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Bethel University to Host Immersive Overnight Visit – Go2BU

by Bethel University Public Relations | Sep 19, 2025

Bethel University will host Go2BU, a 24-hour immersive campus visit experience, on October 16-17, 2025. Go2BU is for high school juniors, seniors and transfer students. Students will discover what it’s like to be a Bethel Pilot by staying overnight at Bethel University, attending chapel, observing class and participating in Tip-Off Madness, our annual kick-off to basketball season. Registration closes October 13.

Throughout the event, a variety of activities will be available to visiting students and their parents. Students will meet their overnight hosts, enjoy meals on campus, have an opportunity to attend a concert, participate in dorm activities and more! This also includes attending chapel, a first-year experience panel, and an optional campus tour. Students will have an opportunity to audition for music and theatre scholarships after the event.

“Go2BU is more than just a campus visit – it’s a chance to dive into the full Bethel experience,” says Christine Dickinson, director of admission. “From staying in the dorms to joining the excitement of Tip-Off Madness, students will see firsthand what makes life at Bethel unforgettable. We can’t wait to welcome them to campus!”

Meals and entrance to all campus activities are free of charge. Visiting for this event also qualifies incoming Fall 2026 students to receive a $2,000 visit scholarship. Sign up now at BethelUniversity.edu/Go2BU.

Bethel University Awarded $200K Grant to Support Sciences and Nursing Program Ranked #1 in the Nation

by Lissa (Grashorn) Diaz '07 | Sep 15, 2025

Bethel University has been awarded a $200,000 matching grant from a local foundation to renovate, upgrade and expand its nursing, biology and chemistry labs. This grant will match $200,000 of additional funding to complete a $400,000 project.

This renovation will support and expand Bethel’s Nursing program, which is ranked No. 1 in the United States and state of Indiana based on 100% of graduates passing the BSN NCLEX (national licensure exam). It will also support Bethel’s science programs.

Plans for renovation include purchase of new nursing simulation models, new lab equipment, new safety features, facility renovations, upgraded classroom technology, and more.

“Renovating our nursing and science spaces will expand the capacity of our nursing program, keep it state-of-the-art, and bring students to our community to address the nursing shortage with highly-educated professionals,” says Deb Gillum, Ph.D., dean of nursing.

Bethel University to Host 6th Annual Baugo Promise Event Designed to Inspire Elementary Students to Think About Higher Education

by Lissa (Grashorn) Diaz '07 | Sep 12, 2025

Bethel University will partner with Baugo Community Schools to host the 6th annual Baugo Promise “Walk Into My Future” event on Thurs., Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “The Promise” is an initiative that encompasses comprehensive activities for youth and families, aiming to build hope for their future and foster a community college-going culture.
The goals of The Promise are to leverage the entire community to make it easy for families to begin saving for post-secondary education, to incentivize savings behavior with community matching funds, and to build college-saver identity for youth by exposing them to college and careers in the classroom and on campus, including a “Walk Into My Future” celebration.

“The annual ‘Walk Into My Future’ event at Bethel University gives Jimtown Elementary students a chance to experience college life and explore future opportunities. Nearly 500 students, parents, teachers and school leaders participate in this annual event. We are grateful to Bethel University for hosting us each year and partnering with us to inspire students as they look ahead to college, careers, and life beyond our classrooms,” says Byron Sanders, Ed.S., Superintendent of Baugo Community Schools.

This event is an excellent way for Bethel education students to engage with the community and apply the skills they are learning in a real-world context. It allows Bethel students to share their passion for an academic content area or a sporting activity. “Walk Into My Future” enhances students’ learning and college experience by having them apply their classroom learning in a real-life setting.

“This event is designed to bring elementary students onto our college campus and help them realize what can unfold in their future – we want them to see college attendance as a realistic goal,” says Jim Bennett, Ph.D., Program Director and Department Chair for Education at Bethel University.

Johnson Named Vice President for University Advancement at Bethel University

by Bethel University Public Relations | Sep 8, 2025

Joel Johnson, Ph.D., has been named Vice President for University Advancement at Bethel University and will begin his tenure September 8.

Johnson is a Mission-driven advancement executive with 21 years of experience in Christian higher education, specializing in major gifts, donor engagement and strategic campaign leadership. He has a proven track record of cultivating seven-figure gifts and significantly increasing annual giving, and is committed to aligning philanthropic initiatives with institutional missions to foster transformational impact.

