Dr. Thomas A. Halstead
Chairperson, Department of Biblical Studies
Professor of New Testament & Greek
Dean of The Master's Institute
B.S., M.S. California State University, Northridge
M.Div., Talbot Theological Seminary
Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University
Joined TMC 1985 |
Dr. Halstead served as an Associate Pastor at Grace Community Church for ten years before coming to The Master’s College. He led a missions team in the summer of 1990 to the Soviet Union and also to India in 2001, 2005, and 2007. He went to New Zealand with a missions team in 1998, 1999 and 2002, to Albania in 2003, and Japan in 2004, 2005, and 2007. In 1994, he studied at the Institute of Holy Land Studies. Also in 1994 and 2003, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching/Teacher of the Year Award. He has also been recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 1994, 2000, and 2002-2006. Dr. Halstead is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. His teaching style emphasizes dialogue and discussion. His classes are oriented toward practical application, personal relevance and content mastery. Also, Dr. Halstead is an adjunct professor for the Center for Professional Studies at TMC. He is married to Shahrazad and has three married children; Holly, who lives in Fort Worth; Christopher, who lives in Phoenix; and Heather, who lives in Delhi, India. Dr. Halstead also has six grandchildren.
E-mail contact:
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Dr. William C. Varner
Professor of Bible & Greek
B.A., Bob Jones University
M.A., Dropsie College
M.Div., Th.M., Biblical Theological Seminary
Ed.D., Temple University
Studies in Modern Hebrew at Gratz College
Joined TMC 1996 |
Dr. Varner came to The Master's College after seven years in the Pastorate and seventeen years of ministry with the Friends of Israel in New Jersey. The last ten of those years he served as Dean of their Institute of Biblical Studies, where he taught and led study tours to Israel. Dr. Varner also served as an adjunct professor at Philadelphia College of the Bible. In addition to teaching Bible Exposition and Greek Exegesis courses, Will serves as Director of the college's IBEX semester in Israel program, a country he has visited over forty times. He loves traveling with his wife, Helen, and studying Civil War lore. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature, and has authored five books, contributed to two others, and published over a hundred journal and periodical articles. He recently published an academic commentary on James. He and Helen have three grown children, one of whom is with the Lord, and three grandchildren.
In 1999 and in 2005 Dr. Varner was honored as The Master's College "Teacher of the Year". He has been selected for "Who's Who in America's Colleges" for 1998-2009 and was recently selected into "Who's Who in America”. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. Will serves as pastor of the Sojourners Fellowship at Grace Community Church and often ministers in conferences and churches nationwide.
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Dr. J. Gregory Behle
Professor of Christian Education
B.A., Biola University
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Southern California
Joined TMC 1986 |
As a TMC professor, Dr. Behle is a four-time recipient of the TMC “Teacher-of-the-Year” Award (1989, 1997, 2003, and 2008). In addition to teaching responsibilities at The Master’s College he has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California and at Biola University. His research and scholarly interest focus on the foundations of American higher education (historical, philosophical, and social); historical aspects of student life and collegiate culture; and the role of religion in higher education. He is particularly noted for his work on early history of the University of Illinois and the historiography of the land-grant college movement in general. His publications have appeared in Christian Education Journal, The Master’s Seminary Journal, History of Education Quarterly, Christian Higher Education and History of Higher Education Annual.
Dr. Behle is recognized in several biographical directories including Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He is a member of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and the History of Education Society (HES). He has been inducted into Phi Delta Kappa, the international educational honor fraternity. He also serves as Academic Coordinator and as a short-term instructor for the Israel-Bible Extension (IBEX) program of The Master’s College. He is a member of Evangelical Free Church of the Canyons. He enjoys kayaking, travel, reading. skiing, and spending time with his wife Kelly, and his children, Brittany and John.
E-mail contact:
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Dr. Brian Morley
Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics
B.A., University of Southern California
M.Div., Th.M., Talbot Theological Seminary
M.A., Ph.D., Claremont
Joined TMC 1989 |
Dr. Morley has taught classes in four seminaries and graduate schools in the U.S. and Europe, and has published numerous articles in reference works and scholarly resources. He has supervised doctoral research on the improvement of higher education in the U.S., and his consulting work has included a European government ministry of education. He has taught twenty courses at TMC, including one that was awarded a grant from the Templeton Foundation. His teaching style emphasizes critical thinking skills and methods to supplement classroom instruction. He has been a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Evangelical Philosophical Society, and the Society of Christian Philosophers. Also, Dr. Morley is an adjunct
professor for the Center for Professional Studies at TMC. His book, God in the Shadows: Evil in God’s World (Christian Focus Publications, 2006) deals with why pain and evil exist if God is good and all-powerful. He is also working on Pathways to God: Comparing Apologetic Methods (InterVarsity). He and his wife, Donna, founded Faith & Reason Forum (and its extensive website, www.FaithandReasonforum.com) to strengthen Christians and reach non-believers.
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Dr. Steven W. Boyd
Professor of Old Testament & Hebrew
B.S., M.S., Drexel University
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
M.Phil., Ph.D., Hebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion
Doctoral Studies, Dropsie College
Joined TMC 1998 |
Dr. Boyd was an Associate Research Scholar on the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, interim pastor and visiting faculty member at Capital Bible Seminary, Multnomah Biblical Seminary and Northwest Baptist Seminary before coming to The Master’s College. He is a specialist in biblical Hebrew, Semitic Languages and Old Testament Studies and is a member of both the Society of Biblical Literature and The Evangelical Theological Society.
Dr. Boyd is a creation-science researcher, author, and lecturer. He was on the R.A.T.E. team (an Institute for Creation Research (ICR) project, which studied radioisotope dating and the age of the earth) to research the linguistic characteristics of Biblical creation texts and is a contributor to their latest publications reporting their findings: Radioisotopes and the Age of the Earth: Results of a Young-Earth Creationist Research Initiative and Thousands... not Billions: Challenging an Icon of Evolution- Questioning the Age of the Earth (both the layman’s book and DVD). He also has written a chapter for the forthcoming Biblical Authority and the Age of the Earth. In addition, he is an area editor for the 2008 International Creation Conference. He is currently involved in a new, ICR-sponsored, multi-year research project called FAST (Flood Activated Sedimentation and Tectonics), which is investigating the Genesis Flood. As part of the Flood Narrative Division of FAST, he is studying the Hebrew narrative to determine the chronology of the Flood.
Dr. Boyd teaches with an emphasis on the insights to be drawn from the original languages of the Biblical text, with a sensitivity to its historical, cultural, religious and literary context and its theological content, and with a view to personal application. He has been recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He enjoys spending time with his wife and son, reading, singing, and computers.
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Dr. Daniel K. Wong
Professor of Biblical Studies
B.S., Swatow University
M.Div., Th.M., Talbot School of Theology
Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 2000 |
Dr. Wong has received awards for excellence in thesis writing and in eschatology. His specialties include Johannine literature, parables, and Old Testament prophecy and its use in the New Testament. He has served as pastor of a Chinese church in Los Angeles since 1984, and prior to joining TMC, he was president of Chinese for Christ Theological Seminary. In 2002, 2003-2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, he was recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Dr. Wong has published a number of journal articles, periodical articles, and songs. He is currently writing a twenty volume New Testament Commentary Series with the Academic & Professional division of Kregel Publications.
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Dr. Robert B. Somerville
Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling
B.A., The King’s College
M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
D. Min., Westminster Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 2005 |
Dr. Somerville has served as a Pastor-Teacher in the Evangelical Free Church since 1970. While pastoring in the greater New York area, he handled the crisis telephone calls for the Family Radio station and out of that ministry wrote the book, "Help for Hotliners: A Manual to Train Telephone Crisis Counselors". In 1980 he accepted the call to a church planting ministry in Visalia, CA and while serving there he established the Biblical Counseling and Educational Center equipping laymen and pastors in the field of Biblical Counseling. He has spoken widely on the subject of Biblical Counseling, teaching seminars in the U.S. as well as speaking to missionaries in Europe, Central & South Africa, and Japan. Dr. Somerville is a fellow and serves as a member of the Board of The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. Dr. Somerville’s wife Mary is a tremendous asset to his pastoral and counseling ministry. Mary holds a Master’s degree in counseling from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, has authored two chapters in the book "Women Helping Women", and has published the book "One With a Shepherd: The Tears and Triumphs of a Ministry Marriage". Bob and Mary have two children and five grandchildren.
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Dr. John D. Street
Chairperson of the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling
Professor of Biblical Counseling
B.A., Cedarville University
M.Div., Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 1999
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Dr. Street is a second-generation pastor and has been in pastoral ministry for 28 years. He has served as an assistant professor at Cedarville and Cornerstone Universities. He also served for one year as the Director of Admissions at Cedarville University. He was the founding pastor of Clearcreek Chapel in Springboro, Ohio where a strong counseling program included training scores of pastors. He is a regular contributor to The Biblical Counselor and The Journal of Biblical Counseling and is an editor of The Journal of Modern Ministry. Dr. Street is a fellow, board member and Vice President of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors, and is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. Dr. Street is an elder at Grace Community Church. He is currently serving as the chairperson of the graduate program in Biblical Counseling at The Master's College. Dr. Street has a wonderful wife, Janie, and four beautiful children, Krista, Melissa, Jay and James.
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Dr. Paul R. Thorsell
Associate Professor of Theology
B.A., Cedarville University
Th.M., Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 2002 |
Dr. Thorsell has served in the pastoral ministry and two faculty teaching positions prior to joining the faculty of The Master’s College. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the American Academy of Religion. He has presented papers at regional and national meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Multi-racial Ministry Conference. His most recent research interests are in the areas of early Modern and contemporary Post-liberal theologies, Dispensationalism, and the relationship between Christian theology and racial issues.
