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.
Tracy Reimer
Program Director | 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.
Faculty
Joni Burgin-Hartshorn
Adjunct Instructor | j-burgin-hartshorn@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Educational Leadership, Policy and Administration
Dynna Castillo Portugal
Adjunct Professor | dec62886@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: June 1st, 2015
Educational Leadership
Lori Fildes
Adjunct Instructor | 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
Adjunct Instructor | 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
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.
Don Johnson
Adjunct Instructor | 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
Assistant Professor of Psychology | 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.
Michelle Langenfeld
Adjunct Instructor | m-langenfeld@bethel.edu
Mike Lindstrom
Adjunct Instructor | m-lindstrom@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Educational Technology Technology Education Mathematics STEM Windsurfing... :-)
Kristen Nichols-Besel
Adjunct Instructor | 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
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.
Chuck Sambs
Adjunct Instructor | 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
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 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
Adjunct Faculty Member | 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
Adjunct Instructor | 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.
Mary F. Whitman
Associate Professor | 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
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.