Bethel Magazine Winter/Spring 2016

The Evolution of Interim p. 6

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Volleyball Reaches Elite 8 p.12

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Bethel Mourns Loss of Two Faculty p. 32

Winter/Spring 2016

EMBRACING COMMUNITY Visual Perspectives on the Bethel Experience

p. 14

College of Arts & Sciences

| College of Adult & Professional Studies | Graduate School | Bethel Seminary

FROM THE PRESIDENT Winter/Spring 2016 Volume 7 Number 2

A Legacy of Community-Building

Editor Michelle Westlund ’83

I heard about community at Bethel University long before I became an employee, and in my 21 years here, I’ve seen it brought to life by many remarkable individuals.

Five of them have passed from this life to the presence of God this year—and each was a builder of community.

Lynda Bradley-Vacco, conductor in residence, built the Bethel University Orchestra into a thriving and vibrant part of our music program. Student musicians felt a kinship with each other as they performed great music to the glory of God. She recruited many of them and invested in their growth as musicians and as followers of Christ.

Stacey Hunter Hecht, associate professor of political science, was an exemplary teacher, mentor, and political commentator. She brought out the best in her students and helped them imagine serving God in the public square. She envisioned the classroom as a community, pursuing truth and wisdom alongside her students.

G.W. Carlson, professor of history and political science emeritus, was shaped by his Bethel education, and he in turn shaped Bethel, driving our Pietist foundations forward into the 21st century. His ability to build community in his family, neighborhood, church, and department produced life-change that ran deep. Beyond books and ideas, he formed a community of care for those at the margins.

David Monson was one of Bethel’s most valued trustees and donors. Both the administrative wing of Bethel’s Lundquist Community Life Center and the Monson Dining Center in Brushaber Commons are a recognition of his leadership, wisdom, and generosity in partnership with his wife, Mary Jo. He cared deeply about Bethel being a community where the Holy Spirit was evident in all things.

David Price was another valued trustee and donor who had a special commitment to Bethel Seminary San Diego. In partnership with his wife, Mary Ann, he invested ideas, energy, connections, and resources to help Bethel thrive. He wanted to produce leaders for the church and see the church as part of the Bethel community.

His commitment to excellence propelled us forward.

Future generations will stand on the shoulders of these exemplars of community, their impact lived out every day in Bethel’s classrooms, hallways, offices, performance arenas, and chapels. I am deeply grateful for their influence.

Contributors Christine Erntson Timothy Hammer ’08, S’12 Jared Johnson GS’14 Anna Kaihoi ’07 Monique Kleinhuizen ’08 Nathan Klok ’17 Beret Leone ’18 Suzanne McInroy Chris Owen CAPS’12, GS’14 Lauren Pareigat ’08 Andrea Parrott Scott Streble Rachel Wilson ’15

Design Darin Jones ’97

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 Address Corrections Office of University Advancement 651.635.8050 university-advancement-updates@bethel.edu Bethel Magazine is published three 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 © 2016 Bethel University.

All Rights Reserved.

Bethel University is sponsored by the churches of Converge Worldwide, formerly known as the Baptist General Conference. 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.

Jay Barnes Read more about the lives and contributions of Stacey Hunter Hecht and G.W. Carlson on pages 32-33.

Cover photo by Nathan Klok ’17

Sticking Together

photo by Nathan Klok ’17

The Bethel women’s hockey team won its first MIAC championship in program history, finishing the conference schedule with a 12-4-2 record.

Read more on p. 8.

DEPARTMENTS

Campus News Physics professor receives prestigious NSF CAREER award; Bethel named one of 25 safest campuses in U.S.

FEATURES

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12 Setting a New Standard

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Bethel’s volleyball team reaches the program’s first-ever NCAA quarterfinals, and marks some other historic highlights along the way.

Bookmarked Beyond Words Recently published books by Bethel faculty members

Sports News Standout winter athletes; women’s basketball coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer; men’s hockey player Mitch Hughes

Alum News

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We asked student photographers to capture images that represented their Bethel experience, and a clear theme emerged: community. See their photos here.

32 In Memoriam

The Bethel community mourns the loss of Stacey Hunter Hecht, associate professor of political science, and G. William Carlson, professor of history and political science emeritus.

Bethel University

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TOP VALUE

Bethel made business publication Kiplinger’s list of top 100 private university values in the U.S., determined by competitiveness, graduation rates, academic support, cost and financial aid, and student indebtedness.

Visit kiplinger.com to see the list.

International Accreditation for Business Department The Department of Business and Economics in the College of Arts & Sciences has been awarded accreditation for its business programs from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs’ (ACBSP) Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners.

The ACBSP is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and is the only organization offering specialized business accreditation for all degree levels, from associate to baccalaureate to doctoral degree programs. ACBSP accreditation certifies that the teaching and learning processes within the undergraduate degrees offered in the Department of Business and Economics meet the ACBSP’s rigorous educational standards, evaluating aspects of the institutional leadership, 2

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strategic planning processes, relationships with the community, quality of academic programs, faculty credentials and services, and educational support to determine whether or not the institution offers a rigorous educational experience and demonstrates continuous quality improvement. “Bethel University has shown their commitment to teaching excellence and to the process of quality improvement by participating in the accreditation process,” says ACBSP Chief Accreditation Officer Steve Parscale. “This accreditation is evidence that Bethel University is committed to providing the highest quality business education for their students.”

Adult Students Help ReStore As part of the capstone course for their business management degree in Bethel’s College of Adult & Professional Studies, Tamara Berger, Melissa Ketter, and Holly Divine developed a business plan for the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore in New Brighton, Minnesota. “We chose the project because we wanted to help ReStore achieve its mission,” says Ketter. Habitat for Humanity’s main mission is to strengthen communities by providing affordable housing to local families in need. ReStores are home improvement outlets open to the public that offer high-quality, discounted furnishings and building supplies. The ReStore in New Brighton wanted to attract more customers, and thought a redesign of the store layout— along with tracking the strength of sales in individual departments— might help. That’s when Berger, Ketter, and Divine stepped in. “We were able to lay out the timeline of the project, communicate with stakeholders, and manage the expectations of the ReStore staff,” says Ketter. The group’s biggest challenge was the inventory itself, which fluctuated because it came from donations. The team designed a store layout that was flexible enough to accommodate the changing inventory while still making sense from a retail perspective.

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2016/january/ caps-restore to read more about the project.

