Our Chaplains and Staff

PROTESTANT

Valerie Althouse
vja.nyc@gmail.com
Originally from Hershey, PA, Valerie loves books, travelling and music. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Christian Counseling, as well as a Master of Science in Biblical Studies from Cairn University. Her additional training includes certificates in Cross-cultural Communication, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, ESL tutoring, Second Language Acquisition, Teamwork, Interpersonal Skills, and Life Coaching. She is currently a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She previously served in Student Development/Resident Life at Cairn University and in Missions Mobilization and Church-Planting with World Team before joining the staff of International Students, Inc. in December of 2011. On the side, Valerie enjoys vocal performance, blogging, and exploring NYC restaurants!

Matthew Chin
mkchin722@gmail.com
Matthew Chin and is a Chinese American who was born and raised in NYC. He grew up in a family that was not religious and it was not until his sophmore year in high school that he was first exposed to Christianity. It wasn’t until the summer before the start of his junior year in college that he began attending bible study and church regularly. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in September 2003. He has been actively involved in college ministry ever since and continues to strive to grow deeper in his relationship with Christ. He is an avid baker and first learned how to play drums using chopsticks and paper plates.

Jonathan Clark
jonathan.clark@ruf.org
A Colorado Springs native, Jonathan came to New York in 2008. In Colorado, he enjoyed all the Colorado mountains offer, including hiking, backpacking, climbing, skiing, and rafting. Once in New York, he attended The King’s College, completing a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. In New York, he enjoys time with his fraternity brothers, exploring cheap but excellent cuisine, running, reading, attending public lectures, and exploring the exciting things New York offers. He’s always up for a run in the Park, chat in the Village, or exploration to the Cloisters! Jonathan’s passion is ideas applied to life. As a result, he relishes good conversation about the “Big Questions” of life, hearing other’s perspectives, and then examining it all through the amazing grace of Christ. Little known facts: he took piano lessons for 13 years and, at one point, was quite good! And before college ministry, he had a 9-year career in horticulture and nursery management.

Joshua Crumlich                                                                             jcrumlich@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                        Joshua Crumlich is a volunteer with InterVarsity grad and faculty ministries. He grew up in Pennsylvania, where he knew the love of Christ from childhood. After studying history at the University of Rochester, he went to law school. During his first (and only) semester there, he attended a conference for Christians in the legal profession and was amazed by the good work being done by the lawyers there, but felt drawn to make God’s love and glory in Jesus known through vocational ministry. He then went to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary where he graduated with an M.Div. He spent the next few years involved in lay ministry and working in academic administration until he was called to be associate pastor at the Neighborhood Church of Greenwich Village, where he loves working in such a dynamic community. In his down time he enjoys cooking with his wife Sarah, playing board games, and drinking a good, strong cup of coffee with friends.

Selene De Los Santos
seleneencm@gmail.com
Selene De Los Santos moved to New York City to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in 2004, in pursuit of an acting career. Shortly after graduating AMDA she realized that she had a great desire to help people in a greater capacity. As a result she furthered her education by going to Hunter College and joined the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, It was through serving with this organization that awakened her passion to be in ministry. During her summer break she attended the Every Nation School of Campus Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee, in which, she gained the foundation of being a campus minister. When she came back to New York City in the winter of 2010, she transferred to The New School where she focused on Creative Art’s Therapies and received a BS in Liberal Arts. During this time she continued to minister to students through Every Nation Campus Ministries (ENCM). Selene recently graduated and married in May 2012, and is very excited to be working with students and facility at NYU through the Morning Star Church (MSNY) and Every Nation Campus Ministries (ENCM).

Sarah Estopinal
sarah.estopinal@ruf.org
Sarah is a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University. At Vandy, she majored in History and Business where she developed a love of the stories that connect us. At NYU, Sarah works for City Campus ministry which is a part of Reformed University Fellowship- a ministry devoted to reaching students for Christ and equipping them to serve others. She is from the Southern part of the country and is so excited to live life in the city!

