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The best way for you to jump-start your college search process is to contact one of our counselors. They are eager to get to know you to help you find out if Hope is the school for you. Please email us, call us at (866) 722-HOPE or (866) 722-4673, and visit for a campus tour!
Counselor Name: Gary Burnett
Counselor Since: 2002
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Degree(s): B.G.S. with a minor in Broadcasting, Northern Arizona University
Serving: AZ, FL, GA, HI, IN, NM, NV, NC, OH, OK, SC, TX, CA: San Diego and Inland Empire
Advice to prospective students:
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God said that YOU are unique and an exact original. There is absolutely no need for a Xerox company in Heaven because God makes no copies. That is especially true of you! He has a unique purpose for your life waiting to be discovered. The average student will meander through college and attempt to pick a major several times. Then change it because they have not sought the Lord or examined their gifts, talents and passions. As your Admission Counselor, my goal is to help you discover your Unique purpose that God determined before you were born.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time with my church, my queen (my wife) and two young sons. I also am a Christian recording artist and an avid Laker and NBA fan! I also LOVE watching thinking movies!!
Contact Gary
Phone: (714) 879-3901 ext. 2290
Email: gcburnett@hiu.edu
Counselor Name: Lindsay Goff
Counselor Since: 2010
Hometown: Yucca Valley, CA
Degree(s): B.A. in Elementary Education, Hope International University
Serving: AL, AR, ID, LA, MS, MT, OR, WA, CA: Los Angeles County, South Orange County, portions of North Orange County, Northern CA and foreign countries
Advice to prospective students:
Never give up on your dreams. God gave you dreams and a passion to fulfill them with his help. Psalm 32:8 says “I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.” God knows your heart and he wants to have a deep, fulfilling, and personal relationship with you. Seek the Lord first always and trust him with your life. He will always lead you in the right direction. When choosing a college, it is a great idea to have a campus visit because you will know whether or not you can see yourself attending that school and being a part of that community. Most importantly, look for a church family that will be there to support you and encourage you in the Lord!
How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy my free time going to church, spending time with family, and going to the beach. I love hanging out with friends, traveling with my amazing husband, and going on missions trips overseas to places like Guatemala and the Philippines. I enjoy watching old school movies such as McLintock with John Wayne, Houseboat with Cary Grant and Sophia Loren, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with Jane Powell and Howard Keel to name a few. I love meeting new people and enjoy teaching little kids both in the United States and abroad. I love to go Old Town Circle of Orange and go antique shopping with family and friends.
Contact Lindsay
Phone: (714) 879-3901 ext. 2245
Email: lngoff@hiu.edu
Counselor Name: Ryan McKinney
Counselor Since: 2011
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Biblical Studies and a Minor in Business Management
Serving: Alaska, California, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington DC
Advice to prospective students:
The best advice I can give to a prospective student is to know what is important to you when you are
looking for a university and pick a school that meets those needs. When I was a student, I wanted a
small community where I could make life-long friends and get involved on campus. At HIU I got exactly
that. There were so many amazing opportunities for me at Hope. As a student I worked to plan
activities on campus, I spent two years serving as a Resident Assistant (RA), I traveled to Africa where I
spent time in Kenya and Ethiopia, I completed two internships, and was able to be a part of Harvard’s
National Model United Nations Conference in Boston. My professors taught me how to think critically
and combine both faith and reason. I found a safe environment where I could wrestle with and
discuss the tough issues surrounding my faith. They knew me by name and became more than just
my professors, they became mentors and friends. When it came time for me to graduate from HIU,
my degree allowed me to get into an award winning business program where I am currently working
on my MBA. These were the things I was looking for in a university. They may be different for you,
but it is important to know what you are looking for in a school. Know what your hopes, dreams, and
goals for the future are, and find a university that will get you there!
How do you spend your free time?
My favorite place is Disneyland so I spend as much of my free time as I can at the happiest place on earth! I love
reading and of course keeping up on my favorite TV shows!
Contact Ryan
Phone: (714) 879-3901 ext. 2234
Email: rgmckinney@hiu.edu
Counselor Name: Rissa Durham
Counselor Since: 2012
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Degree(s): B.A. Christian Behavioral Science from California Baptist University
Serving: Transfer Students, CN, IA, MA, MI, NJ,NY, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV, WI
Advice to prospective students:
My Christian education was one of the best decisions I ever made. Being able to receive college credit for
something I love was amazing. Some days I couldn’t believe I was sitting in class and doing homework learning
about God, something I like to do in my spare time. My advice would be to jump in and expect huge things from
God. This place is huge on community so go to every event and enjoy your new family.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time singing at church and doing other ministries. I love to travel and go on mission trips. I spent
this last summer in Kenya, Africa and plan to go again. Other than that I love to write, dance, and spend time with
my family.
Contact Rissa
Phone: (714) 879-3901 ext. 2226
Email: rjdurham@hiu.edu