Dr. Thorsell and his wife, Diane, have been blessed with three children, Stacy, Ben, and Micah.
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Dr. Dennis A. Hutchison
Associate Professor of New Testament
B.A., Biola University
M.Div., Th.M., Talbot School of Theology
Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 2003
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Dr. Hutchison came to The Master’s College after serving fifteen years as the pastor of Frenchtown Community Church in Frenchtown, Montana. Prior to that he served as a faculty member at Talbot School of Theology for thirteen years in the Department of New Testament Language and Literature. Dr. Hutchison also served on the Board of Directors for Montana Bible College and as President of the Montana Regional division of the IFCA.
Dr. Hutchison is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, where he has presented papers at regional meetings. He is also a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Biblical Archaeological Society. He contributed a chapter in The Jesus Crisis: How Much Will Evangelicals Surrender?, entitled “The Impact of Historical Criticism on Preaching.” His particular interests include the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians.
The Lord has blessed Dr. Hutchison with a wonderful wife, Susan, and three children, Daniel, Cheryl and Julie.
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Dr. Ernest H. Baker
B.A., Washington Bible College
M.Div., Capital Bible Seminary
D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 2005 |
Dr. Baker has been in ministry since 1980 with extensive experience in twenty-five years as a pastor and in training and equipping pastors and laymen in the skills of Biblical Counseling. He is also completing training to be a certified conciliator with Peacemaker Ministries and teaches a number of conflict resolution courses. He has Level II Certification with the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors and is currently seeking Fellow status with NANC. He and his wife Rose Marie have been married since 1981 and are thankful parents of six children, three boys and three girls (three of whom are married). They are grateful to the Lord to be able to serve at TMC and are passionate about teaching students to live as worshipers of what truly lasts.
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Dr. Lisa La George
Director of International Ministries and
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
B.S., Biblical Studies, Philadelphia Biblical University
M.A., TEFL/ICS, Columbia International University
Ph.D. (A.B.D.), Biola University
Joined TMC 1998 |
Prior to coming to TMC, Lisa spent five years involved in cross-cultural youth ministry in Alaska. She has traveled in over 30 countries to encourage cross-cultural workers, provide teacher training workshops, and supervise student teachers. In addition to teaching in the area of ESL and Intercultural Studies, Lisa administers and trains cross-cultural vocational student trips and overseas recruitment and community development for International Students and Third Culture Kids at The Master's College. Her research and writing includes the topics of cross-cultural teaching methodologies, historical missionary biographies, and Third Culture Kid assimilation. She is rarely without a book, loves to cook, and enjoys opening her home for global gatherings.
E-mail contact:
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Dr. Alexander Granados
Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
M.Div., Th.M., The Master’s Seminary
Ph.D., Biola University
Joined TMC 2002
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Dr. Granados was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He has been in the ministry since 1987 with extensive cross-cultural ministry experience among African Americans, Asians, Caucasians, and Hispanics. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science focusing on International Relations and Comparative Politics. He attended The Master’s Seminary and graduated with a M.Div. and Th.M. in Systematic Theology. He received his Ph.D. in Intercultural Education at Biola University. His dissertation is a study of the academic and spiritual impact of a semester abroad program in Israel on its undergraduate participants. His research and scholarly interest focus on academic and spiritual development, theological and biblical method of missions, church planting and multiplication, urban ministry and planning, the interaction of international and domestic factors in educational, religious, social, political and economic development of Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In addition to teaching International Business, Theology and Intercultural Studies courses, Dr. Granados serves as Director of the college’s LABEX (Los Angeles Bible Extension) program where students are given an opportunity to live and study in a Latino community in downtown Los Angeles for a school year in a large house (The Nehemiah House) blocks away from the First Evangelical Free Church with whom the college co-sponsors the program. He is an Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at The Master’s College.
Dr. Granados and his wife, Dorian, have been blessed with two wonderful daughters, Emma and Sophia.
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Prof. Betty Price
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies;
Women's Ministries
B.A., University of Mississippi
M.A., Fuller Theological Seminary
Graduate Studies, Institute of Holy Land Studies, Jerusalem
Joined TMC 1985
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Before coming to TMC, Betty Price was on staff at Grace Community Church for seven years and then studied for a year in Israel. At TMC in the Student Life Dept. she served as Associate Dean of Students for about 15 years and then as Director of Women’s Ministries for several years. Since she came to the college in 1985, she has also taught classes for women students in the Biblical Studies Dept.—her strong desire is to share in training women to know how to study and understand God’s Word and how to communicate it effectively to others. In 2005 she taught courses in Women’s Ministries and Bible Study Methods for Russian grad students in Christian Ed at Moscow Theological Institute. She assisted in leading four TMC summer missions trips with students to Russia and Ukraine, a secretive women’s ministry trip to Romania when it was under a brutal dictatorship and a high school missions trip to South Africa and Mozambique. In 2005 she accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors of Cadence Int., a missions agency reaching out to American military and their families around the world and an agency with several TMC grads serving as full-time missionaries. Betty enjoys speaking at women’s retreats and other events, leading women’s ministries in her local church and hosting a book club for some of her neighbors.
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Dr. Abner Chou
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
B.A., M.Div., Th.M., Th.D., The Master's College and Seminary
Joined TMC 2007
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Dr. Chou began to teach Greek at the college in 2004 and continued to teach both at the college and seminary. He also spent two years teaching in Israel with IBEX. Dr. Chou has written several papers for Evangelical Theological Society and has been involved in research for journal articles, commentaries, and books. His current interests include hermeneutics, biblical languages, exegesis, OT intertextuality, NT's use of the OT, biblical theology, and Israel studies. Ultimately, he aims for students to know the Word of God deeply, study it accurately, and be driven by it to live fully for the Kingdom. In 2009, Abner was honored as The Master's College "Teacher of the Year." He is currently a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and serves at Arcadia Bible Church participating in preaching, teaching Sunday school for both adults and children, AWANA, and music. He enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, drawing stick figures, and spending time with students and of course his family. The Lord has blessed Abner with an incredible wife and ministry partner, Johanna, and a son, Nehemiah.
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Dr. Taylor B. Jones
Chairperson, Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Department of Mathematics
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Clemson University
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin
Joined TMC 1986 |
Prior to joining the faculty at The Master’s College, Dr. Jones taught at the United States Naval Academy, The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a member of The American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Creation Research Society. His published works include a laboratory manual which he authored for general chemistry. His research interests include chemical pedagogy, particularly the freshman chemistry sequence and modeling chemistry on his personal computer using molecular orbital methods. He and his wife, Kimberlyn, who also teaches at TMC, are the proud parents of a daughter, son, and daughter-in-law. In his spare time Dr. Jones enjoys Bible study, studying and playing the games of golf and tennis, refereeing youth soccer and reading German.
Click here to view Dr. Jones' extended profile
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Dr. Dennis L. Englin
Professor of Biological Sciences
B.A.,Westmont College
M.S., California State University, Northridge
Ed.D., University of Southern California
Joined TMC 1981 |
Dr. Englin enjoys teaching in the areas of animal biology, vertebrate biology, wildlife biology, organismic biology, and astronomy. Memberships include the Creation Research Society, Southern California Academy of Sciences, Yellowstone Association, and AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies. Dr. Englin’s most recent publications include the text currently used in Principles of Biology. His research interests are in the area of animal field studies. He is also an adjunct professor for the Center for Professional Studies at TMC.
Click here to view Dr. Englin's extended profile
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Dr. Ross S. Anderson
Professor of Biochemistry
B.A. Austin College
M.B.S., University of Colorado at Boulder
Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine
Joined TMC 1998 |
Dr. Anderson’s expertise is in the area of biochemistry and molecular biology. He has taught Biochemistry and helped to direct research projects of graduate and medical students at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. Dr. Anderson was a post-doctoral researcher in the Molecular Genetics Division of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Houston Neurosensory Center.
Dr. Anderson was a member of both the undergraduate and graduate faculty at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX. There he taught and directed the research activities of undergraduates and Masters of Science degree candidates in Biology.
Dr. Anderson’s research interests include structure-function studies of DNA polymerizing enzymes and the synthesis and expression of synthetic human genes in bacterial hosts. He has authored or co-authored several publications in major, peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and Sigma Xi Research Society.
Click here to view Dr. Anderson's extended profile
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Prof. Lazella M. Lawson
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
B.S., The Master's College
M.S., CA State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Joined TMC 1995 |
After graduating from The Master's College in 1987, Miss Lawson facilitated student learning through tutoring services, direction for student assistants in the science labs, and maintenance of the chemical inventory for lab experiments. Since joining TMC's faculty in 1995, she has taught fundamental biology courses for both majors and non-majors from a Biblical worldview, and provided college level teaching and laboratory experiences for students of diverse backgrounds and multi-cultural settings.
Miss Lawson has been a member of the Creation Research Society (CRS) and has aided in a number of CRS-supported research projects. She has created the annual Author/Title Index of the quarterly published by CRS for a number of years. She enjoys camping and playing with her dog.
Click here to view Miss Lawson's extended profile
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Dr. Joseph W. Francis
Professor of Biological Sciences
B.S., Michigan State University
Ph.D., Wayne State University
Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan
Joined TMC 2002 |
Prior to coming to The Master’s College, Dr. Francis served four years as a post-doctoral fellow and one year as a Research Scientist at the University of Michigan Medical School, and taught biology for ten years at Cedarville University. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Francis has published numerous scientific articles in medical and biological journals. His research interests include: microscopy, cellular immunology, invertebrate biology, and microbiology. Dr. Francis and his wife, Rebecca, enjoy teaching their four boys at home. In his spare time, Dr. Francis enjoys reading history, playing golf, cross country skiing, and biking.
