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

Molly Wickam

Program Director | m-wickam@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005

Dr. Wickam is an associate professor of education and business/leadership and the program director for Bethel's MA Teaching, B.S. Accounting, B.S. Business Management, and B.S. Finance.

Faculty

Laura BeMent-Jaroscak

Adjunct Instructor | lab73285@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013

Work Based Learning Technology Business Education

Lisa Bekemeyer

Adjunct Instructor | ldb86486@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2001

Bekemeyer is passionate about teaching language through CI (Comprehensible Input) and TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling). She bases her courses on these tenants and strives to help her learners gain a variety of strategies for teaching language through content.

Dr. John Bergeland

Adjunct Professor | jbergeland@isd12.org | Started at Bethel: 2005

Content Area Literacy, Disciplinary Literacy, Vocabulary Instruction, Teaching Reading, Middle School Education

Cheryl Bostrom

Adjunct Assistant Professor | 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.

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.

Ken Dean

Adjunct Assistant Professor | kmd78958@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004

Biological Studies

Leona Derden

Adjunct Professor | ler43264@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2014

I am married and have five wonderful children and four grandchildren. My educational background includes me completing my Doctor of Education degree this spring at Bethel University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from St. Thomas University and my Principal Licensure from St. Mary’s University. I started my career as a social worker working with abused and neglected children in Chicago, Illinois and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1997, I relocated to Minnesota and was looking for a career . . . read more.

Karin Farrington

Adjunct Professor, Thesis Advisor | k-farrington@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013

Karin started her teaching career in 2004 in K-12 Special Education EBD, SLD, OHI, and ASD and has taught in federal settings I,II,III,IV. She received her K-12 Art teaching license in 2018, has four years of teaching experience as a K-5 Elementary Art teacher, and is currently a High School Art teacher. Karin began her adjunct position at Bethel University in 2013 in the Special Education MA program where she was an instructor, thesis advisor, and student teacher supervisor. After receivin. . . read more.

Amy Fox

Adjunct Faculty - Student Teaching Supervisor | beiamy@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019

Secondary Science, Trauma Informed Instruction, Education Equity, Environmental Education

William Kron

Adjunct Instructor | wjk97757@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2010

Teaching and Learning

Judith Landrum

Dean of Education, Christian Ministries, and Associate Programs | j-landrum@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004

Secondary Literacy: Writing instruction practices, K-12 Literature, and Reading in the Content Area

Donna LeGrand

Adjunct Associate Professor of Spanish Education | legdon@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999

LeGrand developed and directs Bethel's Spain Term and oversees the Languages and Cultures education program at Bethel. Her interests include teaching all levels of Spanish, teaching about and applying theories of second language acquisition, and researching 16th and 17th century literature from Spain and Latin America. LeGrand is on the board of the Minnesota Council of Teaching Languages and Cultures and has been president of the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Teachers of Spanish. . . read more.

Jill Martin

Associate Professor of Education | jmartin@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1996

Martin’s scholarly interests include content area literacy, reflective teaching, and teacher’s use of metacognation. Her teaching specialties include secondary social studies, middle level philosophy and pedagogy, and educational psychology.

Eric Roesler

Adjunct Professor | err79847@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016

I am excited to be teaching adults. I have 15+ years experience teaching high school students about Business, Marketing, and Economics. I am enjoying being able to transfer that knowledge to adults as well.

Lisa Silmser

Adjunct Assistant Professor | l-silmser@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002

Lisa is grateful to have been called to the ministry of teaching. She keeps current on K-12 practices by remaining in the classroom and readily shares practical expertise and stories from her experiences in a variety of settings, including teaching special education students in an online school. She teaches in the MA in Teaching, MA in Special Education and M.A. in K-12 Education programs. She is program director for MA in K-12 Education. Areas of interest include Instructional Strategies, . . . read more.

Heidi Simons

Adjunct Professor | heidi-simons@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2020

Heidi has taught Social Studies for 25 years at Bloomington Jefferson High School, been an Instructional Mentor to 1st & 2nd year teachers and has lead professional development. In addition, she has taught at MN State University - Mankato for their Graduate Teacher Program. She is very excited to become part of the Bethel University community and work with future educators in the courses she will instruct.

Raymond Sperl

Adjunct Faculty | raymond-sperl@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011

Instructional Technology Integration; Science Instruction

Danny Swensen

Professor of Education | d-swensen@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008

Areas of expertise include mathematics and physics education, education technology, and statistics.