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
  • Cole Atkinson; Admissions Counselor
  • Caleb Crowley; Admissions Counselor
  • Marcia Jones; Advancement Office Manager
  • Ana Parado; Admissiond Administrative Assistant

Office of Academic Affairs

  • Josh Mathews, PhD; Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
  • Nicholas Emmanuel Mariakis, ThM; Director of the Writing, Reading, and Tutoring Center
  • Andrew McNeill; Registrar
  • Spencer Reed; 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

  • Keane Collins, MDiv; Vice President of Operations and Support Services
  • Jonathan Gibson; Chief Financial Officer
  • Ashley Mitchell, MA; Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator
  • Twi Tish, MS; Payroll and Benefits Administration
  • Joshua Rude; Accounting Assistant/Financial Analyst
  • Dayna Lewis MBA; Accountant
  • Noah Brown; Director of the Physical Plant
  • Jared Smith; Assistant Physical Plant Director

Office of Student Services

  • Rebekah Buchterkirchen, MA; Dean of Students
  • C. Andrew Peloquin, MA; Director of Student Development
  • Emily Howden; Director of Student Communications and Events
  • Matthew Jolley; Director of Financial Aid
  • Hunter Smithpeters; 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
  • David Boultinghouse; SQL Developer

Library and Information Services

  • Matthew Thiesen, MS, MA; Director of Library and Information Services
  • Andy Lofthus; Information Services Librarian
  • Murna Mamman; Library Assistant
  • Courtney Carico; Access Services Coordinator

Portland Campus

Academic Programs

  • Andrew Pack, PhD; Director, Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership program
  • Steve Mathewson, DMin, PhD; 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, Doctor of Philosophy and Intercultural Education program

Western Global

  • Jon L. Raibley, EdD; Associate Director of Global Learning
  • Mark Baker, MDiv; Instructional Support Coordinator
  • Erick McFraland, MA; Director of Advising
  • Jonathan Rosing; Operations Manager, Western Global and CLD
  • Drew Holmes, MA; Academic Advisor
  • Katie Wilcox; Academic Advisor
  • Janna Stafford; Academic Advisor
  • Olya Ostapiuk, MAIS, MAML, ACC; International Academic Advisor
  • Courtland Urbano; Video Production Coordinator
  • Benjamin Olsen, PCC; Director of Coach Training Program
  • Donna Jameson; Administrative Assistant of Coaching

San Jose

  • Dan Kimball, DMin; Vice President Church Mission and Strategy
  • Matthew Murata; Administrative Assistant

Sacramento

  • Anita Hermsmeier, MA; MAC Program Assistant
  • 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-
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-
Michelle V. Fielder, Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • BS, US Naval Academy; MA, National Louis University; MA Liberty University; PhD, Regent University
  • Owner and Counselor, Fielder Counseling Services, 2022-; Clinical Director and Supervisor, 2021-; Commissioned Officer in the US Marine Corps, 1989-2009; Western Seminary, 2022-
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; Chair, Center for Personal and Spiritual Formation
  • 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; Center for Ministry and Leadership Studies; Accreditation Liaison Officer
  • BA, Claremont McKenna College; MA, Biola University; MA, University of Southern California; PhD University of Rochester
  • Western Seminary, 2020-
Ronald Marrs, Professor of Pastoral/Youth Ministry; Chair
  • 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; Director, Master 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-
Andrew Pack, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Professor of Christian Formation; Director Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership
  • BA, Seattle University; MA, Western Seminary; ThM, Western Seminary; EdD Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Church Planting and Pastoral Ministry, 2009-; Western Seminary, 2020-
Jeremiah Peck, Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • BS, Multnomah Bible College; MA, Multnomah University; PhD, University of the Cumberlands
  • Lead Pastor, Lexington Bible Fellowship, 2018-; Counseling instructor/professor, Multnomah University, 2029-2022; Professional counselor and clinical supervisor, 2019-; Western Seminary, 2022-
Beth Peterson, Assistant Professor of Counseling
  • BS, Centeral Michigan; MA, Regent University; PhD, Regent University
  • Professional counselor, 1995-; Western Seminary, 2022-
  • 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 MA, Exegetical Theology, Western Seminary, Dr. Theo. (PhD), University of Vienna
  • Pastoral Ministry, Eastgate Bible Chapel, 2015-2020, 2022-; Professor and Director of Educational Advancement, TCM International Institute, 2022-2022; Professor and Department Chair, Tyndale Theological Seminary, 2011-2015; Western Seminary, 2022-
Stephen Stallard, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Director, Master of Divinity
  • BA, Luther Rice University; MDiv, Baptist Bible Seminary; PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Church Planter and Pastor, Mosaic Baptist Church, 2013-2021; Missions Partner, Beeson Divinity School, 2014-2021; Western Seminary, 2021-
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 Philosophy in Intercultural 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-

Administrative Faculty

  • Bill Clem, Director, Center for Pastoral Flourishing
  • Kara Johansen, PsyD, Child and Youth Specialty Coordinator, Counseling
  • Steve Mathewson, PhD, Director, Doctor of Ministry Program