Faculty

Literature

Faculty Coordinator for Humanities and Fine Arts

Wheaton College, B.A. Philosophy
New College, Oxford University, Graduate Fellowship
University of Missouri, M.A. Journalism
Graduate Institute of St. John’s College, M.A. Liberal Arts

“Poets wish either to profit or to delight; or to deliver at once both the pleasures and the necessaries of life.” – Horace, Ars Poetica

As a humble custodian and passionate teacher of Western literature, Christopher Benson views his vocation at the intersection of great books and human lives, where he is privileged to witness transformed lives and transported imaginations. The education profession offers him what literary critic Harold Blooms calls “the search for a difficult pleasure.” When he is not teaching, he loves to read, cook, dine out, travel, hike, and ski. Time permitting, he writes essays and book reviews for a variety of publications.

Email: cbenson@cambridgedallas.org

Mathematics

Mathematics

Latin & Greek

Baylor University, B.A.
University of Dallas, Masters in Classics

Erin Caldwell grew up in Waco, Texas, where she attended Live Oak Classical School. She received a Classics degree with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa from Baylor University, where she met her husband Josh. They have been married since December of 2015. Erin enjoys a variety of hobbies including fitness and exercise, reading, baking, and piano.

You can view her CV here.

Email: ecaldwell@cambridgedallas.org

Latin

Samford University, B.A. English & Classics

Bailey is an alumna of Samford University and The Cambridge School of Dallas. She enjoys traveling and running. She is newly married. 

You can view her CV here.

Email: bhammond@cambridgedallas.org

Director of Student Life & Chemistry

Director of Student Life & Chemistry

Dean of School & Philosophy

Baylor University, BA, MA, Ph.D.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.DivBL, ThM.

When not teaching philosophy, apologetics, or reading senior tutorial drafts, Dr. Howell enjoys playing baseball, basketball, and board games with his three sons, Jay Baker, Carter, and Elliott. Dr. Howell and his wife, Jessica, recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Dr. Howell is an avid sports fan and would like to play golf much more often than he does. He also loves a good classic novel, with the works of Dickens and Dostoyevsky among his favorites.

You can view his CV here.

Email: jhowell@cambridgedallas.org

Registrar & Theology

University of Alabama, B.M.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, MACE, MATh, PhD

Barb is a proud alumna of the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. She came to Cambridge in 2009 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she earned two Masters degrees as well as her Ph.D. in New Testament Studies. Barb enjoys travelling, photography, scrapbooking, Harry Potter, musical theater, and spending time with her fur baby, Brodie.

You can view her CV here.

Email: bisbell@cambridgedallas.org

Literature & Theology

Baylor University, University Scholars Program, B.A.

Joshua Jeffrey was born in Ontario, Canada, but has lived in Texas since 2000. He received his undergraduate degree from the University Scholars Program at Baylor University, with a concentration in the intersection of philosophy and literature. He is excited to be starting his second year at Cambridge.

Email: jjeffrey@cambridgedallas.org

Mathematics & Theology

University of North Texas, B.S.
Redeemer Seminary, M.Div.

Email: mlewis@cambridgedallas.org

Spanish

Texas A&M University, B.S.,  Physical Education with emphasis in Exercise Physiology
The University of Illinois at Chicago, M.A., Instructional Leadership with emphasis in Spanish
The University of North Texas, M.A., Masters of Spanish

Born in Illinois and raised in Texas, Professor Martin discovered a love for the spanish language and culture through her travel experiences while working in the airline industry.  She spent some time studying the language in Spain and as a result, she felt the Lord calling her into education, which led her to obtain a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership.  After several years of teaching Spanish and bilingual education in the public school system, she decided to return to higher education to pursue another master’s degree in Spanish Literature with a desire to teach at the college level.  However, the Lord had different plans and those plans joyfully led her to The Cambridge School of Dallas in 2017. When she is not sharing her passion for the language, she enjoys outdoor activities and traveling (especially to Spanish speaking countries) with her husband, Tom, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Email: ramartin@cambridgedallas.org

English

UCSD, B.A.
Dallas International University, M.A. in World Arts 

As a Missionary Kid, Hannah Nelson spent the first few years of her childhood in the Democratic Republic of Congo before moving to France with her family. After completing high school she moved to San Diego, where she lived with relatives and was blessed to participate in international student ministries while doing her undergraduate studies. In addition to exploring the beauty and intricacies of language, Hannah enjoys hiking, swimming, and any activities that bring her outside where she can consider the glory of God as manifested in his beautiful creation.

You can view her CV here.

Email: hnelson@cambridgedallas.org

Mathematics

University of Florida, B.S.
University of Salford (England), M.S.
Dallas Theological Seminary, M.A.