Susan Field
susan.field@nyu.edu
Reverend Field has served NYU as the Baptist Chaplain since 1991, and as the Protestant Chaplain since 2006. She also serves as Baptist Religious Life Advisor for the Baptist Campus Ministry at Columbia University, and as the New York City Coordinator for Baptist Collegiate Ministry. In addition, she is the “Global Initiatives Coordinator” for the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association. She and her husband, Dr. Taylor Field, have worked since 1986 in the Lower East Side with Graffiti Community Ministries and Graffitichurch. She graduated from Emory University, and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. She is helping to coordinate the weekly Protestant Worship services in the new CSL during the Academic year.

Bernard Howard
bernard@christchurchnyc.com
Bernard Howard was brought up in a Jewish home in London, England. He came to believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah two years after his bar mitzvah. After jobs in economic and political research, he worked for a summer camps organization before training for full-time Bible teaching ministry. He then spent several years as a freelance speaker, giving outreach talks at guest events in colleges, high schools and churches. In 2012 he began work as an assistant minister at Christ Church NYC. You can rely on Bernard to point out British contributions to US culture, such as all the British actors currently enjoying success in Hollywood.

Josephine Hua
josephinehua@gmail.com
Josephine’s story with Health and Grad @ Compass Fellowship, affectionately called H&G, began in Jan, 2001. Upon the request of a few dental and medical students at NYU, a Bible Study was formed, first as an informal gathering then as an established Bible Study at the NYU medical school. A physician assistant by trade, Josephine first attended the Bible Study but later came to lead it and is now the co-director, along with her husband Matthew. A New Yorker from birth, she enjoys the dynamic culture of the city; but loves the quiet comforts of tea and a good book. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her love of Christ and how Jesus had changed her life with others at NYU.

Matthew Hua
huam99@yahoo.com
Matthew began his spiritual journey as an undergraduate student and has since embarked on a remarkable adventure, leading him to serve at Health and Grad @ Compass Fellowship, affectionately called H&G, as the director, Bible Study teacher, and mentor. A Bronx native, he loves the Mets, go figure, but regardless of the team he is always up for a game. Baseball is his love, but whatever the sport, his exclaim is always, “Bring it on!” As a Senior QA Analyst he is used to looking at fine details and troubleshooting issues that may arise; however God has used his skill set to further his desires to delve into the relationships that are formed in the Bible Study group and motivate others to meet the Jesus who changed his life.

Michael Keller
mk3531@nyu.edu
After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Michael worked in both London and New York at various church ministries. He attended Gordon-Conwell Seminary where he received an M.Div and a Th.M. He is currently working on his Ph.D. He worked for five years in Boston serving at Citylife Presbyterian Church as an Assistant Pastor before moving home to New York City where he was raised and attended public school. Michael likes biking around Manhattan, playing any sport that is competitive, and is known to be found at good New York coffee shops, but never drinks the coffee. He has been married to his wife Sara for ten years, and has two children.

Esther Kim
esther.kim@kcccny.org
Esther will be serving on NYU campus with KCCC in her first year as staff. She has been heavily involved with Korea Campus Crusade for Christ for six years including a year overseas in Tokyo, Japan as an intern. She attended CUNY Baruch College (located on 23rd and Lexington Ave.) and studied Business Communications with a minor on Industrial Organizational Psychology. Though her aspiration and dream was to get into the fashion industry, it was during her one year overseas that God revealed His heart and desire to use her life as an instrument for Jesus Christ. Fun Fact: She is currently learning the guitar!

Kevin Kim
kimbo317@gmail.com
Kevin Kim has served as the Staff Leader for Remnant Christian Fellowship at NYU since 2008. He also serves as a Pastoral Intern for Remnant Westside Church a non-denominational Protestant church located just West of Central Park. He graduated from Hunter College of The City University of New York and is currently attending Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary pursuing his Master of Divinity. Kevin is an avid sports fan and loves to play football and basketball in addition to watching his favorite teams, the NY Giants and NY Yankees.

