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ABOUT US

Providence Christian College

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MISSION

Who we are

The mission of Providence Christian College as a Reformed Christian institution is to equip students to be firmly grounded in biblical truth, thoroughly educated in the liberal arts, and fully engaged in their church, their community, and the world for the glory of God and for service to humanity.

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DISTINCTIVES

What we teach

Providence holds a worldview and Biblical conviction that all truth is God’s truth. We believe that no education is complete absent God and His Word, and that an educational foundation in the classical Liberal Arts prepares our graduates to be future leaders and virtuous citizens.

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HISTORY

of Providence

Providence’s founders established a four-year liberal arts program that would reflect the lordship of Jesus Christ from a visibly Reformed, biblical perspective. All programs were designed to be taught in accordance with the Bible, God’s infallible and inerrant Word.

Full History

FOUNDING DOCUMENTS

Statement of Purpose

Providence is committed to a rigorous, holistic and interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum designed to enable students to think critically, to evaluate a variety of worldviews, to see clearly from a Christian perspective, to demonstrate creativity, and to engage the world around them.

Full Statement

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS

What we believe

As a confessionally Reformed college, Providence has a firm commitment to upholding the historic creeds of the Church and the Protestant Reformation.

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SEA BEGGARS

Our College Mascot

The Providence Christian College mascot is the Sea Beggar. Sea Beggars were a group of valiant 16th Century Dutch Calvinist Privateers that were influential in liberating the Dutch Republic from religious persecution. Through formidable battles at sea, the Sea beggars overthrew their oppressive and tyrannical overlords and gained Dutch independence.

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NAME, SEAL & MOTTO

In Christo omnia nova

Providence Christian College’s name, academic seal, and motto, In Christo omnia nova, speaks boldly of God’s wonderful provision in the past and our trust in His sovereign care and goodness to provide for the future and of the college.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

of Providence

The Providence Board of Trustees includes members from a variety of Reformed denominations who share a commitment to confessional Christian higher education.

Board List

HISTORIC CAMPUS

in Pasadena, California

Our Campus

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Dawn Dirksen

Vice President for Finance & Operations

A. Michael Kiledjian

Vice President for Advancement

Dr. David E. Alexander

Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Academics, and Associate Professor of Philosophy

Pete Hamstra

Vice President for Enrollment

BRIAN DeHAAN

Dean of Student and Athletic Affairs

Elijah Villafana

Registrar and Coordinator of Experiential Learning

Paul Jimenez

Director: Witherspoon Scholars Program

Mark Pomerville

Advancement & Digital Media Manager

Dr. Benjamin M. Austin

Institutional Research Analyst and Accreditation Liaison Officer

Elizabeth Siri

Human Resources Generalist and Facilities Coordinator

Geoffrey Kwok

Finance and Accounting Manager

Lorraine Ruiz

Staff Accountant and Student Accounts Manager

Ashley Becker

Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Relations Manager

Providence is a confessionally Reformed Christian liberal arts college that is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Association of Classical Christian Schools and Alliance Defending Freedom logos

464 EAST WALNUT STREET

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91101

MAIN: (626) 696-4000

ADMISSIONS: (626) 696-4030

Our Distinctives

1.) GROUNDED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH

As a confessionally Reformed Christian college, we believe that God’s Word is the source of true wisdom and understanding.

2.) EDUCATED IN THE CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS

A Providence education is rooted in the classical liberal arts—an immersive study of God’s common grace found in the richness of the Western intellectual tradition.

3.) PREPARED TO BE VIRTUOUS CITIZENS

Providence embraces the aspirational ideals of Western Civilization: love of liberty and neighbor, public and private morality, human and societal flourishing.

The History of

PROVIDENCE

In November of 2001 a small group of Christians met in Chino, California to consider establishing a Reformed, Christian college on the West Coast. Parents and young people were often hesitant to travel great distances to the nearest Reformed college. Moreover, the West Coast had a significant number of students who would benefit from a specifically Reformed perspective in their college education.

Those present were motivated by a deep appreciation for higher education from a specifically Reformed and Christian perspective. Some had been educated in such Christian colleges. Others had enrolled their children in Reformed colleges. All of those present were convinced of the need to express the reign of Christ in higher education. This group, composed of believers from various Reformed churches, was convinced that establishing and maintaining a college committed to biblical principles would greatly benefit the diverse community and the Reformed congregations in the Pacific region.

This body unanimously agreed to establish a quality, four-year liberal arts program that would reflect the lordship of Jesus Christ from a visibly Reformed, biblical perspective in all aspects of its life and learning. All programs would then be taught in accordance with the Bible, God’s infallible and inerrant Word, as it is interpreted by the Reformed Standards: The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Canons of Dort, The Westminster Confession of Faith, and The Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. In addition, the group agreed that the college should be governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees whose members would be drawn from various Reformed and Presbyterian churches; those who embrace the Word of God, the Reformed Standards, and the college’s purpose statement.

As planning for the new college began, it was clear how very important God’s providence was for this effort. We began with nothing except a shared vision for a Reformed college on the West coast, and a commitment for that college to be established and maintained for God’s glory. There were several needs: board members committed to the same vision, faculty, staff, and administrators solidly dedicated to the Scripture and the Reformed confessions, students desiring a quality Christ-centered education with a Reformed worldview, and the necessary funding and facilities. All of these needs had to be provided by our sovereign Lord. So, when it came time to name the college it was appropriate for us to give credit to the Lord’s providential care and especially recognize His gracious provision.

Providence Christian College was incorporated in the state of California on November 12, 2002, and the first Board of Directors meeting was held on January 18, 2003. The following January, Providence took full possession of a campus in Ontario, California, and began renovating its five main buildings into classrooms, dorms, a library, a dining hall, and administrative offices; the college was granted permission to operate as a degree-granting institution in the state of California on December 9, 2004 by the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) with approval to offer 13 bachelor’s degree programs.

In the midst of this bustle, Providence inaugurated its first college president, Mr. Jim Den Ouden in June of 2004, and in September 2005 the college was privileged to welcome its first class of 22 students.

Immediately following approval by the BPPVE, Providence Christian College began the process of seeking accreditation with the regional accrediting body, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The college was granted eligibility status in December 2005 and candidacy status in February 2009.

On May 2, 2009, the Providence community gathered to celebrate the first commencement in the college’s history. Two months later, Dr. J. Derek Halvorson joined the administration on July 1 as the college’s second president, following the retirement of Mr. Jim Den Ouden.

