CABL Sponsor/Mentor
The CABL Sponsor and/or Mentor work together with the CABL Student Advocate to facilitate CABL programs on the campus. The Sponsor/Mentor is a vital part of the advocate’s personal growth and contributes significantly to their success.
Responsibilities of the Sponsor/Mentor include:
- Advising the advocate on policies and procedures relevant to organizing and running on campus programming, including advertising and reporting to the school calendar
- Providing encouragement and support to the student advocate
- On-boarding of new student advocates and supporting transitions
- Providing financial support for CABL programs through the appropriate campus funds
- Signing all semester CABL reports
- Serving as CABL liaison to campus Administration and other authoritative bodies as needed
- Maintaining contact with the CABL Coordinator as needed
Campus Sponsors
DonnaLee was born in Saskatchewan, Canada but also claims residency in Alberta, Ontario, California, and Colorado. The chosen career paths completed at Loma Linda University with a BSc in Occupational Therapy and an MPH in Public Health, Health Education. After working in the Occupational Therapy field and then working in her favourite career as full-time mom, DonnaLee taught at Burman University (formerly Canadian University College) for 18 years in Outward Pursuits and in Wellness. One of her popular classes, Health Screening and Basic Remedies, involved students in health evangelism seminars at local churches. Her interest in health education and global development, has given her and her husband Paul many opportunities to serve people worldwide. Places such as Nepal, Peru, Brazil, Mongolia, Swaziland, Laos, Vietnam, United States, and Canada. In September 2018, DonnaLee officially retired but continued to do contract teaching for another two years. CABL has been an important part of her service, as a faculty sponsor for 15 years which she continues to do even in retirement. Interests include serving on the ADRA Canada Board of Directors, travel, gardening and then preserving the bounty God gives, cooking, playing with her three grandchildren, and visiting her three grown children who live in Ontario, New Hampshire, and Germany.
Pekka Määttanen is an Assistant Professor of Biology with an interest in lifestyle and diet impacts on the microbiome and basic biochemistry of protein folding. He has a particular interest in mentoring students to be the healing hands and feet of Jesus through advocating the pillars of Adventist health rooted in scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy. While doing postdoctoral fellowships, Pekka maintained involvement in community health outreach initiatives with local churches, and also served as a Health Ministries/Bible Worker in the Man-Sask Conference. He finds his greatest joy in seeing individuals led to The Master Healer! Pekka is currently an elder at the Ponoka Seventh-Day Adventist Church and desires to see Isaiah 58 fulfilled in Adventist churches across the North American Division and all around the world!
Vashon Williams is a Professor in the Health and Exercise Science Department at Oakwood University where he has been a faculty member since 2016. Prior to working at Oakwood, Vashon spent three years at Washington Adventist University. He has been an educator, athletic director, and coach for over 20 years. Vashon has had the privilege to work at two of his alma matters, Takoma Academy where he served as the athletic director and physical health educator for over ten years and currently Oakwood University. Vashon completed his BS in Physical Education. He later went on to receive his Master of Science and his Ed.D. specializing in Sports Management.
Vashon never grows tried of pouring into his students as a teacher and coach. He is passionate about empowering students to be the best they can be. For the past seven years he has been a sponsor for CABL. He enjoys watching the CABL leaders take pride in developing their programs.
In his free time he enjoys gardening, being in nature, playing with his dog and spending time with family. He is married to Jahmela Williams and they have 3 boys, Jeffrey, Justin and Josiah.
Holly Jeske is the Sponsor for Pacific Union College Advocates for Better Living and is excited to have several students interested in applying to be Student Advocates. She works part time as PUC’s Coordinator for Student Wellness and a PUC Title IX Investigator, and also works at Adventist Health as a Chaplain. Her background in mental health/suicide prevention, combined with 11 years working in criminal justice, victim advocacy, and restorative justice, plus her love for sharing her certified therapy dog Osita with all who need some tangible unconditional love, make for a unique compassion and ministry to PUC Students, staff and the community.
Russ married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne, and has two children. While he enjoys hiking and camping, wake boarding and snowboarding, road and mountain biking, and ski boats and motorcycles, he is passionate about sharing Jesus with youth and young adults. He has pastored in Florida, Illinois, and Texas and currently is the Vice President for Spiritual Development at Southwestern Adventist University.