Ian Lau
lau.ian@gmail.com
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ian immigrated to the US with his family during eighth grade. He became a Christian in high school and entered NYU as a freshman in 2001, when he joined Compass Koinonia (CK). After graduation, Ian stayed on to serve in CK and started working full-time in technology in the financial industry, where he still works today. He is currently director of Compass Koinonia undergrad at NYU and a member of Compass Fellowship Church. Ian enjoys badminton, street food, and sushi. Some of his favorite authors are John Piper, David Platt and Ravi Zacharias. He is married to Jackie, whom he met at CK as an undergrad, and resides in the Gramercy area.

Jackie Lau
jacqueoineling@gmail.com
Jackie grew up in Brooklyn, New York with her parents and older sister. She first met Compass Koinonia (CK) at New York University when she was an undergraduate student in the business school. It was there that Jackie committed her life to Jesus. She was involved in CK from freshmen through senior year, and upon graduation, continued to serve in the ministry. She currently works full-time in human resources for a financial services company. She is a member of Compass Fellowship Church with a passion for both local and international missions. She loves food, games, shopping and volleyball! Jackie met her husband, Ian, at CK at NYU. They’ve been married since October 2007 and currently reside in the Gramercy area.

Anna Lee-Winans
annalee77@gmail.com
Anna has been a lay campus minister for the last 10 years at New York University serving through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She currently serves graduate students and faculty. Prior to InterVarsity, Anna was a social worker in a pediatric AIDS clinic in the Bronx. She is an alumna of NYU, graduating with a BA in Journalism (’97) and an MSW (’01). Born and raised in New York City, she has had an ecumenical faith journey: baptized Lutheran, grew up Methodist, educated in Catholic parochial schools, made a decision to follow Jesus at NYU through InterVarsity, enjoyed Pentecostal and Brethren denominations, and attends an Episcopal church. During her off hours, Anna enjoys laughing with her husband and daughter.

Michelle Macdonald
michelle.macdonald@cru.org
Michelle Macdonald and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi where she went to college at Mississippi State University and graduated with a degree in microbiology. She grew up Protestant, and became involved in a non-denominational ministry in college, cru. Her plan was to serve on staff with cru for only one year, but that plan has changed since it’s now been seven years! She worked at the University of Georgia before moving to New York City two years ago. She loves traveling and has had the opportunity to visit five continents and plans to visit the final two in the next few years!

Brendan Mahar
mahar.brendan@gmail.com
Brendan is a staff member of The Navigators at NYU, an interdenominational Christian fellowship. He never imagined he would be a minister when he was young, but during his years in college, he felt called by God to teach and counsel. Brendan received a degree in philosophy and religious studies and continues to enjoy logic, classical philosophy, and the writings of Soren Kierkegaard. Although friends may know that Brendan moved all across the States, England, and Australia, few know that he was deeply involved in many sports including baseball, football, and rugby.

Rachel Mahar
mahar.rachel@gmail.com
Rachel Mahar is a staff member of The Navigators at NYU, an interdenominational Christian fellowship. She became acquainted with the international organization during her freshman year at the university. After getting involved in a leadership capacity, she began to lead a Bible Study, and soon after became the Vice President and Events Coordinator. She graduated from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in January 2012, and is excited to serve the fellowship full-time. Friends may know that Rachel is captivated by the worlds of art and fashion (you can often find her at The Met Museum), but few may be aware that she was once an avid swimmer and tennis player!

Jenny Park
jongah.park@kcccny.org
Jenny began attending a Presbyterian church in 6th grade. However, it was during her time at NYU as an undergraduate student that she began to experience (know) God and His wonderful plan for my life. This was one of the reasons for her coming on staff with Korea Campus Crusade for Christ (KCCC). She is a living testimony of the importance of college ministry. College years are a time when one begins to explore the meaning of life…how, why, and for what purpose we were designed. And a person must reckon with the reality of God in this process. She is so thankful that she gets to witness students discovering God and His wonderful plans for their lives. One of the things she enjoys the most is a good cup of coffee, which originated during her NYU undergrad years. She is always open for a good honest conversation over a cup of coffee.

Julian Park
julianpark@nyu.edu
Julian Park is 22 and graduated from NYU with a degree in History. He is a Protestant who plans to attend seminary in the near future. His dream was to be a pilot and hopes that one day he will get a chance to fly.

