The Ecola Staff

Joanna Calquhoun - Office Manager 

A favorite Verse: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

A Few Favorite Books: The Bible, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, pretty much anything by C.S Lewis, and Jane Eyre 

Likes: Coffee, tea, cats, animals, reading, drawing, painting, crafting, pop tarts, autumn, winter, being outside, and the smell of rain. 

Dislikes: Spicy food, palm trees, conflict, and football  

About Me: I was born and raised in Olympia Washington, as the youngest of a small family. I spent my days reading books, drawing pictures, and running outside to play in the rain. 

After I graduated High School, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I chose to follow one of my close friends to a year at Ecola. During that year God met me in an amazing way, and my faith was forever changed. He revealed to me the wonder, and intricate beauty of His character through His word, as well as the fullness and depth of His love and grace. 

I married my husband Camden in 2021, and shortly after felt God calling me back to Cannon Beach for a second year at Ecola. Me and Camden then attended the school together.

Now we are here, living on the lovely Oregon coast with our beloved cat, Bear. We enjoy board games, long walks, and evenings at home, as well as the occasional adventure. 

What I love about Ecola:

I love Ecola! It is such a unique school and a unique community. It is a place where God meets people where they are at, and brings them into deeper communion with Himself. Students get to learn under the expertise and experience of several accomplished professors, pastors and teachers, and all in a class size that allows everyone to be known and valued.

Ecola is like a greenhouse: as students experience a tight knit Christian community they get to dig in deep, and learn about what they believe. Through this, students build a foundation of roots and are firmly planted in this ever-changing world.  

Ecola has been an incredible blessing to me and my husband, I’m truly thrilled to be apart of this school.

Christopher Beckett - Business Manager

Some favorite books: The book of Galatians, Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge, Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall, Stuart Little by E.B. White

A favorite verse: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Likes: Hiking, hunting, history, reading, road trips, quiet evenings at home, bread, ice cream, and coffee.

Dislikes: Social media, awkward social situations, vinegar, wet socks.

About me: I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home in a small town in western Montana. I attended Ecola after high school before joining the Army Reserve. My long-time friend and future wife attended Ecola the year after I did; we began dating the following summer and were married in the following year. We’ve moved around some from New England to Arizona to Montana, but we felt God leading us back to the west coast. Not long after moving here, God opened the door to work here at Ecola, which had been a quiet dream of mine since I was a student. We’ve been extremely blessed to be a part of this loving community and love living in such a beautiful place full of God’s wonders.

Why I love Ecola: I love seeing how God uses people’s time here to change the trajectory of their lives. Sometimes they’re obvious changes as people turn a full 180º from destructive or difficult paths into God’s embrace. Other times, the changes are small and quiet things, where God helps someone process through more subtle things in their life or simply learn to understand His love and grace on a deeper level. Either way though, it seems that God meets each student where they are and ministers to their unique spiritual needs while they’re here, and it’s awesome to witness God at work in such personal ways.

Andrew Waller - Administrative Assistant

Favorite Books: The Bible, Lion of God by Dick Bohrer, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

A Favorite Verse: Psalm 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Likes: Sun, working on old cars, anything techy, naps, getting coffee with people, dirt-biking, and pickled beets

Dislikes: Wind, yellow-jacket wasps, cheerios (the regular kind), humidity, above-ground pools, fluorescent lights

About me: I grew up in the little town of Sunnyside, Washington with my family. I’m a bit of an old-soul, so I enjoy making old things work (especially if it’s electronic or has to do with cars). My family and I always came to the Cannon Beach Conference Center in the summer, and because of that, I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Cannon Beach. The rain doesn’t always excite me, but I enjoy the greenery that it brings.

I was an interim Director for a couple years at a Christian youth center, as well as the Tech Coordinator at my church. Since finishing the School of Ministry program at Ecola, I’m working on completing my bachelors in business at Corban University online. I’m really excited to meet y’all and am looking forward to what God has in store for the year!

Why I love Ecola: I grew up in a solid Christian family and church, which I am extremely grateful for. My relationship with God was continuing to grow. However, I had a desire to continue to deepen it somewhere else. After seeing my sister’s growth in her relationship with the Lord after being at Ecola for a year, I made the decision to attend.

There have been so many life-long friends that I’ve met here at Ecola, whether they were students, staff, or professors. The classes here have also urged me to dive deeper into my relationship with God through the extensive study of His Word and prayer. Ecola is truly a place where heart, mind, and action come together to transform lives for the gospel. I’m so glad I get to be here and play a small part in it.

Pastor Mark Canady - Pastoral Care, Teacher, and Facilities

A Favorite Verse: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17 

Favorite books: The Bible, The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul, Awe by Paul David Tripp, Romans and Romans commentary by Donald Grey Barnhouse Sr., Old Westerns.

