Faculty
The birth of the Wissenschaft – the modern academic world – replaced wisdom, educated minds after Descartes’ model but not whole persons. As specializations broke down into the smallest units, each department became its own isolated silo with no room for integration. We use PEMSS as a model for integration as we aim to cultivate whole-person-centered learning. All of our faculty are world-class scholars in their field but also eager for integration.
Randall Heskett, Ph.D.
Having completed graduate studies at Yale and University of Toronto, Dr. Randall Heskett is an integrator, who has drawn from all his vast experiences. Many call him a renaissance man. He has published several books and articles and soon to publish a book on Integration and Wholeness, which responds to the limits of modernity through addressing the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual dimensions of Integration. Doc Randall has been a Professor of Ancient Languages and Hebrew Bible at University of Toronto, Queen’s University, McMaster University among several. He has been a marriage and family counselor. He is an author, public speaker, wine writer, and fitness guru. He worked for 6 years as an advisor for the Knights of Columbus. Now he works as the SVP/Chief Academic Officer for The PEMSS Institute.
Stephen L Cook, Ph.D.
Stephen L. Cook, Ph.D. is the Catherine N. McBurney Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Virginia Theological Seminary. His expertise includes Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology, Hebrew Exegesis, Ezekiel, Deuteronomy, Prophetic and Apocalyptic genres, the Social Settings of Scripture, and educational technology. He has served on the faculty of Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University. He earned his doctoral training in Old Testament at Yale University after completing an M.Div. degree at Yale’s Divinity School, college at Trinity College, Connecticut. He has authored several books, including an Anchor Yale Bible Commentary on Ezekiel’s Apocalypse and Utopian Vision of a New Temple and Land. Other books include Apocalyptic Literature (Abingdon, 2003); The Social Roots of Biblical Yahwism (Society of Biblical Literature, 2004); and Prophecy and Apocalypticism (Fortress, 1995). He has also written Reading Deuteronomy (Smith & Helwys, 2015), Conversations with Scripture: 2 Isaiah (Morehouse, 2008), and “The Season of Epiphany” in New Proclamation Year B, 2008–2009, Advent through Holy Week (Fortress, 2008). His other publications include journal articles, introductions and annotations to biblical books for the New Oxford Annotated Bible, the CEB Study Bible, and the Harper Collins Study Bible, as well as entries for The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford Biblical Studies Online, the Society of Biblical Literature’s Bible Odyssey, and the New Interpreter’s One Volume Bible Commentary.
Kimberly Beckman, MBA
Kim is a renowned international business executive, who has made $billions for corporations. Few business people can get the results that she drives by her enormous capacity for work, brilliant mind, and monumental ability to integrate strategies with execution. Most importantly, she fosters a healthy workplace, takes responsibility for her work, and does not blame others as so often happens in corporate America. As you see a boy from Bogota in her arms, she treasures the dignity of others and people value her leadership. She is in the gym at 5:30 AM every morning, integrates spirituality and exercise, and is exceptionally disciplined. We are most fortunate to have her on our faculty.
Joel Butler, MW
The renowned Joel Butler is one of two to be the first N. Americans receiving the preeminent Master of Wine, which is the most difficult achievement in the entire wine industry. He is a graduate from Stanford University and earned his master’s degree in history from University of Colorado. He has served as former president for the Institute of Masters of Wine, North America. He now serves on the board for this institute internationally and is the head examiner for the MW in North America. He has mentored 40 N. Americans into the MW, serves as senior judge for several wine competitions, including London, San Francisco, Dallas Morning News, the Finger Lakes, and the Colorado governor’s cup. He has traveled to wineries all over the world and consulted many. He co-authored Divine Vintage with Dr. Heskett. We are delighted to have him on our faculty.
Michael Dempsey, Ph.D.
Having completed graduate studies at Yale and University of Toronto, Dr. Michael Dempsey focuses on historical and systematic theology. Hence, he has focused his life work on Karl Barth, Thomas Aquinas, and the divine and human dimensions of providence within historical theology. Moreover, Dr. Dempsey has also taught and written on on Augustine, Peter Abelard, John Calvin, Martin Luther, and Langdon Gilkey. He has an uncanny ability to describe the implications of theology for its function in church and society.
Larry Adams, D.Min.
Dr. Larry Adams has been a pastor for 34 years in 3 different denominations. Larry has a B. S. in Criminal Justice from Missouri Western State University, an M.Div. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Drew University Theological School. In Larry’s D.Min. he used critical academic study and Third World Theology. He is married to his wife, Rebecca, whose father is George Pixley, a Protestant Liberation Theologian. Larry and Rebecca have two grown daughters, one a nurse and the other a pastor of youth and children.
Gregory Robertson, Ph.D.
Having completed graduate studies at Princeton Seminary and University of Toronto, Dr. Gregory Robertson focuses on historical and systematic theology. Likewise, he has focused on Karl Barth the works of Eberhard Jüngel. Moreover, Dr. Robertson has taught at the university level for 25 years.