Our Faculty and Staff

Seminary Administration

Office of the President

  • Randal R. Roberts, DMin; President
  • Bert E. Downs, MA, DD; Chancellor
  • Andrew Peterson, PhD; Vice President for Educational Innovation and Global Outreach

Office of Advancement

  • Robert Jones, MDiv; Senior Vice President for Advancement
  • Cole Atkinson; Admissions Counselor
  • Jane Carter; Admissions Counselor
  • Bonnie Ekholm; Gift Officer
  • Ben Hoffman; Director of Marketing & Communications
  • Marcia Jones; Advancement Office Manager
  • Karen Lopez; Admissions Office Manager
  • Allison Murphy, J.D.; Director of Admissions
  • Tirzah Radford, TESOL; Admissions Counselor
  • Jon Rosing; Graphic Designer

Office of Academic Affairs

  • Charles Conniry, PhD; Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
  • Karen Hedinger, MA; Administrative Assistant to Global Leadership, Doctor of Intercultural Studies Program, and Doctor of Education Program
  • Julia Mayo, MA; Assistant Dean of Academics
  • Ben Olsen; Coaching Program Assistant

Office of Business and Finance

  • Wing-Kit Chung; Vice President of Administration and CFO
  • Jonathan Gibson; Controller
  • Ashley Mitchell, MA; Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator
  • Char Rose; Finance Associate
  • Cliff Stein; Director of the Physical Plant

Office of Student Services/Information Technology

  • Reid Kisling, PhD; Vice President of Student Development/Chief Information and Effectiveness Officer
  • Josh Ehrlin; PHP Software Developer
  • Sandra Foster; Registrar/Director of Institutional Effectiveness
  • Sean Gordon; Director of IT Operations
  • Blake Kidney, MA; Director of Enterprise Application Development
  • Greg Moon; Director of Placement
  • Ben Olsen; Student Services Associate
  • C. Andrew Peloquin, MA; Dean of Students/International Student Coordinator
  • Luke Todd, MA; Director of Financial Aid
  • Brenna Tunnicliff; Director of Student Operations and Communications
  • Weston Werner; Systems Administrator
  • Michelle Workman, MA; Dean of Student Success

Library and Information Services

  • Matthew Thiesen, MS, MA; Director of Library and Information Services
  • Donna Greenhut, MLS; Regional Librarian, Sacramento Campus
  • Andy Lofthus; Information Services Librarian
  • Olha Ostapiuk; Library Assistant
  • Vivian J. Woo; Access Services Coordinator

Portland Campus

Academic Programs

  • Kay C. Bruce, PsyD; Director, Master of Arts in Counseling program, System-wide Unit Leader, Counseling programs
  • E.D. Burns, PhD; Director, Master of Arts in Global Leadership program
  • Jerry Essary, DMin; Director of Coaching
  • John Johnson, PhD; Director, Master of Divinity degree
  • Ron Marrs, PhD; Director, Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership program; Director, Kairos program
  • Steve Mathewson, DMin; Director, Doctor of Ministry program
  • Patrick Schreiner, PhD; Director, Master of Theology program
  • Jan Verbruggen PhD; Director, Master of Arts (Biblical and Theological Studies) program
  • Enoch Wan, PhD; Director, Doctor of Intercultural Studies program; Director, Doctor of Education program

Center for Leadership Development

  • Bert E. Downs, MA, DD; Director
  • Adam Christian, PhD Candidate; Director of Operations
  • Derek Hiebert, MA; Assistant Director
  • Jon Rosing; Production Support Specialist

Women’s Center for Ministry

  • Phyllis Bennett, DMin; Director
  • Amanda Zentz; Administrative Assistant

Online Campus

  • Mark Baker, MDiv; Instructional Support Coordinator, Online Campus
  • Keane Collins, MDiv; Director of Student Services, Online Campus
  • Drew Holmes, MA; Academic Advisor, Online Campus
  • Jon L. Raibley, ThM; Assistant Director, Online Campus
  • Adiran Tijerina; Academic Advisor, Online Campus
  • Bethany Urbano; Media Production Coordinator