Click here to view Dr. Francis' extended profile
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Dr. R.W. Mackey, II
Chairperson, Department of Business Administration
Professor of Business Administration
B.R.E., Cornerstone University
M.R.E., M.Div., Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Ed.D., Pepperdine University
Joined TMC 1978 |
Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Mackey held administrative positions in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. During the past 30 years, he has served in several college administrative and faculty posts including Dean of Students and Director of Strategic Planning. He has been successful in starting a number of small business ventures and has been active on several boards. In addition to his responsibilities in the Business Department, he has lectured in university doctoral programs.
Because of his unique background which includes a combination of theological studies, management course work, vocational ministry and administrative positions, Dr. Mackey truly seeks a Biblical approach to managerial studies.
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Dr. Benjamin Powell, Jr.
Professor of Business Administration
B.S., University of Wyoming
M.B.A., University of Southern California
Ph.D, New York University
Joined TMC 1987 |
Dr. Powell also studied at Sheridan College (WY) and Trinity Seminary (IL). He taught business courses at Union University (TN) and Biola University (CA) before joining the Business Department faculty of The Master’s College.
All four of his children have attended TMC. The family attends the First Evangelical Free Church of Los Angeles (CA) and Calvary Baptist Church of Sheridan (WY).
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Prof. Michael Forgerson
Associate Professor of Business Administration
B.S., M.S., California State University, Northridge
M.Div., The Master's Seminary
J.D. (in progress), Southwestern University of Law
Joined TMC 1993
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Prior to coming to TMC, Mr. Forgerson gained extensive accounting experience working for a “big four” international accounting firm. For over ten years, he was the controller for a real estate investment partnership, and now maintains his business and accounting skills with his own tax and financial consulting practice, as well as being involved in several not-for-profit organizations as an accountant and treasurer. Currently Mr. Forgerson is pursuing his Juris Doctorate.
Mr. Forgerson also has extensive ministry experience. He has led college bible studies, was the high school pastor at Grace Community Church, and is currently serving as an elder at a local community church. He takes opportunity to speak to youth at camps and outreaches whenever possible.
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Mr. Dwight D. Ham
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
B.S., California State University, Northridge
M.A., The Master's College
M.B.A., Pepperdine University
Joined TMC 2007 |
For more than 25 years, Dwight D. Ham has been affecting positive change, taking businesses to the next level, and expanding business and financial operations across diverse industries, including financial services, banking, business equipment systems, and broadcast technology. Mr. Ham has served as a CFO, COO, and a member of various Board of Directors managing financial reporting, accounting, P&L, and operations. He spent 14 years in banking and served on the Board of Directors of an independent bank. He also has been part owner of an engineering electronics firm that designed and manufactured underwater electrical systems used primarily offshore in severe underwater environments. Mr. Ham has assisted in the sale of several businesses as well negotiations in international business dealings. He currently serves on the Board of Directors KBI Industries and the Independent Citizen’s Advisory and Oversight Committee for the Los Angeles METRO as well as a member of the Financial Executives International and is a Certified Management Accountant issued by The Institute of Management Accounting (IMA).
Mr. Ham is a member of The Church at Rocky Peak where he has served numerous times on the elder board including being the Chairman and Treasurer of the church. He has taught in the adult singles ministry and has utilized his Biblical Counseling degree from The Master’s College to counsel people in marriage and single life. Mr. Ham is married to his college sweetheart, Kathy, for 35 years and they have two married adult sons.
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Dr. Jack Simons
Chairperson, Communications Department
Professor of Communication
B.A., Moody Bible Institute
M.A., Andrews University
M.F.A., M.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
Joined TMC 1999 |
Dr. Simons has had a varied career as a journalist, pastor and writing teacher. He worked as a police reporter in Waco, Texas, and then attended Moody Bible Institute. After graduation in 1974, he began pastoring Inland Manor Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana. In 1978, he became pastor of Tri-Lakes Baptist Church in Columbia City, Indiana. Dr. Simons continued his education at Andrews University in Michigan, and then at the University of Iowa. He worked briefly for the Daily Iowan as arts and entertainment editor, and then was hired at the local Gannett paper to be the editorial page editor. He also pastored Wyndham Community Church of Wyndham, Iowa. He began teaching writing courses at Cedarville College in 1991, pastored First Baptist Church of Troy, Ohio, and completed a Ph.D. in literature at Bowling Green State University.
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Dr. Julie Larson
Professor of Communication
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University
of Southern California
Joined TMC 1983 |
Upon completion of her master’s degree, Dr. Larson began teaching part-time at The Master’s College. She joined the faculty in a full-time capacity in 1985 and was soon asked to organize and implement the communication major. While building the Communication Department, Dr. Larson continued post-graduate studies, working on a doctoral program in Communication at USC. She received her Ph.D. in Communication in 1995 after completing work on her doctoral dissertation, “A Narrative Analysis of the Scopes Trial.” Continuing her professional development, Dr. Larson is currently involved in researching Christian causes with respect to creation and evolution as argued in the legal arena.
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Mr. Jesse Negron
Assistant Professor of Communication
B.A., Florida State University
M.F.A., UCLA School of Film
Joined TMC 2003 |
Jesse Negron is a graduate of the UCLA M.F.A. Film Program. His thesis film won the Lew Wasserman award and Panavision New Filmmaker’s Award. After graduation, Jesse went to work in the film production industry where he consulted on such films as Heat and Hunchback of Notre Dame. He then started his own film production company, Warfront Pictures. Through Warfront, Jesse was the story creator and editor of Pop & Me, which won the LA Film Festival and made the Academy’s short list for nomination (top 12 films) in the category of best documentary. Jesse then went on to Executive Produce the CBS television series American Fighter Pilot with Tony and Ridley Scott.
Jesse and his wife Melissa have three boys. Jesse enjoys collecting WWI aviation militaria, absconding to the great Northwestern wilderness and riding his mountain bike down steep hills at great rates of speed.
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Mr. John Rose
Instructor of Communication
B.A., Graphic Design, California State University, Northridge
Joined TMC 2004 |
Professor Rose started his career by opening his own business after graduating from CSUN with a BA in Graphic Design in 1989. With a traditional background in the arts, John used his talents to paint, silkscreen and print for local and corporate clients. In 1992, he became a pre-press proofer and operator at the world’s largest printing company, Bertlesmann. Professor Rose continued his education in the graphics world and with the help of the Graphics Arts Technical Foundation, John began to learn the emerging technology of Desktop Publishing. In those early days, computers were hardly used for design and jobs that were done were often riddled with problems. That was the best environment for john to learn in and he took his experience to the end of his training when he received a certificate from GATF in his department. He worked briefly for the office furniture shop designing custom offices for executives, and later was hired by Baylor Entertainment to be the Art Director on a small production film. With the suggestion of his wife, he answered a request to teach Desktop Publishing in 1996 at a small private school in Northridge. From there, Professor Rose taught a variety of classes which included many popular applications for computer graphics, film, animation, desktop publishing and 3D animation. Professor Rose had his first book published in 2003, written on a program used widely in the film industry for special effects and animation. Direct Approach: Maya was John’s first attempt at writing and the follow up version. Professor Rose hopes to share his experience from the industry to help students to get started in film, television or for personal growth.
E-mail contact:
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Mr. Merrill E. Hall
Chairperson, Computer & Information Sciences
Associate Professor of Computer & Information Sciences
B.S., Pepperdine University
M.S., University of California, Los Angeles
Joined TMC 1995 |
After graduating from Pepperdine University, Mr. Hall began work in the software industry, working in the educational field. After receiving his M.S. degree, he moved to the transportation industry, where he designed and developed software for almost 20 years. He has worked in a wide variety of computer environments, from microcomputers to mainframes, from small local-area networks to worldwide corporate networks.
Upon joining The Master’s College in 1995, Mr. Hall managed the college’s administrative and educational systems while planning for new majors in Computer Science and Information Systems. In 1999 he became the chairperson of the new CIS department. Mr. Hall is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He enjoys reading, basketball, bicycling, and is active in his church. He and his wife, Mary, have four children and a growing number of grandchildren.
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Dr. John S. Eickemeyer
Associate Professor of Computer & Information Sciences
B.A., Occidental College
M.S., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Joined TMC 2003 |
Before joining The Master's College faculty, Dr. Eickemeyer worked for nearly two decades in academia and in research and development. His contributions have appeared in several contexts, from international conferences to the U.S. Patent Office. A native of Los Angeles, he lived in Singapore for the dozen years preceeding his arrival at TMC, and served for a number of years as Chief Judge for Singapore's National Software Competition. His research interests include computer graphics, multidimensional visualization, computational geometry, and virtual reality. He is also interested in the use of technology in education, particularly with respect to online assessment.
He has been actively involved in various music ministries through the years, serving in such capacities as choir conductor, choir member, organist, and worship leader. He has "made a joyful noise" in many settings, from soup kitchens and prisons to international choral concerts and competitions, as well as musical theatre, radio, and television. His other interests include reading, photography, the outdoors, swimming, and bowling. He and his wife Mabel are blessed with two very huggable children.
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Prof. Jo Suzuki
Associate Professor of English
B.A., Citadel Bible College
M.Div, Talbot Theological Seminary
Ph.D. (In Progress), The University Of Texas At Arlington
Joined TMC 1998 |
Mr. Suzuki was born and raised in Karuizawa, Japan. He received his B.A. from Citadel Bible College in Biblical Studies and his M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary in Old Testament and Semitic Languages and Literature. He is currently ABD completing the dissertation toward his Ph.D. in Humanities from The University of Texas at Arlington majoring in rhetoric. Mr. Suzuki’s dissertation title is “Exo-Rhetoric: Teaching for/against Techno-Capitalist Classroom.” His area of specialization is postmodernism and contemporary rhetorical/critical and cultural theories. Prior to coming to TMC, he taught English at Texas Wesleyan University and The University of Texas at Arlington.
