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Education
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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

Steven Bennett
Department Chair | 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.

Jill Martin
Department Chair and Associate Professor of Education | 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.
Faculty
Linda Bahr
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education | lbahr@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education

Susan Brooks
Professor of English | 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
Professor of Mathematics Education | 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.
Cara Cardoso
Adjunct Instructor of Education | cara-cardoso@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Cardoso is grateful to God brought her to Bethel University to interact with aspiring teachers and use her as a tool to further His work! Her husband and she live in White Bear Township where they enjoy getting outdoors with their two children. As a School Psychologist, she enjoys problem-solving using a team approach. She is motivated to connect with families and help them navigate the Special Education process. Each child is a new opportunity to extend the grace and love that she has been. . . read more.
Becky Carlson
Elementary Education Placement Coordinator | becky-carlson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2003
Becky Carlson formerly served ten years as a fourth and fifth-grade elementary teacher and began at Bethel University in 2003 serving as a supervisor for student teachers and practicum experiences. Carlson's work focuses on placing student teachers and field experience students in elementary schools and working with local Twin Cities school districts. Her current partnerships focus on research in induction support for new teachers.
Traci Cox
Adjunct Assistant Professor in Education | tjc35238@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Traci's interests include reading instruction at the secondary level, instructional coaching, and teacher preparation. Her teaching specialties include middle and high school language arts, reading, instructional coaching, Six Trait Writing, and literacy integration.
Patricia Danforth
Assistant Professor of Education Emerita | danpat@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1991
Assistant Professor of Education Emerita

William Derden
Adjunct Instructor of Education | wid88763@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Adjunct Professor Specializing in Special Education Due Process and Law Graduate of Bethel Educational Doctorate Program.

Karin Farrington
Adjunct Professor | k-farrington@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2013
Karin started her teaching career in 2004 in K-12 Special Education EBD, SLD, OHI, and ASD and has taught in federal settings I,II,III,IV. She received her K-12 Art teaching license in 2018, has four years of teaching experience as a K-5 Elementary Art teacher, and is currently a High School Art teacher. Karin began her adjunct position at Bethel University in 2013 in the Special Education MA program where she was an instructor, thesis advisor, and student teacher supervisor. After receivin. . . read more.
Heidi Frye
Adjunct Instructor of Education | h-frye@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2020
Adjunct Instructor of Education

Becky Gerdes
Adjunct Instructor of Education | beg92364@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Becky Gerdes' experiences include serving as an administrator and educator at the elementary, middle school, and high school settings. Through these roles, she has developed and strengthened skills in supervision of staff, leadership in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating instructional programs, and implementing policies. Furthermore, in previous administrative roles, she has had experience serving in schools that have been designated as needing to make an improvement by the . . . read more.
Adele Greenlee
Professor of Education Emerita | a-greenlee@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1993
Professor of Education Emerita
Larry Gronewold
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education | llg39694@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education
Dorothy Haugen
Assistant Professor of Physical Education Emerita | haudor@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1995
Assistant Professor of Physical Education Emerita

Steven Henkel
Adjunct Professor of Physical Education | 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
Associate Professor of Education Emerita | 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.

Nadine Johnson
Education Licensing and Advising Specialist | 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.
Heather Johnson Ross
Adjunct Instructor of Education and Partnerships Coordinator in Education | heather-ross@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Heather's role is to support community partnerships, including the charter schools authorized by Bethel.

Lisa Kepple
Adjunct Instructor of Health Education | patlis@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Adjunct Instructor of Human Kinetics and Applied Health Science
David Klostreich
Associate Professor of Physical Education Emeritus | klolois@comcast.net | Started at Bethel: 1970
Associate Professor of Physical Education Emeritus
Paul Koenig
Adjunct Instructor of Education | pak34748@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2014
Adjunct Instructor of Education

Donna LeGrand
Associate Professor of Spanish Education | legdon@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
LeGrand developed and directs Bethel's Spain Term and oversees the 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 Spanish. . . read more.

