SPEAKER BIOS
SPEAKER BIOS
Get to know your Jubilee 2025 speakers
kristel acevedo
Kristel Acevedo is the Discipleship Director at Transformation Church in South Carolina. Originally from Miami and the daughter of immigrants, she has a passion for discipleship, biblical literacy, and multiethnic ministry. She is currently working towards her Doctor of Ministry degree at Wheaton College Graduate School. Kristel is the co-author of 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future and is currently working on a Bible study with IVP to be released in Spring 2025. Kristel has the honor of being married to her husband, Alex, and they have two kids, Liam and Isabel. Keep up with Kristel on social media (@KristelAce) or on her website: KristelAcevedo.com
Mark Andrake
Mark Andrake is currently a research assistant professor at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. He received his B.S. in Biology and Biochemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in 1982. After undergraduate study he served three years in campus ministry on staff with the CCO at IUP. He returned to graduate studies and received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics in 1991 from the Medical University of South Carolina. He began as a postdoctoral fellow at Fox Chase Cancer Center studying viral protein structure and function, then serving as a staff scientist, and now as a professor and manager of the Molecular Modeling Facility. His current research interests include the prediction of protein structure and targeting a variety of cancer related proteins in a collaborative environment promoting translational medicine.
alex banfield hicks
Alex Banfield Hicks is an ordained Anglican Priest and the Director of Leadership Development at Trinity Anglican Seminary. Having become a Christian at Oxford University in 2000 he wrestled with a call to academia, to high school teaching and to ministry, and ended up as a missionary in Italy. He subsequently led campus ministries in Europe, did his Masters of Divinity in the States, was a youth pastor in Pittsburgh, and now helps folks of all ages find their next step in becoming the leaders God has called them to be.
Steven Bouma-Prediger
Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger is Professor of Religion at Hope College, where he has taught for the last 30 years. He is a graduate of Hope College, with a major in mathematics and computer science, and has masters degrees from the Institute for Christian Studies (in philosophy) and Fuller Theological Seminary (in theology) as well as a Ph.D. in religious studies from The University of Chicago. Prof. Bouma-Prediger has had published over 100 articles and has authored 8 books, including For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care, Earthkeeping and Character: Exploring a Christian Ecological Virtue Ethic, and most recently Creation Care Discipleship: Why Earthkeeping Is an Essential Christian Practice. He is married to Celaine Bouma-Prediger, an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America and a marriage and family therapist, and they have three daughters.
Delia bouwers bianchin
Delia Bouwers Bianchin, Esq. is a business attorney and the Managing Partner of Outside
Virtual Counsel, LLC, with more than two 25 years of success in handling elite legal matters. As part of a boutique practice, Delia represents small to medium size businesses in practical and complex corporate, commercial, employment and litigation matters. Delia is a nationally recognized attorney who lectures and trains other lawyers on corporate transactions, commercial law and legal ethics on behalf of the National Business Institute.
As the daughter of Dutch immigrants, Delia was instilled with the values of faith, education, and a dedication to community as bedrock principles.
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After graduating as the valedictorian from her high school, she attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in English, paying her own way through school by working multiple part-time jobs. She attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where as a stand-out student and legal writer, was elected as Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Law and Commerce by her peers, while simultaneously working as a Research Editor on the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Upon graduation, Delia was sought after by the most prominent law firms in the nation. The first twenty years of her career provided formidable foundational opportunities to gain valuable experience by working both at large prominent law firms and directly from inside of business. In the first ten years of her career, she focused on complex commercial litigation at two large prominent law firms in Pittsburgh. During that time, she concentrated in the area of general commercial litigation and garnered experience in a wide range of litigation-related matters in various federal and state courts across the country, including various complex commercial and employment-related litigation matters. She then joined Penn United Technologies, Inc. and, for next decade of her career, held the position of General Counsel for the 150M+ large, employee-owned, diversified, international manufacturer based in Cabot, Pennsylvania. As General Counsel, Delia managed all commercial contract negotiations, as well as all human resources, employment-related and retirement plan design and compliance issues. Her portfolio included a wide range of corporate compliance and litigation matters germane to the manufacturing environment and the company’s intellectual property portfolio.