On May 1, 2010, the college’s board of directors voted unanimously to move the college to Pasadena, where it took up residence on the campus of William Carey International University. Classes were held on the campus for the first time in the Fall of 2010.

The college’s candidacy for WASC accreditation advanced to the final stage in February of 2011 and WASC scheduled a site visit on campus in 2012. Providence received initial WASC accreditation in 2013.

On April 1, 2014, Providence installed its third President, Dr. Jim Belcher. Dr. Belcher continued to serve as President until April 1, 2020.

In December 2018, Providence moved to the new current campus in the heart of Old Pasadena.

Our Purpose

Preamble to the bylaws

Preface

Why should there be another college on the west coast? More pointedly, why should there be a specifically Reformed college on the west coast? In this purpose statement we have set out to explain not only the need for a Reformed Christian school of higher learning, but also what the character and vision of Providence Christian College must be in order to obey the mandate the Lord has given to us to educate our posterity in accord with His Word.

We openly recognize that this task does not belong simply to people of one cultural background or denomination. In the establishment and maintenance of Providence Christian College, we wish to give expression to the unity of Reformed believers, not because they belong to a specific ethnic entity or denomination, but because they love the Reformed faith as expressed in the Reformed Confessions, and because they see the implications of that faith in the educational task of the covenant community. Providence Christian College belongs to Reformed Christians of various backgrounds who want their posterity to come under the covenant claims of Jesus Christ, who want the church of Christ to prosper, and who want our culture transformed for His glory.

All of us associated with Providence Christian College pray that this Statement of Purpose will clearly direct us in that educational endeavor entrusted to us by Christ. To Him alone be all the glory!

Introduction

This document is written to display before our world, to ourselves, and to our posterity the purpose for and principles that govern Providence Christian College in its task to provide a Reformed Christian education.

In November of 2001, a small group of Reformed Christians met in Chino, California, to consider the feasibility of establishing a Reformed Christian college on the west coast. All of those present were motivated by a deep appreciation for higher education coming from a specifically Reformed and Christian perspective. Some had been educated in past years by such Christian colleges. Some had enrolled their own children in colleges of Reformed persuasion. All of those present were convinced of the necessity of expressing the reign of Christ in the area of higher education and of ensuring its promotion and continuance in the generations to come. This group, composed of believers from various Reformed churches, was convinced that the establishment and maintenance of a college committed to Biblical principles would greatly benefit the diverse community and the churches of Reformed persuasion on the west coast.

On several occasions, in the 1960’s, 80’s and 90’s, the desire to establish such a center of Christian training was discussed, but for various reasons it was never realized. Yet, the need for a Reformed Christian college never diminished. Parents and young people are often hesitant to travel great distances to the nearest Reformed college. Moreover, the west coast has a significant number of students who could well profit from a specifically Reformed perspective in their higher education. The original group was motivated to consider establishing Providence Christian College because of its desire to meet these needs.

To that end, the group unanimously agreed that the purpose of the corporation to promote Providence Christian College would be to establish and maintain a school for higher education by means of general arts programs that will be taught in accordance with the Bible, God’s infallible and inerrant Word, as it is interpreted by the following Reformed Standards: The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Canons of Dort, The Westminster Confession of Faith, and The Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. Out of its desire to establish Providence Christian College, which in all aspects of its life and learning shall seek to reflect the Lordship of Jesus Christ gladly and visibly from a Reformed Biblical perspective, the group agreed to commit itself to the eventual establishment of a quality four-year liberal arts program.

The group also agreed that the college should be governed by a self-perpetuating board, the members of which shall be drawn from various Reformed and Presbyterian churches that are fully committed to the Word of God, to the Reformed Standards as named above, as well as to the Purpose Statement of Providence Christian College.

It is our intention that this Purpose Statement will direct everyone associated with Providence Christian College in the joyous task and God-given responsibility to educate His people to understand and carry out the kingdom claims of Christ in all of life.

Section I: Basis

Providence Christian College has as its basis for all of its activities and teaching the Holy Scriptures, the infallible, inerrant, Word of God. These Scriptures are God’s inspired revelation of Himself, His work, and His plan for all of history and mankind. Because the Bible is His authoritative revelation, all things must be measured according to its standard, and all of life must be lived in obedience to it. Therefore, Providence Christian College willingly submits itself to the Triune God of the Scriptures and enthusiastically confesses that the Bible gives us the essential principles that direct our educational philosophy and task. Though God grants and expects us to use the freedom to discover, analyze, interpret, teach and apply the knowledge gained from His revelation, we employ this freedom responsibly only when our educational activity is carried out in submission to the Scriptures. The Scriptures alone are the glasses through which we can truly see, understand, interpret, and discover the character of creation, reality, and the very nature and purpose of life.

The Bible reveals to us that, according to His sovereign will, God the “Father through the Word, that is, through His Son, has created out of nothing heaven and earth and all creatures, when it seemed good to Him….” The Bible tells us, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made,” and “all things were created by him and for him.” The creation finds its true purpose for existence only in Christ. Therefore, we establish and maintain truly Christ-centered places of education that clearly and unashamedly promote a Christian world and life view in which students are taught and motivated to bring every thought into captivity and obedience to Christ.

The Scriptures also reveal that God in His sovereignty owns, controls, rules and cares for His creation. As Reformed Christians we gladly submit to and openly confess the providence of God in all that we do, including our educational task. “We believe that this good God, after He had created all things, did not abandon them or give them up to fortune or chance, but that according to His holy will He so rules and governs them that in this world nothing happens without His direction.” Therefore, in our study of the creation and of history, we not only explore the sovereign providence of God, but we also engage in this study with dependence on the regularity that God continues to maintain in His creation by His providential care.

The Triune God reveals Himself by His creation. Therefore, in education, as we discover the order, intricacies, beauty, and true purposes of His creation, we come to see the wisdom, power, and glory of God Himself, for God has spoken of Himself in His “eloquent book.” We believe “that He has given to every creature its being, shape, and form, and to each its specific task and function to serve its Creator.” This speaks of the variety within creation, each part and creature thereof required to fulfill the mandate for which God created it. Our educational endeavors must explore and appreciate both the unity and diversity within God’s creation.

