Why We Teach: Leaving a Living Legacy
What fuels the passion of Bethel faculty? And what legacy do they hope to leave in the lives of students who reflect back on their Bethel experience five, or 10, or 20 years from now?
By Michelle Westlund '83, senior content specialist
August 23, 2019 | 11 a.m.
Sara Shady, professor of philosophy at Bethel since 2002. Students say she's encouraging, insightful, cheerful.
Bethel faculty are highly credentialed in their fields. They are also committted women and men of faith who integrate a Christ-centered perspective into their lectures, field experiments, and research. They choose Bethel for the same reason our students do: to pursue truth within a dynamic Christian environment.
While they lead professional boards, advise government agencies, and present at international conferences, Bethel faculty are first committed to teaching. They are passionate about serving their students as collaborators, mentors, and role models.
What fuels their passion? Why do they do what they do? And what legacy do they hope to leave in the lives of their students? In their own words, Bethel faculty tell us why they teach.
"I believe God entrusts students to me for a period of time, and it's my job to encourage, challenge, and support them in their journey of becoming the people God has created them to be."
— Sara Shady, professor of philosophy
Kenneth Steinbach '83, university professor of art at Bethel since 2001. Students say he's genuine, humble, demanding.
"I find teaching endlessly energizing and fascinating. It's the source of many long-lasting relationships. I'll probably be doing it in some form or another for the rest of my life."
Ken Steinbach '83, university professor of art
Lisa Naser, assistant professor, physician assistant program, Graduate School at Bethel since 2014. Students say she's authentic, kind, easygoing.
"I hope there are a lot of physician assistants out there in the world who really connect with a patient and make a great diagnosis, and then think, 'I remember when Lisa Naser taught me this.'"
Lisa Naser, assistant professor, physician assistant program, Graduate School
Tina Watson Wiens S'01, assistant professor, marriage and family therapy program at Bethel Seminary since 2013. Students say she's engaging, compassionate, genuine.
"I hope my students live as bravely in the world as they did in my classroom."
Tina Watson Wiens S'01, assistant professor, marriage and family therapy program, Bethel Seminary
Nathan Lindquist '02, associate professor of physics and engineering at Bethel since 2011. Students say he's encouraging, curious, tough but fair.
"It's a gift to impact the lives of young scientists and engineers. And because I cherish being rooted in the liberal arts, I can be proud of the quality and breadth of education that Bethel provides our majors."
Nathan Lindquist '02, associate professor of physics and engineering
Angela Sabates, associate professor of psychology at Bethel since 2003. Students say she's inquisitive, warm, dedicated.
"I love students! And I love the freedom to explore with them the complexities of God's view of both the good and the brokenness of the human condition."
Angela Sabates, associate professor of psychology
Jeff Port '90, professor of biological sciences at Bethel since 2001. Students say he's approachable, challenging, inquisitive.
"I hope my students will say I challenged them in a way that helped them grow, and inspired them to see beauty in creation all around them."
Jeff Port '90, professor of biological sciences
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