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
Jeannine Brown
Program Director, Director of Online Programs and Instructor | j-brown@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Dr. Brown has focused much of her research and writing on the Gospels, hermeneutics, and interdisciplinary integration. In addition to a book on biblical hermeneutics (Scripture as Communication) and two books on integration, she has published three commentaries on Matthew's Gospel. She is a member of the NIV translation team and is a part of the revision project for the NIV Study Bible, celebrating its 35th year in 2020. Her current writing projects include commentaries on Philippians (Tyn. . . read more.
Justin Irving
Program Director and Professor | j-irving@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Leadership Studies; Servant Leadership; Team Effectiveness; Cross-Cultural Leadership; Organizational Change; Ministry Leadership; Purpose in Leadership; Leadership Assessment; Research Methodology and Design; Spiritual and Personal Formation for Leaders
Mark McCloskey
Program Director and Professor | m-mccloskey@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1998
Biblical theology of leadership, leadership formation, organizational leadership development, team building, virtue-based leadership, strategic planning
Denise Muir Kjesbo
Lead Faculty and Professor Emeritus | denise-kjesbo@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Children's and Family Ministry - I am committed to equipping leaders to serve in ministries with children and youth as the crucial mission field of our time - both in the States and around the world. I am passionate about partnering with parents in the spiritual formation of their children and releasing the church as family for all.
Karen Quek
Program Director | karen-quek@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Gender construction in couples' relationship · International couples relational dynamic · Cultural competency in clinical supervision · Development of the self of the therapist ·Family and couples processes
Tina Watson Wiens
Program Director and Assistant Professor | tina-wiens@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Faculty
Leith Anderson
| Leith.Anderson@wooddale.org | Started at Bethel: 2010
Pastoring, teaching, writing, speaking, and leadership.
Charles Bradshaw
| cob79424@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Paula Bunn
| pkb47756@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Paula Bunn is the Counseling Supervisor at the Center for Compassionate Care of The Elizabeth Hospice. In her current position as Counseling Supervisor, she provides leadership and counseling services for hospice and community bereavement support. She began teaching at Bethel in 2011, and has presented on a variety of mental health and bereaveme
Rod Casey
| rlc28355@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Dr. Casey loves to consider the intersection of a robust theology, a contextualized audience, and best practices of communication. His doctoral project involved the application of Christian education methods into standara evangelical homiletic practice. Or, putting the sermon beyond the lecture format. He likes to experiment and take risks with the preaching process.
Howard Cassidy-Moffatt
| hoc45784@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
The Theology and Practice of Christian Ministry.
Norah Caudill
| n-caudill@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Hebrew, Hebrew Exegesis, Old Testament
Minoa Chang
| m-chang@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Psychotherapy: chronic mental illness; grief/bereavement; spiritual/religious issues; cultural/acculturation issues. Clinical supervision: clinicians working with children, adults, families and group therapy; serving clients with mental illness and survivors of trauma; with a special interest in minority populations.
David Clark
| d-clark@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1988
Dr. Clark's academic discipline is philosophy of religion. In addition to philosophy of religion, he teaches theology and apologetics. He has special interests in epistemology, the problem of evil, religious ethics, and the relation of theology to science. His approach to these topics emphasizes dialogue: he invites students to learn how to ground their faith perspectives with solid critical reason. And, in this day of uncivil discourse, he also challenges them to listen to others, to serve. . . read more.
Jeramy Clark
| jac25278@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2014
Professor Clark is the Pastor of Discipleship Ministries at Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA. He grew up in Rodeo, CA, and has worked at several churches during his ministry career, and has also served as a High School Pastor. Jeramy has been cheerfully married to his wife Jerusha for over ten years, and is a father to Jocelyn and Jasmine.
David Diener
| david-diener@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
Professor Diener offers Bethel Seminary a unique perspective to theological education with time with the US Air Force. His experience in the Air Force directly influences and is infused in his teaching in missions, global & contextual studies, and missiology.
John Anthony Dunne
| j-dunne@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Dr. Dunne's research interests lie primarily in the New Testament, the life and letters of Paul (esp. Galatians), Christian origins, and second temple Judaism. Within these frameworks he is fascinated by many things, including: theologies of suffering, eschatology, intertextuality, missiology and identity, participation with Christ, and the critique of imperial ideology.
Paul Ferris
| pferris@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1998
Content and exegesis of the First Testament and biblical languages
Anne-Marie Finsaas
| afinsaas@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2007
spiritual formation; 'the dark night of the soul' and the role of suffering in formation; pastoral ministry in the local church; children's and family ministry; cross-cultural, global ministry
Katie Friesen Smith
| smikatj@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Direction, Leadership, Congregational Systems, Communication, Educational Ministry, Women in Ministry, Team Development, Conflict and Change
Curtis Gruber
| c-gruber@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1981
Curtis began teaching at Bethel University (College at the time) in 1981 as an instructor in New Testament Greek, and eventually taught as Lead Faculty in Christian Ministries. He has taught evangelism, discipleship, and various ministry leadership courses for the Seminary.