Delia is actively involved in community affairs and, in addition to serving on the Board for the Penn Theater, she currently serves on the Board for HobNob Theatre and the Butler County Bar Foundation. She was the founding president of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Christian Legal Society, where she continues to serve on the leadership team, and she was a founding board member of the Christian Legal Aid of Pittsburgh, Inc., which has been providing pro-bono legal services to the poor and needy in the Pittsburgh area since 2004.
Delia serves as the Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. She is actively involved with St. Peter’s Anglican Church, where she teaches Sunday School.
Seulgi Byun
Seulgi Byun is the Chair of the Biblical & Religious Studies and Philosophy department at Grove City College. Previously, he taught at Oak Hill College, a seminary in London, England. His primary areas of research and teaching are in textual criticism, the Hebrew language, the Pentateuch, and the Prophetic Books. He is the author of The Influence of Post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic on the Translator of Septuagint Isaiah (T&T Clark) and many other articles in monographs and peer-reviewed journals. He is currently working on a commentary on Deuteronomy and a book on the historicity of the Old Testament. Seulgi is also the Executive Director of the Project on Rural Ministry, a Lilly Endowment funded initiative that seeks to leverage the resources of a Christian college to serve rural churches and their pastors.
He is also Scholar-In-Residence at his church, City Reformed Presbyterian Church, in Pittsburgh. Having lived most of his life in major metropolises around the world, he is learning to love the quieter life in rural Western Pennsylvania with his wife and four children. However, he concedes that he may never fully be accepted by the locals given his strong allegiance to Boston sports teams. Seulgi received undergraduate degrees in Economics, Biology, and Biblical Studies from Gordon College. He received his M.Div and MA from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and his PhD from Cambridge University in England.
Sarah DeCubellis
Sarah DeCubellis has been a dedicated special educator for a decade, inspired by a passion for problem-solving and supporting marginalized individuals on their journey toward independence and inclusion. With extensive experience teaching students with diverse needs—including rare genetic disorders, physical and cognitive disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges—Mrs. DeCubellis combines her expertise with a faith-driven approach to education.
As an accessibility advisor for their community’s recreation events, a Special Olympics school advisor, and a participant in disabilities ministry, Mrs. DeCubellis advocates for inclusion both in and outside the classroom. Mrs. DeCubellis views her teaching as a calling, where she can celebrate each student's individual strengths and needs as a reflection of God’s creative design and beautiful plan for their lives. Currently serving as a Life Skills Special Education Teacher at a public middle and high school, Mrs.DeCubellis continues to inspire and equip students to be self-advocates, and critical thinkers.
Neal DeRoo
Neal DeRoo is Senior Member and Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies. He has published 8 books on philosophy, religion, and politics, and lectures across Canada, the US and Europe. He has previously served as the Canada Research Chair in Phenomenology and Philosophy of Religion at The King's University, the Director of the Andreas Center for Reformed Scholarship and Service at Dordt University, and on the board of various Christian organizations, including Christian Scholar's Review. He lives in the woods outside of Edmonton with his wife, two kids, dog, cat--and lots of snow.
Brian Dijkema
Brian Dijkema is the President, Canada at Cardus, and Senior Editor of Comment. He is a public policy analyst, public commentator, and writer.
He regularly works with municipal, provincial, federal governments, and civil servants on a wide range of policy issues. He consults widely with industry, business, labour, and civil society institutions. He is called upon to make presentations on research and policy to legislatures, and industry professionals, and contributes to media outlets on cultural and political issues across Canada and internationally, including the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Toronto Star, The Hub, National Affairs, and more. Brian and his wife Nicole, along with their four children, call Hamilton home.
Francesca fajinmi
Dr. Francesca Fajinmi is a Christian and the First Lady of Dios International Missionary Church in Ontario, California, with a calling to uplift youth and a passion for mission work. A seasoned leader in artificial intelligence and robotic process automation, she drives transformation and efficiency across organizations, drawing on almost four decades of experience with global companies like Nestlé, Johnson & Johnson, and Siemens.
