by Frank Brazell
Manna University continues to add new courses to our catalog, and we’re particularly excited about a new course led by long-time Dean Stefanie Ertel and new faculty member Natasha Tubbs, CLG 120- Jesus and Women. This course explores the interactions between Jesus and women throughout the Gospels in light of the original cultural and societal contexts of first-century Judea.
When asked about the importance of this course and its content, Dean Ertel said, “This course is valuable for all Christian leaders, regardless of gender. Recognizing how Jesus elevated women during His time on earth is significant for understanding the reasons and methods for empowering women in various roles today.”
For Ertel, this course is more than a study rooted in sound hermeneutics; it’s about application. “Our goal is to not only engage students in discussions and readings, but also to inspire them to apply this knowledge in real-life situations, making it meaningful in our everyday lives.”
We asked Dean Ertel to describe her process for developing a new course. Here’s what she had to say, “It all begins with understanding the purpose. What exactly is the goal of this course? Once you have the course description identified, the purpose and learning outcomes, and acquired the necessary textbooks, you can delve into the content itself and explore ways to go beyond the textbooks. How can the material, assignments, and the overall class inspire students to dig deep? What experiences can we draw upon, and what additional resources can we incorporate to enrich this course? By first seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, then integrating insights from each chapter and pulling in various resources, Professor Tubbs and I collaborated to create this brand-new course.”
Developing new courses is not something new for Stefanie Ertel. She has served Manna University (and Grace College of Divinity) as the Program Director for the Undergraduate Christian Leadership program for several years and has developed and led courses including LEA 451-Transforming Culture, LEA 322-Servant Leadership, and LEA 310-Introduction to Organizational Leadership. She is also the co-editor of Women in Leadership: Biblical and Contemporary Perspectives alongside Dr. Doris Gomez and Dr. Kathleen Patterson, both of Regent University.
After graduating from Grace College of Divinity with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 2008, Stefanie Ertel received her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in 2014. She has served at Manna University as a faculty member and Program Director since 2014, and currently serves as the Dean of Distance Education.