Mr. Suzuki and his wife, Coral, have two daughters and one son. He is an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Stars, the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Mavericks. He enjoys reading books on conceptual systems and philosophy.
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Dr. John G. Hotchkiss
Chairperson, Department of English
Professor of English
B.A., Los Angeles Baptist College
M.A., Pepperdine University Litt.D. The Master's College
Joined TMC 1969 |
Dr. Hotchkiss has taught in the English department since 1969 and served as chairperson since 1974. He teaches Modern English grammar, expository writing, genre courses in drama and short fiction, and courses in nineteenth- and twentieth-century English literature. He has long believed that the study of literature has a central place in the liberal arts education of Christian students, serving as a rich source of vicarious experience, cultural literacy and historical perspective. He encourages his students to critique writers and works from a biblical worldview as well as from a variety of literary approaches. He was honored this year (2009) for forty years of teaching at LABC/TMC.
Besides teaching, he assists with administrative projects for the college and occasionally provides style editing services for on-campus and off-campus writers of books, dissertations, journal articles and newsletters. He maintains membership in the National Association of Scholars. Other interests include reading (mostly nonfiction), Internet research, light yard work, and, more recently, working with a team researching the history of The Master’s College & Seminary. He and his wife Sharron have enjoyed being an active part of the life of Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita. They are the parents of three grown children and grandparents to four delightful grandchildren.
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Prof. Esther Joy Tan Chua
Assistant Professor of English
B.A., The Master's College
M.A., California State University, Northridge
Joined TMC 2000
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Miss Chua was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to the United States at the age of eight. She lived in Ohio, Kentucky, and Arizona before settling in California. She received her B.A. from The Master’s College and graduated from California State University, Northridge with an M.A. in Literature in December 2002. As a graduate student, she worked at CSUN as a teacher’s associate, a Learning Resource Center tutor, and a writing instructor for the Business Department. Concurrently, she taught as an adjunct in English at TMC. Miss Chua is planning to pursue the Ph.D. in a few years, emphasizing in nineteenth through twentieth century American and British Literature. She spends most of her time reading and preparing for her new courses, though she often takes breaks to experiment with cooking, take roadtrips, and enjoy her family and friends.
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Prof. Grant Horner
Associate Professor of English
B.A., York College
M.A., University of Alabama
Ph.D./ABD , University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Additional Ph.D. work at Duke University
PhD Fellow, Claremont
Joined TMC 1999 |
Professor Grant Horner’s academic specialty is the literature, theology and philosophy of the Renaissance and Reformation, with primary concentration in Milton, Shakespeare, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin and late sixteenth and seventeenth century intellectual and cultural history. His research and writing has focused on Christian Humanism in the Reformation, particularly the complex relationship between developing Reformed thought and Classical Graeco-Roman pagan mythology and philosophy. He has worked on the citation of classical Greek and Latin authorities by Renaissance writers, published on theology and the arts, and is actively researching and writing a full-length work on John Milton and John Calvin. His book on film and theology is under contract with Crossway and will appear in late Fall 2009.
Horner was named “Professor of the Year” in May 2001, his second year at The Master’s College, and again in 2007. He has taught at the University of Alabama and UNC-Chapel Hill, and was appointed Hudson Strode Scholar in Renaissance Studies (1994-96). At Master’s, Professor Horner teaches courses on Medieval and Renaissance literature, Film Studies, Shakespeare, Milton, Drama, Poetry and Poetics, Comedy, Critical Theory, Western Art History, Epic, Christian Humanism, and Classical Latin. He also serves as Chair of Humanities in the Rhetoric School at Trinity Classical Academy
Prof. Horner speaks regularly in a number of venues including national radio, particularly on current theological trends, philosophy and popular culture. He has spoken to Berkeley students on Christianity and popular culture, was invited to lecture at Caltech on representations of human consciousness in philosophy and art, and speaks regularly on the radio. He and his wife, Joanne, have three children: Seth, Josiah and Rachel, and they live in Santa Clarita, California. They love to watch and discuss movies! Grant has been involved heavily in rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering since 1979, and he has made four one-day speed-climbing ascents of Yosemite Valley’s 3000’ El Capitan – the largest vertical granite cliff in the world. He is one of a handful of climbers who has done the route in less than 24 hours (usual ascents are 3-6 days). He spends much of the summer in the High Sierra on huge, high-altitude rock walls. He has recently rekindled a longtime passion for sailing around the Channel Islands off Southern California’s Pacific coast.
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Dr. Clyde P. Greer, Jr.
Chairperson, Department of History and Political Studies
Professor of History
B.A., James Madison University
M.S., Radford University
D.A., Carnegie-Mellon University
Joined TMC 1986 |
After earning his terminal degree, Dr. Greer taught for three years on U.S. military bases in Italy, Spain, and Germany for the University of Maryland. He has also taught history at state universities and community colleges in Virginia and California. At TMC, he regularly teaches California History, U.S. Diplomatic History, and upper division courses in 20th Century U.S. and European History. Dr. Greer and his wife, Bonnie (who teaches Italian part-time at TMC), live in the mountains of the Frazier Park area. Dr. Greer also is an adjunct professor for the Center for Professional Studies at TMC.
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Dr. John Stead
Professor of History & Political Studies
B.A., M.A., California State University, Los Angeles
Ph.D., University of Southern California
Joined TMC 1970 |
Dr. John Stead has served on The Master’s College faculty since 1970. He also served as Vice President of Academic Affairs from 1979 to 1995. His doctoral work focused on Political Theory, Comparative Politics, and American Politics. Dr. Stead has been heavily involved with issues concerning the college’s accreditation and the expansion of the academic program over the last three decades. He continues to be involved with governmental and educational institutions in the country of Albania where he lectures annually. Also, Dr. Stead is an adjunct professor for the Center for Professional Studies at TMC.
Dr. Stead’s primary areas of academic interest and research include contemporary church-state relationships and the impact of the church on current political and social public policy.
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Mr. James D. Owen
Associate Professor of History
B.A., Los Angeles Baptist College
M.A., California State University, Dominguez Hills
Joined TMC 1978 |
Mr. Owen joined the The Master’s College faculty in 1978 teaching first European history and then American history as well as Christian Apologetics. In recent years he has focused on courses in church history. Throughout his teaching career, Mr. Owen has also been involved in outreach ministries to alcoholics, drug addicts, and juvenile offenders, and between 1992 and 2000 pastored two churches. Mr. Owen has authored a critique of Christian psychological counseling entitled Christian Psychology’s War on God’s Word: The Victimization of the Believer (Timeless Text, 2003, 3rd Printing). His second book The Hidden History of the Historic Fundamentalists 1933-1948: Reconsidering the Historic Fundamentalists’ Response to the Upheavals, Hardships and Horrors of the 1930s and 1940s was published by University Press of America in November of 2004. It deals with the fundamentalists response to the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the rising anti-Semitism in Europe and America.
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Dr. Gregg L. Frazer
Professor of Political Studies
B.A., Los Angeles Baptist College
M.A., California State University, Los Angeles
Ph.D. Claremont Graduate University
Joined TMC 1988 |
Dr. Frazer has coordinated the Political Studies program since its inception. His particular areas of interest are the Amerian Founding and pre-nineteenth-century political philosophy. Dr. Frazer has represented the College in radio debates concerning the Christian’s role in politics and history and spoken on the religion of the American founding at numerous conferences.
Dr. Frazer and his wife, Leanne, have three daughters and are members of Grace Community Church. He has also been a guest speaker at a number of churches. His other interests include listening to jazz and classical music and coaching high school football.
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Mr. Jeffrey A. Jensen
Associate Professor of History
A.S., York College of Pennsylvania
B.A., The Master's College
M.A., California State University, Long Beach
Joined TMC 1989(Faculty since 2000) |
Before he joined The Master’s College faculty in fall 2000, Professor Jensen served for eleven years in the college’s MIS Department. His previous instructional experience includes teaching in both community college and adult degree-completion settings. Currently, his faculty assignment consists of teaching introductory World History and functioning as the school’s instructional technology coordinator. One of the aspects Professor Jensen enjoys most at TMC is the opportunity to meet students and watch them progress through their college years. He and his wife, Linda, are originally from Michigan and presently reside in Saugus. Their hobbies include professional sports, museums, and good cups of coffee.
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Dr. Patricia A. Ennis
Chairperson, Department of Home Economics
Professor of Home Economics
B.A., M.A., San Diego State University
Life California Teaching Credential, San Diego State University
Ed.D., Northern Arizona University
Certified in Family Studies in Consumer Sciences (CFCS)
Joined TMC 1987 |
Dr. Ennis taught Home Economics for the San Diego City School District from 1968 to 1976. Concurrently she developed and implemented the Home Economics Department at Christian Heritage College (now San Diego Christian College) located in El Cajon, California. Dr. Ennis came to The Master’s College in 1987 at the request of Dr. MacArthur to establish the Home Economics Department which she currently chairs. She is responsible for the majority of the character course work in the Department (HEF-CS 101 and 401). She also teaches the Resource Management Practicum (HEF-CS 410), and the Home Economics Research Methodology (HEF-CS 300) classes. She is developing the Resource Management for the Aging course (HE-FCS 307) that is based on data received from over 700 survey respondents living in 36 different states and 3 foreign countries. Dr. Ennis’ instructional style includes traditional lectures supported by student projects, group discussions, and class interaction.