CAMPUS News

Bethel received a grant of $484,852 as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative, which seeks to encourage young people to explore theological traditions, ask questions about the moral dimensions of contemporary issues, and examine how their faith calls them to lives of service. Bethel will use the grant to establish “Living the Questions,” a 10-day summer residential program for high school students beginning in June 2017. The design of “Living the Questions” is steeped in Bethel’s pietistic tradition and educational philosophy of nurturing whole and holy persons: it introduces students to Bethel’s core values of living as character-builders, salt and light, and world-changers.

The institute will be offered in three consecutive summer sessions, each focusing on a different theme: Faith and Justice (2017), Faith and Science (2018), and Faith and the Media (2019).

Participants will learn to connect the intellectual, emotional, and practical aspects of their faith, and

understand the role of Christian discipleship within the context of current issues.

They will explore how their vocation— where and how God is calling them—enables them to respond to contemporary cultural challenges. And they’ll engage in deep dialogue and textual criticism, learning how to think theologically in the classroom by interacting with college and seminary professors, and then put faith into action through community service projects and job shadowing.

In addition, participants will be connected with current Bethel students as mentors, both during their time on campus and in follow-up communications afterwards.

Winter Commencement. In December, Bethel celebrated the commencement of 296 graduating students: 93 from the College of Arts & Sciences, 71 from the College of Adult & Professional Studies, and 132 from the Graduate School.

photos by Scott Streble

Summer Program Equips High School Students to Live Out Faith

A distinctive element of Bethel’s design is partnership with participants’ home churches; students will be paired with a mentor from their church community to continue the discovery and exploration process during the year following their participation. Dean of Arts and Humanities Barrett Fisher, who chaired the proposal development committee, is excited about the opportunity to introduce participants to Bethel’s approach to faith. “As the title of our institute indicates, we are focusing on helping participants ask important questions about their culture, and then equipping them to pursue good answers in light of God’s call,” says Fisher. “The institute is not a course in doctrine, but an orientation to what it means to think theologically and discern how to act faithfully.”

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NSF CAREER Award

photo by Scott Streble

Assistant Professor of Physics Nathan Lindquist ’02 was selected to receive a 2016 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The award is the NSF’s most prestigious recognition for junior faculty and provides $500,000 in funding to researchers who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars.

Lindquist’s project, titled “Digital plasmonics-based nano-tweezing and nano-imaging for nano-particles,” has two parallel activities. First, computer-controlled laser light is used with extremely high-resolution

digital imaging techniques to capture detailed images of nano-sized objects.

Second, similar computer-controlled techniques are used to manipulate these nano-sized objects in order to study their behavior and gain understanding about their makeup.

The nano-objects include quantum dots, single molecules, and viruses.

The research began in February with help from Bethel undergraduate students in the physics department’s NanoLab, which Lindquist oversees.

“Nathan’s award recognizes his extraordinary research and dedication to students,” says Richard Peterson, acting dean of natural and behavioral sciences and university professor of physics emeritus. Lindquist received a B.S. from Bethel in 2002 and went on to the University of Minnesota to earn an M.S. in physics and Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He has been teaching at Bethel since 2011.

Heard on Campus The only agenda that can save America is not the donkey or the elephant, but instead the agenda of the Lamb. ­—Bethel’s Convocation Chapel speaker Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference

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Second World Changers Event The twice-annual World Changers Series features prominent voices from Bethel and beyond, and is geared toward alumni and friends of the university.

In November, Mark Strauss, university professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego, visited St. Paul for the second World Changers Series seminar, discussing his new book Jesus Behaving Badly: The Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee (see next page). The book asserts that the Jesus Christians tend to picture isn’t always the true Jesus of the Gospels. That Jesus, says Strauss, is countercultural, radical, and at times uncomfortable. “When He’s the most puzzling, He’s also the most profound,” says Strauss, “but when He’s at His most troubling, He’s at His most transformational.” Strauss is the author or coauthor of several books and numerous articles, including How to Read the Bible in Changing Times; Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels; How to Choose a Translation for All It’s Worth (with Gordon D. Fee); The Essential Bible Companion (with John Walton); and more. He also serves as vice-chair of the Committee for Bible Translation for the New International Version (NIV) and as an associate editor for the NIV Study Bible.

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Bookmarked Recently published books by Bethel University faculty Jesus Behaving Badly: The

Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee

by Mark L. Strauss, University Professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary San Diego (IVP Books) Everybody likes Jesus.

Don’t they? We overlook that He demanded moral perfection, told people to cut off body parts, made prophecies that haven’t come true, and defied religious and political authorities. The Jesus everybody likes is not the Jesus found in the Gospels. He’s a figure we’ve created in our own minds. Strauss believes that when we unpack the puzzling paradoxes of the man from Galilee, we find greater insight into His countercultural message and mission than we could ever have imagined.

Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter

edited by David Schultz and Stacey Hunter Hecht, Associate Professor of Political Science (Lexington Books) If recent trends are any indication of what will happen in 2016’s presidential election, Democrats in Texas and Republicans in New York might as well stay home on election day. The same might be said for the voters in 38 other states, too.

Conversely, the votes of those in

Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Iowa, and a handful of other states matter greatly.

The focus of this book is to understand why the presidential race has been effectively reduced to only 10 states.

The authors offer a first-of-its-kind examination of why some states are swingers in presidential elections, capable of being won by either of the major candidates, describe what makes these few states unique, and explain why the presidency is decided by who wins them.

Teacher Craft: How Teachers Learn to Use Minecraft in Their Classrooms

by Seann Dikkers, Associate Professor of Education (lulu.com) Teacher learning is central to reform and change across subject areas and age levels, but how much do we really know about how teachers learn to try new lessons in classrooms?

Minecraft is currently the game of choice for millions of youth, and also for these 17 teachers who claim it has transformed their classrooms. Its rapid adoption also provides a unique window of opportunity to look inside the recent memory of innovative teachers and unpack how they learned.

Why did they pick Minecraft? More importantly, how did they pick Minecraft? Can we begin to identify the trajectories of truly innovative teachers? It turns out, we can—and it may not be what you’d expect.

Introducing Christian Theologies, Volume Two: Voices from Global Christian Communities

by Victor I. Ezigbo, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies (Cascade Books) Should Christianity’s theological face remain largely European and North American in the 21st century, in the wake of the expansion of Christianity in subSaharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America?

This question cannot be ignored. For too long African, Asian, and Latin American theologians have been left out of mainstream theological discussions. This, the second of a two-volume textbook, alters the predominantly European and North American “theological face” of Christianity by interacting with the voices and works of key theologians and Christian communities from around the world, highlighting their unique contributions to Christian theology and doctrine.

