Affiliate Faculty

Cogen Bohanec

Affiliate Assistant Professor
PhD, Graduate Theological Union
Cogen currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute and is an Affiliate Assistant Professor at Claremont School of Theology (CST). He has taught numerous classes on South Asian Culture & Religions and Sanskrit language at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley. Dr. Bohanec specializes in comparative dharma traditions, philosophy of religion, and Sanskrit language and literature, and has numerous publications in those areas. He has a PhD in “Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion” with an emphasis in Hindu Studies from GTU, where his research emphasized ancient Indian languages, literature, and philosophical systems. He also holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies at GTU where his research primarily involved translations of Pāli Buddhist scriptures in conversation with the philology of the Hindu Upaniṣads.

Pooreum Chung

Affiliate Professor
BA, Kangnam University; MDiv, The Graduate School of Theology at Hanshin University; MA, McCormick Theological Seminary; PhD, Claremont School of Theology
 Dr. Chung is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at the Healing and Counseling Graduate University, where she teaches courses in pastoral care and counseling, spirituality, feminism, and relational psychology. She is the 16th—and notably the first female—President of the Korean Association of Pastoral Counselors. Her pedagogical approach and scholarly influence reflect a deep commitment to integrating healing, pastoral care and counseling, feminist theory, and relational ethics into her teaching and institutional leadership.
 
Her scholarly work emphasizes the transformative power of care, connection, and justice. Among her articles, in Feminist Research on Care and Connection (2024), she advocates for a shift from individual-centered paradigms to relational and interdependent frameworks, arguing that care is a spiritual and ethical responsibility rooted in our inherent interconnectedness. In Beyond Gender: Feminist Pastoral Counseling of Men and Transgender (2017), Dr. Chung explores how feminist pastoral counseling—traditionally focused on women's experiences—can effectively address the needs of men and transgender individuals by centering structural, sociocultural, and narrative insights. Her scholarship also includes numerous articles as well as contributions to edited volumes and translations of works in pastoral theology and feminist counseling.

Jonathan Dickstein

Affiliate Assistant Professor
BA, University of Pennsylvania; MA University of Colorado, Boulder; PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara
Jonathan Dickstein is an Assistant Professor at Arihanta Institute, specializing in South Asian religions, religion and ecology, and comparative religious ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Dr. Dickstein’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies. He has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain dietary ethics, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike.

Po-ho Huang

Affiliate Professor

Po-ho Huang is Professor of Theology and Director of the Academy for Contextual Theologies in Taiwan. He also serves as Adjunct Professor at Chang Jung Christian University (Taiwan). In addition, Dr. Huang is Chair of the Board of the Asia-Pacific Theological Union, Convener of the Asian Forum for Theological Movements, and a Board Member of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. He has previously served as President of Tainan Theological College and Seminary, Vice President of Chang Jung Christian University, Associate General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Moderator of the Council for World Mission, and Director of the Programme for Theology and Cultures in Asia. Dr. Huang is dedicated to advancing contextual theologies and fostering ecumenical engagement. His publications include the twelve-volume Collected Works on Contextual Theologies (in Chinese) and several books in English, such as A Theology of Self-Determination, From Galilee to Tainan, Mission from the Underside, Embracing the Household of God, and No Longer a Stranger.

Chi Hoon Kim

Affiliate Professor
PhD, Claremont School of Theology
As an ordained pastor of the Korean American Presbyterian Church, Chi Hoon has been serving as the lead pastor of the Oriental Mission Church in Los Angeles since 2017, one of the area’s most prominent Korean churches. He is a former vice president of World Mission University and a member of the Community Advocacy Committee at USC Cancer Hospital. Chi Hoon’s research explores trauma experienced by pastors in the church and how it is addressed, as well as trauma healing among North Korean refugees during their escape and resettlement. He is a well-known speaker for ecumenical ministries of the Missional Church Alliance and KOSTA (The Evangelical Fellowship of International & Global Students Abroad). He earned his PhD in Practical Theology from Claremont School of Theology, an MA in Counseling from Iliff School of Theology, an MDiv from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea, and both an MA and a BA in Psychology from Korea University. In healing individual trauma, Chi Hoon emphasizes the importance of authenticity, ongoing attention, and community support.

Joung Hee Kim

Affiliate Professor
BA, Sungshin Women’s University; M.Div, Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary; MA and PhD, Claremont School of Theology
Dr. Joung Hee Kim specializes in Spiritual Formation, History of Christian Spirituality, Contemplative Practice (with a focus on Compassion Practice and Walking Meditation), Spiritual Direction and Supervision, Protestant Spirituality, Neuroscience, and Internal Family Systems Therapy. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of Korea. Dr. Kim’s recent publications include: “Peregrinatio: Sacred Wandering for Christ,” in The Pulse of Life: Exploring the Power of Compassion in Transforming the World: Essays in Honor of Frank Rogers Jr. (CST Press, 2023); “The Sacred Wondering: The Spirituality of Egong Sejong Lee’s Pilgrimage,” in The Life and Spirituality of Egong Sejong Lee (Hada, 2023); and several scholarly articles. She also translated Compassion in Practice by Frank Rogers Jr. (Upper Room Books, 2016) into Korean (2019).

