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
• Allison Murphy, J.D.; Director of Admissions
• Ben Hoffman; Director of Marketing & Communications
• Miguel Iniesta; Marketing and Communications Coordinator
• Jane Carter; Associate Director of Admissions
• Bonnie Ekholm; Gift Officer
• Cole Atkinson; Admissions Counselor
• Tirzah Radford, TESOL; Admissions Counselor
• Marcia Jones; Advancement Office Manager
• Jacqueline Howden; Admissions Office Manager
• Jon Rosing; Graphic Designer
• Zack Myers; Admissions Counselor

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
• 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, MA; Executive Administrative Assistant for Counseling and Academics

Office of Business and Finance

• Carolyn Rayback; Interim Chief Operations Officer
• Jonathan Gibson; Controller
• Ashley Mitchell, MA; Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator
• Twi Tish, MS; Payroll and Benefits Administration
• Katy Andlovec; Finance Associate
• Daniel Nava, MA; 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 Services, Portland
• Williana Purnama, EdD; Director of Student Services, San Jose
• Lindsay McKinnon; Director of Student Services, Sacramento Campus
• Luke Todd, MA; Director of Financial Aid
• Trent Cooper, MDiv; Financial Aid Counselor

Office of Information Technology

• Sean Gordon; Director of IT Operations
• Blake Kidney, MA; Director of Enterprise Application Development
• Josh Ehrlin; PHP Software Developer
• Kaleb Martens; 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
• Mark Franklin; Library Assistant
• Molly Skarphol; 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
• 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
• 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

• Adam Christian, PhD Candidate; Director of Operations
• Jon Rosing; Production Support Specialist

Women’s Center for Ministry

• Phyllis Bennett, DMin; Director
• Jayna Greenleaf-Perez; Administrative Assistant

Western Global

• Andrew Pack, EdD; Director of Online Learning
• Jon L. Raibley, EdD; Assistant Director
• Mark Baker, MDiv; Instructional Support Coordinator
• Keane Collins, MDiv; Director of Global Student Services
• Drew Holmes, MA; Academic Advisor
• Adrian Tijerina; 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

• Wes Ehrhart, MA; Executive Dean
• Williana Purnama, EdD; Director of Student Services
• Morene Chow, MA; Student Services Associate
• Keven Gallegos; IT, Helpdesk
• Colleen Lam, MA; Coordinator of San Jose Counseling and Addiction Studies
• Lauren Werner; Administrative Coordinator

Sacramento

• 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

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-

Kay Bruce, Professor of Counseling; Chair, Center for Personal and Spiritual Formation, Director of the Portland Master of Arts in Counseling Program

• 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-

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

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, 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

Stephen Stallard, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry

• BA, Luther Rice University; MDiv, Baptist Bible Seminary; PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

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-

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-