Likes: Preaching and teaching God’s Word, my grandchildren, the climate on the Oregon coast, and Old VW’s!

Dislikes:  Lack of faithfulness to the local Church, braggadocious people, verses taken out of context, idle Christians, and anything with pumpkin flavor.

About me:  I was privileged to grow up in a ministry home of parents who loved the Lord and had a passion to evangelize and disciple. I have had the great honor to serve as a Pastor for 42 years now pastoring in five Churches before being asked by Dr. Josh to come onboard as a part time staff, student pastor ~ what a blessing. I have also enjoyed being on the teaching staff at Ecola for 33 years. Bonnie and I have been married for over 45 years, we have three adult children, and six grandchildren.

What I love about Ecola: The thought of discipling believers, preparing these students for life and ministry is a wonderful part of the program of Ecola having taught alongside many of the instructors who come here has been an amazing affirmation that Ecola is very serious about the quality of teachers they bring in.

Chandler Mitcham - Dean of Men

Favorite Books: Living in Union with Christ by Grant Macaskill, The Men We Need by Brant Hansen, The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations; Chicago Style for Students and Researchers by Kate L. Turabian

A Favorite Verse: Psalm 9:9,10 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Thos who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Likes: Rain, being outside, reading, making things work again, making sudden loud noises.

Dislikes: Rain, olives, every single chain business having its own app (and the impact it has had on using paper coupons), other people making sudden loud noises.  

About me: I am a mixed bag. While my father would describe me as a “renaissance man,” I would describe myself as having the horrible habit of learning how to do new things by doing them. I am the librarian of assorted skills and facts; a sprawling array of skills and knowledge still yet without depth. I am enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Western Seminary and falling in love with learning. Most importantly, I am falling ever more in love with knowing (and constantly striving to know better) Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life. I am beyond excited and honored to meet you.

Why I love Ecola: After finishing my Bachelors in Business Administration I began working in Human Resources. Finally, I had achieved my earthly goal to become an established adult with a promising career. Instead of finding satisfaction, I was constantly confronted by a deep unrest in my soul; I had checked the boxes, and jumped through all the hoops that should give me success, but I had forgotten to take any time at all to truly know the Lord. Confronted daily by my disordered loves (worldly success and selfishness before loving the Lord), I knew I needed change. Ecola Bible College was used by God to reorientate my life and soften my heart to His Lordship in my life. I have been blessed to see this same thing happen to other brothers and sisters, and I passionately believe that God will continue His work in students' hearts and lives at Ecola for years to come.

Reghan Hurlbutt - Dean of Women

Favorite books: A Grief Observed, Gentle and Lowly, In the LORD I take Refuge

A Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:31-32 “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love”

Likes: The beach, writing music, playing sports, hiking, spending time with others and theology

Dislikes: Scary Movies, being hot, and peas

About me: I was born in Texas and raised in Utah by two amazing parents. I am the middle of two sisters and have a cat and two dogs:) I love people! Getting to hangout with students is by far my favorite part of being a dean. My life has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs but God has never ceased to show His patience towards me as I try to be more like Him.

Why I love Ecola: Ecola is a greenhouse for both mature and new Christians. I appreciate the different takes on theology that come from our teachers. It causes students to have to learn for themselves exactly what they believe and that truth in itself cannot be pliable with the world’s standards. In short,  I love Ecola because the staff and teachers work hard to prepare disciples to go out and do what God has made them to do; share His undying love with a dying world.

McKim Mitchell - Dean of Women

Favorite books: The Bible, The Viking Quest Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson, The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

A Favorite Verse: Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Likes: Intentionally being with God, walking—rain or shine!, reading, board games, peanut butter, adventures outside, cooking for or with loved ones (my Momma and I always make crisps together!)

Dislikes: Being inside too long and ketchup

About me: When I was little my mom would read to me; my sisters and I would play lots of dress up, acting out stories to go along with our characters; and we also would play hide-and-go-seek-tag with the family across the street. Life is a mixture, and these sweet moments were intertwined with hard ones. My parents divorced when I was in first grade; I’ve had an unsafe stepdad; I’ve struggled with anger and over-elevating my job. Through all these struggles, God has been faithful. He has never left or forsaken me. He has been a Good Father. He has saved my soul and given me freedom. And He leads me now, as I embark on this new adventure of serving as a Dean.

Why I love Ecola: “And [Jesus] appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14) Training, and then going, starts with being with Jesus. Ecola is intentionally designed to be a place where we get to be with Jesus and through being with Him, be changed. God has used Ecola to train me in Christian living, to train me in faithfulness, and to create in me a love for His Word. He has used this place to heal me, inspire me, and let me taste koinonia (intimate Christian fellowship).