“Dr. Joel Johnson arrives at the perfect time to begin a new era of connection and possibility. With his passion for connecting people and inspiring generosity, his leadership will create lasting relationships that strengthen the heart of the Bethel community – uniting students, faculty and alumni to realize the best of Bethel’s potential and ignite transformation,” says President Dee McDonald.

Johnson most recently served as Director of Advancement at the Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Fla. There, he established a major gifts program, enhancing personalized donor experiences, increased year-end giving by 20% within the first year and collaborated with leadership to align giving strategies with institutional goals.

He served as Vice President of College Relations at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minn., from 2022-2024, where he elevated annual giving from $800,000 to $2.9 million over two years, led a major donor team, securing multiple six-figure gifts, developed a five-year advancement strategy integrating donor analytics and planned giving tools, and orchestrated major donor events, boosting attendance and revenue.

Prior to that, he served as Director of Alumni Relations at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., from 2018-2022, enhancing alumni engagement by 27%, resulting in a $750,000 increase in contributions, implementing targeted campaigns to drive donor retention and fostering cross-departmental collaborations to strengthen alumni giving strategies.

He has also served as Senior Partner Executive (Corporate Partnerships) for Indiana Wesleyan University since 2024, managing institutional partnerships to drive community engagement and enrollment and aligning corporate support with institutional objectives through collaboration with marketing and enrollment teams.

Additionally, he has held advancement and athletics administration positions at Crown College, Bryan College, Toccoa Falls College and Chattanooga Christian School.

He earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University, with his dissertation focusing on alumni giving at Christian colleges and its implications for strategic advancement. He has an M.S.S. in Sport Management from U.S. Sport Academy, Alabama and a B.A. in Secondary Education, also from Southeastern University.

“Bethel’s mission and legacy inspire me, and I am so excited to serve the university in this capacity,” Johnson says. “What drives my work is a commitment to stewardship and storytelling that honors God’s transformational work through Christian higher education. I view advancement not merely as fundraising but as ministry – building authentic relationships, celebrating generosity and aligning donor vision with kingdom-driven institutional goals. I can’t wait to get started.”

Banter Named Vice President for Finance & Operations and CFO at Bethel University

by Bethel University Public Relations | Sep 8, 2025

Adam Banter, MBA, has been named Vice President for Finance & Operations and CFO at Bethel University, and began his tenure August 25. Banter is a strategic and mission-driven leader with 20+ years of experience in banking, finance, operations, higher education,...

Bethel University Named to Washington Monthly Lists

by Bethel University Public Relations | Sep 2, 2025

Bethel University has been Ranked by Washington Monthly as a 2025 “Best Bang for the Buck – Midwest” college. This exclusive list ranks schools according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices, looking at access, affordability and outcomes.

Bethel has also been ranked a “Best College for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” and on the “Best Master’s Degree” list. To see the full methodology, visit WashingtonMonthly.com/2025-college-guide.

Bethel University to Host STEM Visit Day Sept. 5

by Bethel University Public Relations | Aug 25, 2025

Bethel University will host a special visit day focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) on Fri., Sept. 5, from 8:15 a.m.-2 p.m. High School juniors and seniors interested in STEM careers are encouraged to register by Sept. 1 at BethelUniversity.edu/STEMVisit. Additionally, those who visit and apply for fall 2026 will be eligible for a $2,000 visit scholarship! This event is free for attendees.

“More than half of Bethel students are pursuing STEM-related fields,” says Alice Ramos, Ph.D., dean of arts and sciences and professor of mathematics. “Bethel combines top-tier academics with a Christian foundation that views the pursuit of science and discovery as a calling. We seek to find God revealed in his creation.”

During the visit, students will tour Bethel’s STEM labs, classrooms and facilities; they will experience live demonstrations in the Nursing Simulation Lab and Human Performance Lab (focused on exercise science). They will attend chapel with our Christ-centered campus community, see a real college class in action, enjoy lunch on campus with students and faculty and have a Q&A with current students and our Admission team.

“Whether you’re called to a science-related program or you’re still exploring, this day is for you,” says Deb Gillum, Ph.D., dean of nursing.

Learn more about the $2,000 Visit Scholarship.