Moreover, God made all human beings in His own image, reflecting God’s knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. God calls mankind to live in covenantal fellowship with and obedience to Himself. He has mandated all people to fulfill the offices of prophet, priest, and king for His glory. Therefore, having been made in God’s image, we also possess the responsibility and privilege, as those who bear these offices, to educate our posterity and ourselves so that we will reflect God’s knowledge, righteousness, and holiness more faithfully in the fallen world.

Man’s fall into sin resulted in a broken covenantal relationship with God. We do not and cannot fulfill our offices obediently apart from the grace of Jesus Christ. We have become totally depraved in the very core of our being so that, in our sinful nature, we “…exchange the glory of the immortal God for images…” made according to our own evil imaginations. Because of man’s fall into sin, God’s creation is subject to His curse. Therefore, as God’s image bearer, mankind also experiences His curse and its results: death, misery, separation from our Creator, the distortion of the image of God, hatred, pollution of heart and the universe itself. Christian education must recognize that the creation exhibits the consequences of our fall and that mankind’s mind is darkened by sin so that we are prone to deny God. Nevertheless, God continues to reveal Himself in the creation and the conscience of men. Though sin has deeply affected every part of our being, and though the hearts and minds of unbelievers cannot understand the true meaning of life, the world, and God’s purposes, fallen mankind nevertheless retains some knowledge of God, some understanding of His creation, and some awareness of God’s will due to His gracious preservation of creation. Therefore, Christians may utilize the discoveries and thoughts of non-Christians when these discoveries are approached with discernment and interpreted in the light of God’s word.

The Bible reveals to us, however, that His divine plan is to restore what has been broken and shattered by sin. Out of the fallen human race God has chosen a people for Himself in order to make them into a kingdom of royal priests. He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the Living, incarnate Word, as the only way of redemption for mankind and the restoration of His creation. He died and rose again bodily from the grave to bring His elect people by the work of the Holy Spirit into the new covenant, the covenant of grace, to restore His creation, and to reign eternally as Lord of His church and of all that He has made. Because Christ has all authority on earth and in heaven, He calls His people to express and promote His saving rule everywhere in all areas of life and the creation, including education. Therefore, though we can only make an imperfect beginning, we seek joyfully to fulfill this servant task, by the grace of Jesus Christ, as His redeemed people, while realizing that we live in a world full of unbelief and rebellion against the Creator and His commands.

It is on the basis of this foundational thinking that we seek to maintain Providence Christian College as an institution dedicated to the task of Christian higher education.

Section II: Mandate

At the beginning of history God gave His mandate to mankind to explore, develop, use and care for His creation. In one sense, this is the broadest, overarching responsibility that God has given to us as the stewards of His creation. We must live all of life for the King who owns and rules all things, including business, family, government, the arts, the media, the various sciences, our property, and all human endeavors. As his image bearers, we must fulfill our offices of prophet, priest and king in obedience to the Scriptures. As prophets we are to bring God’s word to bear upon all of life. As priests we are to offer all that we do as a sacrifice of praise to God. As kings we are to care for and rule His creation so that it brings glory and honor to Him. Because we have been redeemed and restored to office by Christ, we must take seriously this cultural mandate when we engage in our educational activity.

In the area of education, we must examine, understand, and apply our insights into His creation for the glory of God and for the service of mankind. This demands of us a high degree of excellence, for we must do our very best for the Master. In addition, our insights into and understanding of God’s creation must be transmitted from generation to generation so that they might be of profit for our posterity.

Moreover, education is operative in all human relationships and endeavors, whether it be the home, the church, or the marketplace. Our Lord has commanded parents to instruct their children in the knowledge of God and His law. Christ has instructed the church to teach His disciples all that He commanded us. Education is an on-going process in the workplace as well.

Even though education occurs in all of the arenas of life, it is the school primarily where education takes place in a specifically structured manner. In the past, children were educated almost exclusively in the context of the home. We cannot underestimate the value of such education. Originally, God gave this task to the parents. They still must insure a God-honoring and Christ-centered education for their children. Education, however, has become increasingly complex and advanced, so that many parents are unable to give adequate instruction at home, particularly education on the higher levels. Therefore, this necessitates the establishment and maintenance of Christ-centered schools. Because of the cultural mandate given to all mankind, the community of God’s people at large also has been given the task to educate and promote learning. Our responsibility as parents and our responsibility as a Christian community with respect to education must stand together. Education is not an entity unto itself, as if schools have no accountability to the Christian community or to the parents in particular. Schools are responsible both to parents and the wider body of believers.

On the elementary, middle, and high school levels, our children learn the fundamentals. These early years prepare them for the college level where learning is more theoretical and specialized. The student who continues in formal education advances to the graduate level where learning often involves research and further professional training.

This college is an institution of Christian learning dedicated to exploring, understanding and imparting to its students insights into God’s created order so that they will come to know and appreciate the richness of the glory of God.

Section III: Organization

Since God has given the work of education to the Christian community of believers, qualified and responsible people must be trained, called, and placed in positions of leadership so that the educational task of Providence Christian College can be met. In fulfilling their various tasks, these people must do so as servants of God with a clear sense of calling to their office, using the gifts they have been given. These are not self-serving offices. It is God Whom we serve. There must be a sense of mutual respect, encouragement, responsibility, and accountability among those called to serve in these capacities.

This means that the board of trustees of Providence Christian College must serve God in setting and maintaining the Biblical direction for the College. As those transformed by the grace of Christ, deeply committed to the Reformed confessions, the members of the board must demonstrate the Biblical vision for the College set forth in this document. The board must implement goals and decisions that set and maintain the broad direction of Providence Christian College in all aspects of its operations.

The faculty exercises its office when each member, conscious of his or her calling from God, discovers, searches out, and brings to light true wisdom, and transmits these insights into God’s creation to the students and fellow faculty members. This requires that all members of the faculty be competent to teach with excellence in their field of learning. It means that faculty members must be Christians who are Biblically Reformed in their thinking, teaching, and perspective, deeply committed to the Reformed confessions and the purpose of Providence Christian College as set forth in this document. Faculty members must have a servant attitude and work with mutual respect, love, and cooperation with the other faculty members in order to promote the goals and vision of Providence Christian College.

The students must also fulfill their office by acquiring, interacting with, and sharing the information and wisdom they are taught. To be faithful in their calling, along with all the others of the college community, they must submit themselves to God’s Word, our ultimate standard. By the very nature of their activity as students, they should view their task as serving the Lord of life, not simply preparing themselves to serve God and society eventually, but doing so now by their learning about, their searching for, and their sharing of wisdom.

