Bethel Magazine Summer 2018

HUMANITIES

FINE ARTS

STUDENT LIFE

THE VALUE OF

ATHLETICS

EDUCATION

STUDY

SCIENCES

FACULTY

STUDENT

FAITH

TOP TECH COMPANIES ARE RECOGNIZING WHAT BETHEL’S BEEN DOING ALL ALONG

Summer 2018

p. 19

Transforming rural education in Liberia p. 12 College of Arts & Sciences

|

REAL EXPERIENCE

One prof’s devotion to Scripture p. 25

College of Adult & Professional Studies

Is Bethel worth the cost? p. 28

|

Bethel Seminary

|

Graduate School

There are some new kids around, and they’re grazing on 4.5 fenced acres at Bethel. The biology department helped bring a herd of 20 goats to campus to eat buckthorn, an invasive plant that’s damaging the local ecosystem.

If the goats are successful, who knows? Next summer they might be baaaack.

Check out bethel.edu/news/articles/2018/ may/goats-eat-buckthorn to read more.

photo courtesy of The Munch Bunch

Herd on Campus

CONTENTS 02 10 12 19 25 28 30

12

UNEWS Bethel University community updates, including new programs; seminary news; and faculty, student, and alumni achievements

SPORTSSHORTS Highlights from the best of Royal athletics

THE POWER OF HOPE One graduate student dares to dream big as he works to transform rural education in Liberia.

THE VALUE OF LIBERAL ARTS Top companies like Google are recognizing that the very skills developed at liberal arts universities like Bethel are critical assets in the high-tech marketplace.

25

A STUDY IN SCRIPTURE Professor of Biblical Studies Juan Hernández Jr. has devoted his life to uncovering mysteries of Scripture.

IS BETHEL WORTH THE COST? With many wondering about the value of higher education, we did some research.

Here’s what we found.

ALUMNEWS What’s new with Bethel alumni

Editor Michelle Westlund ’83 Design Darin Jones ’97 Contributors Morgan Colby | Kristi Ellison ’10 | Timothy Hammer ’08, S’12 Paul Hjellming ’13 | Jenny Hudalla ’15 | Jared Johnson GS’14 | Katie Johnson ’19 | Anna Kaihoi ’07 | Monique Kleinhuizen ’08, GS’16 Suzanne McInroy | Jason Schoonover ’09 | Scott Streble | Cherie Suonvieri ’15 President James (Jay) H. Barnes III Editorial Offices 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112-6999 | 651.638.6233 | 651.638.6003 (fax) | bethel-magazine@bethel.edu

Summer 2018 Volume 9 Number 2

Address Corrections Office of University Advancement | 651.635.8050 | university-advancement-updates@bethel.edu Bethel Magazine is published two times a year by Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112-6999. Postage paid at St. Paul, Minnesota, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2018 Bethel University. All Rights Reserved.

Bethel University is sponsored by the churches of Converge. It is the policy of Bethel not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, or disability in its educational programs, admissions, or employment policies as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to: Compliance Officer, Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112-6999.

Cover and p. 19 artwork based on illustration by istockphoto: Bluehousestudio

Bethel University

1

JAYTALKING

A conversation with President Jay Barnes

The Best Preparation for Tomorrow’s Job Market I recently reread L.J. Ahlstrom’s biography of Bethel founder John Alexis Edgren. According to Ahlstrom, Edgren spoke 16 languages and read another 16.

Although Edgren first taught sciences and mathematics, at one point in his career, the Archbishop of Canterbury called on him to decipher the message on an artifact uncovered in Egypt. It’s no wonder that, in establishing Bethel, Edgren was concerned about students being broadly educated with cultivated minds as they built on the truth of the Bible and the primacy of a relationship with Christ.

As Bethel enters its 147th year, the foundational principles articulated

by Edgren hold true in each of Bethel’s schools. Each year we graduate 1,200 broadly educated people who have been challenged to build on the truth of the Bible and nurture a personal relationship with Christ. In the College of Arts & Sciences, for example, some of our best teaching and learning occurs in the core curriculum, often in team-taught, multidisciplinary courses. Whether students are in professional programs like nursing or education, or in humanities areas like history and philosophy, we expect them to be thoroughly

established in liberal arts skills and liberal arts content.

A prospective student recently told me she was undecided about her potential major. I told her that “undeclared” was one of our most popular starting points. The reality is that she will likely change not only jobs but careers multiple times after college. The best preparation for the job market of the future is the type of education Bethel offers: a base of liberal arts knowledge that explores the great ideas, historical movements, and key content areas in addition to the development of liberal arts skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork, and ability to get along with those who see things differently. Bethel was established with this emphasis from the very beginning, and we remain committed to robust, relevant Christian liberal arts education as we move into the future.

Read more about the value of liberal arts education on p. 19.

STAY CONNECTED! bethel.edu/news @bethelumn

2

Summer 2018

@bethelu

betheluniversity betheluniversity

Bethel University Bethel University

UNEWS

Updates from the Bethel community

photo by Nathan Klok ’17

Steinbach Honored as University Professor

Visit bethel. edu/undergrad/ academics/art to learn more about the Department of Art and Design.

Kenneth Steinbach, a professor in Bethel’s Department of Art and Design, has been recognized for representing the “best of the best” at Bethel University. Bethel named Steinbach as its seventh university professor, a designation recognizing extraordinary faculty accomplishments within and beyond Bethel. Steinbach, a gifted teacher and faculty leader, has exhibited his work more than 50 times since 2009 in places around the country and the world, and has received awards such as the prestigious Arlin G. Meyer Prize in Visual Arts and Bethel’s Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. He contributes to the broader art community through his leadership in Christians in the Visual Arts and his service to a number of galleries in the Twin Cities; he’s also published a book, Creative Practices for Visual Artists: Time, Space, Process. (See “Bookmarked” on p. 5.)

Commencement 2018

868

Bethel University spring graduates from all schools (College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, Bethel Seminary, Graduate School)

Bethel helped me to learn a lot more about

4

Graduates in the first class of Act Six Scholars, a program started in fall 2015 to grant full-need scholarships to emerging urban and community leaders. All four graduated a year early.

my beliefs. This learning came in the form of my education, as well as the challenges I had to

Visit bethel.edu/ news/articles/2018/ may/undergradcommencement to read more and watch a video.

overcome.

—commencement student speaker Wendy Lorenzo-Sanchez ’18, a business and political science double major and one of the first four Act Six graduates Bethel University

3

New Programs Launch in 2018-19 Computer Engineering Bethel is expanding offerings to prepare students for the booming industry of computers and microprocessors with its third standalone engineering program, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Engineering. The degree, launching in fall 2018, brings together elements from Bethel’s other new engineering programs, electrical engineering and software engineering, giving students exposure to the whole spectrum of software and hardware development but greater control in deciding exactly what kind of career they’d like to pursue. “Students will work closely with faculty who’ve specialized in both areas—it’s really a cross-disciplinary major,” says Department Chair Brian Beecken, professor of physics and engineering.

“These fields are all connected. There’s such synergy between them, and we’re creating symbiotic programs that serve our students well as they look toward the jobs of tomorrow.” The computer engineering program culminates in the Engineering Design Seminar and Engineering Design Project, where students from different specialties come together to work on an actual design project for an external industry partner.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Bethel launches a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)degree program in fall 2018, the Graduate School’s third doctoral offering and one of the highest degrees in nursing. The DNP will prepare advanced practice nurses for roles in administration, public policy, advocacy, and specialized care. The primarily online program puts students on the cutting edge of medical trends, with advanced study in biostatistics, epidemiology, informatics, and healthcare economics and policy. Students will learn to apply evidence-based research, think critically at the organizational level, and

understand nursing from a business perspective—skills that position them well for roles in hospital management and academia. “The DNP completes our suite of nursing programs,” says Diane Dahl, chief nursing administrator and dean of health, medical, and social sciences. “Nursing at Bethel is unique in that we produce graduates who meet workforce demand and patient needs, and who are recognized by employers as different—highly ethical people who care for the whole person.”

