When he entered Pacific Union College as an aviation major in 1969, Jan Haluska had no intention of becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. He had grown up in a Christian home and had graduated from a military academy, but then had failed college twice, had spent three years in the army, and had followed a lifestyle leaving him on the verge of suicide. At that low point, he had decided to let God take over his life, and the path to P.U.C. opened up.

Students and faculty at Angwin influenced him profoundly, and God continued to guide. A few weeks after his graduation and baptism, he entered the English master’s program at Andrews University. Three years later, accompanied by his new wife, Marcia (formerly Opstad), he became English teacher and flight instructor at Georgia-Cumberland Academy.

After seven years he left G.C.A. to start work on his Ph.D. in English, joining the faculty at Southern College of Seventh-day Adventists. He taught at the institution until his retirement on June 1, 2014.

Dr. Haluska has received ongoing recognition of his teaching skill, including three Zapara Awards based on polls of Southern faculty and students, the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Distinguished Service Medallion.

He and Marcia have two grown sons and two grandsons.