Semiotics, Church, and Culture Faculty and Team
Lead Mentor
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.
Gregg Borror
Position: Project Faculty
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
Email: gborror@georgefox.edu
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
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
Blair Farley
Position: Project Faculty & Executive Director of Experience, Journey of Faith
Academic and Professional Background: BA, Psychology, Pacific Christian College; MA, Marriage and Family Therapy, Hope International University; DMin, Portland Seminary; Ordained Minister
Expertise and Research Interests: Digital expressions of faith-based organizations, church communications, organizational leadership, semiotic approaches to communication and theology
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
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
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.edu; mindysmith@whitworth.edu
Office: 509-777-4341
Web: https://www.whitworth.edu
Sunggu Yang
Position: Project Faculty; Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, George Fox University
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.
Program and Operations Coordinator, Doctoral Programs