Dr. Drake Levasheff

How can we not describe our society’s current situation as something of a liminal space?! We feel vulnerable and don’t know what is ahead. There are labor pains. The dramatic changes we are experiencing make us uneasy and knock us off our feet. Physically, economically, and socially, we are at risk. All of us have […]

Mt. San Jacinto College has offered ESL and GED courses in the region for some time, but their purchase of the Abbott building in Temecula precipitated a change for their Adult Education Programs. The move led the institution to adjust course offerings in Temecula, so Program Director Amy Campbell took advantage of the opportunity and […]

It was a thoughtful discussion with valuable insights and highlights. Mayor Zimmerman’s passion for education was apparent. He expressed desire that students develop a greater understanding of technology as they prepared for the workforce. His observations and questions helped foster an energetic conversation; we can be thankful that he convened this meeting and is invested […]

Others express frustration on the cumbersome nature of their organization’s process or the time commitment involved. A precious few leaders I know truly value reviews and have learned how to leverage them for results. But the frequent resistance is surprising to me since I have come to see candid conversations about performance and value to […]

But my favorite Christmas film of all time has to be It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart. I spent my junior high years soaking in that ageless classic every Christmas and have ever since had a soft spot in my heart for George Bailey, the movie’s protagonist. What’s not to love about the character, […]

As I reflect on all these things, gratitude bubbles up within me. Indeed, Thanksgiving is good both for what the time does within me and to what it calls me. Everything surrounding the holiday evokes gratitude, but I need reminders to choose gratitude. Recently, I have also been reminded of how important gratitude is for […]

It has been almost eleven months since California’s deadliest wildfire struck the tiny town of Paradise claiming the lives of 85 people and decimating the town. As residents pick up the pieces, Azusa Pacific University and their partners hope to help the people of Paradise rise! After hearing of the devastation that the 153,226 acre […]

Like most local educational institutions, Azusa Pacific University started classes in August. In this season, my mind invariably goes back to my own educational journey, how it transformed me, and what it took to make it to the end. So, without further ado, here are fifteen tips for those beginning a college degree. Remind yourself […]

Some of us may desire to be famous, but hearing what fame ended up costing Michael Jordan was sobering to me. Countless challenges came with his celebrity, but the greatest may have been the way it isolated him. In order to insulate himself from the constant advances of fans, the basketball superstar surrounded himself with […]

However, my interest in continuous improvement hasn’t always been appreciated at home. In fact, it’s safe to say that this characteristic is one of my wife and daughter’s least favorite things about me. On one hand, my twelve-year-old daughter gets irritated when I tell her how the dishes should be done. (Which is a bummer, […]