Shapiro on the topic of Forgiveness which aired in November 2012. She and her husband lead The Gathering in Santa Clarita and have two children.
Jarrod Kula, M.B.A.
Chief Financial OfficerJarrod Kula has served for the last 15 years as the Chief Financial Officer at Life Pacific College (LPC). He also works as a district financial administrator for the Greater Los Angeles District of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, assisting nearly 150 diverse, multilingual churches in southern California. Additionally, he teaches as an adjunct faculty member at LPC and has taught in Azusa Pacific University’s MBA program. He also acts as the church administrator at Lifehouse Foursquare Church. Prior to the above current positions, Jarrod was an associate pastor at Upland Foursquare Church and a tax associate for Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). Jarrod earned his MBA with an emphasis in human resources from Cal Poly Pomona and his undergraduate degree in Economics and Accounting from Pomona College in Claremont, California.
Michael Salmeier, Ph.D
Academic DeanDr. Michael A. Salmeier is the Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Bible and Theology at Life Pacific College. He received his D.Phil. from the University of Oxford. A revised version of his doctoral thesis is due out in 2011 as Restoring the Kingdom: The Role of God as the “Ordainer of Times and Seasons” in the Acts of the Apostles, published in the Princeton Theological Monograph Series. Dr. Salmeier has taught at Azusa Pacific University and Talbot School of Theology and has given presentations in various venues from local churches to national conferences.
J.J. Peterson, M.A.
Dean of StudentsJ.J. has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Hope International University, a Master of Theology degree from Fuller in Theology and the Arts, and is currently in his second year of PhD studies in Communications at Regent University. He has worked in Student Life at Hope International University, spent time as a youth pastor in Arizona, served as a missionary in both Mexico and Africa, and traveled in North America as a speaker and improv comedian. J.J. is incredibly passionate about impacting college students and preparing them for a lifetime of living effective lives for Christ.
Brian Tomhave, M.A.
Associate Academic Dean of Non-Traditional ProgramBrian Tomhave has served as the Director of Distance Learning at LPC since 1999 and as Associate Dean for Non-Traditional Studies since 2010. He is a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute, Life Pacific College, and Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology & Distance Education through Nova Southeastern University. He is committed to helping make education accessible to students by removing geographical, financial, and structural barriers.
Board of Trustees
Sam Rockwell
Chairman, Gateway District Supervisor, The Foursquare ChurchAs supervisor of the Gateway District, Sam oversees 130 churches in the five-state area of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, Life Pacific College, and King’s University teaching Research Theory and Methodology, Leadership Theory and Praxis, Organizational Dynamics, and Servant Leadership. Prior to becoming supervisor, Sam founded and led NorthRock Church in Thornton, CO for 20 years. He has also worked as an organizational consultant for business and non-profits, traveling to 28 countries on six continents. His areas of focus include natural church development, organizational development, executive coaching, self-managed learning, global cultures, and the systems approach. Sam and his wife, De, have two adult daughters and two school-age sons.
Dr. Dan Hedges
Vice Chairman, Director of Foursquare Institutes, Education and Leadership DevelopmentA credentialed and ordained Foursquare minister, Dan has an extensive background in education and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience as dean, administrator, professor and consultant at two major Christian universities (Regent and Oral Roberts University), he currently oversees development and provides administrative oversight to some 80 schools of ministry, institutes and church-based Bible colleges, as well as 75 Christian schools, preschools and daycares that are ministries of U.S. Foursquare churches. Local church ministry remains near to Dan’s heart. For the past two decades, he has served as a senior pastor in Tulsa and Albuquerque. In recent years, Dan has traveled extensively, providing consultation services in a variety of settings. He is a member of numerous organizations, including the World Alliance for Pentecostal Theological Education. Dan and his wife, Ginger, have three children and three grandchildren.