All books, as well as many others

by Bethel faculty, are available at the Campus Store. Visit bookstore.bethel.edu to shop online; shop in person; or shop by phone at 651.638.6202.

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From Farmhouse to Galapagos The Evolution of Interim

by Beret Leone ’18

“interim” was meant to better round out students’ experiences within their liberal arts education. J-term still provides fulfilling study abroad options and allows students with tightly-scheduled majors, such as nursing, to go abroad without putting their graduation dates in jeopardy.

Many students even have the opportunity to graduate early, thanks to interim. “It was the perfect amount of time to be off campus,” says political science major Ian Engstrom ’16. “I love being at Bethel, so I didn’t want to miss out on hanging with friends here. But I still wanted to go abroad, so interim was the perfect amount of time.”

In the past 20 years, Bethel has received some requests from undergraduates to also offer interim classes that students need in order to graduate. Experiential and avantgarde courses—that broaden and foster interest in diverse areas—have

photo by Nadia Jacobson ’17

It was 2 a.m. in the dead of a frigid Minnesota winter in 1981, and a student awoke with the dire need to use the bathroom. But that was a complicated thing in Professor of History Roy “Doc” Dalton’s Depression House interim course, where the group was living like it was the 1930s, with no running water or electricity.

Depression House students spent their January term in a farmhouse 12 miles from Pillager, Minnesota, and two hours from Bethel. In an effort to bring the deprivation of the ’30s alive, students used outhouses, washed clothes by hand, ate beans for the majority of their meals, and went a week or more without washing their hair.

Classes like Depression House epitomized the original philosophy of the January term: to provide students with experimental opportunities outside their majors. “J-term” or

Bethel students explore the site of ancient palace ruins during a study abroad trip to Mycenae, Greece, in January 2015.

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been augmented by general education classes, and many students, with their long-term vocation in sight, choose to take required courses rather than exploratory ones. “January was originally a place to take something different and fun, and not necessarily worry about how it counted…just an elective,” says Dean of Arts and Humanities Barrett Fisher. “But now you see it being very much generaleducation oriented and departmentrequirement oriented.”

Bethel requires students to enroll in three interim terms during a typical four-year undergraduate experience.

Interim 2016 offerings included nine international study opportunities as well as on-campus options in major fields of study and general education, such as: • Interaction with Urban Life and Systems. Introduces the diversity of urban life, models of urban ministry, and includes interaction with a cultural group that lies outside the majority culture(s) in North America.

• Photo Manipulation. Explores methods and skills of photographic manipulation for contemporary art using the camera, scanners, Photoshop, and printing techniques.

• Individual Tax Preparation.

Studies taxation through the eyes of the poor, elderly, and immigrant populations, and includes a servicelearning component where students assist local residents in filing tax returns.

CAMPUS News

• Advanced Human Gross Anatomy. Provides upperlevel biology students with the opportunity to experience human dissection study in Bethel’s cadaver lab.

• HIV/AIDS: Anatomy of a Pandemic. Looks at the impact of the discovery of the immunodeficiency virus.

• Muslim Women in History. A global survey of the lives of Muslim women from the seventh century to the present.

• Revolution and Political Development. Examines theories of modernization and the U.S. effort to promote democracy internationally.

• Behavioral Robotics. Uses robotics within the context of developing practical and theoretical understanding of behavior.

In addition to specific courses offered only during interim, the month term provides special opportunities for visual and theatre arts students.

A competitive, faculty-juried series of shows gives art students a real-world experience in preparing their own work for a gallery show. And every other interim, theatre and non-theatre students dive into a musical theatre experience, preparing for a large-scale production performed on campus in Benson Great Hall.

SUMMER SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST A BREAK— IT SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE.

THAT’S WHY WE OFFER EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO EXERCISE THEIR MINDS AND BODIES. ACADEMIC CAMPS

My Media Camp — Journalism Creative Arts — Art, Theatre, Song Writing,

and Poetry

ATHLETIC CAMPS Volleyball Boys Basketball Girls Basketball

Girls Soccer Coed Soccer Tennis

Cross Country

For more info and registration details, visit bethel.edu/camps

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In February, the Bethel women’s hockey team won its first MIAC championship in program history. The Royals finished the conference schedule with a 12-4-2 record and 26 total points, tying St. Thomas and becoming regular season co-champions with them. The Royals later faced St. Thomas in the MIAC title game in early March, falling 2-1. Bethel Head Coach Brian Carlson was named MIAC Coach of the Year in his sixth season, guiding Bethel to the top of the standings after being picked to finish fourth. Seniors Erin Harper and Caroline Kivisto, along with junior Lauren Kolak, were named to the MIAC All-Conference team, while freshman Sarina Goos was selected to the All-Rookie team.

photo by Nathan Klok ’17

photo by Nathan Klok ’17

MIAC Champions!

International Artist Exhibits at Bethel In late 2015, Bethel’s Olson Gallery exhibited selected pieces from the series Until the Kingdom Comes by Norwegian photographer Simen Johan, who talked about the series and his process in an event co-presented

by Bethel University Galleries and Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) in

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Mia’s Pillsbury Auditorium. Michelle Westmark Wingard, gallery director and associate professor of art at Bethel, partnered with Mia to promote Johan’s visit to a wider audience. “When Mia found out we were hosting an exhibition of Simen’s photographs, they contacted us,” Wingard explains.

“It was a great opportunity to collaborate with the museum and engage with the broader Twin Cities art community. Our contact at Mia was impressed that Bethel’s gallery program consistently exhibits

high profile names. It helped to connect Bethel and our level of arts programming with the public based on an internationally-known artist.” Until the Kingdom Comes is a series of largescale, digitally-collaged photographs of animals. The images convey realistic depictions of another time and place where these animals might exist. Johan said that the individual photographs, in most cases, were taken in different locations around the world, and that most of the time, his inspiration comes as he works with the images in the editing process, rather than during the photography phase.

Mia acquired Untitled #181, featuring a zebra standing in profile in a lush jungle landscape, for their permanent collection. Untitled #153, shown here, was part of the display on view at Bethel.

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Graduate School Launches Partnerships Bethel’s M.A. in Special Education program recently formed a partnership with the Anoka-Hennepin School District, Minnesota’s largest school district, to offer graduate students opportunities for fulltime employment and firsthand experience while they work toward their degree. Through the partnership, which launched this fall, the district will hire students in the special education program as full-time paraprofessionals while they’re earning their master’s degree at Bethel. This unique opportunity gives Bethel students hands-on training and experience with a variety of age groups and disability categories, helps them fulfill program requirements, provides them with full-time pay and benefits while they’re in school, and builds relationships that could lead to possible career opportunities following graduation. “Bethel and Anoka-Hennepin Schools are tailoring a program to meet graduate students’ needs as developing special educators, while helping to meet the

needs of school-age kids in the AnokaHennepin schools for compassionate, welltrained adults to support their educational progress,” says Katie Bonawitz, Bethel’s program director. “This partnership is ideal,” says Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent David Law. “Future teacher candidates have quality experiences working with students and the district has the opportunity to meet potential applicants in a high demand field.”

