Faculty & Staff
Meet our Faculty & Staff
Learn more about the expertise and knowledge our faculty and staff bring to BGU’s campus.
Jason Haché Academic Dean
Currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership at Columbia International University; MA in Human Services Counseling, with a concentration in Marriage and Family from Liberty University; BA in Cross-Cultural Studies from Bethany Global University; Bethany Global University Registrar from 2007-2018; currently serves as Academic Dean at BGU; teaches a personal finance course.
Melanie Hurlbut Intercultural Ministry Studies Department Chair & Faculty
MA in Biblical/Theological Studies from Western Seminary; MA in Religious Studies, focused on Spiritual Formation from Columbia Evangelical Seminary; BA in Comparative Literature from University of California; YWAM Malaysia base director of five schools in discipleship training, biblical studies, evangelism, and frontier missions; school leader and faculty for YWAM’s School of Biblical Studies; Program Director of the Magnum Opus syntopical great books program at North Central University; founding board member and curriculum developer at Lifebridge Learning Centre in Penang, Malaysia serving Rohingya refugees in a K-8 school; currently serves as the IMS/BTH Program Chair at BGU; teaches courses in Bible, Intercultural Studies, and Missions.
Dr. Tony Foster Transformational Entrepreneurship in Missions Department Chair & Faculty
PhD in Intercultural Studies from Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary; MA in Intercultural Ministry from Assembly of God Theological Seminary; BA in Theology from Word of Truth Seminary; 15 years’ missionary field experience in Russia and Southeast Asia; served as President of Gulf States Bible College from 1997-2001 and more recently headed up the E5 Project in Southeast Asia which combined business initiatives with church planting movements as a regional director with the Surge Project; currently serves as the TEM Program Chair at BGU; teaches courses in Entrepreneurship and Intercultural Ministry Studies.
Michelle Lee Thompson Education in Missions Department Chair & Faculty
michelle.thompson@bethanyintl.org
MA in Education/Instructional Leadership, with a Montessori Concentration, from Argosy University; Montessori Theory Certificate from Montessori Center International; BA in Elementary Education and Business from Bethel University; co-owner and Teacher at KinderStudio of Musik; Executive Director and Dean of Hand in Hand Christian Montessori; currently serves as the BGU Education Program Chair; teaches courses in Education.
Matt Harbour Faculty
Currently pursuing a MA in Missiological Studies, with an emphasis on the missiology of movements, at Mission India Theological Seminary; MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University; BA from John Brown University; former Program Director, Associate Director for Curriculum Development, and Faculty for the Rivendell Sanctuary Honors Program, San Diego Christian College; former Program Consultant and Faculty at Sterling Campus, Singapore; former instructor of English and Cultural Studies at the QSI International School of Ljubljana, Slovenia; served for three years as staff for YWAM (University of the Nations – Kona, HI) focusing on worldviews and discipleship, and ministering among Tibetan communities in northern India; teaches courses in Missions and Theology.
Tiffany Garrison Associate Registrar, Public Services Manager
MA in Intercultural Ministry Education and BA in Intercultural Studies and Bible & Theology Studies from Bethany Global University; TESOL certified through Asean Center for TESOL; 16 months of field experience in cross-cultural missions; currently serves as the Associate Registrar and Public Service Manager and teaches Freshman Seminar.
Hannah Levin Registrar
BA in Cross-Cultural Studies from Bethany Global University; CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the University of Cambridge; 1 year of field experience in cross-cultural missions; 11 years’ cross-cultural experience as a missionary kid; 5 years’ experience as an administrative/teacher’s assistant; 4 years’ teaching experience at elementary and middle school levels; previously served as BGU Academic Advisor and TA Supervisor; currently serves as the Registrar.
Dria Knutson Educational Support Specialist
17 years’ experience as a home educator and 5 years as a director of various programs with Classical Conversations; 10 years as a tutor of Spell to Write and Read with remedial readers; 7 years with Institute for Cultural Communicators as a Chapter Sponsor, Area Student Leader Liaison, and coach and mentor to young speaker guild students; 30 years’ experience writing and implementing SMART plans; 10 years’ experience in the Mathew 18 approach to peace making; currently serving as the Educational Support Specialist.
Paul Hartford Training Consultant
PhD in Education (Postsecondary and Adult) from Capella University; MA in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton Graduate School; BA in Theology and Missions from Bethany Global University; served 9 years as Director of Bethany Global University; 15 years as Director of Global Internship for BGU; founding Director of Bethany School of Church Planting (Philippines); 11 years’ field experience in cross-cultural missions, church planting, and leadership training; currently serves as International Training Consultant for Bethany International; teaches courses in Communications, Missions, and Christian Ministry.