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.
Department Chair
Jill Martin
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
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.
Elisabeth Lefebvre
Associate Professor of Education | eel54258@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2018
Dr. Elisabeth E. Lefebvre is an associate 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
Dr. 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. Her research agenda centers on the impacts of inclusive post-secondary programs and Bethel's BUILD program.
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
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.
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.
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.
Adjunct Faculty
Becky Carlson
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education and 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.
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 Instructor of Education | 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.
Justine Harren
Adjunct Instructor of Education | jub95553@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2021
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Katelin Held
Adjunct Instructor of Education | k-held@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2023
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Rachel Jorgensen
Adjunct Instructor of Education | rra35368@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Educator with a specialized focus in the areas of work-based learning, internship development and special education.
Amie Lorence Grubidge
Adjunct Instructor of Education | amie-lorence@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Sara Nelson
Adjunct Instructor of Education | smn49478@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2017
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Melissa Olson
Adjunct Instructor of Education | melissa-olson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2022
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Amy Fox
Adjunct Instructor of Education | beiamy@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Secondary Science, Trauma Informed Instruction, Education Equity, Environmental Education
Erica Hering
Adjunct Instructor of Education | e-hering@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2005
Erica is a former elementary school teacher who has served in higher education for 12 years. Erica has worked with the Doctoral and Licensing Program in Educational Leadership since 2006. She also received her doctoral degree through Bethel's program.
Sara Jones
Adjunct Instructor of Education | slj22393@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2024
Adjunct Instructor of Education
Lisa Kepple
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Health Education | patlis@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2015
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Applied Health Sciences
Glenn Morehouse Olson
Adjunct Instructor of Education | olsgle@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2019
Glenn Morehouse Olson is an adjunct professor for Bethel University, teaching the Language Arts Methods course in the CAPS/GS program. She is a Certified Journalism Educator who also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater performance. Now in her 17th year as an educator, she teaches AP Lang and Comp, journalism (on-line, broadcast, social media, and print), theater, playwrighting and Language Arts (grades 9 - 12) at St. Francis High School. She has three daughters and her husband is also a. . . read more.
Lisa Ouren
Adjunct Instructor of Education | Lmo72847@Bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2016
Lisa Ouren is an adjunct professor in the CAPS/GS Special Education Program.
Amanda Wallrich
Adjunct Instructor of Education | amw75724@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2024
Adjunct Instructor of Education, Student Teacher Supervisor
Amanda Wallrich
Adjunct Instructor of Education | amw75724@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 2024
Adjunct Instructor of Education, Student Teacher Supervisor
Emeritus/Emerita Faculty
Susan Brooks
Professor of English Emerita | 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 Emeritus | 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
Assistant Professor of Education Emerita | danpat@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1991
Assistant Professor of Education Emerita
Adele Greenlee
Professor of Education Emerita | a-greenlee@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1993
Professor of Education Emerita
Dorothy Haugen
Assistant Professor of Physical Education Emerita | haudor@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1995
Assistant Professor of Physical Education Emerita
Steven Henkel
Professor of Human Kinetics and Applied Health Science Emeritus | 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.
David Klostreich
Associate Professor of Physical Education Emeritus | klolois@comcast.net | Started at Bethel: 1970
Associate Professor of Physical Education Emeritus
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 Emerita | 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.
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 Emeritus | 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.
Louise Wilson
Associate Professor of Education Emerita | louise-wilson@bethel.edu | Started at Bethel: 1999
Associate Professor of Education Emerita