Bethel’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership in Higher Education program has partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education to offer the new Emerging Leaders in Private Colleges certificate. The four-course online certificate program, taught through the University of Minnesota, will

Safest Campus. Bethel is one of the 25 safest college campuses in America, according to a January Business Insider report of data compiled by the collegereview site Niche. The ranking assessed the health and safety of a college campus based on campus crime rates, local crime rates, and student reviews.

Visit businessinsider.com/safest-collegecampuses-in-america-2016-1 to see the list.

photo by istockphoto/Christopher Futcher

Two graduate education programs have formed local partnerships that offer enhanced learning opportunities

prepare students interested in the unique challenges of small to mediumsized private college leadership— such as financial uncertainty, rapidly changing market conditions, limited succession planning, and emerging college alternatives—with knowledge and skills in organizational development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and decision making. “This type of partnership between a land grant university and a private college is the first of its kind,” says Ed.D. Program Director Craig Paulson. “We look forward to the possibilities it will provide for students.” The certificate program was designed to complement the elective requirements of Bethel’s Ed.D. program, meaning students can earn the certificate without significantly increasing the cost or length of their doctoral program.

Visit bethel.edu/graduate/ academics to learn more about Bethel’s graduate programs.

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SPORTS News

From the Locker Room

Meet standout Bethel winter athletes

Men’s Basketball Brycen Wojta • Jr., Biokinetics major • Maple Grove, Minn.

As a freshman, Wojta became the first rookie in the MIAC to receive All-Conference recognition since the 2005-06 season, and just the second since 1995-96. Fast-forward two years and he has two All-MIAC accolades, one D3hoops.com All-Region honor, one Academic All-Conference award, and membership in Bethel’s 1,000-points club.

Women’s Basketball Kalli Zimmermann • Jr., Psychology major • Champlin, Minn.

A two-time MIAC All-Conference recipient, Zimmermann is just the 15th player in Bethel women’s basketball history to score 1,000 career points. The 2015 Academic All-Conference honoree also received D3hoops.com All-Region honors last spring after leading the Royals to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years.

Men’s Hockey Tony Larson • Sr., Biology major • Ham Lake, Minn.

Larson finished his four-year career as a defensive skater with the Royals with eight goals and 22 assists. The two-time MIAC Academic All-Conference honoree played in 91 games and scored 30 total points for Bethel.

Women’s Hockey Erin Harper • Sr., Business major •

Blaine, Minn.

Harper has excelled in Bethel’s defense throughout her four-year career, tallying seven goals and 38 assists in 107 games played. A twotime MIAC All-Conference and Academic All-Conference recipient, she’s helped the Royals reach the MIAC playoffs in all four seasons.

Men’s Indoor Track and Field Patrick Klamm • Jr., Missional Ministries major • Evanston, Ill. A two-time MIAC All-Conference and four-time MIAC AllConference Honorable Mention recipient, Klamm helped lead the 1,600-meter relay team to an outdoor championship in 2015.

Women’s Indoor Track and Field Jillian Krier • Jr.,

Elementary Education major • Byron, Minn.

Krier, a sprinter, has been honored with numerous MIAC AllConference and All-Conference honorable mention accolades in her first two years. The two-sport athlete (volleyball) and Academic AllConference recipient helped the 400-meter relay team reach the 2014 NCAA National Outdoor Championships.

Extra Points Hall of Famer. The Minnesota

Football Coaches Association recently announced six Hall of Fame inductees, including Bethel Head Football Coach Steve Johnson, the only collegiate coach recognized this year.

All-Americans. Two Bethel cross

country runners received AllAmerican honors after finishing in the Top 35 at the NCAA Division III National Meet in November.

Matt Berens took ninth out of 278 runners with a time of 24:34 in the 8,000-meter race, while Annika Halverson finished No. 32 with a time of 21:44 in the 6,000-meter race.

Senior Scholar. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America honored men’s soccer player Ryan Ness with Scholar All-Region accolades. Ness, a senior biokinetics major, is a twotime All-MIAC recipient with a 3.58 GPA.

Follow the Royals: bethelroyals.com | youtube.com/bethelroyals | facebook.com/bethelroyals | twitter.com/bethelroyals

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SPORTS News

“When a student becomes a member of the Bethel women’s basketball team, she’s welcomed into a family where we challenge each other to be the best—the best student, the best basketball player, the best team, the best friend, the best daughter— photo by Nathan Klok ’17

all in light of the gifts and abilities Christ has provided to each one of us.

We believe in Colossians 3:23, where we are called to do ‘ALL…as though working for the Lord and not for man.’ Everything in our basketball realm should be done in a way that worships our Lord and Savior.”

Jon Herbrechtsmeyer women’s basketball coach 14th season Read the full interview with Coach Herbrechtsmeyer at www.bethelroyals.com

ROYAL PROFILE Name: Mitch Hughes Year: Senior Sport: Men’s Hockey

Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Major: Business Finance and Marketing

What’s your dream job after college?

I hope to become a financial advisor. My goal is to move back to California, where I can establish my roots and build a good nucleus of clients.

As a native of California, how did you find your way to Bethel?

Hockey. I grew up with dreams of playing NCAA Division I hockey, but after many injuries I discovered that hockey at that level was not my life plan. Then Bethel found me.

What’s your best memory of playing hockey for the Royals?

Our team’s mission trip to Erzurum, Turkey, in 2012. The trip was challenging and pushed us all in unique ways, but it also made us more like a family than any team I’ve ever been on.

How has this program sharpened your faith?

It has completely developed my faith and what I believe. Before Bethel, I did not have a good understanding of who Jesus was and what it truly meant to be a Christian. After being a part of the hockey team and having the opportunity to get an education at Bethel, I’ve found something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It has built character and integrity, along with humility and a chance to take a look at God’s character and how I need to emulate it in everything I do. Without Bethel and the men’s hockey team here, I would be a lost soul.

What’s the legacy you hope to leave behind once you graduate?

