Faculty

(BA Union College [1989]; MDiv, Andrews University [1993]; MA Nazarene Theological Seminary [2000]; PhD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, New Testament and Early Christianity [2005])

Carl Cosaert is the Dean of the School of Theology and professor of Biblical Studies at Walla Walla University. His interest in the ancient world and the Bible led him to complete two Masters degrees and a doctorate in New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of North Carolina. Before joining the School of Theology at Walla Walla University in 2005, Carl served as a pastor for ten years in the Midwest.

Carl enjoys teaching and writing and has become widely known for the regular tours he leads to the Middle East. According to Carl, there is no better place to learn about the stories in the Bible and to grow in faith than by visiting the lands where it all took place (you can learn about Carl's tours by visiting www.adventtours.org).

Carl's interest in traveling and teaching has most recently led to the creation of a six-part television series entitled "Reliving Mark: Discovering Jesus in Israel." The series which traces the ministry of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, is scheduled to be broadcast on the Hope Channel in March 2021.

Some of Carl's other projects and publications include "Galatians: A Fiery Response to a Struggling Church," which accompanied the 2011 Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly on Galatians, of which he was also the primary contributor. The quarterly was republished in 2016. He is also the author of the expanded study notes on Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Galatians for the NIV edition of the Andrews Study Bible. Carl's more recent publications are a commentary on Galatians for the forth coming Andrews Bible Commentary (Fall 2020), and also a commentary on 1 and 2 Timothy for the Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary (Fall 2020). He is also the associate New Testament editor for the Andrews Bible Commentary (Fall 2020), and the New Testament editor for Safeliz SDA Study Bible (Summer 2021). 

Carl is married to Carol, who is an elementary school teacher. They are the parents of four adult children: Marissa, McKenzie, and  Matthew. Their oldest daughter Mindy is deceased.

(BA in Theology, Walla Walla College; MDiv, Andrews University; currently a PhD student at Andrews University)

Brant Berglin joined the Walla Walla University School of Theology in January of 2013, now teaching as an Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek. 

Originally from California, Brant graduated in June of 1995 from Walla Walla College with a degree in Theology, minoring in Physical Education. He was married that same week, and three months later, the Berglins moved to Alaska where for the first year he was moved around as an intern pastor in Anchorage, in Dillingham, and in the Fairbanks area. Then for three years Brant served as senior pastor of the North Pole and Delta Junction Seventh-day Adventist churches.

In 1999, they moved to Michigan for Brant's Master of Divinity degree at Andrews University during which time his two children, Connor (b. 1999) and Cami (b. 2001) were born. They traveled back to Anchorage, Alaska, in 2001 where Brant was involved in church-planting and evangelism.

Although pastoral ministry was rewarding, teaching and Biblical Study have been Brant's passion and calling, so they returned to Michigan in 2007 to begin Brant's PhD in Religion, New Testament Studies. During their time there, he gained valuable experience as a contract Greek teacher and tutor, cementing his love for sharing the Bible with students in the classroom. 

At Walla Walla, he has the privilege of teaching courses like Greek, Biblical interpretation, the Gospels, and of course, the book of Revelation. His PhD dissertation (in progress) studies John's role as narrator and character in the apocalyptic book of Revelation. One of the delights of teaching is interacting with students outside the classroom--worshipping, fellowshipping, serving, and playing together.

Living in the great Northwest, near family, friends, and the mountains, is a dream-come-true for Brant. In his free time, he enjoys music and many outdoor activities like cycling, hiking and volleyball, especially with his kids. 

(BA, Walla Walla College; MA in Counseling, Walla Walla University)

Susan Bungard graduated with a B.A. from Walla Walla College and returned to the community in 1990 and later earned an M.A. in Counseling. She has worked in various capacities at WWU, primarily in teaching.  In 1999, she became a director in the Spiritual Life and Mission office and in the Placement and Cooperative Education department.  Beginning in 2000, she was the writer of the comprehensive NWCCU Accreditation Self-Study and the comprehensive AAA Self-Study (SDA accreditation) as well as subsequent interim accreditation reports. In 2002, Ms. Bungard accepted a half-time position for the School of Theology, teaching lower division New Testament courses such as Ministry of Jesus, Parables of Jesus, and Sermon on the Mount. In 2011, she accepted a half-time position as the accreditation writer for Walla Walla University. Ms. Bungard has one adult son, Dane.

