Our Faculty and Staff

Seminary Administration

Office of the President

  • Chuck Conniry, PhD; President
  • Kelly Borror; Executive Assistant to the President

Office of Advancement

  • Robert Jones, MDiv; Senior Vice President for Advancement
  • Andrew Hedinger; Director of Admissions
  • Ben Hoffman; Director of Marketing & Communications
  • Jane Carter; Associate Director of Admissions
  • Bonnie Ekholm; Gift Officer
  • Cole Atkinson; Admissions Counselor
  • David Piper; Admissions Counselor
  • Aaron Shaw; Admissions Counselor
  • Marcia Jones; Advancement Office Manager
  • Jacqueline Howden, MA; Admissions Office Manager

Office of Academic Affairs

  • Josh Mathews, PhD; Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
  • Julia Mayo, ThM; Associate Dean for Academics and Accreditation Liaison Officer
  • Nicholas Emmanuel Mariakis, ThM; Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Director of the Writing, Reading, and Tutoring Center
  • Cynthia Mathai, MA; Registrar
  • Andrew McNeill; Assistant Registrar
  • Karen Hedinger, EdD; Associate Director of Global Leadership, Doctor of Intercultural Studies Program, and Doctor of Education Program
  • Kendra Huntington; Administrative Coordinator for Counseling and Academics

Office of Business and Finance

  • Bob Gebhardt; Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Finance & Administration
  • Jonathan Gibson; Associate Vice President of Finance
  • Ashley Mitchell, MA; Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator
  • Twi Tish, MS; Payroll and Benefits Administration
  • Katy Andlovec; Finance Associate
  • Dayna Lewis; Accountant/HR Support
  • Noah Brown; Director of the Physical Plant

Office of Student Services

  • Rebekah Buchterkirchen, MA; Dean of Students
  • C. Andrew Peloquin, MA; Director of Student Development
  • Heidi Vanderpan, MA; Director of Student Services
  • Spencer Reed; Director of Financial Aid
  • Rachael Kloke; Financial Aid Counselor

Office of Information Technology

  • Sean Gordon; Interim CIO
  • Josh Ehrlin; PHP Software Developer
  • Kaleb Martens; Systems Engineer
  • Doug Fabel; Help Desk Technician

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
  • Murna Mamman; Library Assistant
  • Molly Skarphol; Access Services Coordinator

Portland Campus

Academic Programs

  • E. D. Burns, PhD; Director, Master of Arts in Global Leadership program
  • Ron Marrs, PhD; Director, Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership program
  • Steve Mathewson, DMin; Director, Doctor of Ministry program
  • Todd Miles, PhD; Director, Master of Theology program
  • Stephen Stallard, PhD; Director, Master of Divinity 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

Women’s Center for Ministry

  • Phyllis Bennett, DMin; Director

Western Global

  • Andrew Pack, EdD; Director of Online Learning
  • Jon L. Raibley, EdD; Assistant Director, Global
  • Mark Baker, MDiv; Instructional Support Coordinator
  • Jonathan Rosing; Operations Manager, Western Global and CLD
  • Keane Collins, MDiv; Director of Advising
  • Drew Holmes, MA; Academic Advisor
  • Tirzah Radford, TESOL; Academic Advisor
  • Janna Stafford; Academic Advisor
  • Olya Ostapiuk, MAIS, MAML, ACC; International Academic Advisor
  • Erik McFarland, MA; Academic Advisor
  • Courtland Urbano; Video Production Coordinator
  • Jerry Essary; Director of the Coaching Program
  • Dan Kimball; Director of ReGeneration Project and Bay Area Cohort Curator

San Jose

  • Donna Greenhut, MLS.; Regional Librarian

Sacramento

  • Donna Greenhut, MLS.; Regional Librarian
  • Anita Hermsmeier, MA; MAC Program Assistant
  • Doug Locke, LMFT & LPCC; Addiction Studies Coordinator
  • Lara Hutchison; Community Engagement & Connection Coordinator
  • Bev Wiens, PhD; Counseling Program Director, Sacramento

Core Faculty

Gerry Breshears, Professor of Systematic Theology; Director of the Master of Applied Biblical Leadership
  • 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-
Richard Blaylock, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies: New Testament Emphasis
  • BA, The Ateno de Manila University; MDiv The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; PhD. 
  • The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Western Seminary, 2022-
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-
Daniel Eng, Assistant Professor of New Testament Language and Literature
  • BA, Boston College; MDiv, ThM, Dmin, Talbot School of Theology; PhD, University of Cambridge
  • Biola University, 2014-2015; Institute of Biblical Studies, Cru, 2016; University of Cambridge, 2018-2020; Western Seminary, 2020-
Pali Gill, Visiting Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • BA, BS, San Jose State University; MS, Sacramento State University; PhD, Oregon State University
  • Professional Counseling, 2010-; NW Christian University, 2015-2016; Mental Health Crisis Clinician, 2018-; Western Seminary, 2020-
Rachel Heffield, Assistant Professor of Counseling, Assistant Director of the Portland Master of Arts in Counseling Program
  • BA, Cedarville University; MS, Wright State University; PhD, Regent University
  • Missionary, Pioneers International, 2010-2017; Professional Counselor, 2014-; Co-Founder and Clinical Director, China Hope Center, 2014-2018; Adjunct Instructor, 2014-; Western Seminary, 2020-
John Kwak, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Assistant Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
  • BA, Claremont McKenna College; MA, Biola University; MA, University of Southern California; MA University of Rochester; PhD Candidate, Regent University
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, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty; Assistant Professor of Biblical 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; ThM Program Director
  • 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-
Andrew Pack, Assistant Professor of Christian Formation
  • BA, Seattle University; MA, Western Seminary; ThM, Western Seminary; EdD Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jeremiah Peck, Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • Bachelor of Science, Bible and Theology, Psychology minor; Multnomah Bible College; Master of Arts, Counseling, Multnomah University; Ph.D. Candidate, Counselor Education and Supervision August, 2022; Western Seminary, 2022-
  • CACREP accredited
Beth Peterson, Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Central Michigan University College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences; Master of Arts in Counseling, Regent University College of Education and Human Services; Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision, Regent University School of Psychology and Counseling; Western Seminary, 2021-
  • CACREP accredited
Judy Richards, Professor of Counseling, Director of the San Jose Master of Arts in Counseling Program
  • 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-
Jordan Scheetz, Professor of Biblical Studies
  • BS, Biblical Education, Multnomah University; 2001 MA Exegetical Theology, Western Seminary, Dr. theol. (PhD), University of Vienna; Western Seminary, 2022-
Stephen Stallard, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry
  • BA, Luther Rice University; MDiv, Baptist Bible Seminary; PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Matthew Thiesen, Director of Library and Information Services
  • BA, Grace University; MA, Western Seminary; MS, University of North Texas
  • Collection Development and Services Librarian, 2011-2013; Reference and Instruction Librarian, 2013-2015; Outrach and Instruction Librarian, 2015-2017; Western Seminary, 2017-
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; Chair, Center for 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, Director of the Sacramento Master of Arts in Counseling Program
  • 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-