Michael Pham
mikeminh@yahoo.com
Michael Pham was originally born in California and raised in Hawaii. But despite that, he considers himself a die-hard New Yorker, having lived here longer than anywhere else. First moving to New York for graduate school, Michael served in many ministry capacities; high school youth group, graduate school fellowship, adult Bible study, and marriage counseling. Currently, Michael, along with his beautiful wife of seven years, leads the Encounter college fellowship at NYU campus under Acts Ministries International.

Victoria Pham
nayavictoria@yahoo.com
Victoria Pham has been living in New York for over a decade, and absolutely loves it. Formerly an accountant, she went back to school and received her Master’s in Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary. Along with her husband, Michael, she has served in many different capacities; women’s ministry, small groups, conference planning, and counseling. She is excited to lead the Encounter fellowship group at NYU under Acts Ministries International.

Ross Queener
ross.queener@cru.org
Ross grew up in a suburban area outside of Dayton, Ohio. His family was, essentially, non-religious (not atheist or agnostic, but lacking a clear sense of commitment to any religion or religious belief). After he graduated from high school and served six years in the US Navy (three years of which were on a submarine), he went to college at The Ohio State University, getting a B.S. in Math Education. While in his fourth year at OSU he came to recognize that not only was God real, but He was personal and knowable. And Ross wanted to know Him. This led him into a period of searching, the culmination of which was his understanding that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. That marked the beginning of Ross’ commitment to follow Him for the rest of his life. Fun Fact: The suburban community that I grew up in, Huber Heights, Ohio, claimed to be “America’s Largest Community of Brick Homes”. There were large signs that said so as you entered.

Barbara Rice
brice@middlechurch.org
Barbara Rice leads the college ministry at Middle Collegiate Church. Middle Church, located in the East Village, is a rare place where people of every race, class, age, and sexuality celebrate God together. Although rooted in the Christian tradition, Jews and Buddhists sing in our gospel choir next to atheists and Christians. Arts—Broadway singers, visual artists, or modern dance—weave through the worship celebrations. Racial, economic, and LGBTI justice are at the core of the church’s ministries. Barbara Rice is completing her Masters of Divinity degree at Union Theological Seminary. Originally from North Carolina, she worked as a professional counselor for twelve years. When Barbara has free time, she can be found backpacking along the Appalachian Trail with her beloved golden retriever, Bela.

Donna Schaper
donnaschaper@judson.org
The Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper has been Senior Minister at Judson Memorial Church for seven years. Ordained for 38 years, she has served congregations in Miami, Chicago, at Yale and in Tucson. Her life goal is to animate spiritual capacity for public ministry. That means orienting individuals to find their power in such a way that they redistribute power and make the world beautiful and fun for all. She imagines beauty and enchantment as God's purpose in the beginning - and joins in the great stream of the enchated as a life love. She also grows a fine tomato - and helps to grow fine congregations. She blogs at Grace at Table and consults through "Bricks without Straw," which helps congregations raise money and energy for mission.

Romall Smalls
frs2114@columbia.edu
Minister F. Romall Smalls is a lover of peace and justice. He is also a dynamic preacher, public speaker and social commentator who has appeared on WLIB-AM, KISS-FM, and BlogTalkRadio. His central focus is Liberation Theology. This includes spurring religious institutions to grapple with the issue of human sexuality within the spiritual experience. He is one of group of spirited leaders seeking to reignite the growing social justice as an act of faith effort of the Student Christian Movement of NYC (SCM-NYC). Min. Smalls received Clinical Pastoral Care (CPE) training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital- Westchester Psychiatric Division. He is a graduating seminarian at Union Theological Seminary of NYC and a licensed minister at the historic Grace Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, NY. He was profiled in the New York Observer Newspaper for his work as a Protest Chaplain at the Occupy Wall Street movement in Lower Manhattan. His extensive past experience as an award winning journalist and media relations executive, serves as a major resource in his effort to inform, inspire and engage the mind and heart of the world.