I want the legacy to be one that is not focused on hockey, but instead focused on the many amazing things Bethel has to offer and how it changed me and who I was. Hockey is not the entire world; no sport is, for that matter. I was just given the gift of athleticism, and using it in hockey has opened the door to showing me what a Christian hockey player truly looks like. I want the players who come after me to see Jesus first in everything they do. photo by Nathan Klok ’17

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SPORTS News

A NEW STANDARD Bethel Volleyball Team Reaches Program’s First-Ever NCAA Quarterfinals

2015 marked some historic highlights for the Royals volleyball team. The squad accumulated a total of 25 victories for the first time in 15 years. They reached the MIAC championship game.

They received an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs and stormed through the opening round, dethroning defending national champion Hope College with a 3-0 sweep. They advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 3-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, then bested the University of Northwestern-St. Paul in 12

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a thrilling five-set NCAA Region Championship match to win their first-ever region title and advance to the Elite 8. Their memorable run finally ended in Grand Rapids, Mich., with a 13-15 loss in the fifth set to Hendrix College.

The team also received its highest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 ranking in program history, finishing the season No. 11 in the Division III Coaches Top 25 Final Poll.

Two players, Carlee Hoppe

and Tegan LaBerge, received AVCA All-American Honorable Mention recognition. Both were members of the 2015 MIAC All-Conference team for the second consecutive year.

Junior middle blocker LaBerge, of Maple Grove, Minn., helped the Royals rank among the Top 10 teams nationwide in blocks per set (2.46), as she alone ranked No. 6 among all Division III athletes with 1.34 blocks per set. She was exceptional on offense as well, recording

SPORTS News

was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player at the regional championship.

Four seniors provided team leadership, including Nicole Deberry, who completed her career with nine kills, two blocks, and a team-high hitting percentage of .304. Deberry and fellow seniors Hannah Grow, Kali Johnson, and Kristi Lauwers helped Bethel go

76-48 (.613) over the last four years with three MIAC playoff appearances, the NCAA tournament appearance, and the team’s unforgettable Elite 8 run. photo by Nathan Klok ’17

340 kills in 119 sets played (2.86 kills per set) with an attacking percentage of .287. Hoppe led Bethel with 3.90 points and 3.31 kills per set this season. Her 390 total kills throughout the 2015 campaign pushes her career total to 1,072 and her 380 digs this year gives her 837 for her career. The junior outside hitter from Shakopee, Minn., averaged 3.22 digs per set and hit .228 on the season. She

Congratulations, Bethel volleyball!

Bethel University

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Beyond Words

Visual Perspectives on Community at Bethel

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Winter/Spring 2016

photo by Rachel Gmach ’18

The assignment was open-ended.

We asked student photographers to capture images that represented their Bethel experience. We simply wanted to see what parts of campus life said “Bethel” to them. As the photos came in, a clear theme emerged: community.

There were images of the physical campus and its natural beauty; sports teams and the intense bonds forged in competition; friends laughing together on study abroad trips or hanging out on campus. Community, it seems, is what we value, what we celebrate, and what we’ll miss when we leave. “When I graduate,” says Krista Jolivette ’16, “what I will miss most are the seemingly insignificant conversations I had every day. Turns out those small interactions shaped my college experience.”

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photo by Rachel Gmach ’18

Iconic campus images evoke the sense of place that is the physical Bethel community.

But community at Bethel is much more.

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Bethel University

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photo series by Rachel Gmach ’18

photo by Kurt Jarvi ’18

photo by Kurt Jarvi ’18

“Community at Bethel means I am surrounded by followers of Christ from whom I can learn. We can push each other to be the best we can be.”

Kelsey Sagen ’16

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Winter/Spring 2016

“The way our community loves one another has allowed me to see a sliver of the relationship we have with God.”

all photos by Nathan Klok ’17

Harmon Squires ’16

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photo by Harmon Squires ’16

“Studying abroad has been the highlight of my Bethel experience. I will forever remember the people I met, the places I experienced, and the stories I have to share.”

Krista Jolivette ’16

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photo by Carly Weiss ’17

photo by Chris Ertsgaard ’15

Rachel Gmach ’18

photo by Cassie Van Der Puy ’17

“Community is surrounding yourself with a group of people who care for each other and share a similar motivation.”

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Zach Nylin ’19 *PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) is a program that allows high school students to earn college credit by enrolling full- or part-time in college-level courses.

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photo by Kelsey Sagen ’16

photo by Kelsey Sagen ’16

“As a commuting PSEO* student, I’ve been very thankful for the community Bethel provides. I’ve felt welcomed and valued since the day I first stepped onto campus. The community that is Bethel has made my transition from high school to college very easy.”

photo by Kelsey Sagen ’16 photo by Zach Nylin ’19

“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Jesus (Mt. 18:20)

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photo by Carly Weiss ’17

“Community at Bethel is being able to come together as Christians and be open with others who share our faith.

It’s led me a lot closer to God.” Kurt Jarvi ’18 24

Winter/Spring 2016

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photo by Kurt Jarvi ’18

Contributors

Carly Weiss ’17 Graphic design major Delafield, Wisconsin

“I enjoy photography because it has caused me to fall in love with the world around me and appreciate the small things.”

Kelsey Sagen ’16 Graphic design major Orfordville, Wisconsin

“Photography is a beautiful way to take a short moment in time and make it last. I love the joy I see on people’s faces when I give them a photo of themselves or something meaningful to them—it’s my favorite part!”

Kurt Jarvi ’18 Computer science major McKinney, Texas

“The best thing about photography is giving people something to think about.

Photos should be reflected upon, not simply ingested. I love it when I can give people a photo that they can assign a personal meaning to.”

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Nathan Klok ’17 Business marketing major Cottage Grove, Minnesota

“Photography is my job, my passion, and the thing that causes me to lose the most sleep at night. It’s brought me from flying in a B-25 bomber during the national anthem flyover for a Minnesota Vikings game, to shooting the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition for ESPN, to chronicling Bethel volleyball’s NCAA tournament run, and much more.”

Zach Nylin ’19 Nursing major Rogers, Minnesota

“I love photography as a way to document memories and events, and to catch people naturally in order to provide a real-life snapshot of their experiences.”

Harmon Squires ’16 Psychology major Owatonna, Minnesota

“I take photos to relive my experiences and share those experiences with others.”

Rachel Gmach ’18 Journalism major Ham Lake, Minnesota

“Photography is about taking a normal, everyday scene and shooting it in your own way—a way that makes people feel emotions about things they may never have taken a second look at.”

Krista Jolivette ’16 Communication studies major Garner, Iowa

“I love photography, especially when I’m traveling, because it has the ability to capture memories and in a way, magically freeze time. When I look back on the pictures I took while studying abroad, I am instantly taken back to that specific day, and memories of my overseas experience flood my mind.”

