Dr. Debra Anderson has served students in the Training and Mentoring curriculum since 2013. She earned a BA in English: creative writing with a minor in religious studies from California State University, Long Beach (1994), an MA in Christian education from Gateway Seminary (2001), and an EdD in Educational Studies from Talbot School of Theology (2025). She has discipled the people of God in a variety of settings: campus ministry, church-based adult education, homeschool cohorts, church planting, conference workshops, guest preaching and higher education. Currently, she draws from over thirty years of ministry experience to equip adult learners to intentionally pursue character formation and professional skill development. Professor Anderson focuses her research on the older adult’s perceived learning identity, exploring the learning values, strengths, and opportunities of learners who are in the third age of life.
She has worked as a theological researcher, long-form content editor, and ghostwriter. She is published under her own name in the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, Christian Education Journal, Denver Journal and Denver Seminary’s Engage Magazine.
- Anderson, Debra R., (2024). The spiritual practice of mentoring. Experience: Spiritual Formation in Theological Field Education, M. Floding & D. Davis, eds. Rowman & Littlefield.
- Anderson, Debra R. (2024). Is conversation too risky? Denver Seminary Engage Magazine, 11. 14-17.
- Anderson, Debra R. (2022). Review of the book The making of biblical womanhood: How the subjugation of women became Gospel truth, by B.A. Barr. Christian Education Journal, 19(2), 343-346. https://doi.org/10.1177/07398913221122947g
- Scherrer, N. S. and Anderson, D.R. (2021). Assessing character and flourishing in mentored, contextual learning. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 15(1) 115–134. https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909211043793
- Anderson, Debra R. (2019). The hope of discovery: A mentoring story. Denver Seminary Engage Magazine,7(2). 7-9.
- “Tuning formative field education to the older adult learner,” Evangelical Association of Theological Field Educators (EATFE) Biennial Conference, Wilmore, KY. (2024)
- “Tuning online education to the older adult learner,” Society for Professors of Christian Education (SPCE) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. (2023)
- “Formed in Christ in the third age of life,” St. James Presbyterian Church, Summer Seminary, Littleton, CO. (2023)
- “Program spotlight,” Evangelical Association of Theological Field Educators (EATFE) Biennial Conference, Ontario, CA. (2020)