Faculty
Dr. Philip M. Merklinger, Professor (Philosophy)
B.A., Wilfred Laurier University
M.A., University of Waterloo
Ph.D., University of Ottawa
Phil Merklinger's areas of research centre around philosophy of religion and the history of spirituality, 19th century Philosophy (particularly the work of Hegel), phenomenology, and existentialism. Phil has also played guitar in a local rock band. He also enjoys listening to music, especially rock and roll, and exploring Canadian, American, and German literature.
Dr. Janet Wesselius, Assistant Professor (Philosophy)
Ph.D. (Free University of Amsterdam)
M.Phil.F. (Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto)
B.A. First Class Honours (University of Alberta)
Dr. Wesselius’s research mainly focuses on feminist epistemology & philosophy of science and environmental theory. In addition to philosophy, she has taught courses in Women’s Studies and Religious Studies previous to joining the Augustana Faculty. She is the recipient of the William Hardy Alexander Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching for 2006 and the Faculty of Arts Sessional Instructor Teaching Award for 2006.
Dr. Hans-Dittmar Mündel, Professor (Religion, Global and Development Studies)
M.A., Georg-August Universität, Göttingen, Germany
PhD., Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California
Dittmar Mündel teaches courses in the area of contemporary theology, religion and public life, local and international development. He is the founder of the Prairies-Mexico Rural Development Exchange, now the Puebla Alberta Community Service Exchange. He is associate director of the Chester Ronning Centre for the Study of Religion and Public Life.
Dr. Jacob (Jack) L. C. Waschenfelder, Associate Professor (Religion)
B.A., University of Manitoba
M.Div., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Ph.D., McMaster University
Jack Waschenfelder teaches courses in the areas of introduction to world religions, religion and ecology, Hinduism, and contemporary re-constructive Christian theologies. His research focuses on the cultural divide between belief and non-belief, how God is imagined in the contemporary world, and religious responses to global poverty and climate change. Jack co-leads Augustana’s India Tour and was the 2002-2003 recipient of the Augustana Distinguished Teaching Award.
Rev. Craig Wentland, Part-time Instructor (Religion); Augustana Chaplain
B.A., Camrose Lutheran College
M.A., McGill University
M.Div., Waterloo Lutheran Seminary
Craig Wentland teaches Religious Studies courses in the area of biblical studies and Christian theology. He is also the Augustana Chaplain and provides pastoral care. Craig has interests in permaculture gardening and cooking.
David J. Goa, Part-time Instructor (Religion); Director, Ronning Centre
David has been involved in various research and documentation and communications projects both in Canada and abroad. He built the program for the study of culture through his field research work over thirty years at the Royal Alberta Museum. His work focuses on religious tradition and modern culture, culture and the civil life, and on public institutions in service to cultural communities and modern civil society.
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