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College of Professional Studies

College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies at Bushnell University prepares students to lead, serve, and excel in today’s professional landscape. The College brings together the School of Education and the School of Business, Leadership & Technology to offer innovative undergraduate, graduate, online, and degree completion programs.

Students gain practical skills, ethical foundations, and real-world experience that prepare them for careers in education, business, and leadership. Rooted in Bushnell’s Christ-centered mission, graduates are equipped to make a meaningful impact in their professions and communities.

College of Professional Studies Programs

Schools

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School of Business, Leadership, & Technology

The School of Business, Leadership, and Technology reflects the deep and enduring commitment Bushnell University has for service and stewardship.

School of Business, Leadership, & Technology
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School of Education

The School of Education is dedicated to cultivating future educators who inspire, lead, and make a lasting impact in the world of learning and teaching.

School of Education
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Hear From Students and Faculty

Connect with the Faculty

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Larry Coburn

Program Coordinator, Master of Arts in Leadership

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Peter Diffenderfer

Professor of Business
Chair of Graduate Business Programs

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Shelly Hartzell

Associate Professor of Accounting

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Susan Inman

Field Placement Coordinator & Licensure Specialist
Instructor of Teacher Education

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Brian Kaelin

Professor of Teacher Education

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Shirley Lathrop

Program Lead for School of Counseling

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Bryan Olmstead

Instructor, Computer Science

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Ray Ricks

Program Director
Assistant Professor of Education

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Jennifer Salnas

School of Education Coordinator

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Christy Silverthorne

Assistant Professor of Marketing

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Marilyn Williams

Assistant Professor of Education

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News

Female professor teaching at the front of a classroom with students using laptops
May 28, 2026
Faculty Features: Christy Silverthorne, M.A.

For marketing professor Christy Silverthorne, teaching begins with a simple idea: students often need someone to help them see the strengths they cannot yet recognize in themselves.  Silverthorne remembers what…

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Bushnell University student standing in a donation collection center surrounded by boxes and bags of donated items while organizing a community service project.
April 30, 2026
Internship Insights: Avery Lenssen

During a special Champions of Character Celebratory Chapel on Tuesday, Bushnell University was announced as the 2024-2025 NAIA School of Character, announced by representatives of the NAIA.

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April 7, 2026
The Register-Guard: See Inside Bushnell’s University District Campus Renovation

Written by Miranga Cyr, Eugene Register-Guard Even as sections of the former PeaceHealth University District hospital are demolished, one part of the campus is getting a second life. Bushnell University…

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