Contact Union

402.486.2600
ucinfo@ucollege.edu

3800 S. 48th St.
Lincoln, NE 68506 USA

Enrollment Services

402.235.5529
enroll@ucollege.edu
Admissions homepage

Alumni/Giving

402.486.2503
alumni@ucollege.edu
Advancement homepage

Personnel directory
×
×

Union College Union College – Experience the Spirit

Union College – Experience the Spirit

Union College – Experience the Spirit

About
  • About Union College
    • About Seventh-day Adventists
    • Accreditation
    • College Symbols
    • Consumer Information
    • Employment
    • Employee Resources (login)
    • Mission and Vision
    Connect with Union
    • News from Union College
    • Contact Us

  • College Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Employee Directory
  • Lincoln, Nebraska, a great place to learn
    • things to do,
    • places to eat,
    • where to stay
  • Campus map / Google Maps
  • map of Union College campus
Academics
  • Academic Divisions
  • Academic Support
    • Computer labs
    • Career Center
    • Library
    • Records Office
    • Studio for Writing and Speaking
    • Teaching Learning Center
  • Union Scholars honors program
  • Find majors and programs
    • Arts
    • Business
    • Health care
    • Humanities
    • Natural sciences
    • Pre-law options
    • Pre-medical, dental and pharmacy
    • Public and social services
    • Religion
    • Social sciences
    • Technology and math
  • Information and resources
    • Academic bulletin
    • Academic calendar
      Class schedules
      Final exam schedules
    • Accommodations and accessibility
      • Services for students with disabilites
    • Graduation information
    • Transcript request
Alumni
Stay connected to Union
    • Join us for Homecoming!
      • April 2-5, 2020
    • News from Union College
    • Read CORDmagazine
    • Watch live events
    • Find event photos on Facebook
    • Update your info and share news
    • Read Pastor Rich's daily devotionals
  • Advancement Office
  • Ways to give
    • Give online
    • Planned giving
    • More giving opportunities
  • Request transcripts
    (via Parchment)
  • Explore our history
    • Clocktower archive (1927-2010)
    • Educational Messenger (1905-1926)
    • Library photo collections
Campus Life
  • Student Life Office
    • About the Student Life Office
    • Residence Halls
    • Campus apartments
    • Find clubs on uGroups

  • Athletics
    • Varsity calendar
    • High school tournaments
  • Campus Ministries
    • Upcoming events
    • Good Morning Union
    • International Volunteers and Taskforce
    • Project Impact
    • Watch worship services on uTV
  • Services for campus
    • Campus Health
    • Campus Safety
    • Campus Store
    • Career Center
    • Information Systems
    • Integrated Marketing Communications
    • Library
    • Student Employment
    • Plant Services
    • Accessibility Services
    • Union Market
Community
  • Services for our community
    • George Stone Elementary School
    • Guest Services at the Ortner Center
      • Guest rooms
      • Meeting spaces
      • Reservations
    • Union Market Dining Services
  •  
    • Larson Lifestyle Center
      • Become a member
      • Facility rental and parties
      • Swimming lessons
    • Library
      • Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society
  • Events for our community
    • Athletics
      • Athletic calendar
    • Arts and performance calendar
Parents
  • Prospective parent links
    • Why Union students succeed
    • Finding a calling: read examples
    • Financing a Christian education
      • Scholarships and financial aid
      • Tuition
      • Financial FAQ
      • Financial checklist
      • Financial aid forms
      • Contact Student Financial Services
    • Help plan a campus visit
    • Learn about Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Current parent links
    • Services for parents
      • Order a Party Pack
      • Order LifeSavors
      • Make a payment online
    • Events
      • Parents Weekend (Oct. 11-13, 2019)
      • Graduation (May 3-5, 2019)
      • Watch uTV
      • See photos on Facebook
Thumbnail of the Boones. Watch: parents share how Union helped their daughter find her calling.
Thumbnail of Pastor Rich Carlson. Watch: the 5 biggest decisions in life.
Prospective Students
  • Admissions Office
    • Apply online
    • Union's guarantee
    • Plan your campus visit

  • Financial information
    • Scholarships
    • Costs
    • Financial FAQ
    • Net price calculator
    • Financial aid forms
    • Student Financial Services
  • Learn more about Union
    • Residence Halls
    • See our majors and programs
    • Follow us on Instagram

  • Checklists
    • After you're accepted
    • Financial clearance
    • International students
    • Transfer students
Thumbnail of Mary with play button. Union inspired Mary to excel in nursing and gain spiritual confidence.
Thumbnail of Joslyn with a play button. When a letter arrived from a little Nebraska college, Joslyn heard God calling.
April 25, 2016

Interview with Union Teacher, Christina Burden

Christina Burden
Christina Burden, professor of Science and Mathematics and Physician Assistant program faculty.

Upon completing a doctorate in neuroscience, Christina Burden joined the the Division of Science and Mathematics and Physician Assistant program faculty this school year to teach life sciences. With a deep love of biology, Burden is eager to begin teaching, with memories of her own student days not far behind.

Union: Welcome to Union College. You’ve replaced Frankie Rose in the biology department after he was named vice president for Academic Administration. Why are you passionate about teaching biology?