Benjamin Spalink
benspalink@gmail.com
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Graduate Students and Faculty. Ben grew up in Tokyo, Japan where he learned about Japanese culture and attended an English speaking Christian school. Ben studied English literature at Calvin College, went to Calvin Theological Seminary and then moved to New York City to plant City Grace Church (www.citygraceny.com). Ben enjoys talking about religion and spirituality with students and has a passion to see God’s love as demonstrated in Jesus Christ embraced by all. He also enjoys biking around New York city on his vintage Gitane, cooking international cuisine and jogging with his new son, Elijah, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Ben is a part-time staff worker with InterVarsity Grad and Faculty ministries at NYU.

Peter Trautmann
ptrautmann@gmail.com
Peter Trautmann knew that he wanted to find a community to support his faith when he arrived as a freshman at NYU. What he found was much deeper than just support; he had a series of experiences that changed his life forever. He was amazed by Christian students who had lives that were robust, meaningful and fun. He loved the balance of fun and substance he found in The Navigators- a group committed to going deep into the Scriptures and deep into relationships. He traveled to Mongolia to serve and teach English with The Navigators the summer between his junior and senior years. After NYU, he worked in downtown Manhattan on the business side of a non-profit for two years before going to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary for his Master of Divinity. He then joined the staff of The Navigators so that he could provide others the same kind of authentic community that was so transformative for him. He loves John 10:10 where Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Measuring in at 6-foot-7-inches, he’s often asked, “Do you play basketball?” To which he sometimes responds, “Do you play miniature golf?”

Mary Catherine Young
chaplain.nyc@gmail.com
“Mary Cat” Young is an Episcopal priest who has spent more than ten years working with youth, college students and young adults in Minnesota, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. Mary Cat and her husband Chad have loved their first year of living in New York with their schnauzer “The Enforcer,” and can often be found in the small dog park across the street from Kimmel Student Center. Mary Cat has been active in church work on the local and national level, most recently having been a member of the task force that developed rites for blessing same-sex relationships in Episcopal Churches nationwide. Favorite hobbies include: knitting, baking chocolate chip cookies, and reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic books.

Joseph Yu
joe@citycampusministry.com
After completing his B.S. in Biology at University of Connecticut, Joe resumed his studies in Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in 2007. He worked as a youth pastor at a Korean church in Connecticut, as well as being heavily involved in the campus ministry at UConn. Although he is a native of Korea and rival Boston, Joe is excited about being in New York. He is happily married to his wife, Helen, and together they have a son, Allan.

CATHOLIC

Erica Johnson
erica.johnson@focus.org
Erica Johnson is a recent graduate of The University of Florida with a degree in Journalism. She is a lifelong Catholic and first-year missionary with FOCUS. Other than her faith, her passions and hobbies include dance, photography, theater, music and writing. Fun Fact: Erica’s favorite pastime is traveling, and she has visited many European counties such as Ireland, Spain and Italy, with her all-time favorite stop being London, England.

Austin Dominic Litke
Fr. Austin is a native of Kentucky. After completing high school, he entered college seminary to begin formation for the Roman Catholic priesthood. During a semester in Rome, he met the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans. He entered that order and was ordained a priest in 2011. He comes to NYU having completed a degree in theology and is now ready to learn the subtle ways that Greenwich Village differs from rural, western Kentucky.

Amber Loosbrock
aloosbrock@focusonline.org
Amber Loosbrock is so proud and excited to be serving the students of NYU for a fourth year. She has encountered so many beautiful, good, and true things during her time here. A few years ago she gave up her midwestern tractor for the Big City and now she works with the Catholic Center here at NYU. She enjoys fashion, reading, red lipstick, writing, concerts, singing, deep conversations, and laughing. The thing she does best is conversing over a cup of tea or coffee. She knows the cutest little coffee shops in the Village! A little random fact about her is that she is an avid card player. Not many people can beat her in a game of Canasta!