Elisabeth Lefebvre
Assistant Professor of Education | 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
Associate Professor of Education | mlindell@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Lindell is interested in practices and interventions that support student success in inclusive environments. She enjoys facilitating general and special education teacher development and partnering with schools to better prepare teachers and serve (P-12) students well.
Amie Lorence Grubidge
Adjunct Instructor of Education | amie-lorence@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Amber Marsh
Adjunct Instructor of Education | amm79593@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Adjunct Instructor of Education

Peg McCormick
Associate Professor of Education | p-mccormick@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2009
Peg McCormick's interests and areas of specialization include Behavioral Theory, interventions for the EBD classroom, resilient health and occupational longevity for teachers, and best practices for the support of international student teachers.

Michael Mignard
Associate Professor of Education and Director of Education Clinical Practice | m-mignard@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2002
Introduction to Education
Mindy Molin
Administrative Assistant | m-molin@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Mindy Molin works as the Administrative Assistant for the department. She assists students in the admissions process to join the Education program and happy to help students, faculty and cooperating teachers through field placements and graduation.
Breanna Mueller
Adjunct Instructor of Education | brm22425@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Judith Nagel
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education | j-nagel@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education
Sara Nelson
Adjunct Instructor of Education | smn49478@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Peggy Novak
Adjunct Associate Professor of Education | p-novak@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Adjunct Associate Professor of Education

Patricia Paulson
Professor of Science Education Emerita | patricia-paulson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Paulson focuses her research on trustworthy practices for teaching and learning, focusing specifically on integrating scientific practices. She has led the GEMS program, coordinated the STEM program, and taught Life Science Concepts, Applied STEM Practices, and Science Curriculum and Methods at all levels. With the completion of her phased in retirement in June 2020, Paulson serves as an adjunct instructor in the Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership program, teaching the Curriculum and Inst. . . read more.

Jolene Pearson
Associate Professor of Education and Program Director of Early Childhood Education | jolene-pearson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2012
Dr. Pearson has focused her research on pre-service teacher preparation. Her dissertation was entitled: Too Important to Ignore: Teaching Pre-Service Teachers about Infants and Toddlers. Her current research is focused on analysis of student's reflective journals to understand how they interpret their experiences in early childhood classrooms during practicums. In Fall 2018 her sabbatical research will take her to the University of Iceland, Queen Maud University in Norway, Roehampton Univ. . . read more.
Kari Peterman
Adjunct Instructor of Education | k-peterman@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Adjunct Instructor of Education

Linda Probert
Adjunct Associate Professor of Education | linda-probert@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Beginning as a general education 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 during student teaching. She also is one of the professors that teaches Foundations of Education.

Jay Rasmussen
Professor of Education Emeritus | rasjay@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1997
Jay has served for 27 years as a teacher educator and is currently a Professor Emeritus of Education at Bethel University. Teaching responsibilities included undergraduate and graduate level courses in literacy education and assessment. His previous administrative responsibilities included 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 which he helped develop and oversee four master's programs and on. . . read more.

Mark Rhoads
Professor of Music Education | 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.
Karee Smith
Adjunct Instructor of Education | klj88668@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Adjunct Instructor of Education

Danny Swensen
Professor of Education | d-swensen@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2008
Areas of expertise include mathematics and physics education, education technology, and statistics.

Sarah Tahtinen-Pacheco
Professor of TESL | s-tahtinen@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2006
Over 30 years experience in teaching & research in: Teacher Education, Bilingual-Bicultural and 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. Co-creator of the TOCCA (Task-Oriented, Community-Centered Acquisition)model.

Steven Thompson
Professor of Music Education | 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.
Lauren Van Gomple
Adjunct Instructor of Education | lsv89686 | Started at Bethel: 2018
As a Bethel Alumna, Professor Van Gomple is proud to contribute to the valuable learning that takes place at Bethel. After many years in the special education classroom, she brings her experience and expertise to her role as a teacher educator! Personal areas of expertise include social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, evidence-based intervention, literacy, assessment, and instructional design.

Geri Von Grey
Associate Professor of Education | geri-vongrey@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2012
Professor VonGrey has been in the field of education for over 25 years. She has spent many years teaching in various schools including public, private, Montessori, and International school contexts. She began her work at Bethel in 2012 and works with Elementary Education majors. Her interests include best practices in social studies education, integrating educational psychology, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed teaching practices. Additionally, she is interested in supporting . . . read more.
Louise Wilson
Associate Professor of Education Emerita | louise-wilson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Associate Professor of Education Emerita