As CEO of MFE Corp, Dr. Fajinmi leads high-impact solutions across sectors, guiding transformative approaches that resonate on a global scale. At the University of California Office of the President, she focuses on optimizing processes and deploying cutting-edge AI solutions. Her expertise includes leading international seminars on thriving in challenging markets and building high-performing multinational teams.
In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Fajinmi serves as a Commissioner in Los Angeles County, dedicating herself to public service and community engagement. Through all her roles, she advances her mission to create lasting, meaningful change.
Lisa fields
Lisa Fields, one of the world’s most sought-after Christian apologist, combines her
passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God’s love to all those she meets.
Lisa has received several honors, including been recognized in Christianity Today for her
work as an apologist in the African American community. She is the founder and
President of the Jude 3 Project.
Lisa is also a graduate of the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in
Communications and Religious Studies, and Liberty University with a Master of Divinity
with a focus in Theology.
sarah fuller
Sarah Fuller currently serves as the Education Director at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School (PUCS) in Wilkinsburg, PA. Prior to taking on her current role, Sarah spent 16 years in the classroom, teaching fourth and fifth grades. She is a graduate of Calvin University and Geneva College and is currently working on her principal certification through Carlow University.
nate glasper
Nate Glasper Jr. is a Resource Development Specialist and Campus Worship Associate at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. He serves as Adjunct Professor at Calvin University and the director of the Calvin University Gospel Choir. Nate is the Worship Pastor for Grace for the Nations Church in Grand Rapids, MI., a songwriter, recording artist and has served as a conference leader and workshop presenter for many events in the USA and abroad such as South Korea, South Africa, Guatemala, and more.
Paul griffioen
Paul Griffioen is currently an assistant professor in the Engineering Department at Dordt University, Sioux Center, IA. From 2022-2024, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA in 2018 and 2022, respectively, and he received a B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI in 2016. His research interests include Christian perspectives on engineering and technology as well as resilient and secure cyber-physical systems.
Jonathan Impellizzeri
Dr. J currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Cognitive Behavior Institute (CBI) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a Professor of Counseling, he regularly taught courses in Family Therapy, Couples Therapy, and Professional Ethics while serving as the Director for Geneva College’s Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling Program for the past 12 years. In 2017, he launched the Center for Marriage and Family at CBI which focuses on providing high-quality relationship-oriented therapy that is research-informed, client directed, and peppered with a healthy dose of compassion. He has extensive counseling and supervision experiences in community based, outpatient, and group private practice settings.
jess joustra
Jessica Joustra (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary, Free University of Amsterdam) is associate professor of religion and theology and director of the Albert M. Wolters Centre for Christian Scholarship at Redeemer University. She is also an associate researcher at the Neo-Calvinist Research Institute at the Theological University of Utrecht (NL)
kelly kapic
Kelly M. Kapic is Professor of Theological Studies at Covenant College where he has
taught since 2001. With a PhD in Systematic and Historical Theology from King’s
College University of London, Kapic has written or edited over fifteen books, with his
new book You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why that’s
Good News in 2022 has won a number of awards, including Christianity Today’s Book
of the Year award in the category of Theology (Popular) and The Southwestern Journal
of Theology’s award in Applied Theology/Ethics.
His earlier work includes Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering, which also won the Christianity Today book of the year award in the area of Theology and Ethics and World Magazine’s Short List award for Accessible Theology Book of the year. He also recently completed two volumes with the economist Brian Fikkert called Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty isn’t the American Dream and A Field Guide to Becoming Whole: Principles for Poverty Alleviation Ministries. In 2014 Kapic received a Templeton Grant to be part of The Center for Christian Thought studying the topic of Psychology and Spiritual Formation. Currently he serves as part of the Core Research Teams for the Templeton funded studies called “Project Amazing Grace” and “Christian Meaning- Making, Suffering and the Flourishing Life.”
Kathy Kinzer-Downs
Kathy Kinzer-Downs serves at the CCO as Director of Diversity, Equity, & Belonging. She earned a BA of Communications at Edinboro University (now PennWest Edinboro), an MA of Communications from Regent University, and an M.Div. and D.Min. from Ashland Theological Seminary.
A CCO student alumna, Kathy also worked for the CCO for 10 years. For the past three years, she has worked to develop an online ministry for young adults, Freedom Ministries.