John McGuire
john.mcguire-op@nyu.edu
John McGuire, O.P., Director of the Catholic Center at NYU is a member of the Dominican Order and a native New Yorker. After attending Providence College, he spent five years as a Trappist monk but then felt he was called to a ministry more directly involved with people. Following ordination and the completion of a Master of Divinity and a Master of Philosophy, he did his doctoral work in Ecumenical Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (The Angelicum). Father John’s ministries have included being Director of the International Ecumenical Center at Coventry Cathedral in England. In this capacity, he was the first Roman Catholic priest employed by the Anglican Church. While a research fellow at Yale’s Divinity School, he was pastor of St. Mary’s Church at Yale and remains a fellow of the University’s Jonathan Edwards College. He was then elected Vice-Rector of the Angelicum, a position he held for ten years. Father John accepted the position of Director of NYU’s campus ministry in 1995 as an opportunity to engage again in direct ministry to students. NYU’s 18,000 Catholic students present him with this possibility. Fr. McGuire has also led numerous retreats for students, laity, and clergy (Catholic, Anglican and Protestant) in the United States, Italy, England and Ireland. He is also the author of numerous articles on ecumenical and spirituality topics.

Allan White
allan.white@english.op.org
Father White OP was born in London and after studies at Oxford University he joined the Dominican Order in 1973 and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1979. After studies in philosophy and theology he completed a Ph.D. in sixteenth century history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. His time in the Order has been mostly spent in the university ministry, teaching in Oxford, Cambridge, London and Edinburgh, and in administration. He has served as senior Chaplain in the University of Edinburgh and was associate Chaplain in the University of Oxford before being invited to become senior Chaplain in the University of Cambridge. He was elected Prior Provincial of the English Dominican friars in 2000 and served in that capacity for eight years before going to Rome as an assistant to the Master of the Dominican Order. Father Allan came to the United States in 2011 and was asked to accept the post of Director of the NYU Catholic Centre. He is happy to be returning to the pastoral ministry to university students and looks forward to making his home amongst you.

Joseph Caruso
ghanasyamdas@yahoo.com
Joe Caruso was born in April of 1978 in Red Bank, NJ. From a young age he was deeply attracted to classical music and began playing the piano at about the age of 10. He pursued classical music throughout high school and into college where he studied with Dr. Min Kim and earned a degree in Music Education. However, during his last two years, a shift in his interest took place which he considered to be a natural progression from the Arts to Religion. Classical Music always put him in touch with the sublime and the sublimity of life itself. This led to a lot of deeper questions about himself, life, and God. He enthusiastically started reading many spiritual and holy books. It became such a passion for him that he began exploring and visiting various monasteries. After graduating college he had planned to live in one such monastery (Krishna Bhakti asrama, located in the lower east side of Manhattan) for one month before beginning his career. But he never left. He has been happily living there in the association of ten other monks for nine years now. Some student friends of his at NYU started a spiritual club on campus and invited him to give some classes. Since then he has had many wonderful relationships with students and faculty at NYU, and the cooking classes and Bhagavad Gita study groups have continued through the years.

Aaron Eisemann
rabbie@meor.org
Rabbi Aaron Eisemann, affectionately known as Rabbi E, can't seem to graduate the college scene. After graduating from Yeshiva Derech Chaim Rabbincal Institute in Brooklyn, he has been on campus for 14 years and counting. He began his career teaching Jewish wisdom to the University of Michigan students in Ann Arbor. He then headed east, and continued to teach and inspire university students in lower Manhattan. Rabbi E loves eating doughnuts and spending time with his wife, Tziporah, and their beautiful family. Rabbi E has lots of great qualities, with a possible exception of his sense of humor, which many agree is steadily improving.

Yehuda Sarna
rabbi.sarna@nyu.edu
Rabbi Sarna serves as University Chaplain and Rabbi at the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU. Rabbi Sarna founded the Jewish Learning Fellowship at NYU, a “school-within-a-school,” offering intensive ten-week courses of exploration in Jewish thought. With nearly 1000 alumni since 2007, the Fellowship now serves as a national educational model for Jewish campus groups. Rabbi Sarna was awarded the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence from Hillel International in 2008. He was listed as one of “36 under 36 Changemakers” by the New York Jewish Week (2009), received the Hallmark Award from the NYU Division of Student Affairs (2010), and will be honored with a United Nations’ Juliet Hollister Award in October (2012) by the Temple of Understanding. He is the editor of The Koren Shabbat Evening Siddur (2011) and Orthodox Forum Series: Toward a Jewish Perspective on Culture (forthcoming).

