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

John Anthony Dunne
Program Director and Assistant Professor of New Testament | 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.

Ben K Lim
Program Director | b-lim@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Dr. Lim's teaching, writing, and specializations include systemic relational therapy, premarital counseling, marriage enrichment, parenting, multicultural therapy, spiritual issues, missionaries, and pastoral self-care, trauma, grief, and loss issues. 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 a Clinical. . . read more.

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
Program Director, Professor and Director of The Cory Center for Children's Ministry | 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

AMY ANDERSON
Adjunct Faculty | asa45448@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Dr Amy Anderson has a background in student ministry, including nine years as a missionary to German college students. Seeing how God grows His people in such settings has led her to do a lot of thinking and writing in the area of ecclesiology. At the same time, her scholarly expertise is in New Testament, Koine Greek, and the study of ancient Greek manuscripts. She recently co-wrote "Textual Criticism of the Bible" with Wendy Widder (Huisken), a book that highlights her ability to take . . . read more.

Leith Anderson
Faculty | Leith.Anderson@wooddale.org | Started at Bethel: 2010
Pastoring, teaching, writing, speaking, and leadership.
Charles Bradshaw
Adjunct Faculty and Adjunct Faculty | cob79424@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Janice Bros
Adjunct | brojane@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2014
Jan is the lead pastor/church planter of Abbey Way Covenant Church. Graduating from Bethel University with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Studies, she completed her education receiving a Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary in 1997. She worked at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota for many years, both as a lay leader and as member of the senior pastoral staff as the Pastor of Pastoral Care. Jan is an ordained to Word and Sacrament as a minister of the Evangeli. . . read more.

Jeannine Brown
Professor of New Testament | 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, now in second edition) and two books on integration, she has published three commentaries on Matthew's Gospel and one on Philippians (Tyndale NT series). She is a member of the NIV translation team and is an editor for the NIV Study Bible, revised edition (2020). Her current writing projects includ. . . read more.
Eric Bryant
Professor | bryeri@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Missional Ministry, Intercultural Communication, Missional Innovation, Missional Contextualization, Personal Well-Being and Ministry Effectiveness, Leading a Missional Organization

Paula Bunn
Adjunct Faculty | 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
Instructor in Preaching | 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.

Norah Caudill
Faculty Associate of Old Testament | n-caudill@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Hebrew, Hebrew Exegesis, Old Testament

David Clark
Professor of Theology | 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, ethics, and apologetics. He has special interests in epistemology, the problem of evil, 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 students to share the Gospel by first liste. . . read more.
Jeramy Clark
Adjunct Faculty | 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
Adjunct Faculty | 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.

Paul Ferris
Professor Emeritus | pferris@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1998
Content and exegesis of the First Testament and biblical languages

Anne-Marie Finsaas
Adjunct Professor | 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; chaplaincy

Katie Friesen Smith
Faculty, D.Min. Thesis Advisor | smikatj@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Dr. Friesen Smith has 25+ years of experience in the local church, higher education and camping ministry. As a practical theologian, she seeks to create a bridge between Scripture and living out faith in a post-modern era. Her research interests are in spiritual formation, leadership and emotional intelligence. Along with teaching, she serves as the director of Bethel's Youth Theology Institute for high school students.
Curtis Gruber
Adjunct Faculty | 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
Adjunct Instructor of Biblical Studies | timothy-henderson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
New Testament and early Christianity

Natalie Hendrickson
Adjunct Faculty and Adjunct Faculty | natalie-hendrickson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2000
Natalie is an Adjunct Faculty member who teaches internship and spiritual formation courses for the seminary. She formerly served as the Director of Supervised Ministry and Student Assessment at Bethel Seminary San Diego.

Terri Hightower
Adjunct Faculty | 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.
DesAnne Hippe
Adjunct Faculty | dhippe@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
DesAnne Hippe brings with her over 15 years of experience teaching systematic theology, ethics, and practical ministry on campus, online, and in the church. Over the years, she has taught for Marquette University, Trinity International University's Milwaukee extension site, Bethel Seminary, and Wesley Seminary. This experience, along with her time working as a psychiatric social worker and a pastor, helps her to equip her students and ministry leaders in solid biblical and theological fou. . . read more.

Heather Hoshiko
Adjunct Faculty | 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.

Brian Hughes
Adjunct Faculty | 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
Adjunct Faculty | 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.

Justin Irving
Adjunct Faculty | 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
Peter Kapsner
Teaching Partner in Theological Studies | kappet@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
New Testament and Practical Theology

Richard Kohler
Adjunct Professor | rek98784@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Dr. Richard Kohler grew up in Miami, Florida and moved to San Diego, California to pursue his graduate studies. He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and his doctorate degree in Psychology. Dr. Kohler has over 30 years of experience in the mental health field. He has worked with the military population, the elderly, children and adolescents in both intensive day treatment and residential group home facilities, and those with chemical dependency issues. He serv. . . read more.

