Faculty
Doctor of Education
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 & Lead Faculty
Tracy Reimer
Program Director | t-reimer@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Tracy's research interests focus on effective school leadership practices specifically for marginalized and underrepresented populations. Topics include equity literacy, structural ideology, education gaps, and culturally responsive leadership. Tracy focuses on the daily actions of school principals that build a culture of a professional learning community and hold high expectations and value added instruction for all students.
Faculty
Joni Burgin-Hartshorn
Adjunct Instructor | j-burgin-hartshorn@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Educational Leadership, School Safety, Instructional Leadership, Policy and Administration
Debra Castner
Associate Professor | dcastner@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2023
Deb is passionate about special education as she is driven to enhance the quality of life for those with a disability. Her interest in special education was not innate, as life occurrences shaped her view and interaction with others. Her life journey created the individual she is today, thus inspiring her to construct environments where all ability levels are embraced. Deb is a special education teacher at Grandview Middle School in the Westonka School District.. . . read more.
Meg Cavalier
Adjunct Faculty | cavmeg@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
I received a B.A. in Elementary and Science Middle School Education, M.A. in K-12 Education and Ed.D. in Education Administration from Bethel University. I currently serve as the Executive Director at St. Paul City School, a charter school district serving 550 PreK-12th grade students. My work in education has varied from teaching at the Minnesota Zoo to, an elementary Special Education teacher, 7-12 science teacher and secondary principal and a private school in Bloomington, MN. I have had. . . read more.
Cindy Hansen
Adjunct Instructor | cjm54467@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Cindy has been honored to serve God as a teacher and principal in PK-12 public education (Illinois and Minnesota) since 2000. She is currently the principal of Pine Island Elementary in Pine Island, Minnesota. Her research interests include principal career paths, employee turnover, and social, emotional, and spiritual health of both students and adults.
Erica Hering
Enrollment Counselor, Program Coordinator, Adjunct Faculty | e-hering@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Erica is a former elementary school teacher who has served in higher education for 12 years. Erica has worked with the Doctoral and Licensing Program in Educational Leadership since 2006. She also received her doctoral degree through Bethel's program.
Michelle Langenfeld
Adjunct Instructor | m-langenfeld@bethel.edu
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.
Mark Robertson
Adjunct Instructor | mark-robertson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Robertson previously served as superintendent of schools for Fridley Public School District in the Twin Cities area from 2006-10, when he was selected as Minnesota Superintendent of the Year. Over the past 31 years, his experiences working in education have included work as a science teacher, staff developer, activities director, associate principal, and high school principal.
Emily Rustman
Adjunct Professor | emily.rustman@gmail.com | Started at Bethel: 2019
Emily is passionate about developing special education programs for students with special needs; focusing on social-emotional learning, strategic planning and systems theory. She enjoys collaborating and learning with other educational professionals to promote a growth mindset while developing high expectations for all students. Emily is currently the Director of Special Services for Westonka Public Schools.
Marta Shaw
Adjunct Instructor | gilmara@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Marta Shaw is a lecturer in the Institute of Public Affairs at Jagiellonian University in Poland, and an Adjunct Professor in the Doctor of Education program at Bethel University. Her research has focused on leadership and management of education, comparative and international education, intercultural leadership, and the implications of research in neurobiology for the theory and practice of educational leadership.
Krista Soria
| ksoria@umn.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Dr. Soria teaches research courses for the Educational Leadership program.
Barry Sullivan
Adjunct Instructor | b-sullivan@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Highlights Dr. Sullivan served for about 30 years in the Office of Government Relations in the Minnesota Department of Education, where he coordinated the development of state education policy recommendations to the legislature; interpreted state and federal education regulations for school leaders and the public; and acted as a liaison between the department and other federal and state agencies. Included in these tasks were yearly, detailed summaries of new state laws along with presentati. . . read more.
Teresa Maria Taylor
Adjunct Faculty | t-taylor@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Dr. Taylor is a teacher at heart. Since 2014, she has served as an educational leader in higher education. Before transitioning to her current administrator role, she served as a K-12 educator. Dr. Taylor is passionate about empowering others through education and teaches a variety of graduate-level courses. Her research is in culturally responsive teaching and is an advocate for educational equity. Dr. Taylor received her doctoral degree from Bethel University.. . . read more.
Safary Wa-Mbaleka
Associate Professor of Leadership in Higher Education | Wa-Mbaleka@Bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2022
Associate Professor of Leadership in Higher Education
Michelle Wang
Adjunct Faculty | mfw38922@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Michelle's research interests focus on effective school leadership practices specifically focused on change management. Topics include equity, data/assessment, standards, school reform, and adaptive leadership.
Annette Ziegler
Adjunct Instructor | annette-ziegler@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2010
Ziegler is the principal of Coon Rapids High School and was the former principal of Coon Rapids Middle School. She served as assistant principal at Sandburg Middle School and Anoka High School following her tenure as dean of students in Kern Unified School District in California.