San Jose Campus

  • Wes Ehrhart, MA; Executive Dean
  • Morene Chow, MA; Student Services Associate
  • Keven Gallegos; IT, Helpdesk
  • Williana Purnama; MA; Director of Student Services
  • Amanda Reid; Admissions Counselor
  • Judy Richards, PhD; Coordinator of San Jose Counseling and Addiction Studies
  • Lauren Werner; Administrative Coordinator

Sacramento Campus

  • Wes Ehrhart, MA; Executive Dean
  • Donna Greenhut, MLS.; Regional Librarian
  • Anita Hermsmeier, MA; MAC Program Assistant
  • Doug Locke, LMFT & LPCC; Addiction Studies Coordinator
  • Zack Myers; Admissions Counselor
  • Lindsay McKinnon, MA; Director of Student Services
  • Sherri Thome; Coaching Coordinator
  • Bev Wiens, PhD; Counseling Program Director, Sacramento

Administrators Emeritus

  • Ms. Karen Arvin, Library
  • Ms. Patricia Prichard, Finance
  • Dr. Robert Wiggins, Student Development

Faculty

Mary Aguilera, Associate Professor of Counseling
  • BS, Multnomah University, Portland; MA, Western Seminary; PhD, Oregon State University
  • Western Seminary, 2019-
Laurie Bloomquist, Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • BA, The College of Idaho; MA, Western Seminary; PhD, Oregon State University; Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor
  • Clinical supervisor, Oregon State University, 2014-2015; Western Seminary, part-time 2014; full-time 2015-
Gerry Breshears, Professor of Systematic Theology
  • BA, University of New Mexico - Albuquerque; MDiv, Denver Seminary; PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary
  • Part-time faculty, Biola College, 1979-80; Mission Associate, CBFMS, 1969-72; Western Seminary, 1980-
Kay Bruce, Professor of Counseling; Chair, Center for Personal and Spiritual Formation
  • BA, Portland State University; Graduate Diploma of World Ministry, Western Seminary; Certificate of Graduate Studies in Bible and Theology, MA, PsyD, George Fox University
  • Certified QPR Instructor for Suicide Prevention Training, 1997- ; Founder & Executive Director, Charis Counseling Associates, 1997-2003; Western Seminary, 1996-
E.D. Burns, Director, Master of Arts in Global Leadership Studies
  • BA, Moody Bible Institute; MA, Wheaton College; MDiv, Western Seminary; PhD, The Southern Baptist Seminary
  • Missionary with Pioneers, Turkey and China, 2008-2012; Asia Biblical Theological Seminary, Southeast Asia, 2012- ; Deputy Director for Collaboration and Content, Lausanne Movement, 2017- ; President, Great Commission Alaska, 2017- ; Western Seminary, 2015-
Charles Conniry, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • BA, American Christian School of Religion; MDiv, Bethel Seminary; PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary
  • Pastoral ministry, 1982-98; George Fox University, 1998-2018; Western Seminary, 2018-
John E. Johnson, Professor of Pastoral Theology; Director, Master of Divinity
  • BA, San Diego State University; MDiv, ThM, Western Seminary; PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary
  • Pastoral ministry, 1978-99, 2002-; Western Seminary, 2000-
Reid Kisling, Vice President of Student Development
  • BS, Oregon Institute of Technology; ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary; PhD, Regent University
  • Dallas Theological Seminary, 1998-2005; George Fox University, 2005-10; Pastoral ministry, 2011-12; Missions leadership, ARM Ministries, 2012-2015; President, ARM Ministries, 2015-; Western Seminary, 2013-
Steve Korch, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry
  • BA, Biola University; MDiv, DMin, Western Seminary
  • Pastoral ministry, 1978-99; Western Seminary, 1999-
J. Ryan Lister, Professor of Theology
  • BA, The Citadel; MDiv, PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Adjunct Instructor, Biola University, 2010; Assistant Professor, Louisiana College, 2011-13; Assistant Professor, Charleston Southern University, 2013-14; Western Seminary, 2014-
Ronald Marrs, Professor of Pastoral/Youth Ministry; Chair, Center for Ministry and Leadership Studies
  • BA, University of Oregon; MDiv, ThM, Western Seminary; PhD, Talbot School of Theology