She and Dr. Lisa Tatlock co-authored Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God, a Guide to Developing Your Biblical Potential and Designing a Lifestyle that Pleases God, published by Moody Press and Practicing Hospitality, the Joy of Serving Others (Crossway). These books are a snapshot of the Home Economics- Family & Consumer Science major at The Master’s College. As well, she was a contributing author to The Master’s College book, Think Biblically! Recovering a Christian Worldview, and author of Precious in His Sight, The Fine Art of Being a Godly Woman (VMI Press). She is working on a teen version of Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God; published by New Hope. It is due for a 2010 release.
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Glenda Hotton
Mrs. Glenda Hotton
Adjunct Faculty, Home Economics, Character Development
A.A., Mission College
B.A., California State University, Northridge
M.A., Azusa Pacific University
Joined TMC 1997
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Mrs. Hotton has a passion for implementing the Titus 2 teaching. Her degrees are in Women’s Issues with a MA in Family Studies. She teaches Dynamics of Family Living (HE 402), Early Childhood Education (HE 310), Christian Principles of Parenting (HE 414), Women in Society (HE 301), and Women’s Issues (HE 483 and BMN 399). She developed and teaches a 9-12 week course in etiquette and manners for home school female students. She is a speaker for women’s groups, teaching women to become the vessel God created them to be. She and her high school sweetheart Bob (Vice President of Plant Operations at TMC) have four daughters and ten grandchildren. Mrs. Hotton enjoys reading, collecting vintage books on manners, etiquette and male/female relationships, and biking for exercise.
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Mrs. Janet Taylor
Adjunct Faculty
B.S., University of California, Berkeley
Joined TMC 1988 |
Mrs. Taylor teaches the Nutrition and Food Science courses in the Home Economics Department. These include HE 201 and 200, Nutrition and the Nutrition Symposium; HE 202, 202L, Principles of Food Preparation and the Laboratory; HE 304, Nutrition for Children; and HE 305, 305L, Meal Management and the Laboratory.
Mrs. Taylor and her husband, Robert, are members of Living Hope Evangelical Fellowship and have two grown sons.
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Mrs. Beth A. Mackey
Adjunct Faculty
B.S., Purdue University
Joined TMC 2006 |
Mrs. Mackey received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics- Education from Purdue University. Shortly after completing her undergraduate studies, she taught home economics to high school and junior high school students in both public and private schools. Mrs. Mackey's professional teaching remained "on hold" while she raised four children, but her involvement in clothing construction and alterations has flourished through her home-based, small business called "Sewhat Alterations." Mrs. Mackey is married to Dr. R.W. Mackey, who teaches in the Business Administration department at The Master's College. They have four children (two daughters and two sons) and three grandchildren.
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Mrs. Kimberly Toqe
B.S., The Master's College
M.S., California State University, Northridge
Joined TMC 2008
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E-mail contact:
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Mrs. Corinne Thomas
B.S., The Master’s College
M.S., The George Washington University (in progress)
Certified in Family Studies in Consumer Sciences (CFCS)
Joined TMC 2007
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E-mail contact:
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Dr. Michael Button
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles
M.A., University of California, San Diego
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
Joined TMC 1998 |
Dr. Button taught as an adjunct Mathematics professor from 1991 to 1992 at San Diego City College. During the summer of 1992, he went as a missionary English teacher to the Kiev State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages in Kiev, Ukraine. After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Button taught as an assistant professor of Mathematics at Louisiana College in Pineville, LA., from 1996 to 1998. Dr. Button is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Mathematical Society. He has been an active member in the churches he has attended, teaching Sunday school classes, singing in various choirs and playing handbells. Also, Dr. Button is an adjunct professor for the Center for Professional Studies at TMC.
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Prof. Sarah McCune
Instructor of Mathematics
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles
M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
Joined TMC in 2009 |
Prof. Sarah McCune worked at Pierce College from 2004 until 2009. She spent most of that time as a math instructor but also supervised in the campus Tutoring Center. During her college education and for the first year and a half of teaching, Prof. McCune also worked as a staff research associate in a neuroendocrinology lab at UCLA. She left science after marrying her husband in 2005. Prof. McCune has taught Junior High math at a Christian, private school in the San Fernando Valley since 2006.
Prof. McCune has thoroughly enjoys serving at church in the nursery, women's Bible studies, and adult ministries. During the summer she enjoys doing camp ministry with her husband. She looks forward to one day serving full time alongside her husband once he finishes his seminary career.
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Dr. Paul Plew
Chairperson, Department of Music
Professor of Music
B.S.M., Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania
M.M., Pacific Lutheran University
Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University
Joined TMC 1979 |
Paul T. Plew, Ed.D., has been the chairperson of the Music Department and Director of Choral Activities at The Master’s College since 1979. He was educated at Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania; Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington; and received his Doctorate in Education with Music specialization from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, co founder and past president of the Santa Clarita Music Educators Association, and past president of the National Association of Church Musicians (formerly Choral Conductors Guild). Dr. Plew has adjudicated for, as well as participated in, numerous choral festivals around the nation. His emphasis in the classroom includes conducting, church music-related classes, chorale, and hymnology.
Dr. Plew conducts the Collegiate Singers, a one-hundred-sixty voice campus choir, The Master’s Chorale, a sixty-five member choir, and Majesty, a small contemporary directions group. He has led these groups on tours to England, Ireland, Russia, Canada, Italy, Israel, Germany, Spain, and virtually every state in the union. In May of 2003 he conducted The Master’s Chorale in a solo concert at Carnegie Hall. In the spring of 2006, Dr. Plew was granted a sabbatical which took him to England and Ireland to study the life and hymnody of Charles Wesley. In 2007 he was invited back to Carnegie Hall to conduct the mass choir in “The Rutter Gloria” and Don McCullough’s “Canite Tuba.” His choirs have recorded for Word, Fred Bock Music, Lillenas Publishing, Ligoiner Ministries, and Pavanne Publishing companies as well as numerous custom albums for the college. In March, 2008, The Master’s Chorale recorded, by request, an album for Ligoiner Ministries. In addition to his ministry at the college, he also serves as Music Pastor at Santa Clarita Baptist Church in Canyon Country, California.
Dr. Plew led the faculty of the Music Department in the accreditation process through the National Association of Schools of Music, which was granted in November, 2007.
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Dr. Stephen Opfer
Professor of Music
B.M., University of Northern Iowa
M.M., California State University, Fullerton
D.M.A., University of Southern California
Joined TMC 1992 |
Dr. Opfer is director of instrumental studies and is head of the music education track. His responsibilities include director of the wind ensemble and jazz band, overseeing the music computer lab, coordinating the applied instrumental instructors and chamber ensembles. Dr. Opfer completed his undergraduate degree in music education with an emphasis in trombone performance. He taught bands and orchestras in public and Christian high schools for twenty years during which he received a Masters degree in instrumental conducting. Dr. Opfer served as adjunct music instructor at Biola University while beginning work on a doctorate. While at TMC, he completed his doctorate in music education that includes specific training in conducting, computer technologies, and music history. Dr. Opfer is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society, Music Educators National Conference, College Music Society, and the College Band Directors National Association. He serves as guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and trombonist at numerous musical events including national music organizations such as Music in the Parks and Festivals of Music.
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Dr. Kimberlyn Jones
Professor of Music
B.M., Mississippi University for Women
M.M., D.M.A., University of Texas at Austin
Joined TMC 1986 |
Dr. Kimberlyn Jones, mezzo-soprano, specialized in opera performance for her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas, Austin, with a Master’s degree in vocal performance. She serves on the music faculty at The Master’s College as Director of Vocal Studies and Opera. Dr. Jones spends the greatest part of her time teaching private voice and directing the opera. She has sung in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, England and Wales, as well as the Southern, Southwestern and Eastern seaboard states and in California. She has more than 25 opera roles to her credit and has also sung solo recitals and as soloist in numerous chamber music concerts and in oratorio performances. Dr. Jones teaches master classes in voice and adjudicates vocal competitions on the national, regional and local levels. She is a member of both Sigma Alpha Iota and Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary societies. In addition, she is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Metropolitan Opera League, the Classical Singers Association of Los Angeles, The Opera Buffs of Los Angeles, The Opera League of Los Angeles, and a performing member of the Opera Guild of Southern California. She and her husband, Taylor, have two grown children, Marcella and Trevor. Dr. Jones is a member of Grace Community Church, through which she and her husband have long hosted a Bible study in their home.
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Dr. Carolyn Simons
Professor of Music
B.M., M.M., Baylor University
Ph.D., The University of Iowa
Joined TMC 1999 |
Dr. Simons teaches Music History, Literature, World Music, and conducts the Women’s Chamber Choir. After completing her master’s degree, Dr. Simons took a 16-year break from academia to raise six children with her husband Jack (Chairperson, Communication Department). She returned to school at The University of Iowa in 1987 to pursue a doctorate in musicology, then spent the school year 1991-92 in Nuremberg, Germany on a Fulbright grant for dissertation studies. From 1992 to 1998 she taught courses at Cedarville College in Music, English composition, German and French, led a missionary team to Germany and started and served as advisor for the German club. Dr. Simons has been on the board of Governors for the American Musical Instrument Society and has been chairman of the archive and nominating committees. She has given numerous papers at their meetings as well as at meetings of the Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society, the American Musicological Society, and at a special conference celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano’s invention. In August, 2003, she gave a presentation at a joint meeting of the Galpin Society and the American Musical Instrument Society in Edinburgh. She has written entries for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the Garland Encyclopedia of Keyboard Instruments: Vol. III, The Harpsichord and Clavichord, book reviews for The Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, their newsletter, and several articles for Continuo magazine. Dr. Simons currently writes articles for the music department and served as coordinator for the self-study leading to accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music.
