Debra is very passionate about doctoral education and research. She longs to see each doctoral student fully equipped for good ministry. She believes that scholarship and research are, and should be, inextricably tied to practice. Also, good education should never be simply for the sake of knowing something. Knowledge that is not applied has very little value. Her hope is to see every graduate of both Ministry doctoral programs equipped to do research within the areas where they feel called by God. It is her desire that each doctoral student will be empowered to be the kind of researcher-scholar that elevates practice in powerful ways – making themselves and others into exceptional practitioners. This should first be accomplished through their coursework and dissertation and then as God leads them to continue to gain and apply more knowledge and wisdom for the benefit of the church universal.

To help ensure that all Ministry doctoral students are well equipped, Debra is focused on supporting excellent professors and dissertation readers, designing cutting-edge courses, creating helpful resources, and collaborating with the Director of Ministry Doctoral Programs to elevate the quality of the DMin and PhD in Leadership.

Education:

PhD in Leadership, Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA
MA in Ministry, Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA
MA in Worship and Spiritual Formation, Northern Seminary, Lombard, IL
BA in Communications, Judson University, Elgin, IL

Courses Taught:

• Applied Research Seminar (MIN851), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Adjunct Faculty (2023-present)
• Principles and Practices of Christian Care (MIN534), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Adjunct Faculty (2023)
• Formational Leadership in the Digital Age (MIN844), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2021-present)
• Leadership Development & Team Building (MIN507), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Online Instructor (2020-2021)
• Innovation and Change (MIN842), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2019-2021)
• The Leader’s Life and Work (MIN510CC), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2018-2022)
• Contemporary Instructional Methods and Design (BIB913), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2016-present)
• Teaching and Learning: Theory and Practice (LSP905), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2015-present)
• Communicating Biblical Truth (MIN504), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2015-2020)
• Christian Care of Individuals (CHC510), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Online Instructor (2018-2019)
• Christian Care of Families (CHC515), Capital Seminary and Graduate School, Online Instructor (2018-2019)
• Spiritual Formation and Discipleship (MIN509CC), Capital Seminary & Graduate School, Associate Faculty (2017-2018)
• Local Church Revitalization (PAS502), CUTS-Philadelphia, Online Instructor (2014)
• Biblical Foundations and Models of Small Group Ministry (PAS511), Lancaster Bible College, Online Instructor (2011-2013)

Publications/Creative Works:

• Johnson-Cortesi, D. (2020). Building an Activity Catalog to Improve Course Design. Teaching Professor. https://www.teachingprofessor.com/topics/preparing-to-teach/course-design/building-an-activity-catalog-for-improving-course-design/
• Johnson, D. (2017). Motivational Effects of Badging from Gamification Theory in Asynchronous Discussion Forums within Graduate Blended Education (Publication No. 10641176) ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
• Johnson, D. (2014). Review of Innovation’s dirty little secret: Why serial innovators succeed where others fail. Christian Education Journal, 11:2, 463-466.
• Johnson, D. (2013). Review of Leading so people will follow. Christian Education Journal, 10:2, 490-493.