Education department

The education department was founded in 1952 under Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland.

With the goal of training quality, Christian educators for this field, Sutherland appointed two women to professorships of the new department. Dr. Betty (McCoullough) Carden and Dr. Gloria Graham took the helm under Dean Emerson Wallace.

Though Biola did not have the authority to grant credentials, students went through the credentialing program of Cal State Los Angeles. Once Biola moved to the La Mirada campus, Graham left to join the faculty of CSULA. She ultimately came to be the director of the university’s education department.

Later, Dr. Richard Jones took over as chair of the department. During his tenure, the department added a single subject credential in and a Masters in Christian School Administration.

Shortly after Biola College transformed into Biola University in 1982, many of the original education faculty left or retired. Betty Carden, Marlos Cole, Annadale White and David Hammond hung their hats and made way for newcomers Ron Brown, Deborah Bainer, and Claire Sibold.

As demand lowered for the highly-niched MA in School Administration, the Department discontinued the program. But later, a new, broader program resurrected – the MA in Education under the Direction of Claire Sibold, Lucile Richardson, Pete Menjares & June Hetzel.

Pete Menjares was chair until 2000. When he left, June Hetzel took over as chair.

Meanwhile, a movement was emerging to provide more opportunities for non-traditional students. Since the inauguration of the School of Professional Studies, Biola created several satellite campuses catered to the needs of working adults. It wasn’t long after that the education department teamed up with SPS to open satellite programs in San Leandro and Inglewood. Dr. O’Quinn headed up the Inglewood campus, which has since closed.

A third upheaval has been the growing influx of non-English speakers within the state. Teaching English as a second language is becoming commonplace, and to prepare educators for these challenges, Biola hired Dr. Ivannia Hinman in 2005.

Corresponding with the rapid growth of the University within the past decade, and in response to high teacher demand, the education department has witnessed steady growth in undergraduate enrollment and unparalleled growth in the M.A. program. In the 2007-2008 school year, the department conferred 43 M.A. in Education degrees.

In March 2007, the Board of Trustees approved the department's request to become the School of Education. The transition took place on July 1, 2007. An official commissioning ceremony took place at a morning chapel on Feb. 16, 2009.

Biola education graduates predominantly land teaching jobs in California public schools, but 30 percent teach for at least five years in a private Christian school and five percent teach abroad in missions schools.

Personal interview with June Hetzel, conducted by Michelle Rindels in Spring 2007.

Biola University education Web site, accessed Feb. 25, 2009.