Dr. Brad S. Born is an alumnus of Bethel College and Tabor College, and earned his Ph.D. in English. His scholarly interests have focused on antebellum American literature, in particular literature of the sea and early African-American literature. His teaching has spanned a wide range of topics in both American and English literature, including war literature, detective fiction and a travel course in London focusing on theater.

Brad served as dean and vice president of academic affairs at Bethel from 2005-14. Major achievements during his tenure as chief academic officer included leading two major curriculum revisions to successful and timely completion, leading two comprehensive institutional self-study processes that secured the maximum 10-year reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, and sustaining academic strength by recruiting excellent tenure-track teachers to replace a high number of retiring faculty.