"I am passionate about campus ministry, because it was this ministry that deeply impacted my life as a college student," says Kathy. "I love working with this group of young adults. We have the opportunity to shape and mold the next generation of leaders who will impact the world unto the glory of God!
David Koyzis
David Koyzis has been a Global Scholar since 2019. He is an academic Political Scientist with a PhD in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, where he wrote a dissertation comparing the political thought of Herman Dooyeweerd and Yves R. Simon.
David taught political science at Redeemer University College for thirty years, mentoring hundreds of young people who have gone on to contribute to public life in Canada and elsewhere. In recent years he has broadened his academic ministry through contacts in Brazil, Pakistan, Ukraine, Indonesia, Germany, Finland, and elsewhere. His most recent book, Citizenship Without Illusions comes out November 2024.
Mollie Little
Mollie Little has worked for the CCO for 25 years, walking alongside students at her alma mater, Allegheny College. However, being a wife and mother are her first callings. Her children Sarah, Jack and Sam have taught her much about God the Father, the power of the Holy Spirit, and her own desperate need for Jesus Christ. God’s work in her own life has invigorated her ministry on campus!
She focuses primarily on developing student leaders, helping them to keep their eyes fixed on Christ, to seek God’s Kingdom first, and to pray at all times, as they serve each other and other students on campus. She’s discipling students to engage, share the gospel, and walk in discipling relationships with other students around them. She loves engaging students who don’t follow Jesus, in part because they ask really good questions, and push her out of her comfort zone! Allegheny is pretty secular and liberal, but is sprinkled thoroughly with curious, caring students who are open to conversations about the Gospel.
She also loves her garden, her chickens and fresh eggs, raw milk, and making sourdough from scratch. She has often used these to connect with students and to share God's character and work in a hands-on way.
dan marotta
D.J. Marotta is the founding priest of Redeemer Anglican Church in Richmond, Virginia. He
is the author of Liturgy in the Wilderness: How the Lord's Prayer Shapes the Imagination of
the Church in a Secular Age, Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints From
Every Era & Place, and co-host of the Our Church Speaks Podcast. His wife is gracious
and his children are clever.
Markus McFolling
Markus grew up in inner-city California regularly facing adversity. He excelled in football to escape his realities and began to play professional football until a career-ending injury took away everything he knew, and his identity destroyed. Facing depression and a lack of purpose, Markus turned to his prescriptions and fell into a dark addiction. After one life-changing moment, Markus checked himself into faith-based rehabilitation and has never been the same. Reach1 stands for Reconciling Every Abandoned Child Home. Every single person has infinite value. It’s all worth it if ONE person is changed forever. Reach1’s mission is to inspire a generation of world-changers to live a life of purpose, power, and destiny. We are passionate about the next generation!
justin mcroberts
Justin McRoberts lives in Martinez, CA. He’s the father of two kiddos, Asa and Katelyn. Along with producing nearly 20 musical projects, he’s written 6 books, including Sacred Strides: The Journey To Belovedness in Work And Rest which is due out on May 30 of this year.
derek melleby
Derek is passionate about helping people clarify their calling and align their careers with their faith. Currently an organizational health and leadership development consultant at North Group Consultants, he previously served in college ministry and higher education. He is a graduate of Bloomsburg University, Geneva College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Derek is also the coauthor of Learning for the Love of God: A Student's Guide to Academic Faithfulness and the author of Make College Count: A Faithful Guide to Life and Learning. He lives in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Heidi, and three sons.
ruth Okediji
Ruth L. Okediji is the Jeremiah Smith Jr. Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and Co-Director of Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Professor Okediji teaches contracts, international intellectual property (IP), patents, copyright, Biblical Law, and courses on Artificial Intelligence. She has held distinguished visiting appointments at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Emory Law School, Duke University School of Law, the University of Hawai’i School of Law, University of Haifa Law School (Israel), Tel Aviv University (Israel), and the University of Tilburg Law School (Netherlands). She has also held a professorial fellowship at the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University.
Professor Okediji has been named one of the 50 most influential figures in IP by Managing IP and received the 2019 Public Knowledge IP3 Award. She is a 2023 recipient of the Barry Prize for Distinguished Intellectual Achievement from the American Academy of Sciences and Letters. Her latest book, Traditional Knowledge and Modern Justice, is forthcoming in 2025.
