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Alumnus Ben Tissell returned to campus in the fall of 2023 to serve as an assistant professor of theatre.

Since graduating from the university with a bachelor’s degree in theatre in 2011, he has been active on the stage and screen throughout the Northwest as an actor, while also working extensively in ministry and as a singer-songwriter. He has acted with the Portland Center Stage at the Armory, Third Rail Repertory, Portland Playhouse, Broadway Rose Theatre, and other theatre companies, and done print, film and voiceover work for LG, Amazon, Portland Center Stage, and others.

He also arrived with nine years of full-time ministry experience, working for six years in worship, youth and teaching programs at Eastridge Church in Clackamas (2012-18) and most recently as the worship ministry director and member of the preaching team at Grace City Portland Church (2021-present).

Ben has also worked as the music director at local schools, as well as a guest teacher and lecturer, including at Â鶹´«Ã½ Fox. He also serves as the artistic director of the Wild Goose Repertory theatre company, which he founded with the intent to “tell stories of faith, hope and love.”

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, he did two years of graduate study for a master’s degree in biblical and theological studies at Western Seminary in Portland (2015-17). Ben lives in Portland a few blocks from his Grace City church and many in his church family.

His hobbies and interests include spending lots of time with his nephews and nieces, all sorts of outdoor activities (backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, etc.), co-hosting a Christian history podcast with his dad (a Western Seminary professor), international backpacking, running, gardening, and reading copiously.