Tim Henderson
| timothy-henderson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
New Testament and early Christianity
Natalie Hendrickson
| natalie-hendrickson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Natalie serves as the Director of Supervised Ministry and Student Assessment at Bethel Seminary San Diego, and also teaches internship and spiritual formation courses.
Terri Hightower
| tmh53926@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2012
Terri is a licensed MFT graduate from Bethel Seminary and currently works with the homeless population at St. Vincent de Paul where she is the Senior Mental Health Clinician. In addition to providing therapy for adults, children, and families living in the shelter, she also supervises MFT practicum trainees and a staff of licensed clinicians. Terri is passionate about helping others and feels blessed to have the opportunity to provide that help through therapy and supervision. Terri is also. . . read more.
Heather Hoshiko
| hah38446@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Hoshiko specializes in biofeedback, neuropsychology, pain management, child and adolescent therapy, and treatment in disordered eating. She is also a published author in academic journals, public magazines, blogs, and has written extensively for the development of curriculum. Heather began teaching in 2011, and joined the associate faculty at Bethel Seminary San Diego in 2015. She is passionate about inspiring and aiding students in their academic and spiritual journeys.. . . read more.
David Howard
| dhoward@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1982-1990, 2000-present.
Old Testament, Hebrew, and Hermeneutics
Brian Hughes
| hugbri@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Brian is the Rector at Holy Spirit Anglican Church in San Diego and is an ordained priest in the Anglican Church of North America. Prior to going to seminary, Brian served as a youth pastor for three and a half years at another church in San Diego. He teaches Biblical Hebrew, Old Testament, and Anglican Studies. Brian and his wife Mandy enjoy travelling, baseball games, coffee, movies, and spending time with their young daughters.
Wendy Huisken
| wlw27568@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
I am an author, teacher, and scholar, who loves helping people understand the Bible so they can know God better. Most of my study has been in the Old Testament, and I am especially passionate about helping the Church taste and see how good, meaningful, and relevant it is for today.
John Koester
| jmk53845@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Systemic individual, couple, and family therapy, with particular interest in the development within a system, the development of individuals within those systems, and how growth and change may happen within those relationships
Jennifer Konzen
Jennifer has provided parent education for over 20 years in the community. In therapy, she has counseled parents on how to build a rewarding, close relationship with their children while maintaining clear boundaries. She works with children who have challenges with attention, impulse control, and anger as well as with adolescents who have challenges with depression, self-harm, eating disorders, anxiety, drugs and alcohol, and relationships. Jennifer also counsels individual men and women wh. . . read more.
David Leatherberry
| Started at Bethel: 2016
David Leatherberry is legal counsel for the San Diego Psychological Association and represents health care providers in numerous business transactions, civil litigation and licensing and regulatory related matters. His clients include acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, assisted living and residential care facilities for the elderly, residential drug and alcohol treatment programs, and numerous individual practitioners. He regularly advises clients with regard to HIPAA, HITE. . . read more.
Ben K Lim
| b-lim@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Dr. Lim's specializations include premarital counseling, marriage enrichment, parenting, multi-cultural therapy, spiritual issues, missionaries and pastoral self-care, trauma, grief and loss issues, as well as relational difficulties. In addition to training therapists, he also teaches pastoral care classes for ministers of the Gospel. An ordained minister, Ben has pastored for many years in different churches in Malaysia, Singapore, Texas, and California. Ben is also an AAMFT approved supe. . . read more.
Shane Long
| shane-long@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Family systems, differentiation of self, narrative and constructivist approaches in therapy, socio-economic and cultural issues in therapy, and integration of religion and spirituality in the field of psychotherapy.
Kim Meyer
| k-meyer@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Dr. Meyer has been teaching since 1989 in nursing theory, fundamentals of nursing, ethics, psychiatric mental health nursing in the undergraduate program; theory and nurse educator courses in the graduate program and psychopathology in the marriage and family therapy program at Bethel Seminary. Areas of specific interest include: theory, ethics, mental health and mental illness in society and the church, women's issues, and innovations in nursing education.. . . read more.
David Montzingo
| djm86768@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Dr. Montzingo is the assisting priest at Holy Spirit Anglican Church, San Diego as well as Canon for Clergy Formation in the Diocese of Western Anglicans, the Anglican Church in North America. As an Adjunct Professor for Anglican Studies at Bethel Seminary San Diego, he brings expertise in the areas of pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, Christian healing, and Anglican history.
Arnell Motz
| a-motz@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Dr. Motz serves Bethel Seminary San Diego as an adjunct professor for preaching and missional leadership. Arnell's ministry career has been in missions. He has served 12 years as the Executive Director of Outreach Canada and SIM Canada. He also has 10 years of field service in Ethiopia and Bolivia.
