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
Craig Paulson
Program Director | craig-paulson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Craig is a professor and program director of Bethel's Doctor of Education Leadership in K12 Administration program, K12 administrative licenses, Doctor of Education Leadership in Higher Education Program since 2006.
Faculty
Joni Burgin-Hartshorn
| j-burgin-hartshorn@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Educational Leadership, Policy and Administration
Lori Fildes
| laf62469@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
Fildes has served as the director of special services for the Wayzata Public School District since 2000. Previously, she was a special education teacher and the director of special education with the Buffalo School District.
Cindy Hansen
| cjm54467@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Honored to serve God as a teacher and principal in PK-12 public education since 2000
Erica Hering
| 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.
Don Johnson
| dpj34378@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Dr. Johnson is a retired public educator (40 years) who enjoys teaching and advising Bethel doctoral students, and driving school bus for a small rural school district in northwest Wisconsin. He spends his winters in Colorado, downhill skiing and remodeling homes.
Steven Lancaster
| steven-lancaster@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Dr. Lancaster conducts research focused on stressful/traumatic events and how people cope with these types of experiences. Specifically, he looks at how aspects of finding meaning in life, identity, religious functioning, and trying to make sense of the event may impact the post-event coping process.
Mike Lindstrom
| m-lindstrom@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Educational Technology Technology Education Mathematics STEM Windsurfing... :-)
Kristen Nichols-Besel
| kmn39985@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Literacy Education - young adult literature, methods courses for English Education, practicum and student teaching supervision; Writing Center work; College Writing
Tracy Reimer
| t-reimer@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Tracy studies, teaches, and presents on effective leadership practices. She 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.
Mark Robertson
| 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
| 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. She enjoys collaborating and learning with other educational professionals to promote a growth mindset while developing high expectations for all students.
Chuck Sambs
| c-sambs@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Dr. Sambs served as director of curriculum and instruction in the Winona, Minn., school district and the Hudson, Wis., school district. Previously, he was principal and superintendent in the LaCrescent, Minn., school district. He was the high school principal in Idaho Springs, Colo., and began his career as a teacher in Wisconsin and Colorado.
Marta Shaw
| 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 Affiliate of the Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education at the University of Minnesota. Her research is focused on international higher education policy, academic ethics and intercultural leadership in education.
Stacie Stanley
| sts44568@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Instructional Leadership, Systems Change, Leadership in Urban and Urban Like Settings, Curriculum Instruction & Assessment, Quality English Learner Programs
Barry Sullivan
| b-sullivan@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Sullivan served for more than 25 years with 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, and acted as a liaison between the department and other federal and state agencies.
Teresa Maria Taylor
| 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.
Mary F. Whitman
| m-whitman@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004
Whitman’s research interests include expatriate and repatriate adjustment, motivation, and job satisfaction. She has also worked on research exploring personality factors with both organizational and self-identified expatriates. Her research participants include expatriates and repatriates from around the world.
Annette Ziegler
| 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.