Senior Care Leadership Certificate The Senior Care Leadership and Administration Certificate is the latest addition to Bethel’s robust collection of healthcare programs. Set to launch in spring 2019, the certificate aims to address the growing shortage of professionals equipped to serve in the senior care industry. “Among many issues facing our culture, providing effective and compassionate healthcare is one of the most critical,” says Kristi Moline, executive director of the Center for Healthcare Excellence. “Bethel is uniquely positioned to prepare Christ-centered leaders for this industry because of our longstanding commitment to faith and service.” With courses in business, leadership, accounting, gerontology, and regulatory issues, the 24-credit online program will prepare students to work in the full continuum of senior care. By the time they finish, they’ll be equipped to think critically, communicate effectively with internal and external constituents, and understand different approaches to quality and safety assessment. Completion of the certificate and two practicum courses will qualify students who hold a bachelor’s degree to sit for the Long-Term Care Administrator licensure exam, a forward-thinking move for those interested in leadership roles at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Visit our website to learn more about these programs.

Computer engineering: bethel.edu/undergrad/academics/math-cs/majors-minors/computer-engineering Doctor of Nursing Practice: bethel.edu/graduate/academics/doctorate-nursing-practice Senior Care Leadership Certificate: bethel.edu/adult-undergrad/academics/certificates/senior-care-leadership

4

Summer 2018

Bookmarked Recently published books by Bethel University authors

photo by Scott Streble

Relational Integration of Psychology and Christian Theology

by Jeannine K. Brown, Interim CoVice President and Dean, Professor of New Testament and Director of Online Programs, Bethel Seminary; and Steven J. Sandage, former Professor of Marriage and Family Studies, Bethel Seminary

CAPS Freezes Tuition for 2018-19 Bethel continues a commitment to simplify and lower costs for students in the College of Adult & Professional Studies (CAPS). The university made adjustments to lower cost per credit and eliminate most fees for the 2017-18 year, and for the upcoming 2018-19 year, those prices will remain the same. All programs will remain $430 per credit except for nursing. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing will decrease by $65 per credit to $430 per credit, effective fall semester. In the Graduate School, some programs will see a small increase in tuition for the 2018-19 academic year while others will remain the same. Master’s programs at Bethel Seminary will increase by $10 per credit hour for the 2018-19 academic year. The self-directed Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program will increase by $16 per credit hour, but the cohort-based D.Min. will remain the same. “We continue to look for ways to make highquality academic programs affordable and accessible to our adult undergraduate students,” says Randy Bergen, associate provost for the College of Adult & Professional Studies, Bethel Seminary, and Graduate School.

Running Life’s Race: Stories of Sports and Faith for All Seasons

by Steven A. Henkel, Professor of Physical Education Visit people.bethel.edu/~shenkel/books. html for more information.

Creative Practices for Visual Artists: Time, Space, Process

by Kenneth Steinbach, University Professor of Art and Design Almost a Mormon: The Story of Why I Gave Up Joseph Smith and Gained Jesus Christ

by Adam Dommeyer, Enrollment Counselor Visit bookstore.bethel.edu to see more books by Bethel authors.

Visit bethel.edu/news/articles/2018/april/ tuition-caps-gs-sem to learn more.

Bethel University

5

Art Alum Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship Chris Larson ’90 was awarded the esteemed Guggenheim Fellowship— one of the highest honors in art and academia—in April. Larson received a $55,000 grant to spend one year working with as much creative freedom as possible. He has chosen to move his studio to an abandoned garment factory in Smithville, Tennessee, where Ralph Lauren Polo, Converse, and Land’s End produced clothing.

Though he doesn’t know which form his next project will take, Larson is interested in exploring how workspaces impact perceptions of social class and identity. After graduating from Bethel with

a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Larson earned a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University. He now works as an associate professor of sculpture at the University of Minnesota and travels frequently as a practicing artist. His work is rooted in sculpture, but he also incorporates video, photography, drawing, and sound. Larson’s work has been displayed worldwide, from the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis to the Staatliche Museen in Berlin.

This is the first time he will take a break from his teaching job in 12 years. “It’s the most prestigious award I’ve ever won,” says Larson. “I still can’t believe it.”

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2018/may/chris-larsonguggenheim to learn more.

Bethel Remembers Sherm Swenson Sherm Swenson, Bethel executive vice president of administration and finance from 1987-1998, died in April, 2018. “Sherm was a top-level leader at Bethel, first as a trustee and then in his role as executive vice president,” says President Jay Barnes. Swenson joined Bethel at a time of major institutional transition and brought a wealth of knowledge and skills in critical areas of management, admissions, branding, marketing, human resources, and staff development. At the time, he was CEO of a major national retail corporation and was serving as chair of Bethel’s governing board. He resigned from his corporate role to join Bethel’s leadership team. “His expertise and passions were exactly what Bethel needed to maximize the tremendous opportunities for enrollment growth and an expanded curriculum in areas that to this day are ‘headliners’ for Bethel,” says George K. Brushaber, president emeritus of Bethel University.

6

Summer 2018

The Other Teachers in the Classroom: Human Cadavers “There’s memory of a whole life in your hands—if you could just read it,” says Professor of Biology Tim Shaw, holding out his empty hands as though they contained something fragile. Shaw’s describing the profound experience of holding a human brain—something each student in his Gross Human Anatomy classes experiences.

Shaw started teaching at Bethel in 1981 and helped bring the first human cadaver to campus soon after, to be viewed in the laboratory as a way of better illustrating the concepts covered in his students’ textbooks.

The experience was designed to give students an advantage over most undergraduate anatomy courses where students dissect cats or dogs, and that advantage still occurs for students today.

Human cadaver programs are expensive—and require added regulations, security, and building standards—but to Shaw, there’s simply no better way for biologists and budding healthcare professionals to learn the inner workings of the human body. Plus, with Bethel’s commitment to faith, he knew that the ethical and existential conversations that might come along with such a program would be all the more meaningful.

Shaw anticipates varied reactions to seeing a deceased body, so a significant part of the course is preparation. His students view a video and talk about what to expect and how the cadaver donation process works.

He wants students to know exactly how and why they’ve come to have this opportunity. “I tell students, ‘The donors of these bodies are here because they have chosen to be. This is a shell that someone once occupied—but they’re gone, and they left their body so you could learn,’” says Shaw. “There’s no disrespect in the classroom. We realize this is a huge gift these donors have given us.”

Gross Human Anatomy is a 400-level elective course for undergraduate students—with 12-15 students taking it each interim—and in the summer, 32 physician assistant students take an intensive 10–week course in gross anatomy. In addition, about 200 undergraduate students view dissections in 200-level anatomy courses each year. Students take the course as juniors and seniors in nursing, biology, athletic training, or biokinetics after taking human anatomy as well as other advanced lab courses.

HEARD ON CAMPUS

Science and religion are two powerful forces in modern society, so we should take the time to understand their relationship.

—Bill Phillips, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 for developing methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light.

Phillips spoke at Bethel in April.

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2018/may/billphillips-visit to read more.

Visit bethel.edu/undergrad/ academics/biology to learn more.

Bethel University

7

Seminary Boosts Affordability, Accessibility

photo by Scott Streble

M.A. in Children’s and Family Ministry Bethel Seminary’s Master of Arts in Children’s and Family Ministry (MACFM) program has reduced the credits needed for completion from a 42-hour degree program to a 36-hour program. This makes the degree more affordable and accessible to children’s ministry leaders. The degree will now take two years to complete rather than two and a half years, and it will require one fewer on-campus intensive week. This translates to a time savings of about six months, a cost savings of about $3,000 in tuition, and cost savings for one trip to campus for an onsite intensive week.

8

Summer 2018

Certificate in Biblical Studies A new nine-credit Certificate in Biblical Studies will begin in fall 2018. It showcases some of Bethel Seminary’s best attributes—its stellar faculty, deep theological training, supportive community, and diverse perspectives— through a condensed, low-cost learning experience. On its own, the certificate will provide a solid understanding of biblical interpretation to lay leaders, ministers, or anyone else looking for personal development. The three courses in the program— Hermeneutics, Old Testament Survey, and New Testament Survey—are foundational to every Bethel Seminary program. This means the credits will easily roll into a full seminary program, and students won’t lose any momentum should they decide to continue their training. The program is flexible, with start dates offered in the fall, spring, or summer. It can be taken online or through traditional, faceto-face classes in either San Diego or St. Paul. And while it can be completed in less than a year, with all three courses taken in immediate succession, it can also be spaced out for students who want a more relaxed pace.

Online Programs Continue Trend In the last few years, Bethel Seminary has strived to make seminary education more affordable and accessible for today’s seminarians. In fall 2017, five Bethel Seminary degrees moved entirely online: the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Arts (Theological Studies), Master of Arts in Christian Thought, and Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership. In fall 2015, four programs went through a credit and cost reduction: the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership, Master of Arts (Theological Studies), and Master of Arts in Christian Thought.