Cassie Van Der Puy ’17 Organizational and relational communication major Prinsburg, Minnesota

“I’m new to photography, but I love that it allows me to explore places and see things in a new way.”

Chris Ertsgaard ’15 Physics major River Falls, Wisconsin

“For me, photography is a time capsule. I can relive the thrill of past adventures and revisit people who have shaped me, and those memories remind me of God’s continual faithfulness as I step forward into the unknown!”

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ALUM News “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

70s

80s

John Merritt ’74, S’79 is the author of Don’t Blink: The Life You Won’t Want to Miss, which uses personal stories and Scripture to encourage readers to live life to the fullest. He is founding pastor at CrossWinds Church, Pleasanton, Calif.

Leonard J. Martini S’89 is the author of God’s Great Scheme: All Creation for Christ, Christian Holism, which presents early church belief in a holistic view of salvation, suppor ted by extensive biblical references with personal conversations

that shed new light and intellectually challenge readers.

Martini’s other books include The Confident Christian and Living in His Name.

90s Jake Chaya ’90 is founder and president of the White

—ROYAL NATION— CELEBRATING BETHEL UNIVERSITY AROUND THE COUNTRY Watch for opportunities to connect with other Bethel alums, parents, students, and friends in your area!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

ROYAL NATION PORTLAND—JUNE 11 ROYAL NATION SEATTLE—JUNE 12 ROYAL NATION DENVER—JULY 1 Visit bethel.edu/alumni/events to learn more and to register.

Interested in hosting a Royal Nation event?

Contact the Office of Alumni and Family Relations at 651.638.6462 or alumni@bethel.edu 28

Winter/Spring 2016

Dove Foundation , w w w. whitedovefoundation .com, which is currently establishing a women’s secondary computer science school in Kigali, Rwanda.

Kris (Jones) Milstead ’94 has been writing for Zenith City News of Duluth, Minn., for two years and recently had her children’s book, Benedict the Golden Dragon, published. She lives in Jefferson, La.

00s Shawna (Toupin) Warner ’01, GS’05 teaches full time in the English/communication department at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where her family has resided since 2011.

Prior to that, her family lived in China from 2008-2011. Warner has made her career teaching communication courses in traditional classrooms and online, and still teaches online

Bethel Magazine includes Alum News from all schools o f B e t h e l U n i v e r s i t y.

“S” indicates news from Bethel Seminary alumni, “CAPS” indicates news from the College of Adult & Professional Studies, and “GS” indicates news from G raduate School alumni. All other news is from College of Arts & Sciences alumni.

ALUM News Street Light

by Rachel Wilson ’15 When Bjorn Peterson ’02 decided to study computer science and mathematics at Bethel, he had every intention of becoming a web developer. But during his junior year, his dad lost a three-year battle to colon cancer, and Peterson’s plans changed. He took some time to reevaluate his future, which revealed a strong desire to pursue a career in medicine.

He completed his computer science major and math minor at Bethel, then went on to take his pre-med requirements at the University of Minnesota. Today, Peterson is an emergency physician with HealthPartners, but his position is far from what many would consider to be typical of doctors today. “I have the unique opportunity to interact with people on the worst days of their lives,” he says. “This can be challenging, but it puts me in a position to shine a light in their world.”

His work takes him all across the Twin Cities metropolitan area, but his primary hospital is Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he is the site medical director for the emergency room. He also works several shifts a month at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he’s assistant medical director for their emergency medical services (EMS) department, providing medical education for ambulance agencies and fire departments in the east metro Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. In this role, Peterson trades in the well-stocked, well-lit conditions of a hospital to be onsite at accidents that require a physician’s pres-

for several American-based colleges and universities. She is also a Ph.D. student at Biola University, Calif., working on a degree in intercultural studies.

Alicia (Lambrides) Manship ’02 was appointed director of Christian Military Wives Fellowship in Englewood, Colo.

Glenn Haggerty S’05 is the author of Run (Intense Book 1), an inspirational youth novel in which a teenage boy struggles with friendships and sophisticated criminals. Waconia, Minn.

Philip Warner ’07 received an M . A . in Communication and Leadership Studies from

Gonzaga University, Wash., in spring 2015. He is currently enrolled in an International MBA program at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as he and his family feel called to start businesses that can provide decent wages for the poor across Southeast Asia.

10s Aani (Rangen) Carlton ’10 accepted a grade one teaching job with Stamford American International School in Singapore. Previously she taught grade one in Apalachicola and Jacksonville, Fl.

ence. He has responded to hazardous material incidents, large structure fires, technical rescue situations, and accidents with multiple patients. He also responds to regular emergency calls to ensure quality assurance and medical oversight as needed. Peterson expects his teams to be able to handle an emergency situation without his presence, but together, he, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians are working toward the Regions EMS tagline: “Critical care begins in the street.”

Peterson says he looks forward to the variety his job provides, and he sees his role in medicine as a form of outreach. In those high-pressure moments in the emergency room or on the street, he gets to impact people on a personal level. “Regardless of background, culture, or life choices, everyone is a vulnerable human being when I encounter them,” he says. “I often find that I learn from and am inspired by my patients and their families in how they face difficult situations. I may not be blatantly preaching the gospel every day, but I hope that I can be salt and light to the people I encounter.”

Marriages ’01 Petra Wonders married Jon Fager in October. They live in St. Paul. ’04 Holly Hinton married Jason Gerken in September. They live in Minneapolis. ’11 Mercedes Witz ke married Matthew Martell ’11 in November. They live in Rogers, Minn.

Births ’96 Jamison Sawyer was born in December to Jamie and Angela (Montag) Swan.

He joins Savannah, 4, and Sierra, 3. Eagan, Minn. ’04 Sydney Michaela was born to Scott and Emily Tungseth ’06 in September. She joins Parker, 2. Cincinnati, Ohio. ’05 A s a Eve r e t t w a s b o r n in September to Krista (Clark) and Eli Horn ’05.

He joins Caleb and Kai. St. Paul. ’07 Davi Lynn was born to Kari (Blair) and Adam Ahlquist ’08 in October. She joins Blair, 4, and Breck, 2. They live in Long Island, N.Y., where Adam is completing his ophthalmology residency and Kari works as a physician assistant.

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ALUM News ’08 Mara Jean was born in November to Ruth and Lucas Langworthy GS’10. She was born on Thanksgiving and has a Wheaton grad mom and a Bethel grad dad. Wheaton, Ill. ’08 Alexis Mae was born to Cody and Angela (Hugoson) Toothaker in December. She joins Addison and Kylie. Granada, Minn. ’08 Abigail Joy was born in June to Kara (Benjamin) and Mike Wielinski ’01.