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Dr. Kenneth Mays
Professor of Music
B.M., Fort Wayne Bible College
M.M., Ph.D., Indiana University
Joined TMC 1986 |
Dr. Ken Mays is the resident Professor of Piano at The Master’s College. He received his MM and Ph.D. from Indiana University. Dr. Mays has played solo recitals throughout the United States, Canada, Germany and Great Britain for more than 40 years. He was on the staff of the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College for 19 years before coming to The Master’s College in 1986. In 1982 he was personally invited by the founder to attend the European Teachers’ Conference in London, England. Dr. Mays continues to be an Associate Member of this organization. He has also presented papers at several American Musicological Society conferences. More locally, Dr. Mays is a member of the Music Teacher‘s Association of California and the San Fernando chapter of NACM. He has been an adjudicator for various piano competitions and has been involved in leading church music for most of his life. Dr. Mays’ latest recording is titled “Reflections & Praise”, a series of hymn arrangements for piano.
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Prof. Claire Blackwell
Adjunct Faculty, Music & Mathematics
B.A., Concordia College
Joined TMC 1982 |
Prof. Blackwell has been ringing handbells since 1977 with a special interest in solo ringing. She co-authored a book on solo techniques for handbells and has taught at workshops in national and regional handbell festivals. In the Fall of 1982, Prof. Blackwell came to The Master's College to teach students ringing techniques and specifics for directing handbell choirs. Prof. Blackwell taught mathematics at the junior and senior high school level before coming to The Master's College and enjoys tutoring in mathematics at all levels.
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Dr. Ruta Bloomfield
Adjunct Faculty, Music
B.M., Bowling Green State University
M.M., Northwestern University
D.M.A., Claremont Graduate University
Joined TMC 1989 |
Dr. Bloomfield taught at Muscatine Community College (Iowa) before joining the music faculty at TMC in 1989. She teaches two sections of Aural Skills and Introduction to Music and Art with great enthusiasm. Three times a year she can be found teaching Music Components and Techniques and Introduction to Music and Art in the Center for Professional Studies. After receiving a B.M. in Music History and Literature and Harpsichord Performance at Bowling Green State University (Ohio), she completed a M.M. degree in Musicology and Harpsichord Performance at Northwestern University (Illinois). She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Historical Performance Practices at Claremont Graduate University. She performs on her Dowd French Double whenever possible. Mrs. Bloomfield is active in a local church, particularly by helping teach 5th and 6th grade Sunday School and being a member of the Missions Committee. She is also an avid softball player.
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Dr. Katherine Kelly
Adjunct Faculty, Piano
D.M.A., University of Southern California
M.M., University of Southern California
B.M., University of Victoria
Joined TMC 2005 |
Katherine Kelly was born and raised in Canada. She teaches piano instruction, piano classes and piano literature at The Master's College. She also started the Music at Noon concert series at The Master's College in the fall of 2006. Katherine began her piano studies at the age of four at the Mount Royal College Conservatory and studied at their prestigious Academy of Music for ten years. During high school, she received her associate performance diploma from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. Katherine received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria and she also received a pedagogy diploma from the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Katherine received her Master of Music degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where she was a pupil of Kevin Fitz-Gerald. She was a teaching assistant at USC for five years and was the recipient of the June Davison Endowed Piano Pedagogy Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship and academic awards. Katherine was actively involved in the USC Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association during her studies at USC. She is also a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honour Society. Katherine's professional training includes studies at the Banff International Keyboard Festival and the Banff Centre for the Arts, where she was a scholarship student for nine years. She has also studied at the Adamant School of Music in Vermont, the Aspen Music Festival, The Johannesen International School of the Arts, the Orford Arts Centre in Montreal and the University of Indiana Piano Academy. Katherine has performed in master classes given by John Perry, Menahem Pressler, Marc Durand and Marek Jablonski.
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Prof. Lauren Shackelford
Adjunct Faculty, Piano and Piano Pedagogy
M.M., University of Oklahoma
B.M., Cedarville University
Joined TMC 2007 |
Prof. Shackelford is an Adjunct Instructor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at The Master's College and serves as co-director of TMC Piano Camps. A nationally certified teacher of music, she currently maintains a piano studio in Valencia, California and performs as a collaborative pianist in the Santa Clarita Valley. She received her M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and her B.M. with highest honors in Keyboard Pedagogy from Cedarville University. She is also the recipient of several awards including the Music Teacher's National Association Star Award, the Gail Boyd deStwolinski Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Dorothy Detrick Kendall Memorial Piano Scholarship, and the Cedarville University Faculty Scholarship Award. Prof. Shackelford is an experienced piano teacher, having taught lessons from beginning through collegiate levels since 2000. Prior to her employment at The Master's College, she was on the faculty of the First Baptist Fine Arts Academy in Norman, Oklahoma and taught piano lessons in both Fairborn, Ohio and Cedarville, Ohio. Prof. Shackelford is a member of both the Music Teachers Association of California and Music Teacher's National Association.
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Prof. Kellie Cunningham
Instructor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy
B.A., The Master's College
M.M.E., University of Oklahoma
Joined TMC 2007 |
Prof. Kellie Cunningham serves as Director of TMC Theatre Arts, teaches Piano and Piano Pedagogy as an Adjunct Instructor, and co-directs TMC Piano Camps. She received her M.M.E. in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and was awarded B.A. degrees in Communication and Music from The Master’s College. Kellie has been the Assistant Director for TMC Theatre Arts for our productions of The Happiest Millionaire and The Importance of Being Earnest. During her time as a student at TMC, she performed roles in My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has received numerous awards, including the Margorie Martin Caylor Scholarship Award and the Gail Boyd de Stwolinski award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as recording as a solo vocalist on a Grammy-Award-winning album. Kellie has been teaching private and group piano lessons in California and Oklahoma since 2000. She adjudicates for local music events and has presented nationally on incorporating educational philosophy in the piano studio. She is a member of the Music Teacher’s National Association, the Music Teachers Association of California, and the California Scholarship Federation. Kellie is committed to seeing the arts as one way to express the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice to a dying world.
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Prof. Sarah Dixon
Adjunct Faculty, Voice
B.M., The Master’s College
M.M., California State University Northridge
Joined TMC 2006 |
Prof. Sarah Dixon, soprano, is an Adjunct Instructor of Voice at The Master’s College. She teaches private voice as well as Class Voice, along with working as an Administrative Assistant in the music office. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from The Master’s College and a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from California State University, Northridge where she studied with Dr. Deanna Murray. Sarah has performed much oratorio repertoire along with opera and musical theater. Her favorite roles have been Marion in The Music Man, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte. Sarah also teaches privately, and has led various voice workshops as well as been a choral clinician for the Invitational High School Choral Festival in Santa Clarita and the ACSI Choral Festival in Pasadena. She is a member of the Classical Singers’ Association. She continues to expand her performance experience in the concert and operatic repertoire, and enjoys singing for various studio recordings as well as in choral venues. Sarah and her husband, Matt, live in Valencia and are very involved at Santa Clarita Baptist Church with the young adult and music ministries.
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Prof. John Nelson
Adjunct Faculty, Music
B.A., Occidental College
Joined TMC 1999 |
Prof. Nelson received his B.A. in Music from Occidental College with further graduate work at Fuller Theological Seminary. Prof. Nelson's teaching career spans more than 25 years, from elementary through college levels. He has also lectured at the Master’s Seminary. Prof. Nelson regularly plays over fifty concerts a year both as a solo performer and in ensembles. He has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, played at the Los Angles Music Center and the Hollywood Bowl as well as performed with the classical guitarist Christopher Parkening; in addition, he has toured internationally with the music ministry of Mary Rice Hopkins. He is frequently contracted for recording sessions in the Los Angeles area. Prof. Nelson is also head of the Music Department at Grace Community School and participates frequently in the music ministry of Grace Community Church, where he is a member.
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Prof. Aroussiak Baltaian
Adjunct Faculty, Violin
B.M., University of Central Arkansas
M.M., University of Southern California
Joined TMC 2004 |
Described as “a remarkably mature young violinist with extraordinary stage presence”, “emerging as if a highly burnished and glowing ruby”, violinist Aroussiak Baltaian has gained an international attention through her extensive appearances as a prominent recitalist, soloist, chamber musician and recording artist.
Ms. Baltaian has performed in major cities throughout the United States, Great Britain, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. She is a First and Grand prize winner of numerous competitions including the 2002 Burbank Philharmonic Competition, the 1997 “Maurice Warshaw Prize” Competition in Great Britain, the 1993 “Beethoven Club” Young Artists Competition in Memphis, (TN) and the 1985 “Yaroslav Kotzian” International Violin Competition in the Czech Republic where she was also awarded the honorary citizenship of the city. Among her other honors include winning awards at the 1996 “Rudolfo Lipizer Prize” International Competition in Italy and the 1990 “Aram Khachaturian” International Competition in New York City. She is the 1993 National Winner at the MTNA Collegiate Competition in Spokane, WA. Her 1993 recording of the Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto was released on a compact disc in The Netherlands.
Prof. Baltaian’s principal teachers have been Martin Chalifour, Professor Yfrah Neaman, Kevork Mardirossian and Garo Baltaian. She has also worked with various artists such as Andre Previn, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Sir Colin Davis, Esa-Pekka Salonen, James Conlon, David Zinman, Leonard Slatkin, Richard Hickox, Jorge Mester, Ivan Fischer, John Williams, Eudice Shapiro, Eric Friedman, Midori, Menahem Pressler.