Yong Hwan Kim

Affiliate Professor
PhD, Claremont School of Theology
Yong Hwan has been a Visiting Professor at the Healing & Counseling Graduate University in Seoul, Korea, where he teaches counseling courses at both the master’s and doctoral levels. As CST’s Affiliate Professor, he has been teaching in CST’s DMin. and DPC programs. His teaching areas include gerontology, life review through autobiography, intergenerational conflict, culture and psychology, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. He earned his PhD in Spiritual Care and Counseling from Claremont School of Theology; his dissertation explored a practical theological approach to the despair experienced by Korean American Christian seniors in the United States. Before moving to Korea, he taught at theological schools in Southern California and, as an ordained pastor, ministered to the elderly in local churches. His current research interests include developing strategies and programs to promote the spiritual maturity and growth of Korean elders, creating counseling methods tailored for Korean seniors, combating widespread ageism in Korean society, and advancing a cognitive-behavioral therapy that is specifically tailored for Korean and Christian individuals.

Joung Chul Lee

Affiliate Professor
BA, Yonsei University; MDiv, Emory University; ThM, Princeton Theological Seminary; PhD, Claremont School of Theology  of California, Davis 

Dr. Joung Chul Lee is an Assistant Professor in the College of General Education and the College of Global Climate and Environmental Interdisciplinary Studies at Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at Yonsei University and as an Affiliate Faculty member at Claremont School of Theology. His research lies at the intersection of interreligious studies, religious education, and climate humanities. He has published numerous articles and book chapters in both Korean and English. His recent works include “Multilayered Faith and Interreligious Dialogue: A Case of Religious Hybridity in Korea and Its Implications for Formation” (2024), “Dechurched Believers (‘Canaan Christians’) and Multilayered Faith: The Phenomenon of Korean Protestantism in the Post-Religious Era and Its Future” (2025), and the Korean translation of Critical Perspectives on Interreligious Education (2024).

Christopher Jain Miller

Affiliate Professor
PhD, University of California, Davis 
Christopher Jain Miller, the co-founder and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Arihanta Institute, completed his PhD in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis. He is a Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich’s Asien-Orient-Institute and Affiliate Professor at Claremont School of Theology. Christopher’s primary fields of research interest are Yoga Studies and Jain Studies, and he is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024) and the co-editor of Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Approaches to Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) and Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).

Christy Newton

Affiliate Professor
PhD, Graduate Theological Union 
Rev. Christy Newton, Ph.D. is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who has worked in campus ministry, served congregations in Arkansas and California, and taught in seminaries for over 25 years. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Disciples Seminary Foundation, supporting the leadership formation of emerging theological leaders. Christy is an alumna of Texas Christian University, Nanzan University (Nagoya, Japan), Monash University (Melbourne, Australia), Pacific School of Religion, and the Graduate Theological Union, where she received her Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary disciplines of theology, globalization, and material culture. Her current teaching focuses on social ethics, pastoral leadership, spirituality, globalization, and culture. Christy’s ministry and teaching focus on the gritty and tangible work of justice, dynamically translating a prophetic gospel message into languages that diverse people can understand, and using the arts to open the transformative possibilities of the spirit. She is energized by practical and public theologies that insist on hospitality, justice, and compassion, and she is inspired to help individuals and communities sustain their prophetic voices in a difficult and polarized world.

Hye Kyung Park

Affiliate Professor
BA, Ewha Womans University; MDiv, San Francisco Theological Seminary; MABL, Graduate Theological Union; PhD, Claremont Graduate University

Hye Kyung Park is Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Theology at Chang Jung Christian University, Taiwan. Originally from South Korea, she earned her Ph.D. in Religion from Claremont Graduate University, California, and has served as an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 2006. Her research centers on Old Testament hermeneutics, Asian theology, and Asian women’s biblical theology, with emphasis on feminist and Minjung perspectives. She is the author of God’s Words in God’s World: A Contextual Application of Asian Biblical Theology (2018) and Why Not Her? A Form and Literary Critical Interpretation of the Named and Unnamed Women in the Elijah and Elisha Narratives (2015). Her recent works include “Confronting Gender Violence through Hokmah Education: A Dialogue with Arendt’s Banality of Evil and Proverbs 1” (MAHABBAH, 2025), “Post-Story Theology from a Minjung Theology Perspective” (Theological Studies, 2024), “Story Theology from the Perspectives of Asian Creation Stories” (Theology of the Hebrew Bible, 2024), “Mothers’ Prayers and Korean Feminist Minjung Theology” (Madang, 2022), and “Swords into Plowshares as a Peace Challenge” (AJES, 2022).