Lyn Nixon
| nixlyn@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
NT Greek, Hermeneutics, New Testament, Biblical Theology, The Use of the OT in the NT
Stephanie O'Brien
| wilstek@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Stephanie specializes in Biblical communication, storytelling, practical theology, missional theology and church governance and structure. She is a Lead Pastor at Mill City Church in Northeast Minneapolis. In addition, she is a consultant in the areas of church leadership, structure, and mission.
Andre Ong
| a-ong@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
André Ong is Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Bethel Theological Seminary, San Diego.
Sandra Oslund
| s-oslund@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
As director of the St. Paul seminary library, I collaborate with teaching faculty and lead the library staff in fulfilling the seminary’s educational mission.
Jeanine Parolini
| j-parolini@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2007
Dr. Parolini has developed thousands of leaders in hundreds of organizations throughout the world. Her passion is to invest in principled people, leaders and learning organizations. Jeanine coaches leaders, teams and organizations to be continuous learners, self-aware, trustworthy, responsible, collaborative, empowering and innovative. She speaks and writes on a variety of topics involving effective leadership, teams and organizational life.
Cristina Plaza Ruiz
| cplazaru@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist and adjunct assistant professor at Bethel University and Bethel Seminary. I am passionate about seeing families thrive and live healthy lives. I focus my clinical practice serving the immigrant and refugee community in the Twin Cities supporting immigrant families in the adjustment process to a new culture and a new environment, processing immigration trauma and loss, and the accompanying life challenges that come with it. My interest in leadership in. . . read more.
Janice Raymond
| rayjan@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2001
Janice teaches Global and Contextual Studies, and Greek at the Seminary's San Diego campus, and has been a missionary in Mongolia and Russia for more than a decade.
Sam Rima
| samr@partnersintl.org | Started at Bethel: 2003
Sam Rima serves as the Director of Church Engagement for Partners International. Sam served many years as a church planter, lead pastor and, most recently, as the Executive Pastor at Tenth Church in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sam has also served in academia as the Director of the Social Innovation Research Center at Heliopolis University in Cairo, Egypt. Previous to his time in Egypt, Sam served as the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, where he. . . read more.
Andrew Rowell
| a-rowell@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Dr. Andy Rowell has taught mission, discipleship, and church leadership at Bethel Seminary since 2013.
Andrew Russell
| andrew-russell@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
The Keswick Movement, Religious Practices, the Modern Missionary Movement, the East African Revival, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards
Mary Sanders
| Mary-sanders@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004
Spiritual and Personal Formation and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Glen Scorgie
| g-scorgie@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1996
Systematic theology, historical theology, spiritual theology and ethics.
Donna Scott
| dss52235@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2007
Donna has over 25 years of experience providing individual, couples, family and play therapy in a variety of settings. The focus of her work is to help those with hurting hearts heal from relationship wounds. Donna’s desire is to live a life “worthy of the calling” she has received and to help students become the therapists God has called them to be. Donna is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and Black African American Christian Counselors. . . . read more.
James D. Smith III
| jd-smith@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1988
Church History; Historical Theology; Christian biography; Spiritual life & ministry; History of Missions; Women in the Christian Tradition; Henri Nouwen; baseball history
Scott Strand
| scott-strand@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Personal Formation, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Direction
Mark Strauss
| m-strauss@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1993
New Testament, Greek, Bible Translation, and Hermeneutics
Katherine Turner
| kct56368@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Katherine Turner is an Adjunct Professor at Bethel Seminary as well as the Associate Director of Psychology Undergraduate Advising Program at SDSU where she coordinates the Honors Thesis Program. She is currently researching the roles of attention and forensics in developmental research. Katherine began teaching at Bethel in 2016. Specializations: functional connectivity and visual processing in Autism, research quality control.
Mofid Wasef
| mow92538@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
Dr. Mofid Wasef has been an ordained Presbyterian pastor since 1987. He is the pastor of Pastoral Care as well as the sole pastor of the Arabic Speaking Congregation at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. He began his ministry in Egypt as the pastor of Moharram Bek Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Egypt. He served in Alexandria until 1991, when he moved to the United States for graduate education in theological studies. Dr. Wasef's research interests are primarily focused on I. . . read more.
Nikki Watkins
| Niw85964@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Dr. Watkins has over 10 years of experience providing individual, couples, and family therapy in a variety of settings. She has extensive experience providing counseling services to homeless individuals through her work with the San Diego Rescue Mission. She also has a background in community mental health, with a focus on the parole and probation populations. Dr. Watkins specializes in grief counseling, with a special interest in pregnancy and infant loss. She facilitates GriefShare at Eas. . . read more.
Andee Woolf
| anw72979@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2014
Andee Woolf has over 15 years of experience with the Medi-Cal population where she has focused primarily on school aged youth and immigrant families. She has served as a Program Therapist and Clinical Supervisor, qualifying her to teach practicum courses as an adjunct faculty member at BSSD. Andee began teaching at Bethel in 2014. She has been an AAMFT Approved Supervisor since 2016. Specializations: SFBT, CBT, children therapy, family therapy, training MFT students, marginalized population. . . read more.