Meet Professor Beth Elness-Hanson

Beth Elness-Hanson joined the faculty in 2008 and serves as Professor & Chair of Biblical Studies. Beth teaches Bible courses, specializing in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), in addition to teaching biblical Hebrew, spiritual formation, inductive Bible study methods, and global mission. Her professional research continues in intercultural hermeneutics of the Hebrew Bible.

Beth also taught at the MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School in Monduli, Tanzania, East Africa, and continues to teach in local congregations and guest lecture for Fuller Seminary Northwest. Previously, she was the Director of Communications at Trinity Lutheran College and oversaw communications in a congregational ministry. She also served as a program director in camping ministry.

An alumna of Trinity (Lutheran Bible Institute; certificate ’84, and B.A. ’90, majoring in biblical studies), Beth also earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota (biology major, chemistry minor) and a Master of Arts in Theology, with an emphasis in biblical studies and theology, from Fuller Theological Seminary. Beth has engaged in additional study in Christian spirituality at Regent College, Vancouver, Canada.

As one who has lived in Asia and Africa, Beth continues to enjoy travel, facilitating mission trips for local congregations.  Her life is enriched by day hikes, being creative with her daughter, supporting her husband through brain cancer, and as time allows, playing drums for her home church’s worship team.