Burden: Thank you. Though the biological world has always fascinated me, it was in college that I realized my love for biology in an academic sense—through my general biology courses and the opportunity to participate in research the summer after my freshman year. From those experiences I decided that biology and research needed to be a part of my career. I started working as a teaching assistant and substitute teacher as a sophomore in college and fell in love with teaching college level biology. From then on, I knew I wanted to get my doctorate and become a biology professor. Getting to help others learn about the biological world, especially the beauty of the human body is, in my opinion, the best job I can imagine.

Union: I understand you finished your doctoral studies this past school year. Where did you go to school and what did you study?

Burden: For my undergraduate and master’s degrees I attended Andrews University and studied biology and behavioral ecology. This summer, I completed my PhD in neuroscience from Arizona State University.

Union: Why do you love teaching?

Burden: I love getting to communicate the fascinating stories that comprise biology in a way that engages students. I also love seeing the academic transformation that occurs when my students begin to understand the stories of how a biological system works instead of just trying to memorize their way through my courses. And, I love getting to know the students and helping them along their life journey in any way I can.

Union: Even though you’ve been here a short time, what is your most memorable event at Union?

Burden: I have been here for only a month, but in that time my coworkers have surprised me with celebrations of my arrival and completion of my doctorate, which made me feel very welcomed and valued.

Union: What do you like best about Union so far?

Burden: I think the campus is pretty and the people are friendly and supportive. That makes for a very nice work environment.

Union: Can you tell me a little about your family?

Burden: Right now I am single, so my close family consists of my parents, siblings, and their families. My mother, an OB, nursery, NICU, and flight nurse; younger sister, a dental assistant; and their significant others live in Kalispell, Mont. My father and his wife live in Ronan, Mont. My older brother who works with the Air Force in Tactical Air Control lives in Clarksville, Tenn., with his wife, son, and daughter. And, my younger brother, a fourth-year medical student, lives in Loma Linda, Calif., with his wife, two daughters, and soon-to-be-born son.

Union: Where do you hope you’ll be in five to ten years?

Burden: For the rest of my career I plan to keep working as a biology professor at liberal arts colleges or teaching universities where I can primarily teach, but also have a small research lab. For the next five years I envision that this will be here at Union. After that, who knows where God may send me. Through it all I will continue seeking to be where God wants me to be and be doing what He wants me to do, no matter where that takes me or what job He gives me next. And, at some point I would like to live and work outside of the United States for an extended period of time, if that is part of God’s plan for my life.

Union: Out of all the schools where you could have taught, why did you choose Union?

Burden: I chose to come to Union because I want to be at a smaller college/university that is focused on quality teaching. The combined position between the Division of Science and Mathematics and the PA program gives me the opportunity to work with both undergraduate and graduate students as well as gain greater exposure to clinical applications of the biology I have been studying. And I wanted to be closer to my family than my other option for employment this year would have allowed.

Union: What is something you’d like all of your new students to know?

Burden: God has a life journey in mind for you. It will not likely be a direct journey, since all the detours and long circuitous paths are all His way of helping you become what He envisions for you. So, seek Him and this life journey He has planned above all else. Do not get discouraged if he leads you on some big detours or if you wander off on your own detours. Just keep asking Him to guide you and show you where He wants you to go and what He wants you to learn. You will find that this journey with Him is an adventure unlike anything you could ever have imagined.

By Elizabeth Bearden

Media contact:

Ryan Teller
Director of Public Relations
402.486.2538
ryan.teller@ucollege.edu

Footer – About/Contact

Union College

... is an accredited, Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning in Lincoln, Nebraska since 1891.

  • Learn about Union
  • Consumer Information
  • Employment
  • Website privacy policy

Contact us

ucinfo@ucollege.edu | 402.486.2600
3800 South 48th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68506 USA

Footer – Campus systems

Personnel Directory

Employee directory and biographies.

Peanut Gallery

Student directory.

Portal

Register for classes, see grades, make a payment and more.

Moodle

Participate in classes, online.

Footer – Campus systems 2

Library

Access resources and find your study spot.

Calendars

Events | Academic and Class Schedule.

uGroups

Connect and communicate with campus.

Good Morning Union

A devotional thought for every school day.

Footer – Column 4

 

Apply

$

Affordability

Academic Programs

 

Get directions

Ranked top tier by US News
Illustration of buildings in Lincoln along with Union's VW Bus
 
News ...
  • News from Union College
  • VIDEO: Taking a hands-on path to med school
  • Registration for spring semester 2020 now open
  • VIDEO: Flipping over Union
  • Jose Rojas to speak at Union, Nov. 14-16
  • IRR recognized with ServeNebraska Step Forward Award
  • VIDEO: Following a passion for music at Union College
  • College can’t be all about classwork
  • Celebrate fall with the Division of Fine Arts
  • Collegedale wins 2019 Fall Tournament
  • VIDEO: uGather emphasizes community
  • How to be a wellness warrior
  • Fall Tournament 2019 rules and info
  • Home
  • About Union College
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Advancement Office
  • Campus Ministries
  • Campus Services
  • Services for Parents
  • Student Life