Born in Alabama and raised in Florida, Bethany Nine grew up with a particular love of math, music, and God. She studied electrical and acoustical engineering in college and grad school before working as an engineer for 2.5 years in the Boston, MA area. As her relationship with God deepened during this time, her passion for teaching and pointing others toward our loving Creator grew and led her to move to Dallas and pursue a master’s degree in Christian Education from DTS. Bethany and her husband Brandon got married in March of 2014, and they enjoy going on walks and playing video games together. She also love playing the piano and cello whenever she gets the chance.

You can view her CV here.

Email: bnine@cambridgedallas.org

Mathematics

Email: anorthrop@cambridgedallas.org

Mathematics & Theology

Kansas State University, B.S.
University of Dallas, MTh.

Sara Rico is a Mathematics Instructor and Faculty Coordinator of the Mathematics and Science Department at The Cambridge School of Dallas. Sara grew up on a farm in Southeast Kansas. She studied chemical engineering and secondary education at Kansas State University, Spanish at the University of Salamanca, and theology at the University of Dallas. While completing her master’s degree at the University of Dallas, she fell in love with the university’s commitment to the pursuit of Truth and the classical approach to a liberal arts education. Her recent speaking engagements concern virtue ethics, natural law, marriage, classical education, and mathematics. Sara and her husband John enjoy serving on church retreats, camping, star-gazing, good conversation, great books and spending time with their children.

You can view her CV here.

Email: srico@cambridgedallas.org

Art

Art Institute of Dallas, Associate of Arts in Art
Liberty University, BSIS Fine Art, Psychology

Brenda, a native Dallasite, lives in Dallas with her husband Scott. She loves painting, reading, and spending time with her husband and two grown children. Brenda has taught for 19 years in Christian Education. Before that, she worked as an Advertising Illustrator, Fashion Illustrator, and portrait artist. Her work has been included in over 16 invitational or competitive gallery exhibitions and she would describe her artwork as Contemporary Realism. Brenda believes the visual arts are a unique way for anyone to express, experience, and worship God.

View her CV.

Email: brobson@cambridgedallas.org

History

Lafayette College, B.A.
Washington University in St. Louis, M.A., Ph.D.

Dr. Steven Schrum is originally from New Jersey. Prior to joining Cambridge, he lived in St. Louis, MO, where he taught humanities courses at Washington University, Lindenwood University, and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. His dissertation was on the role of governments in shaping the economies of England and the Netherlands in the seventeenth century. He is interested in the intersection of religion, government, and trade in early modern Europe. During his graduate studies Steve lived in Britain and the Netherlands. He is a lifelong anglophile and loves to travel whether overseas or in his adopted home state of Texas.

You can view his CV here.

Email: sschrum@cambridgedallas.org

Music

The Catholic University of America, B.M.
George Mason University, M.M.

Monica is a Dallas native, glad to be back home after spending eight years in Washington, D.C., and New Haven, Connecticut. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in vocal performance and has always been an avid choral singer. She is delighted to share her love of choral music with the students of Cambridge. She also sings with the Dallas Symphony Chorus and the Dallas Bach Society, and lives in Oak Cliff with her husband.

You can view her performance CV here.

Email: mspence@cambridgedallas.org

History & Government

Hillsdale College, B.A. Political Science
University of Dallas, Ph.D. Political Philosophy

Moryam VanOpstal emigrated from the Netherlands to United States at the age of five along with his family. After growing up in Chicago, Moryam attended Hillsdale College where he met his wife-to-be. He graduated with a degree in Political Science. After spending three years overseas in Taiwan and India, Moryam began the doctoral program in Political Philosophy at the University of Dallas. He received his Ph.D. in 2020. Moryam and his wife have five children and they most enjoy spending time with family and friends.

You can view his CV here.

Email: mvanopstal@cambridgedallas.org

Head of School

Dallas Baptist College, B.C.A.
Dallas Baptist University, M.A.
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, Ph.D.

After several years in residential construction, including part ownership of a custom furniture and cabinetry shop, and building custom homes, Dr. Wolfe departed for Scotland to pursue further academic work. He and his family lived for three years near Aberdeen, Scotland, where he pursued a PhD in New Testament studies, and pastored a local Baptist church. Dr. Wolfe’s studies included time each year in Cambridge, England and Tubingen, Germany. Dr. Wolfe and his wife, Marsha, went over with two children and returned with a third, their youngest. From 1990 to 2010 he taught New Testament studies and related courses, becoming the Headmaster of the Cambridge School of Dallas in 2009. He still enjoys woodworking and reading.

You can view Dr. Wolfe’s CV here.

Science

Rutgers University, B.A.
Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A.
Dallas Theological Seminary, ThM.

Karlvin and his wife Lennie have have two girls and a well beloved cat named Bokchoy. In their spare time, they love to cook, eat, travel, and watch movies. Karlvin also enjoys serving his church’s youth group, especially watching them grow in their faith.

Email: kwong@cambridgedallas.org