Bethel Awarded $91,020 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Continue Serving Youth in Our Community

by Bethel University Public Relations | Aug 15, 2025

Bethel University was recently awarded $91,020 from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC). This was the second round of funding for this initiative. Bethel originally received $188,537 in 2022, which launched Pilot Summer Academy, expanding existing academic summer camps in nursing, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and culture and expanding opportunities for youth in our community.

With the initial IYPC funding, Bethel was able to expand the capacity of academic camps, offer income-based scholarships and offer new camps, including nursing, physics, esports, culinary and advanced art. Bethel also started the College Preparation Camp program, which engages students from low-income families in local high schools and provides them the opportunity to explore college preparation, including testing, scholarships and degree programs.

Over the course of the three-year grant program (covering the summers of 2023, 2024 and 2025), camp registration has nearly doubled (increased by 81%). Based on these successes, Bethel was granted additional funding through the Lilly Endowment’s IYPC Round II initiative. With this funding, Bethel will continue to expand camp capacity and opportunities while offering income-based scholarships to St. Joseph County residents.

About Lilly Endowment

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

About IYPC

Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC) is a new Lilly Endowment initiative designed to help Indiana colleges and universities in their efforts to create new or expand and enhance existing high-quality, on-campus programs for Hoosier youth, ages five to 18. Indiana public and private colleges and universities that have a physical campus in the state are eligible to participate. As of September 2022, the Endowment had awarded program implementation grants to 35 Indiana colleges and universities.

Bethel University Announces New Professors in STEM

by Lissa (Grashorn) Diaz '07 | Aug 5, 2025

Sean McGuinness, Ph.D., joins Bethel University as an assistant professor of physics, bringing a dynamic blend of research, teaching, and national service experience. Most recently a professor at Ivy Tech Community College, McGuinness also spent three years with the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) after earning his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame, where his research focused on medical applications of low-energy nuclear physics. His technical expertise spans nuclear and accelerator physics, alongside certifications in nuclear acquisitions, project management, and college teaching. Passionate about student engagement, McGuinness has a strong record of mentorship, public outreach, and leadership — whether teaching the physics of curveballs to kids or advocating for science funding on Capitol Hill.

Cody A. Ruiz, Ph.D., will serve as an assistant professor of biology at Bethel University this fall, bringing a strong interdisciplinary background in molecular biology and anthropology to the classroom. He most recently taught genetics and general biology as an adjunct professor at Bethel and has served as a research assistant in the Molecular Anthropology Lab at Kent State University since 2015. At Kent State, he also taught courses and was actively involved in graduate student leadership. Ruiz is highly proficient in a range of laboratory and bioinformatics techniques, including PCR, DNA sequencing, CNV assays, and software platforms such as R, Python, and Geneious Prime. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology at Kent State, where he is defending his dissertation this summer. He also holds an M.A. in Biological Anthropology from Kent State and a B.S. in Biological Sciences and Anthropology from the University of Notre Dame.

Heather Hostetler, CNM, joins Bethel University as an assistant professor of nursing, bringing over two decades of experience in nursing, women’s health and maternity care. A certified nurse midwife since 2014, she has served with Beacon Medical Group OB/GYN, providing compassionate, evidence-based care to women throughout their reproductive journeys. Heather is also a proud Bethel alumna, having earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2002 before completing her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Nurse Midwifery at Frontier Nursing University in 20214. From 2000 to 2014, she worked as a registered nurse at Beacon Health System, gaining valuable clinical experience that continues to inform her teaching. She previously taught at Bethel as an adjunct professor from 2019 to 2021 and now returns to the classroom full-time. Her certifications include Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) through the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Bethel University named to Money Magazine’s “Best Colleges in America 2025” list

by Bethel University Public Relations | Jul 31, 2025

Bethel University has been named to Money Magazine’s 2025 list of “Best Colleges,” ranked by value. Money analyzed more than 700 four-year colleges and scored them based on dozens of data points related to quality, affordability and student outcomes, to determine the colleges where students’ tuition is most likely to pay off.

Bethel University earned four out of five stars for value on this year’s list, which looked at graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid and alumni salaries. The Best Colleges ratings combine the most accurate pricing estimates available with indicators of alumni financial success, along with an analysis of how much value a college adds when compared to other schools that take in similar students. To see the full Money Magazine list and learn more about the methodology, visit money.com/best-colleges.

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