Sion Setton
sion.setton@gmail.com
Rabbi Sion Setton, born in Brooklyn as part of the Sephardic Syrian community, currently presides as the Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of Congregation Magen David of Manhattan on Sullivan Street. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Yeshiva University and is pursuing a Masters in Medieval Jewish History at the Bernard Revel Graduate School for Jewish Studies. Throughout his rabbinical studies, Rabbi Setton taught at various institutions such as Ramaz and the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue. He also has coordinated and participated in different educational and humanitarian missions around the world, traveling to: Israel, Turkey, Morocco, Senegal, Thailand, England, Spain and Panama. Rabbi Setton is a committed techy who truly believes in the integration of modern technology with religious and educational initiatives. He serves as a teacher & the Director of Educational Technology at Barkai Yeshiva and also founded www.TorahCentral.com, an online platform that highlights various educators around the world.

Gamliel Shmalo
j.shmalo@gmail.com
Gamliel Shmalo is the Educational Director of Meor NYU and teaches Jewish philosphy and law at Yeshiva University. His interet is in creating a living interaction between the modern experience and ancient wisdom. University of Pennsylvania (BA), Hebrew University in Jerusalem (MA), Beit Ariel Jerusalem (Rabbinic Ordination). He has published on Jewish holidays and customs as well as issues in Biblical ethics and lectures internationally. He and his wife, Mahnaz, have seven children (three sets of twins!), five of whom are certified Scuba divers. Rabbi Shmalo was a founding member of the underwater unit of Israel's ZAKA.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Maryum Khwaja
mk610@nyu.edu
Maryum Khwaja is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who graduated from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work in 2001. Since then, she has gained extensive experience working with children, adolescents, parents, and families in the child welfare system, and with seriously and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. More recently, she works part-time as a psychotherapist at Bleuler Psychotherapy Center in Forest Hills, Queens, and has opened a private practice with two partners in the Financial District called Nasiha Counseling. In 2007, she joined the Islamic Center as Coordinator for Social Services, working pro bono in conjunction with Imam Khalid Latif to provide short-term counseling for Muslim students at NYU. In 2010 Maryum was honored by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer for her service in the borough of Manhattan.

Khalid Latif
kl442@nyu.edu
Khalid is a University Chaplain for NYU, Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, and a Chaplain for the NYPD. He was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at NYU in 2005. Under his leadership, the Islamic Center at NYU became the first established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States. In 2007, Imam Latif became the youngest chaplain in the history of the NYC Police Department at the age of 24. Latif has been featured in numerous media outlets including the Huffington Post, BBC, NPR, CNN, the New York Times, New York Magazine, The Colbert Report, and Time. Imam Latif has been named a Global Interfaith Visionary by the UN Temple of Understanding (2010), one of 100 NYC Luminaries by the NY Public Library (2011), one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by Georgetown University’s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (2009 & 2010), a Millennial Leader for Social Justice by Auburn Seminary (2011), and he was recently featured in the Christian Science Monitor’s “30 under 30” list (2012).

Raymond Brock Murray
rbrockmurray@gmail.com
Raymond recently received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Seton Hall University. He is a licensed professional counselor, with a private practice in Hoboken, NJ. He is a partner in the newly formed group practice called Nasiha Counseling in New York City with two Muslim female therapists. He currently serves as a consulting therapist for the Rutgers University Counseling Center in Newark, NJ where he has worked for more than two years. He is also an adjunct faculty member in Montclair State University’s Psychology Department. He has been an active member of the NYU Islamic Center’s Social Services team since May 2009, volunteering his time as a psychological counseling and programming consultant. Both at NYU and in the Newark and East Orange, NJ areas Raymond is currently engaged in non-profit initiatives aimed at offering counseling services to Muslims and other minority populations, as well as internship training experience to Muslim students in counseling graduate programs.

