Spiritual Life Advisors
Global Spiritual Life at NYU hosts over 60 spiritual life advisors representing various faiths, denominations, and groups on campus. See the full list of Washington Square and Brooklyn Spiritual Life Advisors below.
Bhakti Yoga
Geetanjali Meghan
Known for her effervescent personality and warm spirit, Geetanjali Meghan serves as a bridge connecting students to the ancient yet timeless spiritual tradition of Bhakti Yoga. The path is one known for its devotional spiritual consciousness that aligns the soul with its Divine source. Being a spiritual seeker all her life, she was fascinated by the teachings of Bhakti from day one and deeply committed herself to the practice, which continues to transform the way she lives. Harnessing her background of Hospitality along with her extensive work with students for over seven years, she now aspires to help them grow in their spirituality so they can experience an unlimited potential of joy, love, and true fulfillment. She is Guyanese born and thrives off of finding inspiration in every facet of life – from nature, to people, and to nourishing time spent alone.
Buddhist Spiritual Life Advisors
Rev. Doyeon Park, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
sp3150@nyu.edu
Rev. Doyeon Park is a Kyomunim, literally meaning one who devotes oneself to teach Buddha dharma in the Won Buddhism. She is a minister of the Manhattan Won Buddhist temple and the Buddhist Religious Life Adviser at Columbia University. She served as an Alternative Representative of Won Buddhism to the United Nations from 2008 to 2013. Doyeon focuses on creating a sangha (spiritual community) where various individuals and groups can cultivate their inner wisdom and compassion to live with peace and dignity. Inspired by the Buddhist idea of inner freedom and happiness, Rev. Park started her monastic training in 1998. She 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 2007.
Catholic Spiritual Life Advisors
John Baptist Hoang, Senior Affliate Spiritual Life Advisor
chaplain@catholiccenternyu.org
Fr. John Baptist grew up in Northern Virginia and went to college at the University of Virginia, majoring in Religious Studies and Sociology. After college, he joined the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) in 2009 and was ordained a priest in 2016. After ordination, Fr. John Baptist served as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village for two years and is now serving the New York University community as the Chaplain and Director of the Catholic Center at NYU. Fun fact: Fr. John Baptist has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Elizabeth Hofer
Elizabeth works as a FOCUS missionary serving students through the Catholic Center at NYU. Elizabeth's life was changed by FOCUS missionaries when she was an undergraduate student and was compelled to offer the same friendship, joy, and invitation to faith to others. She hails from Virginia and loves to talk all things theology and Scripture, especially over a good cup of coffee!
Cristina Banuelos-Moriel
mayra.banuelosmoriel@focus.org
My name is Cristina Banuelos-Moriel. I am Catholic and am serving as a first year missionary with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Marketing and Advertising. I love all things artsy, discovering new coffee shops, baking Bundt cakes, and spending quality time with the people I love. A fun fact about me is that I am a dual-citizen.
Alec Baryenbruch
Alec Baryenbruch is an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied Neurobiology. After being deeply impacted by his relationships in his college's Catholic Center community, Alec became a Catholic missionary with FOCUS--the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. He hopes to invite other students to experience the same thrill and transformation of living out consistent interior prayer and virtue. You might find Alec playing pick up basketball, reading a good book, praying in the chapel, or enjoying some delicious food from Chipotle. He is beyond excited to offer spiritual guidance to the students of NYU.
Darin Howell
Darin Howell is a 2018 University of Delaware graduate from Princeton, NJ. He has been working as a Catholic Missionary for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) over the last 2 years at Montclair State University. He's loved being with FOCUS so much that he couldn't resist staying on staff to continue to pour into students' hearts the joy of the Catholic faith. He loves hammocking, volleyball, and music. In fact, you can hear him with his college A Cappella group The Deltones on Spotify in their 2017 album A Step Too Far.
Hindu Spiritual Life Advisors
Sangeetha Kowsik, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
sangeetha1011@gmail.com
Sangeetha Kowsik has had the honor of serving as Hindu Chaplain at NYU since 2017 and is affectionately known as the #pujaqueen, because she loves her pujas (prayer rituals). She has participated in numerous interfaith dialogues, panels, and discussions in different universities and is a founding member of NAHCA (North American Hindu Chaplain Association)
She created the NYU Hindu Center in 2017 as a place of knowledge, learning, and understanding, a space that is open to all who are interested in learning about Hinduism. As a designer/artist by profession, (in addition to interfaith work) she has always received inspiration and passion from all faiths, not just Hinduism.