Prof.Baltaian performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra, the New West Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay. She also maintains a private teaching studio and acts as a string coach for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In the summer of 2004, Prof. Baltaian was on the faculty of The International
Festival-Institute at Round Top. She joined the faculty of the Music Department at the Master’s College in the Fall of 2004.
You may visit Prof. Baltaian’s web site at www. baltaian.com for a complete biographical information and more.
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Prof. Mark Converse
Adjunct Faculty, Music
B.A., California State University, Northridge
Joined TMC 1998 |
Prof. Converse graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in percussion performance. Since graduating, Prof. Converse has performed and recorded with a diverse collection of artists including Paul Anka, Peggy Lee, Lucy Arnaz, Dudley Moore and many others. As a free-lance drummer and percussionist, he works often in the Los Angeles theatres, does television, film and record work and appeared in a concert series with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Prof. Converse has been privileged to study with a number of L.A.'s finest percussionists and brings a unique blend of training and practical experience to his teaching at The Master's College.
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Prof. Tim Dolinar
Adjunct Faculty, Saxophone
B.M.,Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music
M.M.,California State University, Fresno
Joined TMC 2007 |
Tim Dolinar is emerging as one of his generations most versatile and sought after saxophonists. Equally capable in both the classical and jazz language, Mr. Dolinar has toured various cities in Germany and Italy as both an ensemble member and featured soloist with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. He was a founding member and performer with various saxophone quartets, including the Northcoast Saxophone Quartet, the Cleveland Saxophone Quartet and the Common Ground Saxophone Quartet. Mr. Dolinar has also performed with numerous orchestras, such as The Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, The Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra and The Fresno Philharmonic. His most recent solo performances include a 2008 summer tour in Japan performing the music of John Williams, Phil Woods and others.
In his formal training, Mr. Dolinar earned a B.M. in saxophone performance from the Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music and an M.A. in performance from California State University, Fresno. Mr. Dolinar is currently on the faculty at the Master’s College in Santa Clarita, CA and is the Instructor of Woodwinds at the Santa Monica Academy of Music and Canyon Charter Elementary School.
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Dr. Susan Allen
Adjunct Faculty, Harp
B.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
M.A., Ph.D., Schools on Borders
Joined TMC 1998
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Dr. Susan Allen comes out of six generations of female church musicians. She performs music of all genres on the concert harp and kayagum (Korean zither). Known for her premiere performances of new music for the harp, she tours internationally and has many recordings. Dr. Allen holds the B.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Schools on Borders. She has taught the harp and improvisation in many venues, and is currently Faculty at The Master's College and California Institute of the Arts, where she is also Associate Dean of the Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts. More information about Susan may be found at her website: www.susanallenharpist.com
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Prof. Sam Rotman
Adjunct Faculty, Piano
B.M., M.M., Juilliard School
Joined TMC 2001 |
When Sam Rotman made his debut at the age of 16 with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra before an audience of 6,000 people, the Baldwin Keynote Magazine wrote, "Sam Rotman is a pianist with abundant potential."
Prof. Rotman received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School in New York City. While a student, he was the recipient of nine awards in the form of grants, scholarships, and prizes. Subsequently, he has been among the winners in five piano competitions, both in the United States and Europe. The most prestigious award was that of Laureate Winner in the 4th International Beethoven Competition in Vienna, Austria. Prof. Rotman participated in the 6th International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, Russia. He has given over 1800 performances in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, South Africa, Europe and Asia, totaling 57 countries.
Prof. Rotman has devoted a specific area of his musical life to the study and performance of the works of Beethoven. Beginning with a series of all Beethoven concerts in 1970 (the Beethoven bi-centennial), he was presented on Public Broadcast System in a special Beethoven concert. Prof. Rotman continues to perform the works of Beethoven in recital and with orchestra.
Prof. Rotman has released four recordings. Portrait of a Piano includes the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, Impressions: Piano Portraits of Claude Debussy, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and Rachmaninoff Piano Works, and his most recent recording is The Piano Music of Beethoven, including the Moonlight and Pathetique Sonatas. A video entitled Sam Rotman, Concert Pianist: The Music and Testimony of a Jew for Jesus has also been produced. Sales of Prof. Rotman's recordings and videos have exceeded 50,000. These recordings and the video are displayed on Prof. Rotman's PRODUCTS webpage, complete with ordering and pricing information.
Prof. Rotman has performed in the following countries:
NORTH AMERICA: United States, Canada & Mexico
SOUTH AMERICA: Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina & Chile
AFRICA: South Africa, Rwanda
CENTRAL AMERICA: Guatemala
THE CARIBBEAN: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba & Haiti
EUROPE: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Monaco, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Croatia, Kosovo, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Norway, Finland & Sweden
MIDDLE EAST: Israel
ASIA: China, India, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand.
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Prof. Gustav Hoyer
Professor of Music
B.A., Southern Colorado State University
M.A., Hartt School
Joined TMC 2009 |
Gustav Hoyer studied composition, piano, and conducting at the University of Arizona, Southern Colorado State University, and the Hartt School where he was awarded a Master of Arts in Musical Composition. His music has been heard in concert, film, and on radio around the world. Several of his works are available on releases from the ERM Media label. His latest activity is focused on building innovative ways to create and present orchestral music to a new generation of listeners through his ensemble, The Orchestra Unleashed.
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Mr. Nathan S. Wright
Chairperson, Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Associate Professor of Physical Education
B.A., Los Angeles Baptist College
M.A., California State University, Northridge
Joined TMC 1974 |
Mr. Wright has taught and coached at California Lutheran University, Los Angeles Baptist College, and at Moody Bible Institute where he served as Athletic Director. In addition to his current duties as Department Chair for the Kinesiology & Physical Education Department, he serves as the Faculty Athletic Representative for the NAIA.
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Mr. David R. Larsen
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Head Athletic Trainer
B.S., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
M.A., California State University, Long Beach
Diploma in Biblical Studies, The Master's College
National Athletic Trainer's Association, Certified
Joined TMC 2001 |
For twelve years Mr. Larsen was the Head Athletic Trainer and a Physical Education Instructor at Los Angeles Harbor College and worked at a Sports Medicine/Physical Therapy clinic. Mr. Larsen and his wife, April, were born and raised in Whittier, CA, and have been married since 1992 and have four children.
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Mr. Darren Board
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & Physical Education
B.A., The Master’s College
National Athletic Trainer’s Association, Certified
Joined TMC 2006 |
Mr. Board graduated from TMC in 2003 and attended the University of the Pacific as a graduate assistant athletic trainer until 2005. He most recently worked for the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute - Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, FL. He and his wife, April, have been married since 2004.
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Dr. Kurt L. Hild
Chairperson, Department of Teacher Education
Professor of Education
B.A., Kearney (NE) State College
M.A., California State University, Northridge
Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University
Joined TMC 1987; Rejoined 2000 |
Dr. Hild has served in the Education department since 2000, teaching professional preparation courses for teacher certification and supervising secondary student teachers. Drawing upon his more than thirty years of teaching experience in the secondary and collegiate environments, he provides instruction in teaching methodology, content area literacy, and educational philosophy. His concern is that students see their teaching vocation as God’s high calling upon them and that they model biblical standards through their discipline. Besides teaching in the education department, he serves as adjunct faculty in the Center for Professional Studies. He and his wife, Tamara, maintain active involvement in their church. They have one son, Andrew, who keeps them busy with school, drama, music, and sports. They enjoy traveling to see family, gardening and home projects.
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Dr. Joann E. Adams
Professor of Education
A.A., Palomar College
B.A., Biola University
M.A., National University
Ed.D., United States International University
Joined TMC 1988 |
Dr. Adams teaches education courses and children’s literature in the undergraduate program and credential courses in elementary teaching strategies in the credential program. She serves on the Teacher Education Committee. She holds a California Clear General Elementary Teaching Credential with a Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD) authorization. She began her elementary teaching career in a California public school and then taught first, second, fifth and sixth grades in a missionary children’s school during her 10 years as a missionary in Senegal, West Africa. After leaving Senegal, Dr. Adams served at San Diego Christian College, first as Dean of Women and then as a member of the Education Department faculty.
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Dr. Shirley Carpenter
Professor of Education
B.A., California State Long Beach
M.A., California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo
Ed.D., University of Laverne
Joined TMC 1998 |
Prior to coming to The Master’s College, Dr. Carpenter was the Superintendent of Schools for the Pleasant Valley School District in Camarillo, California. She has been a guest lecturer and instructor for Graduate Level Administrative Courses at Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California. Administrative experiences have also included K-8 Principal and Superintendent in Cambria, CA and Principal and Assistant Superintendent of Education in the Pleasant Valley School District. Her teaching experience includes both elementary and secondary in various California school districts. She holds a Clear General Elementary Teaching Credential (Life) in California as well as her Administrative Credentials. She has served as a member and held various offices in the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Dr. Carpenter serves as the Liberal Studies, Teacher Education Coordinator as well as Chairperson, Department of Teacher Education.
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Mrs. Donna Hall
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Gordon College
M.A., California Lutheran University
Joined TMC 1989 |
Professor Hall serves as instructor of teacher education course work and supervisor of student teachers. Before coming to The Master’s College, Professor Hall was Department Head of the Special Education Program at West Valley Christian School. She has taught elementary grades in both public and Christian schools. She is an educational consultant in the area of learning disabilities for Missionary and Christian Schools. She presents at various conferences including the Association of Christian Schools International, National Institute for Learning Development and Learning Disabilities Association. Professor Hall is credentialed in the areas of Multiple Subject, Special Education Learning Handicapped, and possesses a Special Education Resource Specialist Certificate.
