Yami Bazan, Ph.D. comes to Lincoln from Loma Linda University in California where she served in the School of Medicine as the associate dean of Student Affairs. Union Adventist University's 30th president brings more than 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator and minister.
Bazan's career began in elementary schools, first teaching sixth grade at Mesa Grande Academy and then third graders in Redlands Unified School District. As a teacher, she advocated for bilingual education, secured funding and volunteers for after-school meals and tutoring for students with housing and food insecurities, and saw an increase in test scores across all of her students.
While teaching, her heart was drawn to ministry. She collaborated with Bible teachers at Seventh-day Adventist schools across the Southeastern California Conference to create a student-led week of prayer. It became an annual event, and the experience led to the God's Road Rules Mission Trip: a year spent traveling across North America training Bible teachers and student leaders.
Following her year on the road, the Southeast California Conference called Bazan to serve first as a youth specialist then associate youth director, spearheading creative and diverse youth ministries, including organizing Bible camps for public school students, regional youth rallies and mission trips. Ever the educator, she also developed curriculum for church leaders to conduct effective youth ministry. During this period, she completed her Master of Arts in Administration and Leadership at La Sierra University.
In 2007, Bazan was surprised by a call back to education. She became vice president of Student Life at her alma mater. At La Sierra University, she oversaw 10 student service departments, ranging from athletics and counseling to security, spiritual life and student government. Her many achievements during these 14 years include reimagining student discipline with grace-led interventions and wellness education-centered recovery, working with the Computer Science Department to launch an institutional app, hosting social events that have now become traditions, and increasing athletic participation from 42 walk-on students to 250+ athletes recruited for nine sports.
While at La Sierra University, she completed her doctorate in educational leadership from Andrews University and helped launch La Sierra's Master's in Student Life and Development. She taught several graduate-level education courses for the School of Education in addition to a first year seminar for new college students.
In 2021, she moved to Loma Linda University School of Medicine. As associate dean for Student Affairs, she served as a connector and liaison for institutional support while creating a culture of caring and expanding resources for students.
In her ministry, Bazan relies on the love and support of her husband, Daniel. Their son, also named Daniel, is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley.
Whether working as a teacher, preacher or administrator, Bazan has demonstrated a life-long commitment to building inclusive and caring communities deeply connected to the Divine. Her life and work are reflections of Union's motto taken from John 6:45, "They all shall be taught of God."