Visit bethel.edu/seminary/ academics to learn more about Bethel Seminary.

Serving Students for Years to Come Service has long been a value evident in the lives of Steve ’76 and Kelley Bergeson. As a physician at Allina Health Shoreview Clinic, Steve supports the wellbeing of his patients, while Kelley offers spiritual leadership as a chaplain at Lyngblomsten Care Center in St. Paul. Steve also spent 10 years serving as Bethel’s campus physician, allowing him to minister to students and their families.

While working at Bethel, Steve was approached by Professor of Chemistry Dale Stephens—someone Steve says had a profound impact on his life—who

encouraged him to start giving back.

Stephens challenged him to start a scholarship. Shortly after, the Class of ’76 Scholarship was born. But the Bergesons’ impact on Bethel students didn’t end there. They’ve now updated their wills to reflect their passion for preparing students to serve God in their chosen vocations, just as they’ve done in their own lives. “Our hope is that our funds will serve to train disciples who will go into the world and use their vocation to glorify God— even worship Him—in their work,” Steve says.

Visit bethellegacy.org to learn more.

First Physics and Engineering Program Scholars Britni Hansen

Samuel Twogood

Grace Riermann

Mark Riggs

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2018/may/engineeringscholarship-recipients to learn more about the program and the student scholarship recipients.

Bethel’s Department of Physics and Engineering announced the Physics and Engineering Program Scholarship in fall 2017 to help attract even more high-achieving students to its growing degree programs. Nearly 30 students applied for two full-tuition and two $10,000 scholarships, renewable annually for up to four years, for students beginning physics or engineering programs at Bethel in fall 2018. Grace Riermann and Samuel Twogood received full-tuition scholarships, while Mark Riggs and Britni Hanson received $10,000 scholarships. “As we work to expand into various fields of engineering by building upon our national reputation in

physics, these scholarships provide an attractive method of introducing many strong prospective students to all that the department has to offer,” says Brian Beecken, department chair and professor of physics and engineering. It’s a good time to begin studying physics or engineering at Bethel. The department—which ranks in the top 15 undergraduate departments nationally—underwent an expansion and renovation last summer. New majors in the last year alone include computer engineering, electrical engineering, and software engineering—and growth is projected to continue in terms of multidisciplinary programs offered and students studying in them.

Bethel University

9

SPORTSSHORTS

A+

ATHLETES

Abby Miller (women’s basketball)—College Sports Information Directors of America 2018 Division III Academic AllAmerica (one of only 15 players to receive the award from 435 NCAA Division III teams).

Robbie Whitney (men’s basketball)—MIAC Elite 22 Award (presented to the player with the highest GPA on the active roster at the MIAC playoff championship).

photo by Nathan Klok ’17

Highlights from the best of Royal athletics

ACING IT

TRACK AND FIELD

Women’s tennis earns the first region ranking in program history after a 9-2 start, and doubles team Maggie Riermann and Mattie Kidder become the first regionally ranked doubles team in program history.

ALL-AMERICANS Bethel brings home 19 track and field All-American honors from the NCAA Division III National Championships, including the indoor and outdoor national championship meets.

Jana Roste (softball)—Google Cloud Academic All-District Award (recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom).

Annika Halverson (women’s track and field)­— MIAC Elite 22 and Google Cloud Academic AllDistrict awards Karl Olsen (men’s track and field)—Google Cloud Academic All-District Award Follow the Royals:

10

Summer 2018

bethelroyals.com

Baseball wins MIAC Championship, reaching first NCAA tournament in program history, and is the only NCAA team nationwide among all divisions with an ERA under 2.00

bethelroyals

@bethelroyals

@bethelroyals

bethelroyals

photo by Carl Schmuland

Michael Bohlke (baseball)— MIAC Elite 22 and Google Cloud Academic All-American awards

REMEMBERING BASEBALL’S BIGGEST FAN

photo by Carl Schmuland

Bill Hargis, baseball volunteer assistant coach for 27 years, died in April.

Bethel’s baseball field, Hargis Park, is named after Hargis and his wife Joan.

HISTORIC ROUND Senior Christine Piwnica breaks new ground for Bethel women’s golf as she becomes Bethel’s first female golfer to compete at the NCAA Championships.

Men’s basketball plays in third MIAC championship in the past four years

photo by Nathan Klok ’17

HOOPS HONOR Bethel Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Alisha Hvistendahl is selected as one of just 30 coaches across all divisions nationwide to attend the firstever NCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Academy.

Bethel University

11

12

Summer 2018

photo by AJ Barrett ’21

The Power of One graduate student dares to dream big as he works to transform rural education in Liberia

by Jenny Hudalla ’15

HOPE T

he buildings are reduced to rubble and ash.

All that remains are traditional huts and a jagged segment of the school Arthur Crusoe attended as a child, a brickand-mud memorial to a simpler, safer life. It would’ve been hard to believe then, in the aftermath of Liberia’s second civil war, that the village school would one day stand again, that Crusoe would become its principal, and that he would go on to enroll in Bethel University’s M.A. in Education K–12 program.

Hard to believe, that is, for most everyone except Crusoe, who has built his life on a foundation of hope in the face of difficult circumstances. Hailing from a rural village called Zondo Town, Crusoe grew up deep in the jungle, about 150 miles southeast of the nation’s

seaside capital city of Monrovia.

Without electrical grids, sewers, and running water, life—and education— in the village is challenging.

“We’re not exposed to a lot of opportunities in Zondo,” says Crusoe, who has spent most of his adult life working to improve rural education. “Part of what I want to do is expose the children to the rest of what they can become.”

With seven older siblings and plenty of support in his village, Crusoe never imagined pursuing opportunities outside of Zondo— until the war came. From 1989 until 2003, Liberia was engulfed in political violence that claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people.

Two of Crusoe’s siblings were killed, and another watched his home burn to the ground. Crusoe had little choice but to leave for the

I’m dreaming big dreams. I believe God is going to open doors, and wherever He leads, I will follow.”

Arthur Crusoe Bethel University

13

city, because, as he soberly puts it, “Nobody knows what happens in the woods.”

By the time the war ended, Crusoe had earned a biblical studies degree from African Bible College and had begun teaching at a Methodist school. He might not have returned to Zondo if it weren’t for Family of Hope, a U.S.-based nonprofit—founded in part by Bethel’s Dean of Arts and Humanities Barrett Fisher and his wife, Amy— that asked Crusoe to help revive the spirit of education that once existed in his rural community.

Although he had established a life in the city, Crusoe felt the tug of hope. He agreed to participate in the herculean effort put forth by the residents of Zondo, who

The birth of a nation. The year 1822 marked the first intersection of Liberian and American history, when a group of black U.S. immigrants landed on the African coast. For more than a century, descendants of U.S. immigrants served as president while native Liberians were marginalized. Even after the country declared its independence from the American Colonization Society—a U.S. organization whose purpose was to resettle the growing number of free black citizens in Africa— traces of American influence remained. Monrovia, Liberia’s capital city, was christened for James Monroe, a financial supporter of the Society, and Liberia’s flag closely resembles the United States’ own stars and stripes. For citizens like Arthur Crusoe, even his AngloSaxon name is a reminder of the two nations’ entwined history.

“I never intended to look to America for help,” he says, “but then the war came.”

photo by Jacob Karngar

14

loaded hundreds of metal beams and 50-pound bags of cement into a makeshift canoe, paddled them across the river, and carried them five miles through the jungle to rebuild the school of Crusoe’s childhood.

Now, 12 years later, Crusoe is still working to provide quality education for rural children as principal of Gianda Elementary and Junior High, where there are too few desks, outdated textbooks, and little more than a chalkboard to use as classroom “technology.” He recently decided it was time for a sabbatical—both to rest and recharge, and to research the best practices for rural education—and his first thought was Bethel University.

Crusoe had visited Bethel once before, to speak at

Summer 2018

photo courtesy of Amy Fisher

the 2011 Moberg Reconciliation Conference about the trauma he experienced during Liberia’s civil war and his journey toward forgiveness. Remembering the depth of thought and kindness of the students with whom he interacted, Crusoe emailed Fisher to inquire about the possibility of enrolling in a graduate program—with neither the money to pay for tuition nor the technology and housing to facilitate his studies.

