Doyle Holbird, Professor for the Biology Department, looking through a microscope while examining samples.

Bethany Profiles

Faculty Profiles

Meet the Faculty at Bethany

Enjoy reading about our wonderful faculty! Next, check out profiles from our alumni!

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Bethel Balge, Lessons Instructor for the Music Department, smiles against a gray background.

Bethel Balge

Biography Winner of the Louis B. Sudler Prize in the Arts and of the McKnight sponsored Artist Grant, pianist Bethel Balge has performed in Germany, including at

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Deborah Matzke-Lewis, Director of the Nursing Department, stands in front of a gray textured background.

Deborah Matzke-Lewis

Education Academic Interests Nursing Education, Psych-Mental Health Nursing and many more Research “The Impact of Multiple-Patient Simulation on Clinical Judgment Development for Baccalaureate Nursing Students”

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Doyle Holbird, Professor for the Biology Department, stands in front of a gray mottled background.

Doyle Holbird

Teaching Philosophy It is my job to take the massive amount of biological knowledge that is out there and to distill it down so that

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Karina Clennon, Assistant Professor for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Graduate Programs Department and Online Instructor for the Academic Affairs Department, smiling in front of a plain gray background.

Karina Clennon

Biography Prior to joining the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Faculty at Bethany Lutheran College, Karina served as Assistant Director of the Career Development Center at

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Peter Bloedel, Professor for the Theatre Department, in front of a gray mottled background.

Peter Bloedel

Biography Bloedel has worked in the Theatre Department at Bethany Lutheran College since 1991. He is the originator of Bethany’s annual vaudeville revue Theatre Physics which celebrated

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Alanna Lienig, Associate Professor for the Education Department, smiles in front of a gray mottled background.

Alanna Lienig

Licensure Education Bethel University, St. Paul – Doctorate: Educational Leadership  Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall – Master of Science: Special Education  Martin Luther College, New Ulm – Bachelor

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Andy Krueger, Associate Professor for the Business Administration Department, poses in front of a gray mottled background.

Andy Krueger

Education Academic Interests Professional Memberships Awards Business Education Student of the Year – University of Minnesota Service Presentations/Publications Former contributor to In the Box –

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Jen Kom, Professor in the Psychology Department, smiles in front of a gray mottled background.

Jennifer Kom

Biography Dr. Jennifer Kom is a Full Professor of Psychology at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. Her extensive course offerings include Human Development Through

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Nick Proksch, Adjunct Faculty for the Languages Department, stands in front of a gray background.

Nick Proksch

Education Academic Interests Professional Memberships Awards Award for Historical Theology Writing, from Concordia Publishing House, 2024 Presentations/Publications Additional Campus Responsibilities Chapel Preacher, https://chapel.blc.edu/p/nickproksch Biography Nick

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Denice Woller, Adjunct Faculty of Studio Art Department, smiling in front of a gray mottled background.

Denice Woller

Education 2006 — M.A., Photography, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN2002 — B.A., Media and Theatre Arts, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT1997 — A.A., Liberal Arts,

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Brittany Espinoza, Assistant Professor for the Mathematics Department, smiles in front of a textured gray background.

Brittany Espinoza

Education Academic Interests Professional Memberships Biography Brittany has been a resident of Mankato since she was three. Playing basketball, soccer, and tennis in high school,

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Sara Edwards, Associate Professor for the Legal Studies Department, posed in front of a gray mottled background.

Sara Edwards

Biography Originally from Stillwater, Minnesota.  Married to husband Reggie. Sons: Anthony, Noah, Christian & Emmanuel Academic Interests/Specialties Education Research Memberships Professional Background Worked in several

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