ABHE Staff
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Philip E. Dearborn, Ed.D.
Dr. Philip E. Dearborn is the president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). ABHE serves over 150 institutions of biblical higher education across North America enrolling 65,000 students. Philip earned his undergraduate degree from a Bible college and his Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to leading ABHE, he served as Provost of Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School. He has over 26 years of higher education leadership experience including teaching at the Ph.D. level. His research interests include organizational theory, leadership development, and board governance. Philip and his wife, Amy, have three adult children.
David S. Medders, M.Div.
David has served on the ABHE team since 2009 after serving nineteen years as president of Kingswood University in New Brunswick, Canada. As Executive Vice President, he gives oversight to the Annual Meeting, directs the leadership development initiatives of the Association, and serves as chief development officer to expand association resource and revenue streams. David also assists President Dearborn in support of fulfilling the strategic vision of ABHE.
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Lisa L. Beatty, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Commission on Accreditation
Dr. Lisa L. Beatty serves as Executive Director of the ABHE Commission on Accreditation. Dr. Beatty holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa, where her doctoral research focused on institutional outcomes of the accreditation process.
Dr. Beatty brings 29 years of leadership experience at Emmaus University as a faculty member, department chair, chief academic officer, and regional accreditation liaison and self-study coordinator. She previously served ABHE as a team evaluator and chair, Commission member and chair, Board member and officer, and conference presenter.
Carol Dibble
Carol joined the ABHE Team in 1998. She oversees day-to-day office operations; ABHE website and social media platforms; general management of the ABHE Annual Meeting, leadership development conferences and special events.
Eric Brandt, M.A.
Director of the Leadership Academy
Eric Brandt joined ABHE in December 2025 as Director of the Leadership Academy. He is a biblical higher education leader with experience in faculty development, online learning innovation, and academic strategy. Before ABHE, he spent more than a decade at Lancaster Bible College across faculty, instructional design, and academic leadership roles, and previously worked at Ligonier Ministries and Reformation Bible College. He holds a PGCert in Theological Education (London School of Theology), an MA in the History of Christianity (Wheaton College), and a BS in Biblical Studies (Lancaster Bible College).
M. Shane Wood, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Director
Commission on Accreditation
Dr. M. Shane Wood is an experienced evaluation team chair and evaluation team trainer for ABHE, and has served at three ABHE institutions over the past 15 years. Dr. Wood has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (Regent University), M.Div. in New Testament (Lincoln Christian University), and a B.Th. in New Testament (Ozark Christian College).
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Jazmine Grafton, B.S.
Director of Marketing & Communications
Jazmine Grafton joined the ABHE team in September 2025. Jazmine is a creative and mission-minded digital media specialist with a strong background in graphic design, video production, photography, and storytelling. She earned a Bachelorʼs of Science in Creative Arts from New Hope Christian College (OR).
Ronald Kroll, Ed.D.
Commission Staff Representative
Ron serves as retired Director of the Commission on Accreditation. Comprising over 150 member and affiliate institutions throughout North America, ABHE colleges engage students in ministerial and professional leadership education that is distinctively biblical, transformational, experiential, and missional.
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Kim Latsa
Accreditation Services Assistant
Kim joined the ABHE team in April 2015. Kim served with Campus Crusade for Christ from 1987 to 2010–Campus Director, Regional Director, Chief of Staff for National Campus Director, and Leadership Placement Coordinator. She is a mother of two and has been a Women’s Ministry Coordinator at LifeSong Church in East Orlando since leaving Cru to raise a family. Kim has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Bowling Green State and a certificate from CCC’s International School of Theology.
Sheri Popp, Ed.D.
Associate Director, Research Analyst
Dr. Sheri Popp joined Team ABHE in June 2026. Dr. Popp has extensive experience in higher education, institutional effectiveness, and accreditation. She holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, Missouri, where her doctoral research focused on the impact of faculty development on teacher attitudes and approaches to teaching. Dr. Popp last served as Director of Academic Effectiveness at Columbia International University (SC). She previously served eight years at Emmaus University (IA) in various roles including teacher education faculty, secondary education program director, and associate dean for institutional effectiveness. Dr. Popp also served five years at WEAVE Education, ending her tenure at WEAVE as Senior Director, Professional Development and Accreditor Strategy. She has been an active team evaluator and chair for ABHE evaluation visits since 2014.
Sarah Starks, Ed.D.
Associate Director for Accreditation Services
Dr. Sarah Starks joined the ABHE team in July 2019. Prior to this she was a school teacher in Manitoba (2010-2016, 2018-2019) and North Carolina (2016-2018), teaching elementary grades and music to all grades. Sarah has a B.A. in Music Education from Southern Wesleyan University (South Carolina), a M.M. from Stephen F. Austin State University (Texas), and a Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Liberty University (Virginia).
Kathy VanScoter
Kathy joined the ABHE team in 2001. She handles all accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, account reconciliation, financial statements and budget, as well as personnel and Association insurance.
Prior to her work at ABHE, Kathy was an Administrative Assistant for seven years at Colonial Management Group (CMG), ensuring that all license requirements at each of CMG’s out-patient narcotic treatment centers were in compliance. Kathy and her husband, Mark, are grateful to be blessed with three children – Matthew, Audrey and Chad, and two grandchildren.