Benjamin “Doc” Powell
Benjamin “Doc” Powell serves as campus ministry field staff, working primarily with Black male students at the University of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Allegheny County since 2023. A Christian since 2001, his faith developed leaps and bounds during his time as a college student during his time as a student leader in various CCO ministries. He feels called of God to minister to students at the intersection of Christian faith and cultural and ethnic identity.
allen reynolds
Allen Reynolds is the Editor of UrbanFaith and Content Lead for UMI (Urban Ministries Inc.) overseeing the content for the largest African American Christian publishing and media company reaching thousands of churches weekly through print and digital platforms. Allen received his B.A. in Media Production with a minor in Business Administration from Howard University, his MDiv from Yale University, and is pursuing his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business concentrating in Marketing and Strategy. He serves as the Minister for Spiritual Formation at University Church in Chicago. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and three daughters.
Bob Robinson
Bob Robinson (B.S., Business Admin, M.Div., D.Min. in Faith, Vocation, and Culture) loves helping people reintegrate their lives and vocations with their faith. He has been serving with CCO for 19 years, first as an Area Director and now as campus staff. He has been an Account Executive at a Fortune 100 company, a Pastor of Adult Discipleship in a large church, and a church planter.
Bob is also the Executive Director of Reintegrate (The Center to Reintegrate Faith, Life and Vocations), a non-profit that provides discipleship and resources for college students and marketplace organizational leaders. He cohosts the Reintegrate Podcast, interviewing nationally known authors and thought leaders about reintegrating all of life with the Christian faith.
Bob has been married to his wife Linda for 30 years, who he gets to help as she leads a workshop here at Jubilee. They have three young adult children. They grew up attending Jubilee every year with mom and dad.
Linda Robinson
Linda Robinson, PT, is a sports medicine and outpatient orthopedic physical therapist who has also volunteered as a professor, mentor, and friend to the many students at the first indigenous college for physical and occupational therapists in Haiti. She is also a board member for the Haiti Rehabilitation Foundation, which funds the school. She credits Jubilee (and especially a main stage talk from Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of International Justice Mission) for inspiring her to get involved in Haiti. She strives to treat and serve each patient and student with compassion and excellence, and views her vocation as seamlessly integrated with her faith and identity in Christ. She was recently featured in the American Physical Therapy Association's monthly magazine for her work to further the development of PT and OT in Haiti. Linda is married to Bob (of the CCO) and they have three young adult children. She loves the mountains, working out, gardening, her cats, and reading.
jacob rodriguez
Jacob is assistant professor of New Testament at Trinity School for Ministry, in Ambridge, PA. Previously, he served as an associate priest at the Church of the Resurrection, Washington, DC. Prior to DC, he lived and worked in Ethiopia and England for a decade. During that time he taught theology and helped mobilize disciple-making movements in the Horn of Africa, and he was ordained in the Anglican Diocese of North Africa. A lover of ancient Christianity, Jacob completed his doctorate in New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Oxford. His doctoral thesis explored the question of the formation of the four-gospel canon in early Christianity, engaging non-canonical Gospels, the Diatessaron, second-century patristics, and early gospel papyri. Jacob and his British wife, Tessa, have three young children, and they are passionate about showing Christ’s love through hospitality.
Stanley Samuel
Rev Stanley Samuel is a bi-vocational ordained pastor with the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA). He currently lives in Dallas, Texas, and serves in his local church as an Associate Pastor for Spiritual Formation & Missions. He grew up in a Syrian Orthodox Church in India. When he was in his late 20s, he accepted the Lord as his personal savior and was soon baptized with his wife, Jisha. The Lord has gifted him with a passion for Teaching and Discipleship. This passion led him to complete an MA in Discipleship & Spiritual Formation from Moody Theological Seminary, Chicago. Over the past 25+ years, he has been an Associate Pastor, Bible Teacher, Deacon, Elder, Chaplain, Board Member, and Global Missions Leader across many churches and para-church ministries.
