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
Justin Irving
Program Director | 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
Faculty
Leith Anderson
Faculty | Leith.Anderson@wooddale.org | Started at Bethel: 2010
Pastoring, teaching, writing, speaking, and leadership.
Jeannine Brown
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.
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
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.
Katie Friesen Smith
Faculty, Thesis Advisor | 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
Denise Muir Kjesbo
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.
Jeanine Parolini
Teaching Partner, 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.
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.
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
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.