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.

Department Chair

Peggy Kendall

Department Chair | p-kendall@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999

Kendall is a recent Fulbright Scholar who spent time in Poland researching issues related to eldercare. Her current field of study examines caregivers, specifically how culture impacts an individual's willingness to care for an aging relative and how COVID-19 has impacted the relationship between caregiver and elder. Her secondary research and writing focuses on how technology impacts faith, relationships, and identity.

Ripley Smith

Department Chair and Professor of Intercultural & Media Communication | r-smith@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008

Smith has research interests in social networks and socio-cultural adjustment, trust development in partnerships across cultures and organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international crisis intervention processes, and prophetic rhetoric.

Faculty

Betsy Anderson

Associate Professor of Communication Studies | bda92679@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021

Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Nancy Brule

Professor of Communication Studies | n-brule@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2004

Brule's research interests include family communication, adolescent/parent communication, high-risk adolescents, conflict, and abusive relationships.

Michael Dreher

Professor of Communication Emeritus | mdreher@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997

Dreher's research and publishing have focused on political and religious rhetoric, the rhetoric of mathematics and science, and forensic pedagogy. He is also interested in issues of web accessibility and standards.

Jessica Samens

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Communication Studies | j-samens@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009

Samens' research interests include health communication, focusing on identity after an illness, disclosure of health status, and health disparity.

Christopher Shofner

Associate Professor of Communication Studies | cks75966@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021

Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Scott Sochay

Associate Professor of Communication Studies | socsco@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999

Sochay's research and teaching interests include media law, media technology, and Native Americans and the media.