It was a big ask, but Fisher didn’t hesitate. He and his wife invited Crusoe to share their home for the duration of the 15-month program, and after a series of meetings with Graduate School deans, Fisher arranged for Crusoe (continued on p. 17) school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. because some children have to walk for hours to get home before dark.

It’s common for students to show up soaked from traveling in the rain, and it’s even more common for them to show up hungry. But despite economic challenges,

the school’s presence is making a difference. An estimated 500 previously uneducated children attend each year, building a sense of civic duty, hope for the future, and, Crusoe says, a desire “to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God.”

photo courtesy of Amy Fisher

Advancing rural education. During his M.A. in Education K–12 program at Bethel, Crusoe visited rural Minnesota schools to gather ideas about how he could improve education in his native Liberia. What he found, though, were two situations difficult to compare. In his village, the

Bethel University

15

photo by Jacob Karngar

The impact of electricity. More than a decade has passed since Crusoe returned to his rural hometown, and he’s spent almost every moment looking for ways to improve education in the village. He wants his students to have the same opportunities Bethel has afforded him—to learn with modern technology, to Skype with students from different countries, and to study abroad—and he knows it all starts with electricity.

Citing a precedent in Tanzania, Crusoe has developed and presented a proposal to harness solar energy in Zondo. “Somebody there decided it could happen,” Crusoe says. “Why not here?”

16

Summer 2018

photo courtesy of Amy Fisher

…by inviting brothers and sisters like Arthur to participate in our programs, we can multiply Bethel’s impact throughout the world.”

Barrett Fisher, Dean of Arts and Humanities

(continued from p. 15)

to receive a full scholarship, a personal laptop, and several face-to-face, hands-on opportunities to observe rural education in Minnesota—something that helped contextualize his fully online program.

“Sometimes, in the midst of our own struggles, we forget how affluent and privileged we are compared to many other places in the world,” Fisher says. “Education is an incredibly powerful transformer of lives and societies, and by inviting brothers and sisters like Arthur to participate in our programs, we can multiply Bethel’s impact throughout the world.”

Crusoe says his communication and technology skills have markedly improved, but the most valuable part of his Bethel education has been the radical shift in his understanding of leadership. Where he once drew boundaries based on positional power, he now seeks to lead and influence through relationship—a lesson he hopes to impart to other educational leaders in Liberia.

“Not only does an advanced degree better equip Arthur for leadership in Zondo, it also creates credibility with the educational community throughout Liberia,” Fisher says. “I hope that what he is able to take back to Zondo is not only a vision for the future, but a concrete plan for translating some of the best practices he has learned here into an action plan for Zondo and its teachers.”

The Bethel connection. Dean of Arts and Humanities Barrett Fisher (left) and his wife, Amy, helped start Family of Hope—a U.S.-based nonprofit—after a Liberian couple from their church began looking for ways to rebuild rural schools that had been destroyed during the civil war.

Because of its long history of Christian faith and commitment to education, Zondo Town was chosen as Family of Hope’s primary beneficiary. After the village’s only school reopened in 2006, the Fishers visited to connect with students and teachers—including Crusoe, who would later come to the U.S. and share their home for the duration of his 15-month graduate program at Bethel.

Bethel University

17

photo by MaryPorter

Making the village accessible. Until 2008, just getting to Zondo required crossing a river in a dug-out canoe and hiking five miles through the jungle. More than 50 miles from the nearest city, the village is surrounded by lush forest and cassava fields—a staple crop in Grand Bassa County—and most residents speak the Bassa language at home, even though English is the official language of government and education.

Despite its isolation, the village has made significant advances in recent years, like the construction of a motor road that paved the way for the area’s first modern health clinic. “By ‘tithing’ a portion of its resources, Bethel can indeed glorify God by serving our global neighbors in tangible ways,” says Dean of Arts and Humanities Barrett Fisher, who helped realize Crusoe’s dream to attend Bethel for the purpose of bringing new ideas and strategies back to Zondo. “Education is an incredibly powerful transformer of lives and societies.”

Because one of Crusoe’s greatest desires is to empower his students to explore the world beyond their village, he’s actively working on ways to bring modern technology to Zondo. Inspired by the success of a school in Tanzania, Crusoe has drafted and presented a plan to harness solar energy in the village, which would power laptops and allow his students to converse with people all over the world. “I’m dreaming big dreams,” he says. “If it can happen in Tanzania, why not here? I believe God is going to open doors, and wherever He leads, I will follow.”

Ten years ago, Zondo Town wasn’t accessible by road.

Now, with the help of Family of Hope, it has a motored canoe, a path for vehicles, and even local healthcare. If recent progress is any indication, Crusoe may be able to swap his chalkboard for a SmartBoard before the next decade is up. Until then, he’ll do what he does best: rely on an abundant reservoir of hope. BU Visit bethel.edu/graduate/academics/education-k12 to learn more about the M.A. in Education K-12 and diversity at Bethel.

18

Summer 2018

COMMITTED TO LIFELONG LEARNING?

Pursue your M.A. in Education K–12 at Bethel.

With online and face-to-face course options, you’ll be free to earn your degree in the location that works best for you.

Explore our programs and apply: bethel.edu/graduate

Start your journey today.

HUMANITIES

STUDY

THE VALUE OF

FINE ARTS

PROFESSOR

STUDENT

FAITH SCIENCE

REAL EXPERIENCE

Using complex algorithms and code-named projects, Google deduced that the very skills developed at liberal arts universities are critical assets in the high-tech marketplace. The tech giant, it seems, got it right.

And Bethel’s been doing it all along.

by Michelle Westlund ’83 contributions by Cherie Suonvieri ’15 and Jenny Hudalla ’15

Bethel University

19

I

f you google Google, you’ll find that it was founded in 1996 by two Stanford University Ph.D. students and is now the number one search engine in the world.1 The name is so much a part of popular vernacular that it’s now commonly used as, well, a verb.

It seems entirely logical that the two brilliant computer scientists who created the world’s most dominant search engine would apply their elite tech skills toward building their company. And they did. Operating on the conviction that “only technologists can understand technology, Google originally set its hiring algorithms to sort for computer science students with top grades from elite science universities.”2 Managers at Google were promoted to their supervisory roles due to their deep technical expertise.

In 2009, Google statisticians turned their sights toward a new frontier: building better bosses at Google itself. The code-named A liberal arts education helps Project Oxygen crunched numbers on hiring, students develop the skills firing, performance reviews, and feedback employers will always want. surveys. The results were shocking, at least to a tech giant. Among the eight most RAY VANARRAGON important qualities of Google’s top managers, seven were soft skills, including areas like communication, listening, empathy, and critical thinking and problem solving.3 1 “Google Technology Company,” But those results don’t shock anyone at liberal arts Wikipedia, wikipedia.org; additional reference: Computer Business Review, universities like Bethel, where an emphasis on holistic cbronline.com and Techopedia, techopedia.com education helps students develop “the skills employers 2 “The surprising thing Google learned will always want: the ability to think critically, solve about its employees—and what it means for today’s students,” by Valerie complex problems, communicate clearly, and be creative Strauss, quoting Cathy N. Davidson, The Washington Post, Dec. 20, 2017. and innovative,” says Ray VanArragon, Bethel University 3 “Google’s Quest to Build a Better Boss,” professor of philosophy.

The New York Times, March 12, 2011.

20

Summer 2018

The timeless value of liberal arts

A liberal arts education guides students through the study of multiple academic disciplines, such as the humanities, the fine arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences, each with its own method of study, approach to discovery, and means of expression.

It provides breadth and depth of insight, historical context, and understanding of one’s own culture and the cultures of others.

The value of this kind of broadbased education has come under fire in recent years, as increasing tuition costs prompt students to consider the immediate marketability of their degrees. Indeed, enrollment in arts and humanities majors has declined nationally. The University of Minnesota reports that its enrollment in arts and humanities majors has followed national trends, with a decline in degrees awarded in English, history, and political science in the last five years. And the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has taken the drastic measure of discontinuing a number of arts and humanities majors in order to address fiscal challenges.4 Yet no less an authority than Apple founder Steve Jobs had this to say about his groundbreaking company: “It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough—it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities,

It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough— it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.

STEVE JOBS

that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.”5 Bethel’s been doing just that for years—combining a strong liberal arts foundation with training in the hands-on skills required for students’ areas of expertise. This approach equips students with a timeless skill set that is readily transferable in an ever-changing job market. “In a culture permeated by data,” says Mark Bruce, associate professor of English, “the most valuable skill is not about generating data, but rather about making sense of data, understanding what it means to people and helping people understand what to do with it. This will be the most marketable skill of the 21st century.”