She joins Joshua, 2. Little Canada, Minn. ’09 Sawyer Lee was born to Brianna (Johnson) and Chris Vander Vorst ’10 in December. He joins Lydia.

Chris is an insurance agent and Bri works as a high school counselor for Omaha Public Schools. Omaha, Neb. ’12 Whitney Alleyne was born in October to Gary and Amy Baumetz ’13. Three Lakes, Wis.

Deaths ’61 Donald Laverne Johnson (S’65) died in March 2012 after a battle with cancer.

His love of writing, teaching, and supporting the growth of others occupied him throughout his life. He always had a song to share and could always conjure up a laugh or smile among those who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Pamela Lipe; father Leslie Johnson; siblings Jean Johnson-Hedberg and Rick Johnson; children Brent Johnson, Kyle Johnson, and Kaarin Johnson; stepchildren Joe Goodson and Tiffany Pyke; and grandchildren Kaila, Kendra, Korey, Tony, Linnea, Erika, and Angelina. ’68 Sandra Louise (Kulle) McMaken (S’92), 69, of Mission, Texas, and Ham Lake, Minn., died in January. She was a teacher, Christian education director, and then associate pastor at Oak Haven Church, Ham Lake, where she helped start and lead mission trips

BethelBiz, Bethel’s business alumni group, is an active, growing, and passionate community of leaders and professionals looking to connect with each other, mentor students, enhance Bethel’s reputation in the business world, and make a difference both locally and globally. It’s open to interested alumni from any major.

Upcoming BethelBiz Breakfast: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 7-9 a.m.

Midland Hills Country Club, Roseville, Minnesota Featuring Brian Provost ’91, President and CEO of Convey Compliance Visit bethelbiz.org to learn more about BethelBiz, register for upcoming events, or get involved.

Sweet Spot Psychology graduate Megan Greulich ’06 kept busy during her Bethel years, serving as a resident assistant, singing in the Bethel Choir, and working in Monson Dining Center. She also baked cakes. Lots of cakes. Through her small business, Consider a Cake, Greulich created special occasion cakes and touched lives. It was an opportunity to be salt (er…sugar?) and light in a broken world. “There’s something spiritual about baking,” she says. “Cakes are a part of our celebrations. Food is a powerful thing in that way.” Today, she’s a baker and general manager of Groundswell, a St. Paul neighborhood café co-owned by Tim and Alicia (Boyd) Gilbert, both 2005 Bethel graduates.

In November, Greulich’s culinary creativity received national attention when she was featured on Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge,” advancing through the first two rounds of competition against four other contestants vying for a $10,000 prize. In the course of the bake-off, she crafted a unique line-

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Winter/Spring 2016

Megan Greulich ’06 and her father, Dave “Santa” Greulich

up of sweets, winning smiles from the judges for her platter of ugly sweater cookies in the final round of competition. “Baking brings people together,” she says. “It’s my sweet spot. It’s my ministry.”

ALUM News to Grand Portage Indian Reservation and Ukraine. In her retirement, she volunteered with the children’s ministries at Palm Valley Church in Mission, Texas.

She is survived by husband Richard McMaken; brother John (Fereshteh) Kulle; sister Wendy (Bob) Treague; children Jill (Grady) Dunham and Jon (Keith) McMaken; and grandchild Cody Dunham.

ROYAL RUN 5K SATURDAY, APRIL 30

REGISTRATION OPENS: 8:45 a.m.

RACE BEGINS: 9:15 a.m.

COST: $15 Support Bethel students and get splattered with color as you navigate around campus to the finish line! A portion of your entry fee goes to the Royal Legacy Scholarship, a need-based scholarship awarded each year to an incoming student. Registration also includes: • Royal Run t-shirt to cover in (washable) color powder • color packet • sunglasses All alumni runners and volunteers receive a free lunch coupon for Bethel’s Dining Center.

’87 C h e r y l We s t m a n M a tuszak , of Fon Du Lac, Wis., died in January 2015 from complications of multiple sclerosis. While at Bethel, she participated in Welcome Week, women’s choir, broomball, skits, and any other social gathering she could attend. She was a gifted teacher, enjoyed working with high school students, and af ter her time at Bethel took a job as a youth pastor. She is survived by her husband Mike and their daughter Molly. ’91 Denise Leafblad-McMaster, 45, of Missoula, Mont., died in July after a long battle with colon cancer.

While at Bethel, she earned an associate’s degree in education, which she used while homeschooling her two children. When the family moved to Montana in 2008, she joined the family business as co-owner of Affordable Floors of the

Bitterroot. She is survived by her husband Jerry and children Leslie and Jacob. ’92 B r e n d a (B e e t n e r) E d wards, 45, of Circle Pines, Minn., died in November.

Throughout her career, she worked at Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo), was an at-home mom, and served as a paraprofessional at her girls’ school. She invested much of her time in her friendships and loved books, TV sitcoms, working in the church nursery, trying new restaurants, her cats, and diet Coke.

She is sur vived by her husband Jon, whom she met at Bethel and married in October 1992; daughters Emily and Madeline; mother Ann Beetner; brother Doug (Keri) Beetner; and niece and nephews Nathaniel, Hannah, Timothy, and Aaron.

While B ethel strives for accuracy in all we do, we cannot be responsible for the content of news items submitted by alumni. The inclusion of news ite m s h e re s h o u l d n ot b e 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.

Visit bethel.edu/alumni to: • Update your contact information • Submit news • Find out about alumni events • Get involved and support Bethel • Learn about benefits and services for alumni • Nominate an Alumnus/Alumna of the Year

Visit bethel.edu/events/royal-run to register or volunteer for the Royal Run. Bethel University

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The Bethel community mourns the loss of two cherished faculty members this winter.

Stacey Hunter Hecht, associate professor of political science and chair of the political science department, died December 9, 2015, of breast cancer. G. William Carlson, professor of history and political science emeritus, suffered a stroke on February 1, 2016, and died on February 12.

Fellow faculty members, staff, and students shared tributes and memories of both professors. Paul Winghart, adjunct instructor in the department of business and economics, recalls the first time he met G.W. Carlson—when Stacey Hunter Hecht introduced them: “I saw Stacey and this distinguished-looking gentleman standing in conversation as I strolled into the adjunct office. I have this photograph-like picture in my head of the two of them talking about politics, teaching, and the students they cared about so much. I remember feeling almost guilty when Stacey broke off the conversation to eagerly introduce me to Bill…It gives me some comfort to think of Bill and Stacey standing together right now, conversing, just like they were in the office that day.”