Yuki Takai-Heller

Affiliate Professor

Yuki Takai-Heller is an Assistant Professor and Library Director at Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Taiwan, sent by the United Church of Christ in Japan as a lay missionary. She teaches Asian Christian History, Taiwan Christian History, Missiology, and Religion and Society. It was her PhD research into the difficult history of Japan’s colonization of Taiwan that eventually led her to serve as an educator in Taiwan from 2018. She hopes to contribute by working with Taiwanese Christians to expand God’s work in Taiwan and to deepen ties between Christians in Taiwan and Japan. Yuki’s husband, Daniel, is an American who teaches remotely for more than half of the year at a university in Japan, and they have three children who reside in Taiwan and the United States. Together, Yuki and Daniel serve on the pastoral team and committee of Tainan International Community Church.

Wai Ching Angela Wong

Affiliate Professor

Dr. Wong is currently an adjunct professor and a senior college tutor of Chung Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She recently served as the vice-president of programs for the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, and was ecumenically active in the World Student Christian Federation, Christian Conference of Asia, and the Congress of Asian Theologians. She taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong for over twenty years in theology, religious studies, and cultural studies, and headed several academic units, including the Graduate Divisions of Cultural Studies and Gender Studies, and the Gender Research Centre. Her representative works include Chinese Women and Hong Kong Christianity: An Oral History(2010), Gender and Family in Asia (2014), Gender/Sexual Politics and the Local Movement (2015), The Blackwell Wiley Encyclopaedia of Gender and Sexuality (2015), and Christian Women in Chinese Society: The Anglican Story (2019). In 2015, she completed a commissioned report on a “Feasibility Study of Legislation against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Intersex Status” for the Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Committee. She has published widely in Chinese and English journals, and is finishing a manuscript on the Chinese Muslim women in Hong Kong.

Aizaiah Yong

Affiliate Associate Professor of Spirituality and Executive Director of Collegeville Institute
PhD, Claremont School of Theology
Aizaiah G. Yong (he/him) is an ordained Pentecostal Christian minister and practical theologian who has served in religious and higher education leadership for over a decade devoting his energy to healing and advocacy work that centers QTBIPOC communities. He is a distinguished international speaker, and his background includes keynote presentations, guest sermons at a diverse range of ecumenical ministries, psychospiritual private and community-based practice, faculty teaching experience, and seminary administrative leadership. His recent book, Multiracial Cosmotheadrism: a Practical Theology of Multiracial Experiences (Orbis Books, 2023), received the internationally acclaimed 2022 Raimon Panikkar Prize for the English language and critically explores how multiracial people transform efforts towards racial and planetary justice. Additional research interests of his include: contemplative spirituality, spiritual care, critical mixed-race studies, internal family systems, as well as interreligious/intercultural facilitation. Aizaiah believes that healing is a collective work that is received when we relate to ourselves, one another, and the world with authenticity, curiosity, and perseverance.

Sang Hi Yoo

Affiliate Professor
BS, Chosun University; ThM, Yonsei University; MDiv and PhD, Claremont School of Theology
 Sang Hi Yoo is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at Healing and Counseling Graduate University in Seoul, South Korea, and a director of the Multicultural/Intercultural Counseling Center. Sang Hi is a certified professional counselor and supervisor of the Korean Association of Christian Counseling & Psychology, a certified pastoral counselor and supervisor of the Korean Association of Pastoral Counselors, and a certified addiction psychologist of the Korean Psychological

Association. She is the chief editor of the Korean Journal of Christian Counseling. 

Sang Hi is a practical/pastoral theologian who is interested in the dialogue and integration of psychology and religion/spirituality, and a pastoral counselor, focused on women, adolescents, and social minorities in a Korean society. Her current research and teaching interests encompass crisis and resilience, complex trauma and healing, relationships and society, addiction and recovery, intercultural and social justice counseling, spiritual assessment and diagnosis, and compassionate spirituality.

Benjamin Zenk

Affiliate Assistant Professor
PhD, University Hawaii
Dr. Benjamin Zenk is an Instructor of Management in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the United States. There, he teaches critical thinking, business ethics, environmental ethics, and introductory business. Dr. Zenk also works with the UHH Department of Philosophy where he has taught intro to philosophy, ethics, reasoning, symbolic logic, histories of Indian and Buddhist philosophy, and comparative philosophy. He teaches Jain Philosophy and Professional ethics with the Arihanta Institute and has been invited as a visiting lecturer with other higher educational institutions.
 
He received his PhD in philosophy from the University Hawaii at Manoa in 2018 on the topic of cross-cultural philosophical disagreement. Prior to this, he received an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Dr. Zenk utilizes a broad array of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary materials in his business and philosophy courses, stemming from his studies of world philosophy, logic, and ethics, as well as both German and Sanskrit language and literature.
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