• Biblical interpretation (including the theology of specific books and their relation to life)
• Religion and culture (including varied topics of contemporary relevance - technology, literature, society, etc.)
• The Bible and the human condition (the relation between Bible and themes that touch on human nature: grief, violence, freedom, etc.)
• Introduction to systematic theology and doctrine

Tiago Arrais is originally from São Paulo, Brazil. He earned his B.Th. from the Adventist University of São Paulo, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Andrews University. His doctoral dissertation was an interdisciplinary project focused on hermeneutics that navigated between the disciplines of systematic theology, Christian philosophy, and Old Testament. Tiago wrote about how Greek philosophical assumptions still influence the reading of the Bible, and in the context of the dissertation, the interpretation of the relation between God and humanity in the book of Exodus. After his defense, Tiago taught at the Adventist University of São Paulo and pastored in the district of Santa Fe/Los Alamos, New Mexico, before beginning his work in the School of Theology at Walla Walla University in 2024.

Tiago’s interests follow his curiosity and range from theology and philosophy to cultural studies and literature. Tiago is also a singer-songwriter and recording artist and often travels to his home country to share stories and songs with audiences from different backgrounds. Tiago is married to Paula and they have two children. Together they enjoy traveling, hiking, listening to music, and reading.

Alex's primary areas of interest include Adventist mission, Christian character, organizational leadership, faith-based healthcare, spirituality and discipleship, and Adventist education. 

Alex Bryan is president of Walla Walla University and has 30-plus years of experience as a pastor, teacher, healthcare executive, and higher education administrator. Alex has spoken across the United States and globally at venues including camp meetings, university convocations, faculty colloquia, local church events, and medical and healthcare retreats.

• Death, dying, loss, grief, and bereavement
• Leadership
• Interpersonal communication

Preferred formats: Workshop, seminar, teaching

Pamela Keele Cress began her baccalaureate education as a nursing major and changed to social work when her aversion to needles quickly surfaced. She completed both the B.S.W. and M.S.W. degrees at Walla Walla College, serving as a graduate intern on the Behavioral Medicine Unit of St. Mary Medical Center. Her Ph.D. in leadership was completed in 2005 from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich.

Cress has been employed by Walla Walla University for the past 28 years where she has served the university in various roles; professor, dean of School of Social Work and Sociology, graduate dean, and currently is the vice president of Academic Administration. In addition to her administrative role at the university, Cress has been certified as a thanatologist since 2009 through the National Association for Death Education and Counseling. She taught the Loss and Bereavement content for the school 26 years and is currently developing a new class for theology students that focuses on how pastors and chaplains support others in loss. Students from various disciplines who have taken her class, “Death and Dying,” are frequently animated about a subject many people are more comfortable avoiding. Cress considers herself a “reluctant thanatologist,” having been drawn to the formal study of death, dying, and bereavement out of her own experiences of loss rather than pure academic curiosity. 

Cress and her spouse, John, have two adult daughters and four grandchildren. Cress enjoys family, friends, music, swimming and reading while sipping a good cup of tea.    

• Issues related to Adventism and its relationship to the world religions
• Cross-cultural communication
• Holistic mission. 

Preferred format: seminar/teaching setting, where there is opportunity for dialogue and discussion during my presentation.

Dr. Paul Dybdahl is currently a professor of Missiology at Walla Walla University, where he has taught since 2001. He came to WWU after completing his doctoral work at Andrews University, where his research focused on issues related to the effective communication of the gospel across cultural barriers. Prior to his time at Andrews, Paul served as a pastor in the Oregon Conference. Paul and his wife, Kristyn, have three children: Noah, Alyssa, and Sarah.

• Media Choices (Media Literacy, Media Effects)
• Seventh-Day Adventists and the Movies

Preferred format: Workshop or Seminar

Lynelle Ellis is an Associate Professor in the Communication Department at Walla Walla University and the Director of The Center for Media Ministry. She worked for 13 years in media ministry at Blue Mountain Television in College Place, WA and was also a professor at Southern Adventist University where she taught communication and media courses. Her post-graduate studies included work in the areas of media literacy and media effects. Her doctoral dissertation studied the historical and contemporary conflict between Christianity and visual media. She is married to Daniel Ellis and they have three children who attend Walla Walla University.

• Learn to tell your own story well: it is your witness, as well as your greatest professional asset
• Figuring out your career future: use Design Thinking tools to design your most fulfilling life of service
• Working with others across deep differences... of culture, of demographics, of personalities
• Become a better public speaker: coaching tips for presenting your best self and most compelling ideas
• Public speaking for those who hate to be up front
• How to form an effective team

Preferred formats: Workshop or classroom setting

In July 2025, David Lennox was appointed Professor of Management and Dean of the School of Business at his alma mater, Walla Walla University.

At WWU, David runs the Colloquium series featuring prominent business leaders, and teaches GBUS270, Business Communication. David enjoys coaching students to present their best selves and best ideas to the world (and to potential employers).  

A British-born Canadian who is married to an American and has lived on three continents, David finds cultural differences continually relevant and fascinating. He and his wife, Lisa Jervey Lennox, have two adult daughters, Sarah and Hannah. He relaxes by working in his backyard—pausing to take in beautiful Walla Walla sunsets—and watching British comedies and traveling with family.

From 2018, David served as Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. In 2025, Poets and Quants ranked Dyson the #2 undergraduate business program in the nation.
 
At Dyson, David helped develop the Grand Challenges program, a four-year engaged-learning curriculum, and co-taught AEM1101, Design Your Dyson, the comprehensive first year “business for a better world” course. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Speech Communication and English from Walla Walla University, and a Master of Arts in English Literature from the Claremont Graduate University. He also received a Master of Business Administration from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont.

David has worked as a Training Director for Internap Network Services and consulted widely on communication issues in small and mid-size organizations.
 

• Ocean life/marine biology (especially octopuses)
• Climate change
• Ocean acidification
• Conservation
• The role of science in society
• Careers in marine biology

Preferred formats: Workshop, seminar, class presentations, panel discussions, guided beach tours/nature walks (I have marine animals and aquaria I can bring to locations within driving distance.)

Dr. Kirt L. Onthank is a professor of biological sciences at Walla Walla University and director of the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. His research focuses on the physiology of octopuses and other cephalopods, with an emphasis on their adaptations and responses to climate change. Dr. Onthank has published on topics related to marine invertebrate physiology and ecology and has led several grant-funded research projects. He is also committed to mentoring students, helping them engage in meaningful scientific research and preparing for their careers.

Workshops or class presentation topics:

• The Value of the Humanities and SDA Liberal Arts Education in the Age of AI
• Writing and Academic Integrity in the Age of AI
• Deep Reading and Information Literacy in the Digital Age

Seminar presentation topics:

• “Fearfully & Wonderfully Made?”: Science Fiction, Artificial Intelligence, & the Divine Spark
• “Contraries Meet in One”: Shakespeare, Donne, and the Making of the King James Bible
• “Good God Deliver Us!”: Literary Voices from a Time of Plague
• Picturing Christ: Incarnation, Iconography, and the Second Commandment
• From Kitchen Scold to Dragon Slayer: The Gospel According to Martha
• “That Mysterious Good”: The Historical Debate over Music and Morality
• The Politics of Redemption in Milton’s Paradise Lost

Cynthia Westerbeck is the chair of the Department of English & Modern Languages. She earned her Ph.D. in British & American Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to teaching courses in Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Romantic literature, she also teaches college writing and has a special interest in the intersection between literature and the arts.