He actively engages in apologetics, evangelism, and Biblical theology discussions with many of his atheist, Hindu, Muslim, and nominal Christian friends and family. He is an active Christian blogger on Quora. Professionally, Stanley works full-time with McKesson, a Fortune 9 company, as a Portfolio Delivery Director managing AI, Automation, and Analytics projects. Stanley has managed technology projects across the Healthcare, Telecom, Manufacturing, and financial industries. He has also led global engagements to deploy AI solutions in Oncology and implementation of large Medicaid/ Medicare solutions with the State and Federal government. Stanley received an MBA from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the premier Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). He is also PMP Certified, an AI Product Manager, and a certified IBM Coach. He is passionate about solving problems and helping to make people’s lives better. His wife, Jisha Stanley, is a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse, and they have two adult boys who are software engineers in the Hi- tech industry.
emily shrader
Emily is a CCO staff alum who now works as a Recruiter and Renewal Specialist for Serge, a mission sending organization based in Philadelphia, PA. She and her husband, David, and their three children, Mae, Wesley and Miriam, served with Serge in North Africa for more than a decade. Emily has a bachelor’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies and Youth Ministry from Gordon College and has studied Biblical Counseling with CCEF. Before leaving for the field, Emily worked in youth and campus ministry, participated in Community Bible Study Leadership and partnered with David as he pastored a small, inner-city church in Pittsburgh, PA. While in North Africa, Emily worked alongside David as he pastored an International Fellowship and trained local pastors. She now lives on an Air Force base in North Carolina where David serves as a chaplain.
Gideon strauss
Gideon Strauss is Associate Professor of Leadership and Worldview Studies and Academic Dean at the Institute for Christian Studies, an interdisciplinary graduate school where the gospel's message of renewal shapes our pursuit of wisdom, based in Toronto, Canada, where he mostly teaches in the educational leadership program. He is delighted by being married to Danielle, being a parent to adults, having grandchildren, participating in the life of an Anglican parish church, listening to crime and science fiction audio books while washing the dishes and doing the laundry, and going for walks.
heather strong moore
"Heather Strong Moore is the Associate Pastor of Local Outreach and Global Missions at Southport EPC in Indianapolis, IN. Before accepting a call to Southport, she ministered to college students through the CCO in Western Pennsylvania and Memphis, TN. Heather loves college students and loves the Jubilee Conference where she has served as emcee and led several workshops on everything from mental health to anime.
Currently in seminary pursuing her ordination, Heather has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Slippery Rock University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Messiah University. A professional-grade baker, theologian, and Swiftie, Heather would gladly discuss any verse of the Old Testament or Taylor’s discography over a homemade treat. When she is not reaching out to the Indianapolis community, you can catch her watching the latest Oscar contenders with her husband, Ivan. Find her latest sermons on Southport Church’s website or join in her many rich discussions with friend and fellow scripture lover, Jamie Donne, on the Excavate podcast, a theology podcast on the presence of women in God’s story, about women and for everyone.
S Joshua Swamidass
Dr. S Joshua Swamidass MD PhD is a physician, and scientist, an associate professor at Washington University in Saint Louis. Dr. Swamidass runs a computational biology group using artificial intelligence to explore science at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and medicine. He is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement Science (AAAS) and the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA), the founder of Peaceful Science, and author of The Genealogical Adam and Eve.
karen swallow prior
Karen Swallow Prior earned her Ph.D. in English at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is a popular writer and speaker, as well as a columnist for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and many other places. Her most recent book is The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis (Brazos, 2023).
michael swanson
Mike Swanson serves the CCO as Director of Staff Development. Mike first joined staff as a Fellow, and later, full-time at Penn State University Park. Most recently, he reached out to Penn State students through a partnership with Wellspring Church. “I believe that the college campus is the most strategic mission field in the world. Young men and women come from all over the world to campus. When they leave, they’ll return to every corner of the globe. I pray that we would see their lives changed through the power of the Gospel, and they would leave campus with the desire and skills to serve the world and the Church for the sake of the Kingdom.”
