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

Randy Bergen

Professor of Education | r-bergen@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013

Dr. Bergen started working in higher education the year he graduated from college. Soon after, he entered a Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 'Personality and Social Ecology' (essential, personality psychology with a focus on social cognition). He completed his dissertation with Carol Dweck on the impact of negative feedback on academic motivation. Following graduate school, he became a psychology professor at Geneva College in Pennsylvania. He returned to his . . . read more.

Faculty

Sara Shady

Professor of Philosophy | s-shady@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002

Shady's teaching focuses on fostering healthy communities amidst significant difference, including racial/ethnic, religious, and political differences. She is also interested in how we teach empathy. And she is a specialist in 19th and 20th c. Continental Philosophy, particularly Existentialism

Adjunct faculty

Chris Bellment

Adjunct Instructor of Education | chb62854@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2023

Adjunct Instructor of Education

Neil Best

Adjunct Instructor of Education | nabest@alaska.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021

Dr. Neil Best has been working in Higher Ed for almost 20 years now. He received his PhD from Azusa Pacific University in Higher Education and his dissertation explored on the campus climate predictors of sexual assault victimization. His Master’s degree is in Leadership from Trinity Western University. He has professional experience working in the areas of Equity and Compliance, Residence Life, Student Engagement, Leadership Development, and Student Conduct. He currently serves as De. . . read more.

Cheryl Bostrom

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education | c-bostrom@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1995

My areas of expertise include culturally valid assessment, international education, teacher education, educational leadership, English language learning, scholarly research and writing, and intercultural communication. In addition to teaching and advising at Bethel University, I am serving with TeachBeyond.

Joshua Delich

Adjunct Instructor of Education | jod87828@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2025

Adjunct Instructor of Education

Ross Jahnke

Adjunct Instructor of Education | ross-jahnke@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011

Ross Jahnke teaches courses on leadership and higher education administration. His research has examined empowering leadership behaviors and trust in higher education contexts. Ross has also presented at accreditation conferences on topics including assessment of student learning and strategic decision-making. With graduate degrees in both theology and higher education leadership, he seeks to foster the integration of students' deepest beliefs and values with their approaches to leadership.. . . read more.

Scott Moats

Adjunct Instructor of Education | scm44939@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018

I have been in Christian Higher Education for about 34 years. I have worked in many areas, including teaching, administration, and operations.

Ryan Richardson

Adjunct Instructor of Education | rgr64245@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2024

Ryan is originally from the state of Mississippi and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. Following a season of mission work in northwest Montana, Ryan and his wife, Kristen moved to Texas and earned their Masters of Divinity degrees at Baylor University. After almost a decade of working as a university chaplain at Baylor, Ryan pursued further study in the field of Higher Education Administration, receiving his PhD in 2016 from Azusa Pacific Uni. . . 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

Craig Paulson

Professor of Educational Leadership Emeritus | craig-paulson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002

Craig is a tenured faculty member within the Bethel University Doctor of Education: Leadership in Higher Education Program as well as the Doctor of Education: Leadership in K12 Administration and K12 Administrator Licenses Program. He has moved from full-time to phased-in retirement focusing on Comprehensive Examinations, Institutional Review Board approvals, and dissertation advising.

Ruben Rivera

Associate Professor of History Emeritus | ruben-rivera@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997

Ruben was the Chief Diversity Officer at Bethel University, and has long been a faculty of the history department and taught one course each semester at the college and one in the summer at the graduate school. As Chief Diversity Officer, Ruben engaged in numerous strategic initiatives across all our schools, including the Shalom seminar, developing institutional capacity in cultural intelligence and intergroup dialogue, racial and other forms of bias mitigation, hiring for inclusive excell. . . read more.