Faculty
Jon Paulien, PhD
Dean
909-558-8434; x. 88434 on campus; jpaulien@llu.edu
Dr Paulien received his bachelor’s degree in theology from Atlantic Union College, which included a year abroad studying in West Germany. His MDiv degree (1975) and his PhD in New Testament (1987) were both earned from Andrews University.
Roy Branson, PhD.
Associate Dean
909-651-5091; x. 15091 0n campus; rbranson@llu.edu
Dr. Branson has been an active educator, mentor, ethicist, and advocate for social justice for many decades. He received his undergraduate degree from Atlantic Union College; earned a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Chicago, and an MA in Religion from Andrews University; and his PhD in Religious Ethics from Harvard University in 1968.
Roy Branson, PhD
Ivan Blazen, PhD
Professor, Theological Studies
909-558-6268; x. 46268 on campus; iblazen@llu.edu
Dr Blazen graduated from Emmanuel Missionary College (precursor to Andrews University) with his undergraduate degree, and received an MA in Biblical Greek from Potomac University in Takoma Park, Maryland. He also engaged in graduate studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York, the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. In 1979 he received his PhD in New Testament from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey.
Ivan Blazen, PhD
Mark F. Carr, PhD.
Professor
909-558-2092; x. 42092 on campus; mcarr@llu.edu
Dr Carr received his BA in Theology degree from Walla Walla College (1987), his MDiv in Pastoral Theology from Andrews University (1990), and his PhD in Religious Ethics from the University of Virginia (1998). He has been a fulltime faculty member of the LLU School of Religion since 1997.
Mark Carr, PhD
Carla Gober, PhD, MS, MPH, RN
Director, Center for Spiritual Life & Wholeness
Assistant Professor, Relational Studies
Dr Gober received her undergraduate education from Southern Adventist University in nursing and religious studies, which included a year of study in England. She completed two master’s degrees from Loma Linda University; a MPH health education and promotion (1985), and a MS in marriage and family studies (1994). Dr. Gober completed her PhD in religious studies from Emory University (Atlanta, GA) in 2008, where her doctoral focus was in the area of attachment, memory and meaning. She joined the LLU faculty in 1997.
Carla Gober, PhD, MS, MPH, RN
Ramona Hyman, PhD.
Associate Professor
909-651-5097; x. 15097 on campus; rhyman@llu.edu
Dr Hyman received her BA in English from Temple University (1979), and her MA in English from Andrews University (1986). She earned her PhD in English from the University of Alabama (2006). She has held faculty positions and been a writing specialist at Alabama A & M University and Oakwood College (creative writing, drama, advanced composition, freshman composition, and world literature). Her research and teaching interests are African-American Literature and Creative Writing and Composition.
Ramona Hyman, PhD
Andy Lampkin, PhD
Assistant Professor
909-558-3414; x 83414 on campus; alampkin@llu.edu
Dr Lampkin received his bachelor’s degree from Oakwood College, after which he earned two master’s degrees, both from Vanderbilt University; an MA in Theological Studies (1995), and an MA in Religion, Ethical Studies (1998). In 2000 he earned his PhD from Vanderbilt in Religion, Ethics, and Society.
Andy Lampkin, PhD
David R Larson, DMin, PhD
Professor, Ethical Studies
909-558-8103; x.88103 on campus; dlarson@llu.edu
Early in his career, David served as a church pastor for the SDA church in Southern California. In 1974 Dr Larson joined the LLU faculty of religion and has taught ethics courses to students from many programs and Schools across campus. His areas of specialty include medical ethics, sexual ethics, philosophical ethics, and theological ethics. It was especially gratifying to Dr Larson to be part of the team that gained formal approval to establish a Center for Christian Bioethics on the LLU campus with voluntary contributions in 1983.
David Larson, PhD, DMin
Juhyeok (Julius) Nam, PhD.
Associate Professor
(909) 558-2338; x. 82338 on campus; jjnam@llu.edu
Julius Nam received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Andrews University (BA Religion - 1990; MA Religion, Systematic Theology - 1992). His PhD in Religion from Andrews (2005) is in Adventist Studies, specializing in Historical Theology. Before coming to the LLU School of Religion in 2006, Dr Nam taught at Pacific Union College, La Sierra University, and Andrews University. He has also taught conversational English and religion classes at the SDA Language Institute in Seoul, Korea.
Juhyeok Nam, PhD
Johnny Ramirez-Johnson, EdD.
Professor
909-558-4536; x.42942 on campus; jramirez@llu.eduDr Ramirez received his bachelor’s degree from Antillean College in Puerto Rico. He later earned two master’s degrees; an MA in Religion with concentration in Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) from Andrews University (1979), and a Master of Education, with a concentration in human development and psychology, from Harvard University (1988). He received his doctoral degree in Education from Harvard in 1993 with a concentration in cultural psychology applied to religion.. He has been on the faculty of LLU since 1994.
Johnny Ramirez-Johnson, PhD
Siroj Sorajjakool, PhD.
Professor
909-558-3413; x. 83413 on campus; ssorajjakool@llu.edu
Dr Sorajjakool, a native of Thailand, earned his bachelor’s degree in Theology from Southeast Asia Union Seminary in Singapore (1982). He holds two master’s degrees; an MA Religion from Andrews University (Extension Campus at Spicer Memorial College, Pune, India – 1987), and an MA Theological Studies from Claremont School of Theology (1998). In 1999 Dr Sorajjakool also received his PhD in Theology and Personality (Pastoral Care and Counseling) from Claremont.
Siroj Sorajjokool, PhD
Richard Rice, PhD
Professor, Theological Studies
909-558-3452; x. 83452 on campus; rrice@llu.edu
Dr Rice earned his MDiv degree from the Andrews University Theological Seminary in 1969. He received both his master’s degree (1972) and his PhD (1974) from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Early in his career he was a pastor at two churches in Southern California. He first joined Loma Linda University to teach religion courses in 1974; then, after spending almost fifteen years teaching religion at the undergraduate level at La Sierra University, Dr Rice re-joined the LLU faculty in 1998.
Richard Rice, PhD
David L Taylor, PhD.
Professor
909-558-7008; x. 47008; dltaylor@llu.edu
Dr Taylor received bachelor’s degrees from Oakwood College and Pepperdine University; an MA in Applied Theology from Andrews University; and his DMin degree in American Christian History from Vanderbilt University in 1977. Early in his career he pastured churches in Central and Southern California, and served in many administrative positions in the Adventist Church (Youth Ministry, Stewardship Director, African-American Ministries Director), mostly in California. He has also served the Church as a Conference Secretary (1987-91), Conference Vice-President (1991-92), and then as President of Atlantic Union Conference (1992-94).
David L Taylor, PhD.
Sigve K. Tonstad, MD, MA, PhD.
Assistant Professor
909-558-2251; x. 42251 on campus; sktonsta@llu.edu
Dr Sigve Tonstad was born and raised in Norway, where he graduated from high school. His undergraduate experience took him to Middle East College in Beirut, an extension course in France, and he then completed his BA degree from Andrews University in 1974.
Sigve K. Tonstad, MD, MA, PhD.
James W. Walters, PhD.
Professor, Ethical Studies
909-558-7011; x. 47011 on campus; jwalters@llu.edu
Dr Walters received his undergraduate degree from Southern Adventist University and then completed his MDiv at Andrews University. He also earned a master’s degree and his doctoral degree from the Claremont Graduate School. He wrote is doctoral dissertation on “The Ethics of Martin Buber: A Theological and Philosophical Analysis.”
James W. Walters, PhD