Gene Tibbs
Gene Tibbs is a 35-year veteran CCO campus ministry field staffer, serving the University of Pittsburgh, the Community College of Allegheny County and students on several other campuses around the country at every academic level. He became a Christian at 20 years old in 1983. He is husband of 34 years, father of 5 adult children and grandfather of 2 young boys. Reverently called, 'Baba' in the Pittsburgh Afrikan-consciousness community, also referred to by his title, Nana Kwabena Nyamekyɛ Agyɛman I, is a formally-enstooled Akan 'Nkosɔhene' or progress & modernization chief of Bonsawire of the western region of Ghana.
missy wallace
Missy Wallace is a strategic leader currently serving as a consultant. With two decades of experience in the corporate and education sectors, followed by a decade in formal ministry, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She is a former Managing Director of Redeemer City to City (CTC) and its Global Faith and Work Initiative (GFWI). Previously, she was the Founder and Executive Director of Nashville Institute for Faith and Work. She has published several articles including for The Gospel Coalition and Eventide, and she is a contributing author to a book about the integration of mercy and justice with faith and work. Before she entered ministry, she also helped start Ensworth High School in Nashville and worked at The Boston Consulting Group, Time Warner, and Bank of America in Chicago, NYC, Singapore, Bangkok and Charlotte. She has a BA from Vanderbilt and an MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University. She is married to Paul and when not working or enjoying their three grown children, they love hiking anywhere from urban streets to mountain passes. Ask her about her recent 500 mile walking pilgrimage.
JILL WARD
For more than 25 years, Jill Ward has taught at every level from Kindergarten to eighth grade. She is a reading specialist who is committed to creating supportive environments that inspire students to reach their full potential. Jill started her teaching career at Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, and she currently teaches Kindergarten at the Environmental Charter School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is excited to offer these Kindergartners opportunities to play, explore, expand their horizons, begin to build lifelong friendships, and ignite a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Jill lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Pippa.
russ whitfield
Russ Whitfield serves as pastor of Grace Mosaic, a cross-cultural church in Northeast Washington, DC that belongs to the Grace DC Network. He is also the Assistant Coordinator of Cross-Cultural Advancement for Reformed University Fellowship and a Guest Lecturer in Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary’s Washington, DC campus. He has made written contributions to Heal Us, Emmanuel: A Call for Racial Reconciliation, Representation and Unity in the Church (White Blackbird Books, 2016), All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church (White Blackbird Books, 2018), and 9Marks Journal. Russ and his lovely wife, Vanessa, are raising four fun-loving children in Washington, DC.
dara williams
Dara Williams is a 3rd year Counseling Psychology PhD student at the Howard University, in Washington D.C. Her research and clinical interests include student-athlete mental health and wellness across the lifespan, employing a psychodynamic lens, and utilizing culturally-sensitive interventions that honor clients' lived experiences. She envisions therapy as a tool to trust God with our Earthly bodies and discover mental and emotional healing that encourages more authentic relationships, compassion, grace, confession, and sustain behavioral change. In 2020, she received her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Kinesiology with a specialization in Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior. In 2021, Dara spent a year as a CCO Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, serving the student-athletes and learning theology. As a former Kent State University collegiate gymnast – Dara knows pressure, performance, and identity conflicts intimately. Therefore, as a budding sport and counseling psychologist, our wins and our losses offer fruitful opportunities to know God deeper, richer, and fuller.
erica young reitz
Erica Young Reitz is the founder of After College Transition – an organization that helps practitioners (higher education professionals, church leaders, and college ministers) get the proven resources they need for equipping students to thrive after college. She brings 20 years of experience working with college students, which includes a 14 year tenure with the CCO, directing Senior EXIT. Her graduate research focus on the senior year transition (MA in higher education from Geneva College) fueled her first book, After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationship and Faith (IVP, 2016), and her writing on the topic of the senior year transition has appeared in numerous publications, including Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, and The Gospel Coalition.
Erica works as a Leadership Development Specialist for Bartell & Bartell, helping individuals and teams uplevel their leadership and unleash their organizational potential. She also serves as part-time teaching faculty for Geneva College’s master’s in higher education program.
She lives in State College, PA with her husband, Craig, two children (Hannah and Aaron), and an energetic miniature Schnauzer (Boaz). In her free time, Erica enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family, cooking and eating new foods, or curling up with a good novel.