Steve Pawluk became Provost of La Sierra University in July 2010.  Previously, he served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Administration and Leadership in the University’s School of Education.  Before joining the faculty of La Sierra University in June 2007, Dr. Pawluk served as Senior Vice President for Academic Administration at Southern Adventist University. Before going to Southern Adventist University, he was Professor of Education and Dean of the School of Education and Psychology at Walla Walla College (now University). Dr. Pawluk has had wide-ranging experience as Superintendent of Schools and Youth Director of the Montana Conference of  Seventh-day Adventists, as a pastor and speaker on a daily radio program on a local country and western station, as an academy teacher, and as a reserve police officer, welder, licensed contractor, and door-to-door cutlery salesman.

Dr. Pawluk holds a Doctorate in Education from Montana State University, an M.A. degree in Religion from Loma Linda University, and a B.A. in Theology from the La Sierra Campus of Loma Linda University. In 2004, he was named a leadership fellow by the Milton Murray Foundation for Philanthropy.  This allowed him to complete a summer institute at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

Dr. Pawluk was awarded the Thomas and Violet Excellence in Teaching Award for his innovative teaching at Walla Walla College, the Community Service Award from the city of Walla Walla, where he was actively involved in public service, a Keep My Fires Burning: Tribute to Storytellers and Elders Pendleton blanket for support of Native Americans in higher education, and the Por apoyar la educatión in Bolivia citation for his work with Universidad Adventista de Bolivia.

Dr. Pawluk holds a commercial pilot license and a current instrument rating and is curious about a wide variety of topics.  He has redesigned a portion of the back yard at his Riverside home to be a cactus and succulent garden in order to conserve water.  His wife, Carol, is an elementary school music teacher.  They have two adult children—a son and a daughter and a new grandson.