Faculty
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
Professor of New Testament and Program Director | 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.
John Anthony Dunne
Program Director and Associate 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 and mortality, ritual practices and participation with Christ, symbolism associated with ancient fermented beverages, critiques of imperial ideology, intertextuality with antecedent texts, and the reception of the Bible in contemporary popular. . . read more.
Herb Grant
Program Director and Professor of Marriage & Family Therapy | h-grant@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2012
Dr. Grant's clinical and research interests focus on couples therapy, ambiguous loss, mental health for underserved populations and clinical supervision. Dr. Grant brings over 20 years of clinical experience and 16 years of regulatory experience to his teaching at Bethel. He is committed to helping students develop their faith as they develop their clinical ability.
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.
Peter Vogt
Seminary Dean and Program Director | 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.
Faculty
Tucker Anderson
Adjunct Faculty | andtuc@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
In addition to his teaching role at Bethel Seminary, Tucker serves as a full-time associate pastor. His current academic and pastoral interest is the relevance of biblical theology for preaching and discipleship formation. He resides in the Twin Cities with his wife, Alia, and their two daughters (Myra and Ella).
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
Joshua Carroll
Dmin Technical Reader and Adjunct Professor | joc23858@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
After over 20 years in a variety of church ministry and non-profit roles, Dr. Joshua O. Carroll is currently serving as the Lead Pastor of Ethnos Bible Church, a small but vibrant multi-ethnic church in Richardson, TX. His academic credentials include a double M.A., Theology and Spiritual Formation, from Talbot School of Theology (Biola University, 2012) and a PhD in New Testament from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK, 2017). In addition to his church work, Dr. Carroll works with. . . read more.
David Clark
Professor Emeritus | 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.
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
Douglas Fombelle
Faculty | d-fombelle@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
Doctor of Ministry After graduating from Bethel Seminary, Doug Fombelle served as a pastor in a Converge congregation for over 25 years. In 2003 he joined Bethel Seminary as the Dean and Executive Officer of Bethel Seminary's East Coast extension campuses. He was designated Emeritus status by Bethel. He then served Denver Seminary as Director of Extension Education establishing extension campuses in DC and Amarillo. He remains active as a pastoral mentor and currently is an instructor . . . read more.
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.
Stacie Gaines
Adjunct Instructor | stacie-gaines@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2012
Stacie is an adjunct faculty member who teaches internship and spiritual formation courses at Bethel Seminary. Also, Mrs. Gaines is a licensed minister since 2001 at her local church. She’s the CEO and founder of Maturing Through the Word, LLC where mental health counseling, financial literacy, and mentorship services are offered.
Kirsten Gardner
Adjunct faculty | kirsten-gardner@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Dr. Gardner is an Adjunct Professor in Old Testament Theology. Her areas of academic interest include the Book of Judges, literary-narrative approaches to interpretation, and theological ethics. She has focused much of her research interest on so-called "texts of terror", reading them in light of intertextuality as well as social-scientific interpretive approaches. Dr. Gardner received her PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Prior to her doctoral studies she receive. . . read more.
Tedi Anne Hasapopoulos
Adjunct Professor | tedi-hasapopoulos@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
New product development and strategic planning, applied ethics, data and decision making, business plan development, marketing, customer insights and research. Recent developing expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion organization best practices.
Kaz Hayashi
Associate Professor of Old Testament | kah54922@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2022
A Japanese Old Testament scholar, archaeologist, minister, and husband and father.
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.
DesAnne Hippe
Professor of Theology | dhippe@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
DesAnne Hippe brings with her over 20 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.
Roy Inzunza
Adjunct Instructor | roi65454@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2024
Roy Inzunza has been offering spiritual care and well-being as a chaplain in the workplace since 2006. In 2016, he and a group of colleagues started a consulting firm to offer corporate chaplaincy and leadership coaching. Roy is also completing a Doctorate of Ministry at Fuller Seminary with an emphasis on the role of a chaplain in identifying and addressing organizational pain points that are causing low morale. He also partners with a church consulting agency that is helping faith lead. . . read more.
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 Jankowski
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy | pjankows@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004
Jankowski's research focuses on differentiation of self and spirituality; positive psychology; psychotherapy effectiveness; faith integration in psychotherapy; narrative and experiential therapy; and clinical supervision.
Donna Johnson
Director of Internship and Placement | de-johnson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Director of Internship and Placement /Adjunct Professor
Peter Kapsner
Teaching Partner in Theological Studies | kappet@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
New Testament and Practical Theology
Ben K Lim
Professor Emeritus | 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
Professor of Ministry Leadership Emeritus | m-mccloskey@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1998
Biblical theology of leadership, leadership formation, organizational leadership development, team building, virtue-based leadership, strategic planning
Deb Moncauskas
Adjunct Professor | debra-moncauskas@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004
Dr. Deb Moncauskas is an Adjunct Professor at Bethel Seminary, teaching since 2004 in the Master of Arts degree program in Children and Family Ministry. Her areas of focus are leadership and staff development, generational distinctive, curriculum writing and evaluation, and ministry administration. She earned her D.Min in 2012. Her dissertation focused on strengths-based leadership development for pre-teens. Dr. Deb's current courses at Bethel are Leadership in Children and Family Ministry . . . read more.
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
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 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
Library Liaison to Seminary Programs | 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.
Loren Pankratz
Adjunct | pankratz@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2022
Loren lives in Utah and is the planting pastor of The Bridge Community, a church in the Rocky Mountain District of Converge Worldwide. Loren is a lifelong learner and has a passion to immerse students in theology and equip them to engage in ministry.
Ramon Pastrano IV
Adjunct Faculty | ramon-pastrano@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
Dr. Pastrano is founder and board member of Twin Cities-based ImpactLives, Inc. and founder of Third Sphere LLC, a center for transformational leadership in cultural competence, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Pastrano is an architect of organizational culture, system change and human transformation. Pastrano is fluent in human-centered design, design thinking, system thinking, service learning, social responsibility, social innovation, transformational leadership, and entrepre. . . 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, and processing immigration trauma and loss and the accompanying life challenges that come with it. Her interest in leadershi. . . read more.
Benjamin Rhodes
Adjunct Assistant Professor | b-rhodes@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2022
Adjunct Assistant Professor, General Studies, Theology
Andrew Rowell
Associate 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.
Jeff Sanders
Adjunct Faculty | j-sanders@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1993
Part of the Spiritual Formation adjunct faculty team.
John Sorrell
Adjunct Faculty | sorjoh@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
John Sorrell is currently the Executive Pastor at NorthPoint Church in Johnston, IA. He recently completed his Ph.D. in New Testament Hermeneutics from London School of Theology. He is originally from Ohio but spent 15 years in Asia before moving to San Diego and then to Iowa. His wife, Katie Bogue, Bill and Sue’s daughter, grew up right here in Ogden. John and Katie have two daughters, Elsa (13) and Clara (11). John is always up for new adventures and is a faithful Cincinnati Bengals fan. . . read more.
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.