Upon the departure from campus of President Henry Klooster in 1945, the Pacific Union College Board of Trustees turned to the college’s academic dean, Percy W. Christian, to serve as the fifth PUC president on the Angwin campus.

A friendly man of genuine sociability and much persuasive ability and with a nice sense of academic balance, Dr. Christian continued the changes in social practices that had already begun, though not without some lively contests in faculty meetings between those who felt shifts in interpretation were desirable and overdue, and those who felt change was a betrayal of school standards.

President Christian’s administration had to contend with the largest enrollments that would be seen on Howell Mountain until the 1960s, and the consequent expansion of the faculty and the building program. He successfully met each of the many challenges that came at a time of accelerated growth of PUC.

Having written a brief but notable record of success in leading Pacific Union College forward, Dr. Christian in 1950 accepted an invitation to become president of Emmanuel Missionary College.