Jim J. Adams
Interim President, Life Pacific CollegeA credentialed Foursquare minister since 1977, Jim is passionate about developing leaders in a global context. He has served in ministry, teaching and leadership positions for over 35 years, and his past experience runs the gamut from superintendent and CEO of Western Christian Schools to vice president and COO at Life Pacific College. Jim has extensive experience as a consultant for various organizations, schools and universities. His research and writing interests include international education and leadership, Foursquare doctrine, and developing effective leadership in the K–12 and higher education sectors. Jim’s current professional memberships include the Foursquare Doctrine Committee, the Foursquare Scholar’s Fellowship and the American Educational Research Association. He is actively involved at his home church, NewLife Community Church in Pomona, serving as a volunteer youth leader and on the church council. Jim and his wife, Lori, have two adult daughters.
Mario Barahona
President of Angelus Bible InstituteAs president of Angelus Bible Institute, Mario oversees an rapidly-expanding network of 19 U.S. ABI branches, and 31 in Central and South America, including 20 in Argentina. Having taught at ABI since 1996, he was dean of students from 1994 to 2000 and then academic dean from 2000 to 2009. In addition to his work at ABI, Mario has been executive pastor at Angelus Temple Hispanic since 1993 and has led numerous missions trips throughout Latin America. He also serves as a superintendent in the Greater Los Angeles Foursquare District and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Life Pacific College since 2008. Mario has served on numerous denominational and district committees, including as the National Church Committee, the Multicultural Committee, the Bible Institute Committee, the Church Planting Committee and the Angelus Temple Building Committee. He and his wife, Adriana, have two school-age daughters.
Dr. Glenn Burris Jr.
President, The Foursquare ChurchAs president of The Foursquare Church, Glenn serves nearly 2000 church congregations and 7000 licensed ministers in the U.S. Additionally, he partners with national leaders in 147 countries who minister in more than 65,000 Foursquare churches worldwide. Though his office is based in Los Angeles, California, Glenn travels frequently, keeping in close contact with those he serves. His passion for church planting is evidenced by the 200 congregations birthed between 1992 and 2002, under his leadership as supervisor of the 10-state historic Southeast District. Prior to that, he served as a youth pastor, senior pastor, and divisional superintendent. Additionally, he was president of Life Bible College East, a member of the Foursquare Cabinet and chairman of the Foursquare Board of Directors. Glenn has influenced countless leaders who have been identified, equipped, and released to fruitful ministries, and he celebrates the success of others as distinct victories to the glory of God. He and his wife, Debbie, have two adult children and one granddaughter.
Dr. Jerry Cook
Author and SpeakerJerry Cook is the best-selling author of the books Love, Acceptance & Forgiveness (written with Stanley Baldwin) and A Few Things I’ve Learned Since I Knew it All, Choosing to Love, The Odyssey of a Relationship, and The Monday Morning Church: Out of the Sanctuary and Into the Streets. He was also a contributor to the Spirit Filled Life Bible, writing the textual notes and outlines for the books of I Samuel, II Samuel and Joel. From 1965 to 1985, Jerry served as senior pastor of East Hill Church in Gresham, Ore. East Hill continues to be a growing and influential congregation. After nearly two decades at East Hill, the Cooks moved to Washington, where Jerry served as an associate pastor at Eastside Foursquare Church in Bothell, retiring in 2007. The Cooks now live on Whidbey Island in the Seattle area, where Jerry maintains a teaching and church consulting ministry. He also addresses conventions and conferences throughout the U.S. and overseas. Jerry and his wife, Barbara, have four adult children and four grandchildren.
Tammy Dunahoo
General Supervisor, The Foursquare ChurchSince 2009, Tammy has served as general supervisor of The Foursquare Church, working directly with the supervisors of the 14 districts in the U.S.Prior to becoming general supervisor, she served The Foursquare Church in a variety of leadership roles, including National Director of Foursquare Women, supervisor of the former Arkansas District, and as a member of the Church Health Team, the National Church Council, the Foursquare Cabinet and the Foursquare Presidential Task Force. Currently, Tammy serves on the ICFG Board of Directors as well as the Foursquare Foundation Board of Directors, as well as on numerous committees. When she is not traveling on Foursquare business, Tammy enjoys worshipping and fellowshipping at Lighthouse Church in Newbury Park, Calif., where her husband, Gary, is lead pastor. Tammy and Gary have two adult children and one grandson.