Jennifer Konzen
Adjunct Faculty | jlk24326@bethel.edu
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.

Alison Lo
Associate Professor of Old Testament | alison-lo@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Old Testament Teaching & Research. I am passionate about training church leaders to faithfully minister God's word and live out His truth. I dedicate myself to research work, believing that teaching and research must be integrated.

Shane Long
Adjunct Instructor | 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.

Kimberley Meyer
Adjunct in Marriage and Family Studies | 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 MSN program, theory in the DNP program, and psychopathology in the marriage and family therapy master's 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
Adjunct Professor | 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.
Lyn Nixon
Adjunct Faculty | nixlyn@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
NT Greek, Hermeneutics, New Testament, Biblical Theology, The Use of the OT in the NT
Meredith Nyberg
Adjunct Instructor of Old Testament/ Hebrew Bible | meredith-nyberg@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Adjunct Instructor of Biblical and Theological Studies

Stephanie O'Brien
Adjunct Faculty in Preaching and Biblical Communication | 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
Adjunct Professor | 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
Collection Planning and Interlibrary Loan Librarian | s-oslund@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
As a member of the Seminary faculty, I collaborate with the teaching faculty in fulfilling the seminary’s educational mission. I am also the University Library liaison to Seminary programs and provide research assistance to Seminary students.

Jeanine Parolini
Associate Professor, Dissertation Adviser, Faculty Reader | 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.

Ramon Pastrano
Adjunct Faculty | ramon-pastrano@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
Dr. Pastrano is the CEO and Founder of ImpactLives Inc. He founded ImpactLives in 2007 as a laboratory for social responsibility and innovation. Through awareness-based leadership and critical thinking, his model is designed to assist individuals and organizations in developing new frameworks from where to solve the world's most challenging problems. By critically reflecting on the social-cultural and geopolitical structures as a whole, his model helps to provide a better understanding of c. . . read more.

Cristina Plaza Ruiz
Adjunct Assistant Professor | cplazaru@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Professor Plaza Ruiz is a Marriage and Family Therapist and adjunct assistant professor at Bethel Seminary. She is passionate about seeing families thrive and live healthy lives. Her focus is 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. Her interest in leadership in. . . read more.

Ebony Ramquist
Adjunct Faculty | e-ramquist@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Ebony Ramquist received her Master’s degree from Bethel Seminary in 2013. She served as the Director of Worship and Music at LifePoint Church for three years and as Music Director for six years at a school in the city of Minneapolis. Her philosophy of worship is to recognize the significance of Immanuel, "God with us", and worship praxis that stems from an intimate trusting of God and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Sam Rima
Adjunct Faculty | 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
Assistant Professor of Ministry Leadership | 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
Teaching Partner | andrew-russell@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Andrew Russell teaches church history courses at Bethel Seminary. He also teaches a variety of theology and humanities courses in the College of Arts and Sciences. Some of his research interests include the Keswick movement, the East African Revival, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and John Wesley.

Mary Sanders
Faculty Associate | Mary-sanders@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004
Spiritual and Personal Formation and Marriage and Family Therapy.

Glen G. Scorgie
Professor of Theology | g-scorgie@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1996
Professor Scorgie teaches systematic theology and ethics, and related electives, at the Seminary. His special research interests include spiritual theology, historical theology, and environmental ethics. For many years, he has taught in Asia and assisted in the ministries of Chinese churches in San Diego, where he resides. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland), and is a past president of the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association and, more recently, of the Soc. . . read more.

Donna Scott
Adjunct Faculty and Adjunct Faculty | 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
Professor | 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
Adjunct Faculty | scott-strand@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2011
Personal Formation, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Direction

Mark Strauss
University Professor of New Testament | m-strauss@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1993
Dr. Strauss is the author/coauthor of 20 books and many articles, and editor/co-editor of 40 volumes, with expertise in Gospels, Hermeneutics and Bible Translation. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on Bible Translation for the New International Version and as an associate editor for the NIV Study Bible.

Katherine Turner
Adjunct Faculty | 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.

Peter Vogt
Seminary Dean | p-vogt@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2001-2014 as Professor, 2019 as Dean
As the Dean of Bethel Seminary today, Peter is passionate about striving to be a radically counter-cultural follower of Jesus and helping others grow in their capacity in this area as well. His responsibilities include casting a vision for robust online education, partnership with local churches and denominations, identifying ways of serving alumni and local pastors, maintaining all aspects of accreditation for degree programs, representing the seminary to internal and external partners, an. . . read more.

Nikki Watkins
Adjunct Professor | Niw85964@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Dr. Watkins has over 12 years of experience providing individual, couples, and family therapy in a variety of settings. Currently she serves as the Assistant Director/Lead Clinician at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD where she leads a staff of four clinicians and a case manager in providing mental health care to Post 9/11 vets, their family members, and the family members of active duty service members. She has extensive experience providing counseling services to homeles. . . read more.

Andee Woolf
Clinical Training Coordinator and Adjunct Professor | 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.