Business and Economics Department
William Volkman Professor of Business and Law, Associate Professor of Business and Law, Department Chair, Pre-Law Advisor
On Faculty since 2003
Office: Memorial Student Center 315
Phone: (630)752-5899
Email: Stephen.Bretsen@wheaton.edu
Education
J. D., University of Colorado, 1986
B.A., Government, College of William and Mary, 1983
About Stephen Bretsen
Prior to accepting a position at Wheaton College, Steve was an in-house attorney and a director-level corporate development executive for several publicly traded companies. His activities focused on mergers and acquisitions, domestic and cross-border commercial transactions, venture capital equity investments, corporate law, and antitrust law. Steve is using his professional experience to teach business and courses from a Christian perspective.
Steve is married and has two daughters. His wife, Cindy, is a full-time homemaker. Steve is active in his church, recently serving as treasurer, an elder on his church's governing board, in the choir, and as a teacher for an adult Sunday school class. Steve enjoys running, cross-country skiing, hiking, camping, and bicycling
Courses Taught
- B/EC 452 Business Law
- B/EC 493 Business Strategy and Analysis
- PS 271 Introduction to Law
- PS 381 Constitutional Law
Membership in Professional Societies
- Academy of Legal Studies in Business
- Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business (President, 2011-2012)
- Christian Business Faculty Association
- Christian Legal Society
- Evangelical Political Scholars Association
- Licensed Attorney in the State of Colorado
Awards
- 2007-2008 Wheaton College Junior Faculty Achievement Award
Research
Current research interests include water law, business as mission, and Christianity and the corporation.
Papers Published and/or Presented
Bretsen, Stephen N. and Peter J. Hill, "Water Rights and the Anticommons," in Aquanomics, eds. Randy Simmons and B. Delworth Gardner (Oakland, CA: Independent Institute, 2011) (forthcoming).
Bretsen, Stephen N., "In Competition with Godless Hoards: Are Some Strategic Approaches More Appropriate for a Faithful Business?," The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 13 (2011): 110-127.
Bretsen, Stephen N., “Rainwater Harvesting Under Colorado’s Prior Appropriation Doctrine: Property Rights and Takings,” Fordham Environmental Law Review, 22, no. 2 (Spring 2011): 159-232.
Bretsen, Stephen N. and Peter J. Hill, "Water Markets as a Tragedy of the Anticommons," William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, 33, no. 3 (2009: 723-783).
Bretsen, Stephen N., "The Creation, the Kingdom of God, and a Theory of the Faithful Corporation," Christian Scholar's Review, 38, no. 1 (Fall 2008): 115-54.
Bretsen, Stephen N. and Peter J. Hill, "Irrigation Institutions in the American West," UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, 25, no. 2 (2006/2007): 283-331.
Bretsen, Stephen N., "The Faithful Buisness as a Publicly Traded Corporation - Testing the Outer Limits of Corporate Law," The Journal of Bilblical Integration in Business, 1, no. 1 (Fall 2006): 42-80.
Bretsen, Stephen N., "Bringing the Appellate Court to the Classroom," Christian Business Academy Review, 1, no. 1 (Spring 2006): 57-63.