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Dr. Wayne A. Mack
Visiting Professor of Biblical Counseling
B.A., Wheaton College
M.Div., Philadelphia Theological Seminary
D.Min., Westminster Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 1993 |
Since 1976, Dr. Mack has taught college and graduate school courses in biblical counseling at The Master's College and Seminary; Westminster Theological Seminary, Biblical Seminary and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. From 1992 to the present, he has been involved in developing and expanding the undergraduate major in biblical counseling at TMC as well as planning and supervising the development of the MABC program. Dr. Mack is a fellow and has served as a board member of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC). He is presently the Director of Strengthening Ministries International, a ministry that seeks to strengthen churches and individual Christians by conducting counselor training conferences and/or Marriage & Family and Christian Living seminars all over the country and the world. Dr. Mack has been married for over 40 years and has four children and twelve grandchildren.
E-mail contact:
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Mr. Bill Schlegel
Associate Professor of Bible, IBEX Program
B.S., Christian Heritage College
M.A., Institute of Holy Land Studies
Joined TMC 1995 |
Originally from Minnesota, Bill has lived in Israel since 1984. He served on the administrative staff and faculty of Jerusalem University College (formerly the Institute of Holy Land Studies) from 1987-1995. He has been with The Master’s College – IBEX since 1995. Bill’s teaching interests include biblical history and geography, satellite mapping, and Hebrew language. He lives on the IBEX campus with his wife, Stephanie, and their five children: Rachel, Zach, Isaiah, Eitan, and Sarah.
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Mr. Ariel Berkowitz
Adjunct Professor of Bible, IBEX Program
B.S., West Chester State University
B.S., Philadelphia Biblical University
M.Div., Biblical Theological Seminary
Joined TMC 1995
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Ariel Berkowitz has been an adjunct professor with IBEX since 1995. His area of specialty is Jewish history, thought and culture. Ariel is also an instructor with Torah Resources International. He taught both full and part time at Israel College of Bible from 1992-2006. He and his wife Devorah moved from the USA to Israel as citizens in 1992. They have four children and two grandchildren. Their family home is near Jerusalem.
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Prof. Benjamin A. Foreman
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, IBEX Program
B.A., Bible Exposition, The Master’s College
Graduate work at Jerusalem University College in Israel
M.A., The Bible and its World, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Ph.D. (ABD), Old Testament, The University of Aberdeen
Joined TMC 2009
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Benj has lived most of his life outside the United States. He was born in France and spent the early years of his life there as an MK. When he was ten he moved to the States with his family where he spent twelve memorable years in Idaho, Michigan, and California. His interest in the Old Testament took him to Israel, where he completed his Master’s degree, and where he met his wife Yael. In 2006 he and Yael relocated to Scotland in order to complete a Ph.D. in Old Testament. Benj and Yael have one son named Yair (Hebrew for “Let him shine the light”).
Benj is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Tyndale Fellowship in Cambridge, England. The focus of his current research is on the use of metaphor in the Old Testament. He has also recently begun working on a project which examines the earliest Hebrew translations of the New Testament. He has many other academic interests (mostly related to the OT and modern Israel), but especially loves the outdoors.
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Dr. Tim M. Sigler
B.A., Faith Baptist Bible College
Certificate in Israel Studies, Baptists for Israel Institute
M.A. in Systematic Theology, Faith Baptist Theological Seminary
M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Semi |
Dr. Tim M. Sigler will teach biblical archaeology for the IBEX Program in 2009 and 2010 during his sabbatical from teaching responsibilities at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago where he serves as Associate Professor of Hebrew and Biblical Studies.
He is a member of the Near East Archaeological Society, the American Schools of Oriental Research, and the Society of Biblical Literature where he has presented papers on Hebrew love poetry, interpreting biblical metaphors, and the history of Jewish biblical interpretation. His dissertation, “Emotional Geography in the Song of Songs,” examined how Hebrew love poetry employs geography by idealizing the Song’s lovers and their land. Dr. Sigler is also an author in the forthcoming Moody Bible Commentary. He lived and studied in Israel in 1989-90, speaks modern Hebrew, and has hosted numerous biblical studies tours of the land. Dr. Sigler has served as an adjunct instructor at Israel College of the Bible, Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Trinity College. His wife, Bernice, was a student at the American Institute of Holy Land Studies, now Jerusalem University College, in 1990. They are thrilled that their three children will experience life in Israel during this academic year.
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Mr. Wayne A. Dell
Director for the Center for Professional Studies
B.S., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
M.A., California State University, Northridge
Joined TMC 1995
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Mr. Dell has been a senior executive in business firms for over 20 years including founding successful businesses. In addition, he has been a Pastor with Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita since 1987 in Single Adults and Administrative Pastor capacities. He has been involved as an adjunct professor at TMC since 1995 and has served as co-major professor for the Organizational Management program. Mr. Dell brings a wealth of talent in business, education, and pastoral ministry to his position and enjoys the rigor of academic life combined with organizational leadership. He and his wife Rosemary have been married since 1974; children include 2 boys and 1 girl, and 5 grandchildren.
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Mr. Don Gilmore
Registrar
B.A., Los Angeles Baptist College
Joined TMC 1982
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A graduate of The Master's College as LABC, Mr. Gilmore has been Registrar of the college since 1994. His office is responsible for the care of all academic records at the college, dating back to 1927. He served as Director of Admissions at the college from 1982-1994. In addition, he carries out responsibilities in the Sports Information Office at the college.
Mr. Gilmore and his wife, Robin, have three sons, Andrew (TMC ‘06), Scott, and Trevor, and live in Canyon Country where they are active at Santa Clarita Baptist Church. His other interests include playing basketball, hiking, camping, reading, refereeing, and watching the Oakland Raiders.
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Mrs. Marion P. McElwee
Academic Counselor, Academic Affairs
B.A., Widener University, Chester, PA
Joined TMC 1991
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Mrs. McElwee was trained and certified as an educational therapist in 1987 by the National Institute for Learning Disabilities. She has been a conference seminar lecturer as well as an assistant training instructor for this organization. Prior to coming to The Master’s College, she was the coordinator for the K-12 educational therapy program at West Valley Christian School in Canoga Park, California.
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Mr. Richard D. Wahler
Director of Career Services
B.S., M.P.A., University of Southern California
Certificate, Police Management, Northwestern University
Joined TMC 2000 |
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Mr. Wahler served two and a half years active duty in the United States Navy Reserve and was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant. He then joined the Los Angeles Police Department, during which time he received his master’s degree in public administration, and completed a one-year program in police management at Northwestern University. After 28 years of service, Mr. Wahler retired in 2000 at the rank of captain. During his career his assignments included patrol, detectives, narcotics, administration and risk management. He commanded the North Hollywood Station for five and a half years, managing over 300 personnel. He has considerable experience in community, public, media and human relations, as well as general and administrative management.
Mr. Wahler completed the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program at The Master’s College in 2007. He lives in Santa Clarita with Cathy, his wife of 34 years. His daughters are both graduates of The Master’s College: Denise (Teacher Education, 1999) and Stephanie (Biblical Counseling, 2002). He is a member of the Board of Deacons at Placerita Baptist Church.
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Mr. John M. Walter
Director of Institutional Research and Assessment
B.S., Geneva College (PA)
Joined TMC 2003
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Prior to joining the College, Mr. Walter served as high school teacher and counselor in Beaverton, Oregon. In addition, he practiced Civil Engineering in Oregon and Washington beginning in 1983. During that time Mr. Walter served in several ministry roles at Southwest Bible Church, with music and missions as special areas of interest. He traveled to the Russian Far East four times on short-term mission trips, and enjoyed playing trombone with the brass ensemble he started at Southwest. In addition, Mr. Walter authored two Bible study booklets on Ephesians and I & II Peter.
He currently serves as elder, home Bible study leader, adult Sunday School teacher, and Missions Leadership Team member at Calvary Bible Church in Burbank. He also plays trombone in the orchestra and brass ensemble at Calvary, and enjoys participating with various music ensembles here at Master’s. Due to this varied background in engineering, Christian school teaching and counseling, writing, and various ministry and administrative positions, Mr. Walter brings a unique perspective to the technical and personal aspects of his position as Director of Institutional Research and Assessment at TMC.
He and wife Becky were married in 1976; the Lord has blessed them with four children. These include two married sons, Marshall (TMC ’04 - Beka Howard), and Jordan (TMC ’06 - Erin Maclennan), daughters Emily (TMC ’07) and Meghan, a current TMC student. Becky enjoys teaching the third grade at Santa Clarita Christian School.
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Mr. Nathan Scroggins
Director of the MABC and MABS Summer Institute Program
B.A., The Master’s College
M.Div., The Master’s Seminary
Joined TMC 2002 |
Nathan was born and raised in northern California and later moved to Idaho. Upon graduation from high school, he served 8 years in the United States Army, completing his term of service as a Sergeant. It was during his time in the military that he was convicted of his sin and accepted Christ as his Savior.
He left the Army to pursue an education in biblical studies that would train him for ministry. By God’s providence, he ended up at The Master’s College where he received his B.A. in Biblical Counseling and Christian Education. Upon completion of his undergrad degree he spent his first 3 months of seminary in Israel participating in the IBEX program then later completed his M.Div. at The Master’s Seminary. During seminary Nathan worked as the Director of Security at The Master’s College. He also, planned and organized the Men Discipling Men Conference for The Master's College. Nathan has faithfully been ministering as a layman at various local churches for over 13 years. The Lord used his involvement in ministry to grow in him a passion for training men in the area of discipleship within the local church.
Presently, Nathan serves as the Director of the MABC and MABS Summer Institute Program at The Master’s College. He is also the coordinator for the Men Discipling Men Conference.
He and his wife Barbara have been married since 1995. The Lord has blessed them with two children Micah (2004) and Ashlyn Fae (2008). They reside in Santa Clarita, California.
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