And the liberal arts do this naturally. “Humans are complex creatures,” continues Bruce. “The

most deeply human creations— literature, art, philosophy, music, theater—are places where all the things that make us so complicated come together. To learn to make sense of these things is to learn the art of sense-making at the highest level…In other words, the most valuable skill set in our culture is precisely the one gained most effectively via the study of the liberal arts and sciences.”

Strong support for liberal arts

But don’t just take our word for it.

As universities weigh declining enrollment numbers in arts and humanities—and as students weigh the market value of their degree programs—voices from diverse sectors of business and education are weighing in with strong liberal arts support.

A series of articles in renowned business magazine Forbes notes the career success of liberal arts graduates, including a story on Stuart Butterfield, cofounder and CEO of Slack Technologies, a messaging-software company with a private market valuation of $2.8 billion. Slack’s user-friendly innovation is grounded in a creative process championed by Butterfield, 4

5

“Declining enrollment in arts and humanities raises concerns in CLA,” The Minnesota Daily, April 18, 2018.

“Steve Jobs: ‘Technology Alone Is Not Enough,’” The New Yorker, Oct. 7, 2011.

Bethel University

21

who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy, and employees like Anna Pickard, editorial director, who earned a degree in theater. And like Slack, major industry players like Facebook and Uber are now vying for the most talented nontechnical employees, particularly in sales and marketing.6 Across the ocean, as longtime tech leader Japan struggles with diminishing international status in electronics, one esteemed professor has an idea about why. “The biggest culprit of Japan’s waning international competitiveness in electronics is an accumulation of changes for the worse in university curriculums and entrance exam systems that encourage both undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students to shun the liberal arts, especially humanities,” says Takamitsu Sawa, distinguished professor of Shiga University, in the October 2016 Japan Times.

“Technologies combined with liberal

arts are necessary and indispensable for both the computer-driven third industrial revolution—which started in the 1990s and is nearing completion—and the fourth, which has just begun and is being driven by artificial intelligence capable of engaging in deep learning…

The fourth industrial revolution is making it all the more essential to combine liberal arts and technologies.” 7 Closer to home, a study by Concordia College—which, like Bethel, is a member of the Minnesota Private College Council—reviewed full-time job postings from the last two years in Minnesota and four bordering states. Using bigdata tool TalentNeuron Recruit, skill requirements from more than 390,000 postings were analyzed. The results? The top 10 most frequently listed requirements were all soft skills. The most sought-after skill was oral and written communication, followed by marketing, detail-

The most valuable skill set in our culture is precisely the one gained most effectively via the study of the liberal arts and sciences.

MARK BRUCE

22

Summer 2018

oriented, problem-solving, integrity, organizational skills, creativity, work independently, self-motivated, and team-oriented.8

A unique blend of faith and learning

While a chorus of divergent voices is uniting in support of liberal arts, Bethel doesn’t just follow along— because there’s more to Bethel than liberal arts. Mark Bruce picks up where he left off: “The most valuable skill set in our culture is precisely the one gained most effectively via the study of the liberal arts and sciences,” he reminds us. “And guess what? We already do that better than just about anyone through a unique combination of top-shelf scholars and teachers in the various disciplines, with one of the most robust, comprehensive, and coherent liberal-arts-focused general education programs out there. And that’s not even the half of it: We also do that in a way that goes far, far beyond mere ‘marketable skills’ into the matters of humanity, spirituality, and emotion; the ideas of what it means to be a flourishing human

6

7

8

“That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket,” Forbes, Aug. 17, 2015.

“Liberal arts studies are key to Japan’s economic revival,” The Japan Times, Oct. 24, 2016.

“Big data speaks up for soft skills,” Minnesota Private Colleges Newsletter, March 2018.

being, loved by God, within the realities of our world, and not simply a piece of hardware whose value is only determined by its potential to produce capital for corporations.”

What Bruce refers to is Bethel’s distinctive Christian liberal arts emphasis, one that is rooted in a liberal arts approach to gaining skills and knowledge, and seeks to integrate a dynamic and active Christian faith into every area of life, ultimately nurturing every student toward Christian maturity in scholarship, leadership, and service. The Bethel University College of Arts & Sciences Catalog describes the integration this way: “We believe that the Christian faith is relevant to every area of life, the integrative principle for the entire curriculum, and a foundational area of study for all learners.”

What this looks like—in academic department after department—is students and faculty together asking challenging questions, wrestling with difficult topics, bringing authentic skepticism and wonder to areas as diverse as history, physics, English, design, and computer science. “While our department can train students to write good

programs, a Christian education means they’re also prepared to make good decisions as image-bearers of Christ,” says Deborah Thomas, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science.

As students engage in this hard work of integration, something lifegiving happens: transformation.

“Often, first-year students struggle with questions of their faith, or finding their purpose, or choosing their major,” says Jamie Dolieslager, associate professor of human kinetics and applied health sciences. “But teaching various levels of courses from general education to advanced senior level, I am privileged to watch the transformation that occurs over the course of four years.”

Bethel aims to graduate students with a “storm-hardy” faith, as President Jay Barnes likes to describe it. This kind of faith is anchored in an authentic relationship with Jesus, grounded in biblical truth, and naturally integrated into every area of study and experience. It’s robust, resilient, and real.

Bethel’s blend of faith and learning is unique, says Bruce. “Overall what I see Bethel doing that I don’t

see anywhere else is that when we talk about being a Christian liberal arts university, we take all of those components seriously,” he explains.

“We’re actually a university—a place where you’re going to get great diversity in viewpoints, where there’s very little that you can’t address. And we take the Christian part equally seriously and don’t see it being in conflict with the university part…That’s what I love about Bethel.

We don’t always hit it perfectly all the time, but we’re going to make faith and university work together, fully, on both sides.”

Liberal arts: practical and applicable

While Bethel has been marrying liberal arts and hands-on learning for years, a new initiative launched in fall 2017 intentionally focuses on giving students an edge in the everevolving job market. The Relevant.

Experiential. Applied. Learning.

(R.E.A.L.) Experience exposes students to a variety of hands-on learning activities that equips them with the skills employers are looking for. Students identify professional skills that will set them apart as they graduate. Then they map out

Bethel seniors participate in at least one high-impact practice* *HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES INCLUDE STUDY ABROAD, INTERNSHIPS, RESEARCH WITH FACULTY, VOLUNTEERING, AND OTHER HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES.

Bethel University

23

a personal action plan to develop those skills through coursework, research, extracurricular activities, and internships, recording their reflections on the significance of their experiences along the way. By the time they graduate, they have a wellrounded portfolio that demonstrates their hands-on learning experience to future employers.

“This concept of reflective learning is what prepares students for the world after Bethel,” says Deb Sullivan-Trainor, vice president and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “It’s about more than walking out the door with a job—it’s about learning to think well, engage complex questions, and understand historical and social context. This is true, whole education. This is what the liberal arts are all about.”

And students are participating in whole education wholeheartedly.

According to the 2017 National Survey of Student Engagement, 98% of Bethel seniors have participated in at least one “highimpact practice”—like studying abroad, completing an internship, conducting research with a faculty member, or volunteering through service learning—and 88% have participated in at least two. “Those numbers are through the roof,” says Joel Frederickson, associate dean of institutional assessment and accreditation. “Our seniors have scored consistently higher than the national average for years.”

24

Summer 2018

As for employment outcomes?

Bethel’s commitment to exposing students to real-world environments before graduation may explain why alumni enjoy very favorable employment rates. A 2017 survey of 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year

students for immediate entry into the workforce—with a strong liberal arts foundation, the technical skills required in their area of expertise, and a variety of intentional realworld experiences that benefit the organizations who hire them.”

It’s about more than walking out the door with a job—it’s about learning to think well, engage complex questions, and understand historical and social context. This is true, whole education.

This is what the liberal arts are all about.

DEB SULLIVAN-TRAINOR

Bethel alums indicates the average unemployment rate is just 1.4%, compared with 3.9% nationally.

Faith. Liberal arts. Expert skills.