The administration, staff, and president of Providence Christian College have also been endowed with a calling and office. Their task is to organize, develop, administer, and facilitate the academic, financial, and public relations duties, along with the general operations of the College. In particular, the president is to direct the overall supervision and support of Providence Christian College so that it will function as effectively and efficiently as possible. While the faculty, students, administration, and staff are all ultimately accountable to the board of trustees, they are first of all directly accountable to the president, and the president, in turn, is directly accountable to the board.

As each one fulfills his or her calling faithfully before God, in love for Him and genuine love for, respect for, and humility toward the other members of the college community, His glory and name will be magnified, the college will function effectively, and the purposes of Providence Christian College will be advanced.

Section IV: Content

At Providence Christian College we openly confess and seek to implement the Biblically Reformed teaching that all of life must be lived under the righteous rule of Christ. Therefore, the instruction, methods, communal and personal attitudes, and lifestyles of all those involved in the educational task of Providence Christian College must clearly express this Biblical teaching. In its lifestyle, the college community is called upon to be obedient to God’s Word, to clearly demonstrate a repentant and redeemed heart and life, to respect one another as Christians, and to faithfully care for God’s creation as His stewards. In its doctrine, the College community must seek to understand, to appreciate the implications of, and to live in accordance with the Scripture as it is interpreted by the Reformed confessions. In its educational task, the college community is called upon to focus specifically and intentionally upon the cultural dimensions of the Biblically Reformed faith.

Providence Christian College has been established for the express purpose of inculcating into the minds, lives, and hearts of the college community a Reformed world and life view of reality. Therefore, the curriculum does not consist in a random collection of courses, but rather a wide range of studies that seeks to reflect the interrelatedness and the unity and diversity of the various aspects of God’s creation. This broad spectrum of courses is designed to equip the student to better understand, engage, and transform our culture for Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, it will enable them to excellently prepare for and to carry out their God-given tasks and responsibilities in our contemporary society on a day-to-day basis so that a profound difference will ultimately be made in our world. By God’s grace, their education will equip the students to carefully discern the religious direction of our society and, consequently, to promote the claims of Christ over all of life.

The instruction at Providence Christian College, its core curriculum, and all other courses must meaningfully and clearly be presented from the Reformed Christian perspective set forth in this document.

Creeds & Confessions

We confess and affirm:

A special message from A. Michael Kiledjian, Vice President for Advancement, regarding the mission of Providence Christian College.

The Three Forms of Unity

Heidelberg Catechism
Canons of Dordrecht
Belgic Confession

The Westminster Standards

Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Larger Catechism
Westminster Shorter Catechism

Ecumenical Creeds of the Church

Apostles’ Creed
Nicene Creed
Athanasian Creed

The board of trustees, administration, and faculty of Providence Christian College affirm by subscription their personal commitment to these standards as a faithful summary of biblical Christianity contained in the holy Scriptures.

The Sea Beggar

The Saga of the Sea Beggar

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Calvinists of the various provinces of the Netherlands joined to fight for their independence from their Spanish Catholic overlords. Spain had a particularly formidable navy at the time—the Spanish Armada. Despite the strength of the Spanish navy, intrepid Dutch mariners took to the seas as pirates against the Spanish fleet. They harried the Spanish, capturing a number of silver galleons (often celebrated in Dutch folks songs) and winning important sea battles that contributed to the independence of the Dutch Republic (perhaps most famously, the liberation of the port city of Brill).

In Dutch, these valiant (and often violent) privateers were known as the Watergeuzen. (This is not a great college nickname—it’s too difficult to pronounce for those of us who don’t speak Dutch). In English, that term translates to “Sea Beggars.”

Many of Providence’s founders are Calvinists of Dutch extraction, as are many of our students, and so it seems appropriate that our nickname would reflect something of our Dutch Calvinist heritage. And like the Sea Beggars of history, Providence’s students are brave – and willing to work against the odds for something they believe in. Not lost on us, either, is the wonderful theological connotation of our nickname. Martin Luther’s last recorded words were Wir sind Bettler. Hoc est verum. “We are beggars; this is true.”

And so, for all of these reasons—and also because we like the idea of having a nickname that is our very own—we are the Sea Beggars.

Folk Inspiration

One of the Sea Beggars fighting for Dutch independence against Spain was the naval officer Piet Hein (November 25, 1577 – June 18, 1629). This folk hero, along with Beggars such as William II de la Marck, is one of the inspirations behind the image of the Providence mascot. Hein was a sea captain’s son, and a lifelong sailor with a rocky career. When he was young, his ship was captured by the Spanish Armada, and he served several years in a galley before being released. After several other adventures, he joined the Dutch West India Company as a vice-admiral, leading attacks on Portuguese and Spanish ports in South America and the Caribbean. His greatest success was capturing a Spanish treasure fleet full of gold and silver, though he readily admitted that due to the circumstances there was very little risk. He died as the de facto supreme commander of the Dutch naval forces after being struck by a cannonball during a tremendous sea battle.

The Dutch people memorialized Piet Hein in verse:

Piet Hein, Piet Hein,
Your name will always shine
In your little ships so neat.
You beat the silver fleet,
The mighty silver fleet from Spain.

On College Nicknames

Some might wonder about the rationale behind choosing a college nickname. Here are some of the principles that guided us in our decision.

The best college nicknames share two characteristics. First, they are linked to the institution’s history or heritage. Consider the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, certainly one of the better-known college sports nicknames. They are the Fighting Irish because the university historically drew many of its students (and athletes) from Irish Catholic communities. Or how about the North Carolina Tar Heels? Legend has it that North Carolinians are known as Tar Heels because of the tenacity demonstrated by troops from North Carolina during the Civil War.

In both these cases, the nickname has a special stickiness because it arises from the institution’s heritage. And both these cases illustrate well the second characteristic of the best college nicknames: they are unique. When you hear someone say “the Fighting Irish,” you know they are talking about Notre Dame. How many other colleges have that nickname? When you hear people say “the Tar Heels,” you know they are talking about North Carolina. The same goes for Cornhuskers, or Buckeyes (or Banana Slugs or Anteaters, for those of you who follow California college sports). When you hear someone say “the Tigers,” or “the Wildcats,” you know they are talking about … well, I think you get the point.

