Semiotics, Church, and Culture Faculty and Team

Lead Mentor

Photo of Len Sweet

Len Sweet

Visiting Distinguished Professor

Learn more about Len.

Project Faculty

Project Faculty work with advisees to provide individual and small group guidance for doctoral project development within the project portfolio research sequence.

Seminary faculty routinely serve as Project Faculty within the Doctor of Minstry program. See Portland Seminary faculty page for details.

Photo of Gregg Borror

Gregg Borror

Position: Project Faculty; Lead Pastor Mountain Park Church

Academic and Professional Background: BS Psychology, Warner Pacific College; MDiv. Western Seminary, Portland, OR; DMin. Portland Seminary

Expertise and Research Interests: Practical theology, philosophical and cultural considerations in light of biblical truth; Semiotic understanding and communication in contemporary context; narrative theology

Email: gborror@georgefox.edu

Webhttps://www.mountain-park-church.org/

Photo of Colleen Butcher

Colleen Butcher

Position: Project Faculty

Academic and Professional Background: Bachelor of Music (BMus), University of Western Ontario; Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Schulich School of Business, York University; Doctor of Ministry, Semiotics and Future Studies (DMin), George Fox University. Certifications in Project Management, Business Analysis, and Agile Software Development. Adjunct Faculty at Clark College and Gonzaga University, WA.

Expertise and Research Interests: Professional expertise in Business Process Reengineering and Change Management. Research interests/expertise in creativity and innovation, especially as it relates to teaching and learning, design thinking, semiotics, and cultural engagement.

Email: cbutcher@georgefox.edu

Web: colleenbutcher.com 

Photo of Mark Chironna

Mark Chironna

Position: Project Faculty, Faculty Advisor, Bishop, Pastor, Mentor 

Academic and Professional Background: DMin, George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Portland, OR; MA, Saybrook University; BA,Wagner University 

Expertise and Research Interests: Post Graduate Researcher at University of Birmingham in Pentecostal Theology. 

Email: mchironna@georgefox.edusemiodocchironna@gmail.com

Office: 321-304-4111

Photo of Karen Claassen

Karen Claassen

Position: Project Faculty; Pastor

Academic and Professional Background: BA, University of California at Santa Cruz; MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary; DMin, Portland Seminary

Expertise and Research Interests: Multi-cultural, Aboriginal-Indigenous, and intergenerational ministry; leadership formation; mentoring students; conflict mediation and management; healthy practices for legacy congregations; preaching and teaching for the contemporary context; interim and intervention strategies.

Email: kclaassen@georgefox.edu

Phone: 208-816-8402

Photo of Cal Habig

Cal Habig

Position: Project Faculty; Adjunct Online Faculty; Grand Canyon University (2009-present)

Academic and Professional Background: BS, Manhattan Christian College; MDiv, Emmanuel Christian Seminary; DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary.

Expertise and Research Interests: Lay leadership development; American church history; ethics in coaching relationships

Email: chabig@georgefox.educal.habig@gmail.com

Office: 503-970-8449

Web: http://www.valuesdrivenleaders.com/

Photo of Martina Hagler

Martina Hagler

Position: Project Faculty

Academic and Professional Background: Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Long Island University; Master of Arts, Christian Ministry, Dallas Baptist University; Doctor of Ministry, Semiotics, Church and Culture, George Fox University.

Expertise and Research Interests: Christian ministry, theological studies, global leadership & leadership formation, teaching, semiotics, and changing trends in church and culture.

Email: mhagler@georgefox.edu

Photo of David McDonald

David McDonald

Position: Project Faculty

Academic & Professional Background: Dr. David McDonald is a preacher, teacher, and lecturer in colleges and seminaries worldwide. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine. David was awarded the first-ever post-doctoral fellowship at Portland Seminary and continues to integrate spiritual truth with sharp social analysis as the founder of the Fossores Chapter House, training creative pastors. (fossoreschapterhouse.com). His most recent book, Heirs of Eden, details a biblical defense of how God guides us through our passions, desires, and noble ambitions to heal the world.

Expertise and Research Interests: Creativity, Liturgics, Evangelism

Email:  dmcdonald@georgefox.edu

Twitter: @fossores

Instagram: @fossoreschapterhouse

Web: fossoreschapterhouse.com

Photo of Mindy Smith

Mindy Smith

Position: Project Faculty; Director of Church Engagement at Whitworth University

Academic and Professional Background: B.A. in Theology Whitworth 1998; M.Div Princeton Seminary 2006; D.Min Preaching as Story" Portland Seminary 2018; Ordained PCUSA Minister; 10 years as Campus Pastor, Whitworth University

Expertise and Research Interests: Mindy's doctoral work centered around women and preaching. She runs a women's preacher cohort and does private coaching for preachers working to hone their craft. 

Email: msmith@georgefox.edumindysmith@whitworth.edu

Office: 509-777-4341

Web: https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/administration/church-engagement/staff/

Photo of Len Wilson

Len Wilson

Position: Project Faculty; Executive Director, Invite Resources; Publisher, Invite Press; Author and Consultant

Academic and Professional Background: BA, Communication, Summa Cum Laude, McMurry University. Master’s study at Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. MA, Religious Communication, United Theological Seminary. DMin, Semiotics and Future Studies, George Fox University. Launched and developed three ministries. Author, eleven books. Adjunct Professor, Northwest Nazarene University. Senior Leadership Editor at Abingdon Press, United Methodist Publishing House. Silver Telly Award winner.

Expertise and Research Interests: Communication Studies, Creativity, Innovation, Technology

Email: len@lenwilson.us

Cell: 972-841-3488

Web: lenwilson.us; inviteresources.com

Photo of Sunggu Yang

Sunggu Yang

Position: Project Faculty; Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, George Fox University

Learn more about Sunggu.

Seminary Doctoral Team

The Seminary Doctoral Team manages the program online platforms, organizes the Advances, and provides support to students and Project Faculty, in-person or online. In short, this team is the 'glue' that holds the various elements of the program together.

Clifford Berger

Director, Doctoral Programs

Darcy Hansen

Darcy Hansen, DMin

Associate Director, Doctoral Programs

Jen Macnab

Jen Macnab, MPA

Assistant Director of Academic Engagement, Doctoral Programs

Heather Rainey

Program and Operations Coordinator, Doctoral Programs