Real-world experience. That’s the Bethel distinctive. “Students who choose to attend other liberal arts universities will get a liberal arts foundation and might have some hands-on opportunities, but they won’t find a comprehensive, faithbased program like the one we’ve created at Bethel,” says Carmen Shields, chief marketing officer. “It focuses on outcomes and prepares

VanArragon thinks there’s world-changing potential in that distinctive. “We prepare students for the job market, but we also seek to help them become whole and holy persons whose lives are centered on Jesus Christ,” he says. “At Bethel, we never lose sight of that. It’s a special thing we get to do here—and I believe it’s changing the world for the better.” BU Visit bethel.edu/undergrad/ academics/real-experience for more information about Bethel’s R.E.A.L. Experience.

Professor of Biblical Studies Juan Hernández Jr. has devoted his life to uncovering mysteries of Scripture and passing on the knowledge

A STUDY IN SCRIPTURE photo by Scott Streble

by Jason Schoonover ’09

Bethel University

25

He cares about Scripture and about wrapping people up in its story, capturing them with its beauty and history.”

Caleb Shea ’18

I

n a Bethel office surrounded by his books, Professor of Biblical Studies Juan Hernández Jr. smiles almost continuously as he talks about teaching the New Testament. “To me,” he says, “the joy is the work.”

While he admits that some material is complex, it’s meant to lead students to a deeper interpretation and understanding. “You’re going to hear stuff that’s going to be a gut punch,” he says. “Once you get over it, you’ll find stuff that’s really fascinating.”

He says this isn’t meant to wreck the faith; it’s meant to reconstruct it. And his resume backs up his ability to help others do just that. Deb Harless, executive vice president and provost, says Hernández displays some of the best traits of Bethel faculty, impacting people both inside and outside the university. “Juan contributes with the top-tier scholars,” she says.

26

Summer 2018

“He engages with our students and encourages them, and he is also committed to the local church.”

Hernández traces his love of Scripture to his uncle, who inspired him to explore and memorize thousands of verses. The mental faculty to memorize Scripture, as well as his bilingual upbringing by Puerto Rican parents, translated well to his study of languages at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and as he earned his Ph.D. in the New Testament and early Christianity at Emory University. His dissertation— Scribal Habits and Theological Influences in the Apocalypse: The Singular Readings of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and Ephraemi—was published in 2006 by Mohr Siebeck, a major German publisher, and led to international awards and speaking engagements.

Hernández joined Bethel’s faculty that same year. His love of language,

words, and detail motivated him to publish extensively on the scribal activity and textual history of the Apocalypse’s manuscript tradition, and in fall 2018, he’s partnering with Garrick V. Allen and Darius Müller to publish the first English translation of Josef Schmid’s Studies in the History of the Greek Text of the Apocalypse: The Ancient Stems, which until now has only been available in German. “This is considered the high water mark in the field of textual criticism of the Apocalypse,” says Hernández.

Professor of Music Stephen Self has experienced Hernández as both a colleague and a teacher—he took Hernández’s Advanced Greek Translation course—and calls him an approachable professor and a passionate, skillful scholar. “He is really a star in his area of New

photo by Moises Gomez

photo by Moises Gomez

Professor of Biblical Studies Juan Hernández Jr. has published extensively on the scribal activity and textual history of the Apocalypse’s manuscript tradition.

Visit https://youtu.be/ HCmeluiwCko to hear Juan Hernández discuss his work translating Studies in the History of the Greek Text of the Apocalypse: The Ancient Stems.

Check out bethel.academia.edu/ JuanHernandez to access his publications.

Visit bethel.edu/undergrad/ academics/biblical-theological to learn more about Bethel’s undergraduate biblical and theological studies program.

Hernández leads Bethel’s popular Hispanic Pastors and Ministry Leaders Seminars three times a year.

Testament studies,” says Self, “and that has raised Bethel’s profile in the eyes of many people.”

Students also recognize Hernández’s zeal. “He’s a dynamic professor. He cares a lot about Scripture and about wrapping people up in its story, capturing them with its beauty and history,” says Caleb Shea ’18, who describes Hernández as generous inside and outside the classroom.

Along with teaching at area churches, three times each year Hernández also leads Bethel’s Hispanic Pastors and Ministry Leaders Seminars, where 80 to 135 pastors gather for biblical teaching in Spanish. He sees a chance for Bethel to reach new audiences and “an opportunity to reverse stereotypes and expectations,” he says. The popularity of the events speaks for itself: In April 2018, more than 100 people braved a historic Twin Cities blizzard to attend the spring seminar.

Ralph Gustafson, former executive minister for seminary and church relations, says Hernández’s great sense of humor and infectious smile make him an approachable figure for those attending the seminars—and for his students. “He’s just a lovable guy—he exudes a warmth and an openness to people.” BU Bethel University

27

A shifting job market, evolving social priorities, and a bevy of educational options leave many asking:

Is Bethel worth the cost?

Here’s what we found.

BETHEL’S A GREAT VALUE. U.S. News & World Report

Collegefactual.com

Money Magazine

TOP 7%

TOP 25%

TOP 12%

2018 Best Colleges for Regional Universities in the Midwest

Top Quality Overall

of students with need get grants

Small Private University in Upper Midwest*

Best Colleges for Your Money

WE MAKE COLLEGE AFFORDABLE.

100%

4th

*KIPLINGER’S BEST COLLEGE VALUES MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, UPPER MICHIGAN, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, ILLINOIS, AND IOWA

BETHEL WON’T COST YOUR FAMILY AS MUCH AS YOU THINK. Tuition

$35 $30 $25 $20 Average Family Contribution

$15

27%

get merit-based scholarships (second highest in the state)

28

Summer 2018

$10 $5 THOUSAND

’13

’14

’15

’16

SCHOOL YEAR

’17

BETHEL’S ACADEMICS ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.

TOP 2% elementary teacher preparation

ALUMNI GET GOOD JOBS. Alumni are satisfied with how Bethel prepared them for their current positions 10-YEAR ALUMNI

84%

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON TEACHER QUALITY

TOP 15 undergraduate physics programs in the nation

5-YEAR ALUMNI

82%

1-YEAR ALUMNI

85% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60% 70%

80%

90%

100%

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS

Compared to a 3.9% national average, unemployment among Bethel alumni is:

5

National Science Foundation (NSF) Grants

TOP 10 of 7,636 teams worldwide in (COMAP) Mathematical Contest in Modeling SURPASSING MIT IN NUMBER OF WINS

TOP 15 Online MBA Nationally THEBESTCOLLEGES.ORG

BETHEL FACULTY CARE ABOUT STUDENTS.

11:1

Student-to-faculty ratio

2.4%

0.6%

1.32%

(1 YEAR OUT)

(5 YEARS OUT)

(10 YEARS OUT)

BETHEL GRADS ARE WELL-ROUNDED PEOPLE.

85% are involved in a faith community

70%

volunteer with other charitable causes, compared to 49% nationally GALLUP POLL RESULTS

68%

of alumni have a leadership role in their work, school, church, or community Bethel University

29

ALUMNEWS

Measure our performance by what God accomplishes through our graduates after they have been prepared at Bethel to go out into the world to serve.”

—John Alexis Edgren, founder

40s Thelma (Trupe) Olds ’45 is a retired tax accountant. She resides in Mora, Minn.

50s David Webster ’56 is retired and spends much of his time volunteering. He resides in Bergenfield, N.J. Nils Friberg ’57, S’61, now retired, is professor emeritus of pastoral care at Bethel Seminary where he worked from 1977-2001, before becoming pastor of congregational care at Salem Baptist Church in New Brighton, Minn., from 2001-2010. He also volunteered from 1986-2017 as a police chaplain for the St. Paul Police Department and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department. He resides in Spring Lake Park, Minn.

60s Beth (Magnuson) Humber ’60 is the organist emeritus and also directs the handbells at Wesley United Methodist Church in St. Simons Island, Ga. Jim Lewis ’61, S’63 has been a professor of religious studies at Bethel University since 2003. He is a Hmong scholar and has published several scholarly articles on the history of Hmong Christianity.

In December he traveled to Vietnam to present a paper at Hanoi’s (Vietnam) National University of Social Science and Humanities. Lewis resides in St. Paul.

Mary (Larson) Bender ’62 is writing a book titled Understanding Older People: What Makes Them Tick? She previously taught at the University of Nebraska Omaha and Creighton University. She resides in Omaha, Neb.

30

Summer 2018

HOMECOMING OCTOBER 5–7, 2018 Save the date now and plan to attend the all-class reunion during this year’s Homecoming celebration!

Visit bethel.edu/events/homecoming/reunions for more information.