  • Pastoral ministry, 1973-2003; Western Seminary, 2003-
Josh Mathews, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies; Chair, Center for Biblical and Theological Studies
  • BA, Multnomah University; MA, Wheaton College; PhD, Golden Gate University
  • Golden Gate Seminary, 2009-2013; Western Seminary, part-time 2013-2015; full-time 2015-
Todd Miles, Professor of Theology
  • BS, MS, Oregon State University; MDiv, Western Seminary; PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Western Seminary, 2003-
David Nystrom, Professor of Biblical Studies
  • BA, University of California, Davis; MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary; PhD, University of California, Davis
  • University of California, Davis, 1987-1992; North Park University 1992-2004; North Park Theological Seminary, 2004-2006; Fuller Theological Seminary, 1997-2010; William Jessup University, 2006-2010; Biola University, 2010-2015; Western Seminary, 2016-
Judy Richards, Professor of Counseling
  • BS, Pennsylvania State University; MA, University of San Francisco; PhD, Oregon State University
  • Mental health practitioner, 2003-; Adjunct Instructor, Bethany University, 2003-2007; Adjunct Instructor, Palo Alto University, 2015; Adjunct Instructor, San Jose State University, 2015-2016; Western Seminary, 2018-
Randal Roberts, Professor of Spiritual Life Development; President
  • BA, University of California, Davis; MDiv, ThM, Western Seminary; DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
  • Christian School Teacher, 1979-80; Pastoral ministry, 1985-87; Western Seminary, part-time, 1985-87; full-time, 1987-
Patrick Schreiner, Associate Professor of New Testament Language and Literature; Director, Master of Theology
  • BS, Western Kentucky University; MDiv, PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Western Seminary, 2014-
Norm Thiesen, Professor of Counseling
  • BA, Biola University; MA, Pepperdine University; MA, Talbot Seminary; MA, PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology
  • Counseling faculty, Biola University & Talbot Seminary, 1973-80; Director and faculty, Graduate Counseling Program, Grace University, 1994-2004; counseling faculty, Western Seminary, part-time 1989-2000, full-time, 1986-89, 2004-
Gary Tuck, Professor of Biblical Studies
  • BA, Fresno Pacific College; MDiv, Western Seminary; STM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary
  • Pastoral ministry, 1978-84; Interim pastoral ministry, 1988, 1991-92; Western Seminary, part-time, 1988-94; full-time, 1994-
Jan Verbruggen, Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature; Coordinator for Israel Study Programs; Director, Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies
  • BA, Northeastern Bible College; MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; PhD, Johns Hopkins University
  • Chesapeake Theological Seminary, 1989-93; Evangelische TheologischeeFaculteit/Belgian Bible Institute, 1994-2000; Part-time pastoral ministry, 1997-2000; Western Seminary, 2000-
Enoch Wan, Professor of Intercultural Studies; Director, Doctor of Education and Doctor of Intercultural Studies
  • BA, Nyack College; MTS, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; MA, PhD, State University of New York
  • Alliance Bible Seminary, 1978-81; Canadian Theological Seminary, 1982-93; Reformed Theological Seminary, 1993-2001; Western Seminary, 2001-
Bryan Warren, Instructor of Counseling
  • B.A., Ohio University, 1993; MDiv, Multnomah Biblical University; MA, Western Seminary; PhD student, The University of the Cumberlands
  • High School Teacher, Firm Foundations Christian School, 2010-2017; Adjunct Instructor, Multnomah University, 2010-2018; Western Seminary, 2018-
Beverly Wiens, Professor of Counseling
  • BA, MA, San Jose State University; MA, Santa Clara University; PhD, Northern California Graduate University
  • Instructor, San Jose State University, 1974-79; Professor, William Jessup University, 1982-2014; Adjunct Instructor, Western Seminary, 1995-2014; full-time, 2014-

Senior Professors

Dr. J. Carl Laney, Biblical Literature
Dr. James Sweeney, Pastoral Ministry