(BA, Walla Walla College; MDiv, Andrews University; PhD, Andrews University)

Paul Dybdahl was born in Thailand and spent the first eight years of his life in Asia before moving to the Walla Walla Valley. He attended grade school and high school in College Place, and graduated from Walla Walla College in 1992. He then accepted a call to be a pastor in the Oregon Conference, where he served for nearly five years. His time as a pastor included a sojourn to Andrews University, where he earned his MDiv in 1995. Paul later returned to Andrews for his doctorate and received his PhD in Missiology in 2004. His academic interest centers on the issues related to the effective communication of the gospel, especially across cultural barriers. Paul has been teaching at Walla Walla University since 2001.

Paul and his wife, Kristyn (also a graduate of Walla Walla College), have three children: Noah, Alyssa, and Sarah.

(BA, Seminar Marienhoehe, Darmstadt, Germany; PhD, Andrews University)

Mathilde Frey comes to Walla Walla University with a European background. She grew up in communist Romania where she attended elementary and high school, and graduated with the Baccalaureate. In 1984, she immigrated to West Germany, studied Theology in Austria and Germany, and served as a pastor in the South German Conference for five years. In 2003, she moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, and earned a PhD in Old Testament from Andrews University. Her dissertation is titled, The Sabbath in the Pentateuch: An Exegetical and Theological Study.

In 2008, Mathilde accepted a call to teach Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Hebrew Language at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, in the Philippines. She also served as the editor of the Journal of Asia Adventist Seminary (JAAS) and as chair of the Master of Arts in Theology Program until 2014, when she moved to Walla Walla together with her husband Marcus and their two children, Delia and Eva.

Mathilde's academic interest is focused on close reading of the Hebrew Bible. She has written articles and book chapters on the Sabbath, has authored the Deuteronomy commentary for the Andrews Study Bible, and is currently writing a commentary on the book of Judges for the Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary. Her international experience combined with pastoral ministry and academic work enriches her teaching in the classroom and her other contributions to the Walla Walla University campus.

(BTh, West Indies College; MA, MDiv, ThD, Andrews University; MTh, Fuller Theological Seminary, Missiology)

Pedrito Maynard-Reid has brought to the Northwest a piece of the Caribbean, thus nudging us to examine things from a "two-thirds"-world perspective. A prolific writer, he has authored several books on contemporary worship, holistic evangelism, and the book of James. He exhibits an enthusiasm and evangelistic spirit which makes important contributions to the outreach of the School of Theology in the northwest. Having degrees in piano, it is obvious that music is a large part of his life. He is also Assistant to the President for Diversity and University Ombudsman.

His wife, Violet, served many years as reference librarian at the Walla Walla College Library. Their son, Pedrito II, a Ph.D graduate in computer science from Stanford University resides with his wife in Seattle, and their daughter, Natasha, a PhD graduate in psychology from Arizona State University, resides with her husband in Gainesville, Florida. The Maynard-Reids have four grandchildren.

(BTh Adventist University of São Paulo; MA Andrews University; PhD, Andrews University)

Tiago Arrais is originally from São Paulo, Brazil. He earned his B.Th. from the Adventist University of São Paulo (2006), and his M.A. (2009) and Ph.D. (2016) 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 (2015-2018) and pastored a small church in Santa Fe, New Mexico (2019-2023) before beginning his work in the School of Theology at Walla Walla University (2024).

Tiago’s interests range from Theology and Philosophy to Poetry 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, Benjamin and Joana. Together they enjoy traveling, hiking, listening to music and reading.