Don Wright ’64 serves with Reaching Japanese for Christ as a facilitator as they work to build networks, encourage, and provide resources to those reaching out to the Japanese. He is also the editor of the Operation Japan Prayer Guide.

More information can be found at rjcnetwork.org. He resides in Issaquah, Wash.

James Carlson ’68, S’72, S’98 retired after 40 years of pastoral ministry in 2011.

Since then he has written four Christian novels. His latest, Syrian Immigrant, has been well-received by both Christian and Muslim audiences. In January, he spoke at a local mosque to 300 Muslims, a first for an evangelical pastor in Kentucky. He resides in Florence, Ky. Dan Johnson ’69 retired from fulltime teaching in the Cambridge/Isanti Schools, Minn., in 2013. He continues to volunteer and substitute teach. He resides in Cambridge, Minn.

Bethel Magazine includes Alum News from all schools of Bethel University. “S” indicates news from Bethel Seminary alumni, “CAPS” indicates news from the College of Adult & Professional Studies, and “GS” indicates news from Graduate School alumni. All other news is from College of Arts & Sciences alumni.

While Bethel strives for accuracy in all we do, we cannot be responsible for the content of news items submitted by alumni. The inclusion of news items here should not be construed as an endorsement of their content by Bethel Magazine or Bethel University. Due to limited space, Bethel Magazine reserves the right to exercise editorial discretion in the publication of alumni news and photos.

Jan Harthan ’71 published The Best News Ever—the New Testament, a complete biblical text in language and style that children can read and understand. Jan and her husband, Dave, have been career members of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and career Bible translation consultants have approved the translation. Visit thebestnewsever.org for more info.

Board of Directors as a member representative. She resides in Fargo, N.D.

Fellowship in St. Paul. She resides in Minneapolis.

John Tastad ’89 is the CEO of Strategic Capital, LLC., a company working in a war-torn area of Sri Lanka known as Jaffina. Along with business partner Raj Janan, Tastad is working to finalize construction on a coconut processing operation to bring jobs to an area that has been shut off from the rest of the world for decades. The two also partnered after the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka to build 400 homes. Tastad resides in Minnetonka, Minn.

Dannika (Tiller) Larson ’97 is the executive assistant to the CEO at Cuningham Group Architecture and manages the administrative team across seven nationwide offices. She resides in Fridley, Minn.

Kathleen (Okerstrom) ’71 and Erny Malakoff S’71 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in both Bellagio, Italy, in May and at their home in Danville, Calif., in October with family and friends.

90s

Margery (Heikes) Ragan ’71 has retired and is loving it. She resides in Bloomington, Minn.

Mike Wickam ’90 has released his first book, The Unforced Rhythms of Grace & Gratitude. Visit wickam.com for more info.

Holly (VanVonderen) Smith Eaton ’75 is a clinical pastoral counselor for Principles to Live By. She has been married to Dave for 13 years, and often flies to Minnesota and Kansas City to spend time with her four adult daughters and 16 grandchildren. She resides in Roseville, Calif.

Anna Hampton ’92, GS’94 works for Barnabas International in pastoral and member care. She has served for over two decades in closed, war-torn Islamic countries and has written a book, Facing Danger: A Guide Through Risk. She blogs at better-than-gold-faith.blogspot.com.

Robert Meoller ’77 is president of For Better For Worse For Keeps Ministries, a nonprofit he founded with his wife, Cheryl, in 2009, dedicated to healing hearts and restoring marriages in underserved communities. Visit forkeepsministries.com for more info.

Bob and Cheryl are the parents of six children and five grandchildren and reside in Barrington, Ill.

80s Bob Corey S’80 received his D.Min. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2017. He works with men’s ministries and curriculum development at Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, Minn. He resides in Minnetonka, Minn.

John Gunther ’83, CAPS’94, S’98 has been appointed as the university college registrar at Azusa Pacific University. He resides in Wildomar, Calif.

Richard Whybrew ’84 has become an instructional helicopter pilot after a 20year career in pharmaceutical sales. He resides in Newton, Ala. Amy (Potter) Arness ’86 was one of eight people elected to the National PTA

Keri (McColley) Boer ’93 worked at Montreat College for 15 years and is now using her counseling and college experience as the director of college guidance at Asheville Christian Academy, where her daughter attends. She resides in Black Mountain, N.C. Rebekah Bender ’95 has served on the staff of Young Life since 1996, first in Omaha, Neb., and then in Milwaukee, Wis. In 2014, she accepted the position of regional director for Young Life in Wisconsin. She resides in Milwaukee.

Trent Perkins ’95 was promoted to major in the U.S. Army Reserves in October 2017. He also started his own company, Whole Hearted Productions, which provides live sound and lighting services as well as consultation, sales, and installation for churches in southern Arizona. He has been married to Anna since 2016 and has two children. He resides in Tucson.

Winnie Tan ’97 is the owner and cofounder of ChopRoom, a team-building company in Minneapolis that facilitates cooking challenges. Visit choproom.com for more info.

Annette (Kirk) Bittner ’97 is working as a pastoral intern at Bethel Christian

Scott Morin ’98 led a workshop at an anti-human and sex trafficking event, Justice Awakening 52, which took place the three days prior to the Super Bowl in Minnesota. He resides in Minneapolis and works as a sexuality counselor, speaker, and teacher for Empowering Ranch. Visit empoweringranch.com for more info.

Stacy Boatman ’99 released Bittersweet Goodbye, a novel, in March. Visit stacyboatman.com for more information.

Boatman resides in Farmington, Minn.

Patricia Buschette GS’99 released Locked up in Frost in November. Visit lockedupinfrost.com for more info. Buschette resides in Renville, Minn.

00s Lindsay (Johnson) Norman ’04, GS’06 was born and raised in Minn., but she and her family moved to Grand Prairie, Texas, during a career change for her husband AJ. She is a vice president of sales for Norwex and has continued her business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

ROYAL NATION

Celebrating Bethel University Around the Country

istockphoto: f11photo

70s

UPCOMING EVENT: July 30

Denver, CO

Visit bethel.edu/ alumni/events for more information.

Bethel University

31

John Torgerson S’07 is an emeritus pastor at Grace Fellowship in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., and has published Love Letters to a Rainbow Group, which discusses the impact of belief in Jesus for healthy human relationships. He resides in Wisconsin Dells.

Tony Ducklow ’08, his brother, Alex Ducklow ’10, and their wives, Katie (Schuessler) Ducklow ’10, and Lacey (Reierson) Ducklow ’10, started Lock and Key Escape in Minneapolis, an escape room activity where participants have one hour to work together to solve a series of clues and puzzles in order to escape. Visit lockandkeyescape.com for more info.

Boger Hernandez S’09 obtained his chaplain board certification in 2017. He serves at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, where he has received several awards for his work. He resides in San Diego, Calif.

John Smith-Coppes GS’09 completed his Ed.D. in higher education and organizational change from Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill., in 2017. He’s now vice president and executive director at the School of Nursing for Rasmussen College. He resides in Minneapolis.

10s Paula Steigauf CAPS’11 received her certification as an international Healing Touch Practitioner, allowing her to pair nursing, alternative health practices, and energy medicine to help restore her clients’ bodies to a harmonious state. She resides in Fridley, Minn.

Susan Quinnell S’11 is the pastor of congregational care at Emmaus Church in Northfield, Minn., where she also resides.

Kyle Healy S’12 is the global field manager for Middle East and Asia at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. He is available to help anyone looking to do missions work, has a heart for refugees, or is interested in global church planting or evangelism. He resides in West Dundee, Ill. Kevin Magee S’13 is the manager of faith-based global partnerships at Rise Against Hunger, an organization dedicated to ending hunger by providing lifechanging aid to the world’s most vulnerable. Magee’s role is to engage churches

32

Summer 2018

and other faith-based organizations in the fight against global hunger and poverty. He resides in Virginia Beach, Va. Ali Farnsworth GS’14 is vice president of sales for Contata Solutions, a provider of data analytics and technology business solutions. She is based at the Minneapolis headquarters and will be managing their United States practice. She resides in St. Paul.

Ryan Hangartner ’14 opened a State Farm agency in Shoreview, Minn., where several alumni and current students work with him, including J. Little ’16, Cole Buttenhoff ’18, and Michael Wesner ’19.

Hangartner resides in White Bear Lake, Minn.

Brittany Blum ’15 works as a child care assistance case worker for Anoka County, Minn. She resides in Centerville, Minn.

