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Here at Concordia University Irvine's Christ College, you will study with exceptional theologians who are faithful to Scripture, dedicated to academic excellence, and engaged in Christian ministry.
Scott Ashmon is Associate Senior Vice President and Provost and oversees the University's academic development and direction in accordance with the University's mission. Scott is also Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew. He has been at CUI since 2007 teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. From 2003-2007, he was Assistant Professor of Religion and Chair of the Religion Department at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, OH for four years. Scott earned his B.A. from Concordia College in Portland, OR in 1992 and his M.Div. and S.T.M. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. He earned his Ph.D. from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2010, where he specialized in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East. He has published articles and books on topics related to the Old Testament and Lutheran higher education. He is a member of the Society of Concordia Theological Faculties and a board member of the Association for Core Texts and Courses and its Liberal Arts Institute. Scott and his family. Scott and his family are members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA.
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, OH, M.Phil., 2007, Ph.D, 2010; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, S.T.M., 1998, M.Div., 1996; Concordia College, Portland, OR, B.A., 1992
Concordia University, Irvine, 1983-84 and since 1986.
Dr. Cari Chittick is the Director of Lutheran Teaching Programs, Colloquy, and Placement and an Associate Professor of Education at Concordia University, Irvine. She has a passion for the ministry of Lutheran schools and for encouraging professional growth of future educators in their ministering to children with varying abilities; to enhance students’ academic potential, while nurturing their faith. Prior to joining CUI, Dr. Chittick was the Director of Special Education at Concordia University Texas where she began the major and developed the program to equip future educators to support exceptional learners in all classroom settings. She has also developed elementary resource programs in two Lutheran schools. In her spare time, Dr. Chittick enjoys exploring God’s creation and serving God through service and mission trips around the world.
Curriculum Vitae
Hi! I'm Rebecca Duport and I'm blessed to be called to serve my alma mater Concordia Irvine as an Assistant Professor and Director to the DCE Program of Christ College. Upon graduation from CUI in 1998, I've served Lutheran Churches as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) throughout the country (Idaho, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida) in life-span education roles working with Children, Youth, Family, Older Adults. I cherish the relationships that God has allowed me the privilege to be a part of as a full-time DCE in His church for 16 years before coming to Concordia as a Professor in 2014. My service to the body of Christ also includes speaking at youth gatherings, conferences and leading training events for Family Friendly Partner's Network (FFPN). My husband Kyle and I enjoy spending time with our four boys and their events in scouting, sports and school.
Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, M.S. 2010 Concordia University, Irvine, California, B.A. 1998
Reverend Eschelbach was a parish pastor for 15 years before teaching at Concordia University Chicago (14 years) and now Concordia University Irvine. The care of souls and love of truth are evident in his eagerness to help others find the answers they seek, especially answers to the most difficult questions. Professor Eschelbach invests himself in his students as he shows them how to search for the truth among the various witnesses God has provided, especially in the Bible but also in nature, reason, and common human experience. You may find evidence of Dr. Eschelbach’s work in his publications, public speaking, and recognition for exemplary teaching. Besides teaching and studies, Michael Eschelbach enjoys sailing, biking along Newport beach, and visiting the redwoods.
Hi! My name is Mike Middendorf, a Professor of Theology. I am privileged to teach a wide of variety of courses related to the Bible (e.g. Old and New Testament, Greek and Hebrew, and many more!). It is a great opportunity to lead classes on three levels at one University! My favorite group to work with is our undergraduate students, but I also get to teach courses in the Master of Arts program and to seminarians studying here for many types of ethnic ministry. My home state is Minnesota and my college is a sister school of Concordia - Irvine, located in St. Paul, MN. After completing my pastor’s degree and a doctorate at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, I was a parish pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND. Then I served as professor for 9 years at another sister Concordia, in Austin, TX, before coming to Irvine. Is that enough Concordia’s for you? Well, yet another Concordia, Concordia Publishing House, asked me to write a two-volume commentary on the book of Romans for their Concordia Commentary series. Volume one was published in 2013; volume two in 2016. I also co-authored the New Testament textbook used here and at other Concordias titled, Called by the Gospel. In addition to digging into the Bible, I have worked on an archaeology dig three summers at Hippos on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. After all those Concordias, I should point out that “Concordia” is from two Latin words which literally mean “with heart.” That is one phrase which I strive to have as a characteristic of my teaching ministry. “Concordia” is also often translated as “harmony.” Since coming to Concordia in 2001, I have really found that to be an outstanding description of the Christian community here.
Rev. Dr. Steven P. Mueller earned his doctorate from Durham University in England, completing his dissertation on The Christology of C. S. Lewis: A Lutheran's Evaluation. A graduate of Christ College, Irvine, Dr. Mueller completed his Master's of Divinity and Master’s of Sacred Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft Wayne, IN. Following his ordination, he accepted a call to Concordia University Irvine in 1995. A published author and hymn writer, Dr. Mueller also serves as an Assistant Pastor for Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine.
Joel Oesch, MDiv, holds a PhD from Concordia Seminary and is a graduate of Yale University. He is Director of the Graduate Programs in Theology. Professor Oesch served as Director of Christian Education for 10 years. His research interests are embodied theology, the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and contemporary culture. He’s served Concordia since 2012.
Jonathan will be serving as an assistant professor of theology and the director of the Center for Church Leadership. He has over twenty-one years of full-time ministry experience. The first ten of those years were served in a parish setting in Burbank, California. For the past eleven years he has worked in two different Concordias in four different positions. He is coming to this new position out of working in the CUI campus ministry department for the past seven years. Jonathan earned his BA in religious studies and his Director of Christian Education certificate from CUI. He also has two earned MA degrees. The first is in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and the second is in Theology and Culture from CUI. Jonathan also received pastoral certification from CUI’s Cross-Cultural Ministry Center, which works in conjunction with Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and has served as an ordained pastor for the past three years here on campus. This August Jonathan will begin PhD work in Intercultural Studies from Columbia International University in South Carolina where he will be researching the topic of spiritual warfare.
Jonathan is married to Brenda (who is also an alum of CUI) who works as a preschool teacher and the director of children’s ministries at Light of Christ Lutheran Church here in Irvine. They have three children together. Taylor, their oldest, is starting up as a freshman at CUI this fall where she will be studying theatre design and technical production. Noah, their middle son, will be a sophomore at University High School. Sam, their youngest son, will be entering into his eighth grade year at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School. Jonathan is looking forward to this new adventure and role with the university.
After serving congregations near Pittsburgh, PA and Chicago, IL, bioethicist and theologian Scott Stiegemeyer joined the Faculty at CUI in 2015. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in bioethics from Loyola University, Chicago. A published author, and speaker, his research interests include the theology of the body, medical ethics, transhumanism, and human sexuality.