Peace Studies Teaching Faculty
Karl Dortzbach, PhD, University of Pretoria. Program Director.
Karl’s work in church planting and pastoral training began in 1973 in Ethiopia, six years in the USA, and 25 years in Kenya. Since 1991 he has been involved in global ethnic conflicts, helping to start and lead this program since 2007. His dissertation was “Wholeness and Healing in Community: Toward Understanding Effective African Church Interventions Following Community Violence”, 2002.
Kethoser (Aniu) Kevichusa is a speaker and trainer with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries Life Focus Society. Aniu earned a PhD from Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. His doctoral research focused on the philosophical and ethical relation between forgiveness and politics. His general areas of interest are theology, biblical studies, apologetics, politics, peace studies, and ethics.
Vilma Balmaceda, born and raised in Lima, Peru, 
earned her law degree at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. After pursuing graduate studies in the US as a Fulbright scholar, Nina taught part-time at her alma mater’s Law School and worked in the human rights legal field. She holds master’s degrees in International Peace Studies, and in Government and International Studies, as well as a PhD in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame du Lac. In addition to serving as Professor of Political Science at Nyack College, Dr. Balmaceda is President and CEO of Peace and Hope International.
Rey Taniajura, adjunct professor at IGSL since 2004, has served as a pastor for 16 years, as well as a denominational leader and mission director for more than 20 years and as National Director of the Philippine Missions Association for three years. He is the academic dean and head of the graduate school of the Asian School of Development and Cross-Cultural Studies/Philippine Missionary Institute. He represents William Carey International University in the Philippines as an adjunct professor. His PhD is in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Pangernungba Kechu is the Dean of Post Graduate Studies and Professor of Society, Christian Ethics and Contextual Theology at Oriental Theological Seminary, Nagaland, India. He holds a PhD in Religion and Society from Princeton Theological Seminary. Kechu is the lead editor of Religious Resources for Peace Work (2016), among many others. He has served as Research Associate and Interfaith Movement Researcher, Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago. Kechu is a member of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and is currently the National Chairperson of Student Christian Movement of India.
Chip Zimmer was a leading tennis coach for 6 years before finishing law school at Seattle University in 1984. He then headed up a Christian conciliation service for 10 years before working for the State Department in four countries on three continents. He was then vice-president of Peacemaker Ministries for 13 years and now vice-president for Relational Wisdom. Chip speaks French and Spanish as well as English and has been a practical force behind the formation of this program.
Gary Friesen, PhD, finished his JD Law degree from Wilamette University in 1987 and practiced corporate law for 9 years before becoming the vice-president of Peacemaker Ministries for 17 years. He then moved to work as peacemaking consultant and general counsel for the Christian and Missionary Alliance – global since 2013. In this position he consults, travels and teaches globally. His PhD dissertation was “A Study of What Contributes to Spiritual Brokenness when Top level Leaders Experience Significant Personal Leadership Conflict” 2018.
Peace Studies Program Committee Faculty
Julie Bustamante, EdD, has been school Director of Koinonia Theological Seminary Foundation, Inc. since 2013, and board member of the Asia Graduate School of Theology which jointly oversees this program. Julie is passionate about the church and helping its leaders be effective. She is a pastor as well as an educator
Paul Sung-Ro Lee, PhD Having lived and ministered for one third of his life, proportionally each, in Asia, America, and Africa, Rev. Dr. Paul Lee is now teaching intercultural studies at IGSL. On his blog, EAPTC Teaching Resources , he shares sermons, lectures, articles, and books available in English, Korean, and six other languages. He received his PhD in Religion from Oxford with a dissertation on “Impact of Missionary Training on Intercultural Readiness.”
Stephen Pardue, PhD, became an adjunct professor at IGSL in 2012. He is co-chair and founder of the Scripture and Theology in Global Context Consultation at the Evangelical Theological Society in the US. He taught under two fellowships, first the H. Wilbert and Colene Norton Fellowship at Wheaton College from 2008 to 2012, and then in 2015 by the Center for Christian Thought at Biola University. His dissertation on “The Mind of Christ: Humility as an Intellectual Virtue in Christian Theology” was published by Bloomsbury under the title
Ferry Y. Mamahit, PhD, faculty member of the Southeast Asia Bible Seminary (SAAT) since 2003, has written and speaks on the Old Testament and social injustice. His dissertation from University of Pretoria: “Establish Justice in the Land: Rhetoric and Theology of Social Justice in the Book of Amos” (2010). Ferry has been through this Peace Studies program, A.B.D. He served as church planter and pastoral staff in Indonesia from 1986 to 2011 and as pulpit minister during a short-term ministry in 2016 in Australia. His research interests and involvements are in the interface of Biblical and Qur’anic studies, Christian-Muslim relations, and peacebuilding in Indonesia.
Steve Hobson, DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Steve has been on staff with Campus Crusade for Staff (CCC) since 1988 and a faculty at IGSL since 1989. He was ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America, and was involved in pastoral ministries and church planting for about 10 years. Steve was director of the DMin peace studies program from its inception. His dissertation was “Church Based Leadership Training Factors Contributing to the Development of Spiritual Authority in Filipino Male Leaders” 2001.
Vivian Tica is the Program Administrator of the PhD in Peace Studies program. She earned her BA in Psychology at Ateneo de Manila University. She took her MA in Social and Community Psychology at the same university and wrote a thesis on conflict resolution among rich and poor communities in Metro Manila. She took the Partners in Ministry program at IGSL and has been a faculty member since 2008. She also taught journalism and creative writing at Higher Ground Baptist Academy. Vivian has written more than 30 academic textbooks and trade books for children. She has been serving as a volunteer in various ministries at Malabon International Baptist Church since 1987.
Peace Studies Dissertation Reference Faculty
Lorami Gerstbauer, PhD, has been on faculty of the Gustavus Adolphus College since completing her degree at Notre Dame in government in 2002. As a Fulbright Scholar she has traveled in Europe and maintains deep interest in Africa and Asian Peace Studies. She has authored numerous publications.
Perry Shaw, EdD, has served in the Middle East since 1990. During the 1990s Perry was involved in helping in the establishment of extension centers in Syria for the Program for Theological Education by Extension. He then taught at the Near East School of Theology (Beirut) during the early years of the millennium, joining the ABTS Faculty in 2007.
Perry spends much of the year as a curriculum and faculty development consultant for theological schools across the globe. His dissertation was “Formational Ministry in Christian Faith Communities”, Asia Graduate School of Theology (Alliance), Singapore.
Alemayehu Mekonnen, PhD, joined the faculty of African International University in 1996, then Denver Seminary in 2008 and now at Regent University since 2017. He finished his studies with three MA degrees and a PhD from Fuller in 1995. He has survived difficulties of the Ethiopian regime changes and is deeply passionate about the shifts needed in mission.
Annabel M. Manalo, PhD,is Associate Professor at the Counseling Department of Asian Theological Seminary. She received her PhD from Ateneo de Manila University. Dr. Manalo also has a Certificate in Law and Justice from the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands and a Certificate in Counseling from Singapore’s Counseling and Care Center. She finished her Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Philippines, Master of Counseling from the Asian Theological Seminary, and Master of Arts from Ateneo de Manila University.