Joy (April Welch) Kaplan S’15 began the chaplain program at the University of Missouri Health Centers in February 2018. She resides in Columbia, Mo. Anelise Schrammen ’15 is the co-founder of a nonprofit called Anchor of Hope Bolivia. Their mission is “spreading the love of God in Bolivia by enabling needy and vulnerable children to find hope and healing while equipping them for a flourishing future.” Visit anchorofhopebolivia. com for more info. Schrammen resides in Luck, Wis. Bonnie Kristian S’16 is the author of A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today, published in May. She developed the book idea while attending Bethel Seminary, inspired in part by the irenic atmosphere and her seminary classes. Visit bonniekristian.com for more info.

Leona Derden GS’17 is the director of equity and elementary education for Roseville Area Schools, Minn. She resides in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Marriages Nicholas and Sheri (Komann) Peterson ’07 were married in November. They reside in Shoreview, Minn.

Elisabeth (von Schmidt-Pauli) ’12 and Andrew Meier ’08, GS’16 were married in October. They reside in Maplewood, Minn.

Kelsey (Schlichting) ’14 and Bob (Johnson) Schlichting-Johnson ’14 were married in August. They reside in Roseville, Minn.

Holden and Billie Kay (Ingalls) Asmus ’15 were married in September. They met through eHarmony and reside in Rake, Iowa.

Cameron ’15 and Natalie (Johnson) Braund ’17 were married in June. They reside in Maple Grove, Minn., with their two dogs, Jaxx and Gabbie.

Curtis ’16 and Jasmine (Nabhan) Bashore ’16 were married in July. The wedding party included Bethel alumni Rachel Lassen ’16, Kristen Pugh ’17, Ellie (Weber) Knigge ’15, Katie Lunacek ’17, Rachel (Needham) Berka ’16, Madison Martin ’17, Grant Johnson ’16, Dan Fink ’16, and Stephen Gronseth ’16. They reside in St. Paul.

Births Simeon David Ernst was born to Keri and Doug Beetner ’90 in July 2017. He joins Nathaniel, Hannah, Timothy, and Aaron.

Shoreview, Minn.

Svea was born in May 2017 to Emily and Chris Pitkin ’97. Minnetonka, Minn.

Jim and Rachel (Sapp) Steingass ’97 have adopted two children: Sarah Elaine joined their family right after her birth in October 2009; and Landyn Eugene, who was born in July 2013, joined their family through foster care at age two. The family recently moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where Jim is a pastor at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and Rachel is a stay-athome mom.

Gage was born in November 2015 and cared for by Leann (Kranz) ’98 and Patrick Weber ’98 since birth as their foster son. His adoption into their family was finalized in August 2017. Duluth, Minn.

Claire Elise was born in November 2017 to Kristina and Bill Lent ’04. West Allis, Wis. Triplet girls Eleanor Jayne, Lydia Janae, and Ingrid Louise were born to Dan and Sara (Damhof) Wallace ’04 in September 2017. Cambridge, Minn.

Judah Charles was born in August 2017 to Leah (Engelhart) ’05 and Thom Adair ’07. Minneapolis, Minn.

Savannah Jane was born in April 2017 to Cassie (Barton) ’07 and Peter Bahr ’06. She joins Manny, 2, and Caroline, 4.

North St. Paul, Minn.

Sylvie Grace was born to Christiana (Calvin) ’08 and Jordan Fitch ’06 in April 2017. She joins Hazel, 4, and Esther, 2. Minneapolis, Minn.

Lucy was adopted by Dan and Heather (Lippert) West ’08 in April 2017. Chaska, Minn.

Harrison was born to Rob and April (Hoffman) Dralle ’09 in October 2017.

Hartford, Iowa.

Ezekiel “Zeke” Watts was born in September 2017 to Karen (Danielson) ’09 and Joseph Larson ’10. Hopkins, Minn.

Lilliana Hope was born to Amy and Steven Chamberlain ’10 in October 2017.

Yukon, Okla.

Craig David was born to Cassie (McCullum) ’10 and Zac Busch ’13 in February 2017. Chaska, Minn.

Donald Lindberg ’68 died on December 27, 2017. He resided in Tucson, Ariz.

Deborah Soule, age 83, wife of Edward Soule ’70, S’73, died on October 12, 2017. Deborah’s greatest loves were her faith, her family, and Partnership for a Drug Free Community, an organization she led for almost 30 years. She was preceded in death by her son, Maurice Doan. She is survived by her husband, Edward; daughters Faith Kennedy and Hope Seeley; and five grandchildren.

Pamela (Nelson) Kuhn ’79, age 59, died peacefully on September 29, 2017, at Hope Hospice House. Pam was a popular harpist and was active in charitable organizations and church ministries. She is survived by her husband Jack Kuhn ’78, son Alex (Sarah) Kuhn, daughter Angie (David) Peterson, grandson Luke Peterson, and father Sam Nelson ’50.

Pam’s mother, Dorothy Nelson ’51, who preceded her in death, was a Bethel alumna.

Patrick Krause S’92, age 62, died on October 6, 2017. His family and friends are thankful that Pat is no longer strug-

Jonathan was born to Nick and Sarah (Burton) Lindberg ’11 in November 2017.

Roseville, Minn.

Elliot Daniel JunJun was born in July 2013 and adopted by Jori and Dan Susanka GS’11 in July 2017. He joins Emmy Ruth Yeye, 12. Blaine, Minn.

Deaths Gloria Bergeson ’48, age 89, died on June 17, 2017. She loved sewing, quilting, and anything Swedish. Her work in raising her family through global relocations and frequent moves provided stability and sanctuary. She is survived by her husband, Art; daughters Patty Downie and Gretchen Shultis; sons Steve Bergeson and Carl Bergeson; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

T. Harrison (Tuffy) Bryant ’62, S’66, age 79, died on March 28, 2017. He worked as an executive director and fundraiser for various nonprofits, and was an incredible poet and songwriter. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jill (Graham) Bryant ’68; sons Colton and Duke; sister-in-law Deb Graham; sister Clarissa Wilson; five grandchildren; and daughters-in-law Lisa and Merli.

A scholarship fund has been established to honor Adam Johnson.

To contribute, visit bethel.edu/giving/ donate/give-now, select “Other,” and enter “Adam C. Johnson Scholarship Fund.”

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2018/april/adamjohnson to read more.

gling against his body, which was quickly overtaken by Parkinson’s disease. Patrick resided in Thief River Falls, Minn.

Annette Boehlje S’13, age 46, died on November 18, 2017. She had degrees in both law and ministry and was active in both areas. She was an associate judge with a passion for the well-being of children and became a foster parent in 2010, which led to the adoption of her two daughters. She is survived by children Lea and Emma; parents Ray and Darlene Boehlje; brother Daniel Boehlje and his wife Cory; and nephew and niece Mark and Bryn Boehlje.

Joel T. Englund ’13, age 24, died on February 12, 2017, of metastatic melanoma, after doing hospice at the Shoreview home where he grew up. He studied at Century College, then attended Bethel for three years, earning a physics degree. He married Madeline (Gustafson) ’14 in June 2014 and worked at Benchmark Electronics Inc. in Rochester, Minn.

He’s survived by wife Madeline and her family; parents Craig ’83 and Laurie ’85; brother Daniel; and sisters Rachel ’15, Rebekah, and Hannah ’20.

Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Adam Johnson, age 39, died on April 10 after an eightyear battle with cancer. Johnson held a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Minnesota and had many publication credits related to his chosen field of study: memory and imagination in the hippocampus. He was connected to some of the greatest minds in neuropsychology, but was most passionate about teaching undergraduate students at Bethel. “The quality of the students I get to work with here is the envy of some of my colleagues at research institutions across the country,” he said. Johnson was open with students about his cancer diagnosis and continued to teach until just before his death. “It’s humbling to know that someone could do anything with the last years of his life, and he’s chosen to pour into you,” says psychology major Rachel Nordberg ’19.

Bethel University

33

3900 Bethel Drive St. Paul, MN 55112-6999 Electronic Service Requested

Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Twin Cities MN Permit No 899

Life is too short to never look up from what you have to do and miss out on the life that’s happening around you. Traveling throughout Europe revealed to me that our God is an incredible Creator and that the world He has designed is too intricately beautiful and immense to not have a powerful and loving force behind it.”

PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR MEG THORISON ’19 TOOK THIS PHOTO IN SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, DURING THE “EUROPEAN PIONEERS IN PSYCHOLOGY” TRIP IN JANUARY 2018.