Meet Bethel’s newest faculty members

Bethel’s faculty members choose Bethel for the same reason our students do: to pursue truth within a dynamic Christian community. They’re scientists, historians, authors, coaches, philosophers, and scholars who approach every lecture or field experiment from a uniquely Christ-centered perspective. They support students during an incredibly transformative season but also make a profound impact long after graduation. 

Meet Bethel's newest College of Arts & Sciences faculty. 

Shyla Allard, professor of marketing

With a bachelor’s in computer science from Iowa State University and an MCA from Northwestern Kellogg, Shyla Allard has a long career history in the corporate world in a variety of marketing and business roles, including executive coaching. She’s looking forward to building relationships with Bethel students and helping them develop the unique gifts and skills God has given them. She and her husband of 30 years have two adult children, and outside of work she enjoys traveling, watching movies, visiting amusement parks and retro arcades, and making digital photo books.

Brooke Ballantine, instructional services librarian

Brooke Ballantine '02 graduated from Bethel with a bachelor’s in art education. She went on to teach middle school art for 13 years and completed a M.A.Ed. with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Lesley University. In 2017, Ballantine began work at Bethel University Library, facilitating access to electronic resources. She earned her master’s degree in library science in 2021 from St. Catherine University. Now, she supports faculty, staff, and students through research assistance, library instruction, and liaison services. Ballantine loves travel, good food, and great books.

Stacy Hepburn, assistant professor of social work

Stacy Hepburn has a bachelor’s in social work from SUNY Brockport and a master's in social work from New York University. Growing up in a diverse New York neighborhood as a first-generation American influenced Hepburn’s passion for community and relationships. She is a certified Christian life coach and an ordained minister, has an advanced degree in practical ministry with a worship emphasis, and is passionate about holistic care and merging the science of social work with faith and biblical teachings. With experience in crisis interventions, clinical social work, cognitive behavioral techniques, and psychotherapy, Hepburn has a research interest in BIPOC/minority mental health needs. She enjoys volunteering and mentoring youth and young adults. She also loves singing, music from around the world, her Jamaican culture, and family.

Kari Jagusch, digital initiatives librarian

With a bachelor of science from the University of Minnesota and a master’s of library and information science from St. Catherine University, Kari Jagusch manages the digital library, Makerspace, and is a research librarian at Bethel. She is excited to welcome new students by teaching digital literacy and information literacy. Outside of the library, Jagusch enjoys gardening, being outdoors, and walking her dog. She has one adult son. 

Andrew Paine, professor of business

A licensed CPA, Andrew Paine received a bachelor’s in accounting and finance from George Fox University and an MBA from Hope International University (HIU). He spent five years working for Deloitte and Touche in Portland before moving to California to coach women's soccer and teach at HIU. He has three kids, a dog, and seven chickens. His passions include: educating people about the importance of accounting and understanding personal finance, spending time with his kids, and playing sports and board games.

Graciela Pérez, professor of languages and cultures, department chair 

Born in South America to a family of missionaries, Graciela was brought up in contact with numerous ethnic groups, developing a comparative approach to life. She specializes in language acquisition, French and francophone cultures and literatures, Spanish language acquisition, Spanish and Latin American cultures and literatures, integration of Christian faith and secular literatures, and more. Her most recent publications include topics like intercultural spaces, transcultural spaces, ecocriticism, and the transposition of Biblical images to the literary world. Prior to Bethel, she served at Biola University, Pepperdine University, and Fresno Pacific University. Outside of work, Pérez likes reading, cooking, engaging in conversations, mountain climbing, traveling, writing, and exploring Minnesota. 

Shawn Sauve, associate professor of business 

With an MBA from the University of Rochester and a master’s in theological studies from Bethel Seminary, Shawn Sauve was an adjunct professor in Bethel’s College of Adult & Professional Studies and Graduate School for 19 years. Most recently he served as associate dean and associate professor at North Central University in Minneapolis. He and his wife have three adult children and a high school sophomore. His passions include the liberal integration of economics and theology, narrative and story, and fitness and running.

Shensheng Tang, professor of engineering

Shensheng Tang received his doctorate in engineering from the University of Toledo, Ohio. For nearly two decades, he has worked at several universities as a postdoctoral research fellow, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor—teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical engineering and computer engineering. He also has 10 years of product design/development and management experience in the wireless manufacturing industry. His research interests include wireless networking, computer networking, cloud/fog computing, embedded systems, IoT, FPGA, and modeling and performance evaluation. He has produced over 100 peer-reviewed research papers in his expertise areas.

Matthew Thiesen, library director

Matthew Thiesen received his B.A. in Bible and general studies from Grace University, his M.S. in library science from the University of North Texas, and his M.A. in exegetical theology from Western Seminary, where he served for the past seven years as library director. He’s also been a librarian at William Jessup University and Gateway Seminary. He and his wife have been married for 13 years and have four kids. He enjoys reading, playing video and board games, summer camping trips, and coaching his kids’ soccer teams. 

Lynn Uzzell, associate professor of political science 

Lynn Uzzell received her bachelor’s in speech communications from Black Hills State University and her master’s and doctorate in politics from the University of Dallas. She specializes in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the political thought of James Madison. She has previously taught at Baylor University, the University of Richmond, the University of Virginia, and Washington and Lee University. Uzzell was also the scholar in residence at the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier and the founding director of the Summer Civics Institute at the University of Virginia. As a professor, Uzzell has a passion for teaching effective and civil communication as an anecdote to today’s divisive partisanship. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking for friends and family, going on long country rambles, and tending her kitchen garden. 

Tao Wu, associate professor of chemistry

From Nanjing, China, Tao Wu grew up in a non-believing family, encountering Christianity for the first time after moving to the United States. He became a follower of Christ while pursuing his doctorate in geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon completing his doctorate, he served as a lab manager at Oklahoma State University, overseeing high-value instruments and enjoying the process of teaching students how to use them. This led him to Butler Community College where he taught chemistry for five years. Outside of work, Wu cherishes spending time with his wife and two daughters, experiencing American culture, and participating in church activities.

Meet Bethel's newest College of Adult & Professional Studies and Graduate School faculty. 

Jennifer Henson, professor of social work 

Jennifer Henson earned a master’s in social work from Baylor University and completed her doctorate, also at Baylor, earlier this year. Her research focus was on burnout among social workers, especially during the pandemic. She has experience teaching and practicing as a therapist. She lives in Texas and will teach online in the MSW program. 

Jayanti Ray, program director of the undergraduate and graduate speech and language pathology program

Jayanti Ray came to Bethel in January 2024 as a practicing speech language pathologist with 25 years’ experience in higher education. She has two Ph.D.s—one in speech language pathology earned in India, the other in public health earned in the United States. Since January, she has proposed and gotten approval to launch an undergraduate speech pathology program in the College of Arts & Sciences, which will provide students a pathway to graduate school. She is working with Bethel administrators and an accrediting body to launch an M.S. in Speech Language Pathology in the near future.

Be mentored by dynamic professors. 

From our newest faculty to those who have been teaching for years, each professor is committed to your success. Study under accomplished scholars and practitioners who are experts in their field—so that one day, you'll excel in yours.

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