The best college sports nicknames are both tied to an institution’s heritage and unique.

Unique and perhaps even unusual nicknames are particularly appropriate to smaller institutions. Think about minor league baseball teams: the Carolina Mudcats, the Montgomery Biscuits, the Toledo Mud Hens, and the Lansing Lugnuts. The unusual nicknames of these teams add to their charm and appeal. (And it has to be acknowledged that some major league baseball teams have nicknames that would sound pretty unusual were they not so well known–Dodgers, Red Sox, etc.) Likewise, some small colleges have distinctive athletic nicknames that help them stand out. The Pomona College Sagehens. The Whittier College Poets. Trinity Christian College students are the Trolls. (For ESPN’s top ten list of the best college nicknames, see this article: Off to College: What Name’s Got Game?)

One of our favorites, Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, is the Blue Hose. Here is a nickname that meets all of the criteria of greatness. It is tied to the college’s history: Presbyterian was established by Presbyterians in the mill town of Clinton. Blue, the color of the Scottish flag, is associated with Presbyterianism, a distinctively Scottish brand of Protestant Christianity. Clinton, the mill town, used to excel in producing hosiery. And Presbyterian College’s early athletic teams often wore blue socks. Hence, the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (which, by the way, scores uniqueness points for having started out as “Stockings” but becoming “Hose” as opposed to “Sox”).

At Providence, we too have a nickname that bears all of the marks of greatness. It is tied to our heritage. It is unique. And hence it is particularly appropriate to us as a small college.

At Providence, we are the Sea Beggars.

Sea Beggars Rule!

Written by Lorissa Haveman, Class of 2015

Avast, ye mateys! Gather round the mast!
To tell ye a tale, and tell it fast!

To sail with ye back in time,
Before the Beggars, before Piet Hein.
All of ye buried in books are learning,
But in the 1600s, a war was churning!

The Spanish were trying to expand –
Trying to take this to the Netherland!

Soon all of the Dutch were under the grip
Of a Spanish King whose name was Philip!

His Armada was formidable
But the Dutch were not hospitable.

And much to Spain’s Catholic consternation
Many Dutch had joined the Reformation!

William of Orange, known for his silence
Thought, “This can only be solved with violence!”

(Oh, and by the way, another fact for you:
He also inspired the orange and blue!)

The Dutch were fighting to be free
And William of Orange cried, “Take to the sea!”

So from small and large Dutch provinces
Came intrepid sea-faring Calvinists!

They approached the Armada where it floated
And captured the Spaniards with silver loaded.
The Beggars won more battles on land and sea
That finally gave the Dutch their liberty!

The Name, Seal & Motto of

PROVIDENCE

Our Name

The name given to Providence Christian College speaks boldly of God’s wonderful provision in the past and our trust in His goodness to provide for the future of this college. God’s Word, “providence” means that our sovereign God controls, upholds, and rules all things so that nothing simply happens to us by chance. As one of our Reformed confessions states, as a result of God’s providence, “we can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from His love” (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 10).

Our name also demands that we remember His sovereign care every day in the future. Whenever we stop trusting His providence, we will fail. Whenever we begin trusting in ourselves, we will fall. It is our prayer that Providence Christian College, and all those associated with it, will always promote its name, trusting in the gracious care of our Heavenly Father.

Our Seal

The Providence seal represents, in symbols and in words, the context and mission of Providence Christian College. The imagery of the seal represents the college’s context both literally and figuratively. It is an artist’s rendering of our literal, local context: the view north from our campus to the San Gabriel Mountains. Providence students hike in these mountains and have summited the tallest of them—Mt. San Antonio, or “Mt. Baldy”—many times, in the warmth of the California sunshine. Beyond the literal, however, these elements represent Providence’s spiritual context. They are suggestive of God’s providence coming down from above and His strength supporting and sustaining us. Together they form a picture of the grace and power that combine mysteriously and wondrously in the person of God. The other elements in the seal convey Providence’s mission in this context.

The book icon at the bottom of the seal contains the date of the college’s founding in Latin (MMV for 2005). The traditional outer ring contains the college’s Latin motto, In Christo omnia nova. The fact that both are rendered in Latin is indicative of the college’s link to the old and venerable western collegiate tradition, in which Latin long served as the language of the schools. The college’s motto, In Christo omnia nova, when directly translated from the Latin, means simply “in Christ all things new.”

Our Motto

In Christo omnia nova serves as the motto for Providence Christian College. Directly translated from the Latin it means simply “in Christ all things new,” though there is a lot packed into this little phrase without a verb. It derives biblical warrant from several passages in the New Testament that describe Jesus Christ’s reconciling work in the world (II Cor. 5:17; I Cor. 15:22; Col. 1:15-23; Rev. 21:5), and it serves as a constant reminder both of the work that Providence is about and the One who is accomplishing that work. At the core of our mission stands the fact that God is reconciling this fallen world to Himself through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ. This work begins with his redemption of sinners like us, and–in His time and by His power–extends to the restoration of a world that groans under the weight of our sin. At Providence, we are equipping students to know and trust in Christ’s redemptive work in their own lives, to embrace the truths of His word well-articulated in the Reformed confessions, and to work out the implications of those truths for every dimension of life as they move on to faithfully pursue their callings in this world.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees includes members from a variety of Reformed denominations who share a commitment to confessional Christian higher education. These trustees come from a variety of geographic areas and backgrounds. For more information about joining the Board, please contact the Office of Advancement at 626.696.4000.

Current Providence Board Members

Steve Bloemhof • Shafter, CA

Duane Bulthuis • Ripon, CA

Brad Burke • Poway, CA

Julie Bussis • Manhattan, MT

Jim Den Ouden • Bellflower, CA

Wiliam Godfrey • Escondido, CA

Doreane Huizenga • Ontario, CA

John Jansen • Chino, CA

Steven Kortenhoeven • Denver, CO

Ellen Korthuis • Lynden, WA

Shelli Lundgren • San Marcos, CA

Dayan Mathai • Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Lawrence McHargue • South Pasadena, CA

Benjamin Robblee • Corona, CA

Rev. Dr. Timothy Scheuers • Chino, CA

Mike Struiksma • Artesia, CA

Geoffrey Vanden Heuvel • Tulare, CA

Henry Vander Stelt • Kuna, ID

Rev. Garry Vanderveen • Langley, BC

Ronald Verhoeven • Corcoran, CA

Richard Westra • Tulare, CA

Creeds & Confessions

The Three Forms of Unity

Heidelberg Catechism
Canons of Dordrecht
Belgic Confession

The Westminster Standards

Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Larger Catechism
Westminster Shorter Catechism

Ecumenical Creeds of the Church

Apostles’ Creed
Nicene Creed
Athanasian Creed

The Providence Campus

Providence Christian College is located in the heart of the Playhouse District in Old Pasadena, California. Founded in 1874, Pasadena is a world-class city renowned for its sublime architecture, historical legacy, and thriving cultural community. From its romantic civic buildings, monumental churches, and illustrious art museums, to its burgeoning entertainment, shopping, and dining, Pasadena provides an illuminating environment for our students to mature both academically and spiritually.