Melinda Scott
Foursquare Missions International, The Foursquare ChurchHaving been a licensed and Foursquare minister for over 25 years, Melinda’s passion for missions is evident. She currently serves alongside her husband, Jim, who was named director of Foursquare Missions International in 2010, but her commitment to spreading the gospel worldwide has been clearly demonstrated over the years. Melinda has traveled extensively, and has served on the Foursquare Missions Council and as FMI District Missions Representative for the Northeast District. She has been an active member of the Life Pacific Board of Trustees since 2004, was a superintendent at large for the Northeast District, and has served alongside Jim in numerous district supervisory roles on both U.S. coasts. Melinda is committed to providing opportunities for women to build lasting relationships in the work of ministry locally, nationally and internationally. One of her greatest areas of devotion is as a caregiver for her mother, Charlotte, who suffered a massive stroke in 2001.
Ron Thigpenn
Chief Financial Officer, The Foursquare ChurchRon has significant experience in the realm of finance. Having been a CPA for seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ron then spent 10 years as CFO/COO for two financial institutions in the Los Angeles Area, and served nearly five years in the Corporate Finance Department of WellPoint Health Networks. In 2002, he became the manager of the Foursquare Loan Fund, and in 2009 was named Foursquare CFO. He also serves on the Foursquare Board of Directors, and is a member of numerous committees. Ron is also a licensed and ordained Foursquare pastor. He was senior pastor of Paramount Foursquare Church from 2000 to 2004, and subsequently was an associate pastor at South Gate Foursquare Church from 2005 to 2007. Since 2007, he has been an associate pastor at Lifegate Foursquare Church in Paramount, Calif. Ron and his wife, Judy, have three adult children.
Crystal Guderian
Senior Pastor at The Barnabas ProjectA native of Washington, Crystal planted The Barnabas Project, a Foursquare church, in 2007, after having served over 20 years in a variety of ministry environments. She is an advocate of relational, encouragement-based discipleship.Crystal has served as a youth leader in the Christian Missionary Alliance, district youth coordinator for the United Methodist Church, and has been a member of church planting teams under the leadership of the Wesleyan Church and Assemblies of God.She also was a regional representative for Foursquare Women from 2005 through 2009. Crystal’s husband, Jeff, is a molecular biologist at the Infections Disease Research Institute in Seattle. Though they have no biological children, they have served as “parents” to many.
Terry Keating
President and Chief Operating Officer of Risk Management Strategies, Inc.Terry began his professional career as a consultant to major oil and mining companies, assisting in the acquisition of properties for exploration and development in nearly every state of the union. His background in business is diverse, including real estate, lobbying, facilitating and public relations consulting. For the last 20 years he has worked in the employment industry, and is currently co-owner and president of Risk Management Strategies, Inc., a San Diego company that provides employer services to fiduciaries of special-needs and wealth-management trusts. Terry has been a leader and teacher in lay ministry for more than 25 years, beginning at Faith Chapel Foursquare Church in Billings, Montana. He and his wife, Janet, currently attend Eastlake Church in Chula Vista, Calif., where they teach a foundations class for new believers. Terry has also served on Eastlake’s elder board and teaches a men’s cooking class. Terry and Janet have four children and seven grandchildren.
William Watson
Vice President for Health Sciences Development at University Southern CaliforniaA recognized leader in medical and hospital development, Bill joined the USC Health Sciences Department as vice president for campus development in 2010. In this role, he oversees development functions for Keck Medicine of USC, Keck Doctors of USC and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He also coordinates the fundraising efforts of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and the USC Davis School of Gerontology.Prior to coming to USC, Bill served as senior vice president and chief development officer at St. John’s Health Center and John Wayne Cancer Institute, where he led a successful campaign to raise $300 million for a $275,000-square-foot diagnostic and treatment center. Previous to his time at St. John’s, Bill had been chief development officer at Keck, as well as director of development and external relations for the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.