Faculty

Our professors are distinguished scholars, active researchers, published writers, and faithful Christians who demonstrate what it means to be both Christ-followers and leaders in their academic fields. As mentors and role models, they play a huge role in the integration of faith and learning at Bethel.

Program directors and lead faculty

Amy Evans

Program Director | Core Faculty | Professor of Psychology | ale42385@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018

Dr. Evans completed her undergraduate degree at Northwestern College, in St. Paul, Minnesota. She then completed a master's degree in counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has worked in a variety different counseling settings, including private practice, college counseling center, and inpatient substance use disorder treatment. She has teaching experience with counselors-in-training both online . . . read more.

Jennifer Koenig Nelson

Core Faculty | Clinical Director | jen94387@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015

Clinical Supervision and Training; Trauma and Loss; Self-Care and Burnout; Therapeutic Relationship; Identity Development; Relationship Development; and Issues of Faith and Spirituality in the therapeutic process

Deanna Towns

Core Faculty | Assistant Professor | d-towns@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019

Core Faculty Assistant Professor Clinical Supervision; Trauma and Abuse; Development of Counseling Internationally; Virtues in Learning Acquisition; Cultural Diversity; Mentoring Deanna Towns earned her bachelor's degree in social work from University of Georgia, her master's in marriage and family therapy from Liberty University in Virginia, and her doctorate in counselor education and supervision at Regent University in Virginia. Prior to joining the Bethel community, Deanna worked as . . . read more.

Faculty

Peter Jankowski

Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy | pjankows@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004

Jankowski's research focuses on differentiation of self and spirituality; positive psychology; psychotherapy effectiveness; faith integration in psychotherapy; narrative and experiential therapy; and clinical supervision.

Adjunct faculty

Nicole Centanni

Adjunct Instructor of Counseling | n-centanni@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005

Nicole is an experienced career coach with a focus on positive psychology, design thinking and wellbeing.

Ryan Hovis

Teaching Partner of Counseling | ryan-hovis@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016

Teaching Partner of Counseling

Anthony Nichols

Adjunct Instructor of Counseling | at-nichols@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2024

Anthony Todd Nichols is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota. He has been Executive Director of the Family Attachment and Counseling Center, located in the Twin Cities, since 1997. The center specializes in working with trauma in adults and children and specifically in adopted children who experienced early life maltreatment. Dr. Nichols is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and other modalities. . . read more.

Breanna Reed

Adjunct Instructor of Counseling | Blw18873@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021

Breanna Reed is a Board Certified Art Therapist specializing in Anxiety, Spirituality, and Depression. She has experience working with people with physical and developmental disabilities, adolescents, and young adults. She is passionate about incorporating her client's faith perspectives into the counseling session. She is passionate about training the next generation of counselors and building a Christian support system. She is the Owner and Supervisor at Creative Connections Counseling L. . . read more.

Michelle Steffenhagen

Teaching Partner of Psychology | allmica@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015

Steffenhagen's research interests include purpose and wellbeing in emerging adults.

Emeritus/emerita faculty

Jason Li

Professor of Psychology Emeritus | j-li@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1985

Li focuses his research on cross-cultural and multi-cultural competence in counseling. He also has a passion for exploring the integration of psychological and Christian perspectives in counseling.