AfterDark

Dominick Hernández

Dr. Dominick Hernández currently serves as an Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Dominick completed his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible at Bar-Ilan University (Ramat Gan, Israel), where he was trained in Semitic Philology. He is the author several books and commentaries and teaches on an array of topics including biblical wisdom, ancient Near Eastern literature, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Kenneth Berding

Kenneth Berding is author of various books, some academic (such as Paul's Thorn in the Flesh or Polycarp and Paul), some semi-academic (such as What Are Spiritual Gifts? Rethinking the Conventional View or The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction), others for-the-classroom (such as Sing and Learn New Testament Greek or What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About), and still others for-the-church (such as Walking in the Spirit, Bible Revival: Recommitting...

Erik Thoennes

Erik Thoennes is committed to teaching theology so that he and his students love God and people more fully. He strives to make the necessary connections between the study of theology, obedience to Jesus and fulfilling the Great Commission. He has been teaching college students for over 30 years and has been a pastor at Grace Evangelical Free Church La Mirada since 2001. Erik is a frequent guest speaker at churches, conferences and retreats. He received the University award for faculty excellence and professor of the year twice. His research interests include godly jealousy, the atonement, the exclusivity of Christ and theology of culture, sport/play/competition, and humor.

James Petitfils

Dr. James Petitfils completed his doctorate from UCLA in 2013 and joined the undergraduate New Testament department at Biola in 2014. Trained in both New Testament exegesis and the socio-cultural history of the Roman Mediterranean, he researches and publishes on a variety of subjects including storytelling in the Roman world, ancient Christian martyr texts, and leadership in Mediterranean antiquity. Along with research and teaching, he has been a pastor in the South Bay for over 20 years, currently serving as the Beach Pastor at the River Church. He’s been married to his love and partner in ministry, Braelyn, for 15 years and together they have a beautiful daughter, Micelli, and two beach boys, Brixton and Zion. They are also foster parents and have fostered four cute-as-can-be little angels over the last 2 years. James enjoys surfing, family beach days, and burritos.

Hannah Fodera

Hannah Fodera graduated from Biola University with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Theology, & Ministry and Interdisciplinary Studies back in 2023. She is currently pursuing her master's at Talbot School of Theology. She serves as the Graduate Assistant of Chapel Programs, where she helps run weekly AfterDarks and plan Biola's annual Torrey Conference. She hails from the Northshore of Boston, Massachusetts, where the air is colder and the sky is clearer. When she isn't studying or working, you can find her writing poetry, attempting to sew, or hanging out with friends. She loves animated children movies, warm cups of tea, and a good laugh.

Jeannine Hanger

Jeannine is Associate Professor of New Testament here at Biola. She is the author of Engaging Jesus With Our Senses: An Embodied Approach to the Gospels. She lives in Torrance with her husband Garrick, a pastor at Coastline Covenant Church, and together they have three young adult children. Some of Jeannine’s favorite things include long runs, strong coffee, rainy days, and good books.

Barry Corey

Barry H. Corey is the eighth president of Biola University. Since assuming the role in 2007, Corey has led Biola into its second century with the launch of an ambitious 10‐year university plan, completing the largest fundraising campaign in Biola’s history by exceeding its $180 million goal, creating four new academic schools and embarking on a major university transformation journey to position Biola to flourish for decades to come. He has done this while honoring the mission of the university and its unique contribution to the landscape of higher education.

A native of New England, Corey previously served as dean of the faculty and vice president for education at Gordon‐Conwell Theological Seminary as well as its vice president for development. He received his B.A. in English and biblical studies from Evangel University and his M.A. in American studies and Ph.D. in education from Boston College. As a Fulbright scholar, Barry lived in Bangladesh, where he researched educational programs for children of the landless poor. Corey is the author of the books The Treasurer: A Biography of Herbert Stewart Gray (Westbow, 2025), Make the Most of It: A Guide to Loving Your College Years (Tyndale, 2020) and Love Kindness: Discover the Power of a Forgotten Christian Virtue (Tyndale, 2016), and his writing has been featured in publications like The Washington Post, The National Review, Relevant and Converge, among others.

He currently serves or has recently served on governing boards such as that of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the Museum of the Bible, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Christianbook International Outreach and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

He and his wife, Paula, have three children: Anders — who is married to Ashley — Ella and Samuel.