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

Nancy Brule

Department Chair and 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.

Ripley Smith

Department Chair and Professor of 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

Michael Dreher

Professor of Communication Studies | 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.

Andrew Gess

Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Director of Internships | a-gess@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2001

Gess conducts research in the areas of organizational and corporate communication, rhetorical theory, media ecology, and the study of social movements.

Abigail Ibisch

Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies | abigail-ibisch@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017

Adjunct Instructor of Communication Studies

Peggy Kendall

Professor of Communication Studies | p-kendall@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999

Kendall is currently a Fulbright scholar, teaching and conducting research at Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. Her current field of study is examining the challenges faced by caregivers who are caring for an aging family member or friend. The research will analyze cultural differences in things like role expectations and perceptions of privacy. She has focused her previous research and writing on how technology impacts faith and identity. She is also completing a booK looking. . . read more.

Jessica Samens

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.

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.

Arthur Terry

Associate Professor of Communication Studies | a-terry@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006

Terry's research interests include screenwriting, film, the history of film, and the films of African American filmmakers.