It’s not just students moving into Bethel for the first time.

Meckenna Woetzel | Staff Writer

In the midst of the Welcome Week festivities and the arrival of new students, Bethel has welcomed several new College of Arts and Sciences faculty to the community. From professors to pastors, the new faculty make their rounds to engage with the Bethel student body. One fresh face is newly hired Assistant Campus Pastor, Paul Kong.

After the Campus Ministries staff waded through over 40 applicants, they chose Kong to fill the gap left by former head of Twin Cities Outreach, Tanden Brekke.

As a Bethel student during the tumultuous racial tension of 2004, Kong is equipped with a cultural competency and an understanding of the necessity for reconciliation. Yet he also brings a sense of humor and camaraderie to the team. Bunker laughed as she recalled Kong informing her to “pop her collar” as they walked the Bethel hallways.

“I have my own fashion stylist,” Bunker said.

Kong describes himself as passionate about spiritual formation and discipline. For the busy college students roaming Bethel, he desires to cultivate the art of listening to God. He even plans to create an open space for prayer in his new office. In his personal life as a father and husband, Kong finds time to play flag football and explore songwriting, specifically rock music for his wife, a singer and performer in the community.

Bethel University

Pastor Paul: A lover of ice cream and all things spiritual

Other new faces:

Yu-Li Chang Zacher

Field Associate Professor of Journalism

Degree Ph.D., Ohio University

Interests Avid traveler inspired by her years as an airline hostess

Family Her husband and two sons, Daniel and Luke, reside in St. Cloud

Favorite Potstickers 7,000 miles away in Taiwan

Charles Goldberg

Field Assistant Professor of History and Digital Humanities Coordinator

Degree Ph.D., Syracuse University

Interests A fascination for (and expertise in) all things ancient Greek and Roman

Family Recently returned from out East with his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Nora

Favorite The ‘Minnesota nice’ demeanor, but a distaste for the weather

Academic Affairs

Charles Goldberg: A lover of Minnesota

Sara Wanous

Field Director of Student Activities and Campus Engagement

Degree B.A., Bethel University

Interests Kids, because she was previously an elementary school teacher

Family Married to Bethel alumni Dan Wanous

Favorite Coffee

Bethel University

Sara Wanous: A lover of all things caffeinated – specifically coffee!

Mitchell Krumm

Field Assistant Professor of Political Science

Degree Ph.D., Indiana University

Interests Election discussions

Family His wife, Addie, and Shiba Inu puppy, Meeka

Academic Affairs

Christine Osgood: A lover of all things introverted

Mike Wild

Field Instructor of Athletic Training

Degree M.S., Daemon College

Interests Overuse injuries

Fact He hails from western New York

Favorite Mountain biking and snowboarding

Holly Krech Thomas

Field Associate Professor of Psychology

Degree Ph.D., University of Colorado

Interests Perception and attention to language processing

Favorite Baking bread, riding a bicycle and reading to her children

Bonnie Houck

Field Associate Professor of Education

Degree Ed.D., University of St. Thomas

Interests Literacy and passionate students

Family Bonnie is a wife, mother and grandparent

Favorite Anything social, theater and gardening

Academic Affairs

Bonnie Houck: A lover of all things that grow from the ground

Jennifer Wood

Field Associate Professor of Nursing

Degree Ph.D., Capella University

Interests Nursing Education

Fact She has been a practicing registered nurse for 16 years

Favorite Patient Education

Beth Anderson

Field Assistant Professor of Nursing

Degree M.A., St. Catherine University

Interests Laughing and “making memories”

Family She does this primarily with her husband, Byron, and her three children: Mitchel, Marie and Grant

Favorite Wisconsin nature and farmland

Academic Affairs

Beth Anderson: A lover of all things Wisconsin

Debra Lamb

Field Assistant Professor of Nursing

Degree M.S.N., Bethel University

Interests The nursing skill labs at Bethel, a location she is very familiar with!

Family She is married to Matt and has three daughters: Ally, Jess and Nikki

Favorite Biking, kayaking, paddle boarding

Academic Affairs

Debra Lamb: A lover of all things on water

Sara Nylin

Field Assistant Professor of Nursing

Degree M.S.N., University of Nebraska Medical Center

Interests She has worked nearly 20 years in labor and delivery and high-risk obstetrics

Family She has six children with her husband, Bob

Favorite Minnesota, specifically hot-dish potlucks

Jeffrey L. Stitt

Field Assistant Professor of Business and Economics

Degree M.A., University of Minnesota

Interests Advertisement as a market psychology

Family Three children and a dog named Pluto

Favorite Astronomy, jazz and collecting rocks

Amanda Carter

Field Associate Professor of Business and Economics

Degree MBA, Wharton Business School

Interests Investment banking and management

Family She lives with her husband, Steve, and together they have raised two daughters and a spoiled Welsh Corgi

Favorite Sports and playing Mahjongg

Academic Affairs

Amanda Carter: A lover of all things strategic

Kelly Gibas

Field Instructor of Biokinetics

Degree M.A., Bethel University

Interests She is the founder of a metabolic health clinic in Maple Grove

Family She is married to Jeff, another Bethel alumni, and they have four children, two of which are current Bethel students

Favorite Nail-biting competition

Leah Jackson

Field Assistant Professor of Biokinetics

Degree D.P.T., St. Catherine University

Interests Inpatient physical therapy

Family Her four-legged friends

Favorite Bethel broomball and rock climbing