Main Campus

Providence’s main campus is located in a beautiful cathedral at the intersection of East Walnut Street and Los Robles Avenue in Old Pasadena (two blocks north of Colorado Boulevard). Originally built in 1928, this breathtaking church was designed in a Gothic Revival style that reflects the glorious economic and religious optimism of the early 20th century. In 2018, the City of Pasadena’s Historic Preservation Commission designated Providence’s main campus building as a landmark due its world-class architectural design and historical significance.

Witherspoon Hall

Each week, students gather together for chapel in Witherspoon Hall, named after Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, the great Scottish Presbyterian Reformed pastor who emigrated to the U.S. in 1768 and became one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America. Witherspoon believed that all truth, wherever it could be found, was God’s truth. Thus, he encouraged young Christians to faithfully study the word of God, while examining all facets of science, history, literature, philosophy, and political theory to learn more about the Lord and his creation, and to discern the error in rival narratives or world views.

Providence Classrooms

Within Witherspoon Hall, Providence students attend lectures in various classrooms named after pivotal historical American, international, and Reformed Christian figures. The James Madison Parlor, Abraham Lincoln Parlor, C.S. Lewis Lecture Hall, Dorothy Sayers Room, and the Alexis de Tocqueville lounge are just a few of the rooms where our students become firmly grounded in biblical truth and thoroughly educated in the liberal arts.

Ten Boom Library

Named after the historic Dutch Holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom, the Providence library houses hundreds of research books, journals, and other scholastic publications. In addition, the library offers private study spaces, as well as a knowledgeable library staff that is dedicated to helping students find the right resources materials for their academic endeavors.

Academic Resources Center

Providence offers quiet study spaces in the The Academic Resource Center (ARC). Here, students are given the opportunity to work collectively on class projects, or one-on-one with a professional writing tutor.

Admissions Lounge

Upon visiting Providence for the first time, you will enjoy the warm, relaxing atmosphere of our Admissions Lounge. Here, you will learn more about Providence and receive additional materials about our college, as well as a guided tour of the campus from one of our friendly counselors.

Ambrose Café

Ambrose Cafe is just one block away from the Providence campus and has become a popular hangout spot for Providence students and faculty. This modern cafe is an ideal place for coffee, fellowship, grab-and-go food, and a study space from early morning to late at night.

New School of Cooking

The Pasadena New School of Cooking is just a few blocks away from the main Providence campus. From culinary cuisine to pastries and baked goods, the New School of Cooking and offers healthy, affordable, world-class cafeteria meal options for Providence students.

The Refectory

Located within the Fuller Theological Seminary greenbelt, Providence students are also able to dine at The Refectory, which provides additional cafeteria meal options, as well as a relaxing outdoor seating area.

Providence Village

The Providence Village features a row of four newly renovated city apartments, designed exclusively for Providence students. These apartments are within walking distance of the main Providence campus.

Student Apartments

All student housing includes bedrooms, a kitchen, a large living room, and appliances (such as a stove, washer, and dryer). Most housing also provides a gated parking space for each student.

Graduation & Commencement

COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND
The formal commencement exercises for the Class of 2023 will take place in person to celebrate their achievements and resilience. Please mark your calendars for the weekend of May 12-13, 2023.

Senior Celebration: Friday, May 12, 2023 @ 7 PM
Location: The Cove, Providence Campus
Details: Presentations, Charge, and Dinner / 2 Guest Maximum (unless additionals were reserved)
Address: 464 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101

Commencement: Saturday, May 13, 2023 @ 10:00 AM
Location: Witherspoon Sanctuary, Providence Campus
Time: Doors open at 9:35 AM for family and guests; graduates must arrive at 8:00 AM Address: 464 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Live Stream: www.facebook.com/ProvidenceCC/
Expected Duration: 70 – 90 minutes

Note: We can no longer accommodate requests for additional guests for Friday’s celebration dinner. There are no ticket limitations for Saturday’s commencement exercises.

We will keep graduates updated with additional information as it becomes available.

PARKING
Arrive early, as parking options will fill up quickly. Carpool, if able. There is limited parking in the Providence Los Robles St. parking lot on the south side of the church building. Please note that Pasadena street parking is limited to 2 hours only.
Additional paid parking (rates vary) may be found at:

Public Parking Garage
100 N Los Robles Ave

The Westin
384 Union St.

Courthouse Lot
200 N. Euclid St. Lot

DIPLOMAS
All 2023 bachelor’s degree recipients will receive their diplomas via USPS after academic completion has been verified and final grades have been posted in late May/early June. The Registrar’s Office will contact graduates via email to validate mailing addresses for diplomas. Diplomas are expected to be ready for pickup or mailing in July.

FERPA Notification

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 establishes the rights of students with regard to educational records. The act makes provision for inspection, review and amendment of educational records by the students and requires, in most instances, prior consent from the student for disclosure of such records to third parties. The consent must be in writing, signed and dated by the student. The act applies to all persons formerly and currently enrolled at an educational institution. Access to educational records does not give permission to make changes to the student’s record. For more information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

The College maintains two types of student education records: directory information and other student records. Directory information is considered public information and may be released by the College upon request, in accordance with existing law. Any student who does not wish directory information released must submit the appropriate documentation indicating such with the Registrar’s Office. Details about directory information may be found on the Registrar’s page of the Providence website.

