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
Julie Finnern
Department Chair | j-finnern@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Dr. Finnern has an extensive background in Elementary Education and Education Administration.
Faculty
Steve Bennett
| s-bennett@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Areas of expertise include biology, chemistry and environmental education. Steve taught these subjects in high schools and community colleges in Michigan and Wisconsin. His research interest is the bridging of science teaching methods and cognitive science.
Susan Brooks
| susan-brooks@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1998
Dr. Brooks works primarily with the Communication Arts and Literature Education major, preparing students to be high school and middle school English teachers. Her scholarship focuses on best practices in reading and writing--particularly how people's underlying ideas about the nature of literature affect the ways they read, write and teach. She specializes in young adult literature and recently had a chapter published in Teens and the New Religious Landscape: Essays on Religion in Young. . . read more.
Scott Brown
| sbrown@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1996
Brown has years of practical classroom experience as a mathematics teacher in the public schools of Cody, Wyoming. He teaches a wide range of courses in both mathematics and education and oversees Bethel's 5-8 and 5-12 math education programs, ensuring compliance with Minnesota teacher licensure requirements.
Patricia Danforth
| danpat@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1991
Assistant Professor of Education Emerita
Seann Dikkers
| seann-dikkers@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Seann Dikkers formerly served 14 years as a middle school history teacher, high school principal, and education consultant. Dikkers' work focuses on the integration of new media technologies for formal and informal educational settings. His books, "Real-Time Research," "Mobile Media Learning," and "TeacherCraft: How Teachers use Minecraft in the Classroom" (ETC Press) are helping educational innovators to integrate technology into classroom learning. Past project work includes CivWorld, the. . . read more.
Larry Gronewold
| llg39694@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education
Mary Hammond
| hammarj@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1993
Associate Professor of Education Emerita
Dorothy Haugen
| haudor@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1995
Assistant Professor of Physical Education Emerita
Steven Henkel
| s-henkel@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1986
Henkel speaks and writes about creative movement, motor skill development, character development, and developmentally appropriate games for children and youth.
Sandi Horn
| sandi-horn@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Horn’s research interests include charter school development, experiential learning for teacher education candidates, and integration of social studies concepts into elementary curriculum. Her teaching specialties include introduction to education and elementary social studies methods.
Bonnie Houck
| bhouck@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Bonnie Houck has served as an educator for over twenty years. She has taught pre-kindergarten through postgraduate education, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, serving as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, and district literacy coordinator. Bonnie also served as the State Reading Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education for over five years, supporting the professional development of educators in research supported practices across the state. Sin. . . read more.
Nadine Johnson
| n-johnson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2012
Johnson focuses primarily on advising incoming first-time students and transfer students to the education department while also advising seniors through the licensure process as they journey forward into a teaching career.
Lisa Kepple
| patlis@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Instructor of Human Kinetics and Applied Health Science
David Klostreich
| klolois@comcast.net | Started at Bethel: 1970
Associate Professor of Physical Education Emeritus
Donna LeGrand
| legdon@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
LeGrand developed and directs Bethel's Spain Term and oversees the World Languages and Cultures education program at Bethel. Her interests include teaching all levels of Spanish, teaching about and applying theories of second language acquisition, and researching 16th and 17th century literature from Spain and Latin America. LeGrand is on the board of the Minnesota Council of Teaching Languages and Cultures and has been president of the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Teachers of S. . . read more.
Elisabeth Lefebvre
| eel54258@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Dr. Elisabeth E. Lefebvre is an assistant professor in the Department of Education at Bethel University. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Development Education with a minor in Sociocultural Studies in Education from the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Oregon. Before attending graduate school, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Louisiana, USA, and in Morocco. Lefebvre's interdisciplinary research examines the m. . . read more.
Mary Lindell
| mlindell@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
I am interested in practices and interventions that support student success in inclusive environments. I enjoy facilitating general and special education teacher development and partnering with schools to better prepare teachers and serve (P-12) students well.
Jill Martin
| jmartin@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1996
Martin’s scholarly interests include content area literacy, reflective teaching, and teacher’s use of metacognation. Her teaching specialties include secondary social studies, middle level philosophy and pedagogy, and educational psychology.
Sara Nelson
| smn49478@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: Adjunct Instructor of Education
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Patricia Paulson
| patricia-paulson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Paulson focuses her research on trustworthy practices for learning science, focusing specifically on scientific practices. She has led the GEMS program, coordinates the STEM certification program, teaches Life Science Concepts, Applied STEM Practices, and Science Curriculum and Methods at all levels. Paulson also teaches in the Ed.D. program.
Linda Probert
| linda-probert@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1996
Beginning as an elementary teacher, Associate Professor Probert has taught at Bethel since 1996 in both the CAS and the Graduate levels. Her main responsibilities are teaching Reading Foundations and working with students as they complete their edTPA.
Jay Rasmussen
| rasjay@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
I have now served for 27 years as a teacher educator and I am currently a Professor of Education at Bethel University. My teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate level courses in literacy education and assessment. My administrative responsibilities include serving as a Faculty Development Coordinator at Bethel and as the Program Director for the M.A. Program in Education: K-12. From 1997-2006 I helped develop and oversee four master’s programs and one doctoral program. . . read more.
Mark Rhoads
| rhomar@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1988
Rhoads teaches courses in church music, music education, and gen. ed. arts courses. He is a member of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada and is active in discussions on music and worship, with current research in American hymnody, especially the reform movement in the American Protestant church in the early 19th century. Rhoads is active in church music as director, hymn and tune writer, and worship planner. He also writes and publishes poetry.. . . read more.
Danny Swensen
| d-swensen@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Areas of expertise include mathematics and physics education, education technology, and statistics.
Sarah Tahtinen-Pacheco
| s-tahtinen@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
30 years experience in teaching & research in: Teacher Education, Bilingual-Bicultural and World Languages and Cultures Ed.; Pre-K -Adult, Curriculum, Assessment, and Instructional Design, ESL/Bilingual/Foreign Language Program, Development & Evaluation, Faculty Development/Teaching Mentor, and Doctoral/Masters Thesis Advisor
Steven Thompson
| s-thompson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Thompson teaches courses in instrumental conducting, instrumental pedagogies, private trumpet instruction, and conducts the Bethel Wind Symphony. Thompson maintains an active performing schedule as a trumpeter in the Upper Midwest and the Eastern United States. He is sought after as a clinician and as an adjudicator for numerous contest events.
Louise Wilson
| louise-wilson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Associate Professor of Education Emerita
Jodi Wolkerstorfer
| woljod@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Passionate about supporting students and families of those with special needs, including educating soon-to-be teachers on ways to collaborate and find success for all.