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STACEY HUNTER HECHT Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department Stacey Hunter Hecht died on December 9, 2015, after a battle with breast cancer. Hecht joined the faculty at Bethel in 1997. Her area of expertise was American politics and government, and political theory. In addition to teaching at Bethel, she regularly served on a panel of political scientists on the local television show “Almanac,” which aired on Twin Cities Public Television. “In this and other activities, she served as a great ambassador for Bethel,” says Fred Van Geest, professor of political science.

“One of Stacey’s greatest strengths was her leadership,” Van Geest adds. “She served as chair of the political science department for more than a decade, my entire time here at Bethel. She was an incredible servant in this job. Her hard work and dedication to this position made our jobs so much easier. She was proud of our department and proud of our students. She loved teaching and mentoring students.”

Hecht helped students establish a political science honors club on campus, Pi Sigma Alpha, and she also served as the pre-law advisor to students who were planning to attend law school after graduation. She worked hard to develop and maintain relationships with alumni and their employers in order to arrange internships for students. “Stacey Hunter Hecht was the reason I declared a political science major— and a huge reason why (and how) I work in Congress today,” says Allie Ryan ’11, a former student who remembered Hecht on Facebook. “She taught me everything from how to write a proper resume and email to formulating dialogues and arguments to, most importantly, how to glorify Jesus Christ in everything I do. I am heartbroken that she is gone. It is such a loss for all who knew and studied under her.”

Hecht also led study abroad trips for Bethel students to China and Amsterdam, and hosted international students in her home. She was involved with the local Twin Cities Chinese community and was an active member of Como Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

Professor of History Chris Gehrz, a friend of Hecht’s, remembers first meeting her when he interviewed for his position at Bethel in March 2003. “About five or six years into her own time at Bethel, Stacey was serving on the appointments committee. One of the most effective committee members I’ve ever known, she surely asked good questions about my views on teaching, scholarship, and what Christianity had to do with those activities,” Gehrz writes on his blog, The Pietist Schoolman. “But about 30 or so minutes

photo by Scott Streble

In Memoriam

in, Stacey clearly had made up her mind and was ready to move on to next steps: where I should live when I moved to the Twin Cities, where I should go to church, where I should take my car for repairs…” Gehrz goes on to write how that meeting began a friendship that he will always cherish.

Barrett Fisher, dean of arts and humanities for the College of Arts & Sciences, also comments on Hecht’s leadership and adept committee skills. “She was an energetic and visionary leader of the political science department,” says Fisher. “In her tenure as chair she hired strategically to rebuild and expand the department after the retirement of two longserving faculty members. The excellent faculty she leaves

behind represents just one of her most valuable legacies. Any committee that Stacey served on—or any group that she was part of—benefited from her incisive intelligence, practical wisdom, and savvy analysis.”

Hecht grew up in western Pennsylvania and received her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in 1989. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2000.

In November, she and co-editor David Schultz published Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter (see p. 5).

She was also the author of articles and book chapters on religion and politics, social policy, and state politics.

photo by Scott Streble

G. WILLIAM CARLSON Professor of History and Political Science Emeritus G. William Carlson—or G.W., to most—started at Bethel in 1961 as a student and returned in 1968 to teach in the history and political science departments until his retirement in 2012. He died on February 12 after suffering a severe stroke on February 1. “God used G.W. Carlson to shape Bethel University’s soul,” says President Jay Barnes. “He was shaped by his Bethel education and, in turn, he shaped Bethel. We have lost a great person.”

Carlson graduated from Bethel in 1965 and went on to receive an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

At Bethel, he had joint teaching appointments in the history and political science departments and taught a variety of courses—from the history, religion, and politics of Russia, to political philosophy and ideology. Even after his retirement, he could frequently be seen on campus, whether to visit former colleagues, teach a course, or engage in stimulating conversation with whomever he met.

Carlson was an active member of Central Baptist Church in St. Paul and loyal to the Baptist General Conference (now Converge Worldwide), Bethel’s sponsoring denomination. “His faith was deep and he could clearly articulate his beliefs,” says Ralph Gustafson, executive minister for church relations. “He didn’t hesitate to speak out against what he deemed was false or weak theology.”

Dan Nelson, chief institutional data and research officer and Carlson’s long-time colleague, recalls Carlson describing his denomination as “a group of old Swedes who ‘got it right,’ combining an irenic spirit with personal devotion and societal awareness,” says Nelson. “Bill played this out when he ran for the St. Paul school board.” Carlson served on the board from 1986-1996 and was active in numerous

campaigns for city and state offices.

Executive Vice President and Provost Deb Harless remembers Carlson’s deep convictions about social justice.

“He lived out Christ’s mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves,” she says. “He was an advocate for people who are often invisible and marginalized in our world, and was an articulate and passionate voice for justice. He lived his convictions in ways that helped us all better understand what it means to live a good and faithful Christian life.”

Known on campus for his love of books—and his impressive office library—Carlson hoped to pass this love of learning on to all of his students. “Bill never stopped growing intellectually—which is why he was always reading several books a week,” says Rich Sherry, former Bethel professor, dean, and executive assistant to the president. “What he read anchored him and found a way into his thinking and his teaching. I think Bethel had a lot to do with turning him into an ‘inquirer,’ and he repaid the debt by helping his students grow to mature, disciplined readers and thinkers.”

In 2012, Carlson told Bethel’s student newspaper that teaching and interacting with students kept him here for more than 40 years. He listed four dreams he had for his students: “They will accept Christ as Savior and Lord and be fully committed to the gospel.”

“They are deeply committed to find ways to cultivate a Christian spiritual journey.”

“They are lifelong learners and that we’ve given them skills to believe that this is only the start of their learning, not the end.”

“They are deeply committed to service. The gospel demands that we engage in the lives of the marginalized, the lives of those who need to experience the gospel.”

“G.W. can dream those things in part because they describe him,” wrote Chris Gehrz, professor of history and chair of the history department, in a blog post about Carlson’s retirement in 2012. “It’s the rare person who does all four actions, but G.W. does. It’s the still less common person who teaches others to do them, but G.W. does.”

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“Being away from Bethel for a semester was hard, but hiking the mountains of Austria showed me that I’m capable of doing things on my own and that God is always with me, guiding me, no matter where I am in the world.”

GRAPHIC DESIGN MAJOR CARLY WEISS ’17 TOOK THIS PHOTO IN SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, DURING HER FALL 2015 SEMESTER STUDYING ABROAD.