The policy, found below, can be obtained through the Registrar’s Office or viewed in the Academic Handbook. Questions concerning the Act may be referred to the Office of the Registrar.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) was designed to transfer parental “rights” to their “adult” children when they enroll in college and, therein, protect the privacy of education records and provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Questions about FERPA should be referred to the Office of Registrar.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

(1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.
A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.
If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

(3) The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The College discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.Upon request, the College also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

Providence designates the following categories of student information as public or “directory information.” The College reserves the right to disclose such information at its discretion, unless requested not to in writing by the student. Requests are to be filed with the Registrar’s Office prior to September 15 each year, or February 1 for students entering the College in the spring semester.

Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, dates of attendance, class, photograph.
Previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, awards, scholarships, honors, degrees conferred (including dates).
Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities, physical factors (height and weight of athletes), date and place of birth.
Home and local/student church membership, including church denomination.

Providence Christian College intends to uphold both the letter and spirit of FERPA, while at the same time upholding Biblical relationships and responsibilities of the family. As general practice, the College does not inform parents and other students of disciplinary action taken toward students. However, the College encourages students to communicate openly and honestly with their parents about disciplinary matters. Even though students are legally and morally responsible for their conduct, the College also recognizes the concern of parents for the welfare of their children. Thus, the College reserves the right to notify parents under the following conditions:

Medical treatment or psychiatric examination required to meet emergencies or to maintain one’s status as a student.
Misconduct that is of such a nature that the student is in danger of suspension or expulsion.
Extended absence or withdrawal from the College.

Title IX

In compliance with Title IX, Providence Christian College is required to publish materials used for training Title IX of coordinators, investigators, decision-makers, and other individuals.

U.S. Department of Education Training Materials

Office of Civil Right’s Center for Outreach, Prevention, Education, and Non-discrimination (OPEN Center) is pleased to release its latest webinar explaining how colleges and schools can comply with the Department’s anti-discrimination laws and regulations, including OCR’s new Title IX Rule, while fully safeguarding constitutionally protected speech.

Husch-Blackwell LLP Training Materials

Title IX & Sexual Harassment Response

The Christian Life

LBS 101

This course is designed to introduce students to the great writers and thinkers of the Reformed tradition. Students will consider and apply key philosophical and theological terms, and will engage in discussions that help them form a comprehensive and cohesive worldview that guides their Christian life. Topics will include the importance of faith for learning, a proper understanding of creation-fall-redemption in redemptive history, the Kingdom of God, the Lordship of Christ, and the relationship between Christ and culture.

COURSE PREVIEW

COURSE SAMPLE

View the Course Summary

Course Instructor

B.A. Arizona State University
M.A. Baylor University
Ph.D. Baylor University

Dr. David E. Alexander

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Dr. David E. Alexander is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Providence Christian College. In 2008, he received the Ph.D. in philosophy from Baylor University after receiving his M.A. in philosophy from Baylor University and his B.A. in philosophy from Arizona State University. He has been a Visiting Professor of Philosophy at both Madras Christian College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and Liaocheng University in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China. He has published articles in philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and the history of philosophy. To date, he has published two books Goodness, God, and Evil and Calvinism and the Problem of Evil (with Daniel Johnson). Prior to coming to PCC, Dr. Alexander held faculty positions at Huntington University in Indiana and Calvin College in Michigan. He and his wife regularly take students to India where they learn about Indian culture and history.

Dr. Alexander’s wife, Genevieve, is one of the Residential Directors at PCC. They have two children, Julian and Angel. They are excited to find a Reformed Church in the area. Dr. Alexander loves music (especially hip-hop) and skateboarding, and is excited to start surfing again.

CONTACT

Providence Academics

WITHERSPOON SCHOLARS PROGRAM

This program embodies the highest aspirations for a true Christ-centered, Classical Liberal Arts education. Witherspoon Scholars are awarded a generous 75% scholarship, and receive a fully-funded excursion between their Junior and Senior years.

CONCENTRATION: EDU – EDUCATION

The Education concentration at Providence Christian College is designed to equip students to teach from a distinctly Christian perspective, while providing opportunities to observe and serve in local schools under the mentoring guidance of Christian teachers.

CONCENTRATION: BTS – BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

The Biblical and Theological Studies concentration at Providence Christian College equips students to meet contemporary challenges, and to understand the difference theology makes for Bible teaching, missions, counseling, social work, international relief and refugee work, as well as for graduate study in those fields.

CONCENTRATION: BEE – BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Through the BEE concentration, Providence Christian College prepares graduates to be innovators and leaders within an interconnected, dynamic economy, able to work expertly, confidently, and ethically at every stage of their career.

CONCENTRATION: HLS – HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

Providence Christian College’s Health and Life Science Concentration exists to prepare students interested in the fields of Physical or Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Pre-Med programs, Athletic Training or Exercise Science and Nutrition.

COURSE SAMPLE: HUM 115 – AMERICAN CIVILIZATION & CULTURE

In this lecture, we learn of the true and corrupt forms of government, what types of government are attainable for all, what are suitable given particular circumstances, and what is the best form of government by examining the political reality of the one, the few, and the many.

Providence Campus Life

CAMPUS TOUR

Take a virtual tour of the Providence campus in beautiful Old Town Pasadena, California!

MY COLLEGE LIFE

One of the great joys of the Providence experience is the lasting friendships you’ll make, the places you’ll explore together, and the laughs and tears you’ll share with each other as you grow. Visit our campus to experience our living, learning community.

STUDENT LIFE: APARTMENTS

Providence students live in fully furnished apartment buildings within a block of our main campus, affording them the opportunity to enjoy communal living with oversight provided by on-site resident life staff.

STUDENT LIFE: CALIFORNIA

Providence is less than 15 miles from countless iconic landmarks like the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood, Universal Studios, downtown Los Angeles, Staples Center, Hollywood Bowl, and only a short Metro ride to Santa Monica beach pier.

STUDENT LIFE: FACULTY

The faculty at Providence are extremely accessible, investing in the comprehensive education of our students, inside and outside of the classroom.

STUDENT EVENT: RESURGAM

Each year the Providence student body takes part in a campus-wide academic, artistic and athletic competition. Cohorts compete for the coveted Witherspoon Cup!

STUDENT EVENT: SEA BEGGAR WEEKEND

Sea Beggar Weekend, often combined with Homecoming, is a fun-filled event in which students partake in games, food and fellowship.

STUDENT EVENT: PIET HEIN AWARDS

Inspired by the Oscars, this popular film-festival includes students walking the red carpet, prior to an awards ceremony for the best student-produced films.