Katherine "Kat" Katsanis~Semel
kat@katransformations.com
Katherine “Kat” Katsanis~Semel received her B.A. in Philosophy of Religion at Sarah Lawrence College, and received her M.A. in English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing, at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Currently, Katherine is studying to become an ordained Interfaith Minister; she is now in her third year of studies with Celebrating Life Ministries, a thriving, Interfaith Community. As a baby, Kat was baptized into the Greek Orthodox Christian Church, and was also christened into Sri Paramahansa Yogananda’s Self-Realization Fellowship, which is also referred to as a “Church of All Religions.” At her core, Katherine considers herself to be an inclusive Christian Yogini, who is open to ministering to people of all faiths and belief-systems. Katherine feels particularly called to serve those who wish to further harmonize their spirituality, with their LGBTQ identity. Katherine enjoys Hatha Yoga, walks in nature, contemplative prayer time, and chocolate, peanut butter milkshakes. For over ten years, Katherine has worked in private practice as a professional Healer & Meditation Teacher (KaTransformations.com), and lives in Manhattan with her Jewish life partner. Katherine considers herself to be broad-minded, open-hearted, and Spirit-guided; she looks forward to getting to know you!

Anne Klaeysen
aklaeysen@nysec.org
Anne Klaeysen is clergy leader of the New York Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC), founded in 1876 and located at 2 West 64th Street in Manhattan, and serves the Columbia University-Barnard College community as Humanist Religious Life Advisor. Dr. Klaeysen was Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island from 2002 to 2008 and the first Humanist Chaplain at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. She holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in pastoral counseling from Hebrew Union College, Master’s degrees in Business Administration from New York University and in German from the State University of New York at Albany, and studied at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany (1971-73). Dr. Klaeysen is also a graduate of The Humanist Institute (Class X), co-mentored Class XV, and now serves as co-dean of the institute. She is a member of the American Humanist Association, International Humanist and Ethical Union, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and numerous interfaith social justice alliances, including Empire State Pride Agenda—Pride in the Pulpit, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, NYS Labor-Religion Coalition, and Occupy Faith NYC.

Doyeon Park
doyeon@wonbuddhist.org
Rev. Doyeon Park has served as a minister of Manhattan Won Buddhist Temple and Alternative Representative of Won Buddhism to the United Nations and Inter-religious Affairs. She also serves as Buddhist Religious Life Advisor at Columbia University.
Rev. Park graduated from Dept. of Won Buddhism, Won Kwang University, Iksan, Korea and earned M.A of Won Buddhist Studies from Won Institute of Graduate Studies, Glenside, Pennsylvania, USA. She received full ordination in December, 2007. She enjoys fostering spiritual relationship among student life within the university setting.

Sara Weber
slweber@slweber.net
Sara’s lifelong fascination with the deep mystery of life and its counterpart, death, drew her first to Judaism, then to science, and then to a more direct exploration of the mind. She has been a practicing psychotherapist since graduating from the NYU Clinical Psychology Program in 1984. Following that she began a simultaneous study in the practices of psychoanalysis (at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis) and of Buddhism (both Vipassana and Tibetan Vajrayana). Buddhism’s unique emphasis on healing through non-reactive attention to mind and body deepened both of her practices. These years of study and practice have eased some of her own and, she hopes, my patients’ suffering. Now, as faculty, founder and chair of the Contemplative Studies Project at the NYU Postdoctoral Program, she, her project committee, and their teachers are committed to fostering an experiential understanding of the deep power of all contemplative practices, from both religious and non-religious roots. They enjoy creating experiential opportunities for transformation and healing. Her friends point to some other rather amusing aspects of her curriculum vitae. Most recently, she was a judge at an Iron Chef contest at a local farmers market. Her celebrity arose from being President of the Friends Committee of Carroll Park when they ran “Our First, and Hopefully Last, Rat Day Festival” to get the city to attend to a rat infestation in our park. Lured by children’s rat races, rat gummy bears, and a giant union-busting blow-up rat, the real rats made a spectacular day-time appearance caught by TV cameras and a NY Times exposé. The city poured resources upon them, taking care of everything. It was a blast.