STUDENT EVENT: THE BEGGAR SHOW

If you have hidden talents, the Providence Beggar Show is for you! Whether you sing, dance or perform a skit, the Beggar Show allows you to showcase your gift.

Providence Distinctives

GROUNDED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH

As a confessionally Reformed Christian college, we believe that God’s Word is the source of true wisdom and understanding.

EDUCATED IN THE CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS

A Providence education is rooted in the Classical Liberal Arts—an immersive study of God’s common grace found in the richness of the Western intellectual tradition.

PREPARED TO BE VIRTUOUS CITIZENS

Providence embraces the aspirational ideals of Western Civilization: love of liberty and neighbor, public and private morality, human and societal flourishing.

WITHERSPOON SCHOLARS PROGRAM

American Civilization & Culture

HUM 115

This course unfolds the history of the American regime through a careful study of key public documents, speeches, literary works, films, and other cultural artifacts. Special attention is given to the colonial antecedents of the American republic, the principles and practice of the founding generation, controversies among the second and third generations of American statesmen over slavery, and the democratization and the reconceptualization of the American regime that paved the way for the introduction of Pragmatism, Pluralism, Progressivism, Imperialism, and the growth of the American administrative state. The course closes with a discussion of the nature and trajectory of the twenty-first century American regime.

Watch a Course Sample

View the Course Summary

Course Instructor

B.A. and M.A. University of New Hampshire
Ph.D. Boston University

Dr. David Corbin

Professor of Politics

Dr. David Corbin has taught political philosophy, American politics, international relations and politics & literature at the University of New Hampshire, Boston University, and The King’s College over two decades. While at The King’s College, he served as Dean of their school of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, during a three-year period when the college doubled its enrollment.

Dr. Corbin graduated from the University of New Hampshire Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science in 1993, earned his MA in Political Science at the University of New Hampshire in 1995, before receiving his PhD in Political Science at Boston University in 2005. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society.

Dr. Corbin has participated in numerous academic and civic endeavors, including serving a term in the New Hampshire State Legislature (1998-2000), involvement in the Henry Salvatori Fellows program at the Heritage Foundation (1998), the study of liberty and literature at the Liberty Fund (1999), touring Switzerland with a delegation of 20 outstanding young American diplomats to further American-Swiss relations in the summer of 2000, as a candidate for the governorship of New Hampshire in 2002, his appointment as the 2007-2008 Julius Stratton Adams fellow by the Friends of Switzerland, Boston, and as a Lehrman Institute Fellow in 2010.

Dr. Corbin has written a book on Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War (VDM, 2009) and co-authored Keeping Our Republic: Principles for a Political Reformation (Resource Publications, 2011) and A Readers Guide to Aristotle’s Politics (Continuum, 2009). He is currently working on a manuscript titled Shakespeare’s Prince on a comparative study of Shakespeare and Machiavelli’s understanding of statesmanship. Dr. Corbin’s analysis of political, cultural and social trends has appeared in the Investor’s Business Daily, The New York Times, The Washington Times, the Associated Press, First Things “First Thoughts”, Radio Free Europe, the French News Agency, New Hampshire Public Broadcasting, New England Cable News, and WCVB’s “Chronicle,” along with various other news organizations on the East Coast.

He and his wife Catie have five children: Alexander, Catherine, Patrick, Eliza, and Jack.

CONTACT

B.A. Azusa Pacific University
M.S. California State University, Fullerton
Ph.D. Rocky Mountain University (in progress)

Kelly Franks

Visiting Professor of Health and Life Science

As a graduate from both California State University Fullerton (Master of Science, Clinical Exercise Science) and Azusa Pacific University (Bachelor of Arts in Athletic Training), Kelly brings her passion and enthusiasm as an allied health care professional to the Health and Life Science Program here at Providence Christian College. As a professor and certified athletic trainer, Kelly has served as both an educator and a clinician at the high school and collegiate levels. Catalyzing change, she has thoroughly enjoyed adding to program development at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and is passionate about educating young adults and guiding them to be the best possible versions of themselves academically, spiritually, and socially. She is currently enrolled in Rocky Mountain University’s Limited Residency PhD Program in Health Sciences with a specialization in Athletic Training. Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, dabbling into photography, and traveling.

CONTACT

B.A. Arizona State University
M.A. Baylor University
Ph.D. Baylor University

Dr. David E. Alexander

Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Academics, and Associate Professor of Philosophy

CONTACT

A special message from A. Michael Kiledjian, Vice President for Advancement, regarding the mission of Providence Christian College.

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ABOUT US

Providence Christian College

MISSION

Who we are

DISTINCTIVES

What we teach

HISTORY

of Providence

FOUNDING DOCUMENTS

Statement of Purpose

CREEDS & CONFESSIONS

What we believe

SEA BEGGARS

Our College Mascot

NAME, SEAL & MOTTO

In Christo omnia nova

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

of Providence

HISTORIC CAMPUS

in Pasadena, California

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Dawn Dirksen

A. Michael Kiledjian

Dr. David E. Alexander

Pete Hamstra

BRIAN DeHAAN

Elijah Villafana

Paul Jimenez

Mark Pomerville

Dr. Benjamin M. Austin

Elizabeth Siri

Geoffrey Kwok

Lorraine Ruiz

Ashley Becker

Search

Our Distinctives

1.) GROUNDED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH

2.) EDUCATED IN THE CLASSICAL LIBERAL ARTS

3.) PREPARED TO BE VIRTUOUS CITIZENS

The History of

PROVIDENCE

Our Purpose

Preamble to the bylaws

Preface

Introduction

Section I: Basis

Section II: Mandate

Section III: Organization

Section IV: Content

Creeds & Confessions

We confess and affirm:

The Three Forms of Unity

The Westminster Standards

Ecumenical Creeds of the Church

The Sea Beggar

The Saga of the Sea Beggar

Folk Inspiration

On College Nicknames

Sea Beggars Rule!

The Name, Seal & Motto of

PROVIDENCE

Our Name

Our Seal

Our Motto

Board of Trustees

Current Providence Board Members

Creeds & Confessions

The Three Forms of Unity

The Westminster Standards

Ecumenical Creeds of the Church

The Providence Campus

Main Campus

Witherspoon Hall

Providence Classrooms

Ten Boom Library

Academic Resources Center

Admissions Lounge

Ambrose Café

New School of Cooking

The Refectory