Born and raised in Fremont, California, she grew up attending Shiva Vishnu Temple in Livermore (her father built 3 Hindu Temples in the USA). She did her undergraduate studies at Parsons School of Design, has an additional degree in Arabic Calligraphy from NYU and studied Christian miniature painting in France. She was previously the Head Designer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art where she deepened her understanding of art and iconography of all religions. She is classically trained in South Asian performing arts, the roots of which lie in worship, including Carnatic and Hindustani vocal (classical devotional music of both south and north India) Kathak, Bharthanatyam, and Odissi.
Her extensive working background in the world of design includes working for museums, cultural institutions, non-profits, startups, fashion, luxury, beauty, publishing houses, and as a fine artist in gallery spaces has led her to start her own design/art brand IhsanIshan Design.
IhsanIshan educates, starts conversations, fights negative stereotypes, celebrates global cultures, showcases unique stories, and creates appreciation and understanding which leads to a more unified, harmonious, compassionate, beautiful world.
She is delighted to be a part of NYU's Global Spiritual Life program and serve all communities.
Humanist Spiritual Life Advisors
Dr. Anne Klaeysen, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
ak4254@nyu.edu
My name is Anne Klaeysen, and I am a religious humanist. My denomination of Ethical Culture, founded in 1876, provides humanist philosophy in a congregational setting, recognizing that people who believe in the human potential for goodness and take responsibility for making the world a better place, but neither believe in nor worship a supernatural deity, need community for our ethical, social, and spiritual needs. Fun fact: I am a social justice rabble rouser who loves rally and marches for worthy causes.
Interfaith Spiritual Life Advisors
Frank Fredericks, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
frank@worldfaith.org
Frank Fredericks serves as an interfaith spiritual life advisor in NYC. He is the founder of World Faith, a global movement to end religious violence, and Mean Communications, a digital agency for social good. After working in the music industry, managing artists such as Lady Gaga, Frank founded World Faith in 2008. He has been recognized as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, and is a Fellow Alumnus of Leading for Impact at Oxford Skoll Centre, AMENDS at Stanford, IFYC, Soliya, Ariane de Rothschild, and YouthActionNet. He did his BM at NYU and his MBA at Oxford Said as a Global Shaper Scholar from the World Economic Forum. Frank also serves as a resource for students studying abroad and as a friendly LGBTQ+ affirming spiritual life advisor.
Jewish Spiritual Life Advisors
Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU
Yehuda Sarna, University Chaplain
rabbi.sarna@nyu.edu
Rabbi Yehuda Sarna is a visionary, inspiring and highly personable rabbi known for his passion, sensitivity, creativity, and openness. A communal leader, teacher and innovator, he serves as the Skirball Executive Director of the Bronfman Center and University Chaplain of NYU. Rabbi Sarna and his family live in Gramercy Green, where he is Chaplain-in-Residence, and maintain an "open home" to students. He is married to Dr. Michelle Waldman Sarna and father to Batya, Maayan, Moshe, David, Amital and Hillel.
Lindsay Goldman, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
Lindsay Goldman is currently in her third year of rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She earned her Bachelor's degree in General and Special Education from New York University. Lindsay spent two years at Maryland Hillel as the Jewish Experience Associate and later served as the Slifka-Nadich Rabbinic Fellow as a first year rabbinical student. Prior to studying at JTS, Lindsay spent two years teaching middle school Rabbinics at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD. She currently teaches at Ansche Chesed Hebrew School, DC Minyan Cohort Pilot Program and is the Slifka-Nadich Rabbinic Fellow at The Bronfman Center at NYU. Lindsay loves country music, traveling the world, and reading new books with her feminist book club.
Muslim Spiritual Life Advisors
Khalid Latif, University Chaplain
kl442@nyu.edu
Imam Khalid Latif is a University Spiritual Life Advisor for New York University, Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, and a Chaplain for the NYPD. He is also the co-founder of Honest Chops, the first-ever all-natural/organic halal butcher in NYC, the Muslim Wedding Service, an agency specializing in providing charismatic and inspirational marriage officiants for wedding ceremonies, and a partner in the MKO Group, an investment group that owns and operates multiple Edible Arrangements franchisees in Manhattan.Under his leadership, the Islamic Center at NYU became the first ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States. Imam Latif’s exceptional dedication and ability to cross interfaith and cultural lines on a daily basis brought him recognition throughout the city, so much so that in 2007 Mayor Michael Bloomberg nominated Imam Latif to become the youngest chaplain in history of the New York City Police Department at the age of 24. Most recently, Imam Latif was selected as one of 60 NYC leaders to serve on May Bill Deblasio’s Transition Team, helping to recommend and select individuals for key roles in the current NYC administration and also appointed to a “Task Force to Combat Hate” by NYC Public Advocate Tisch James to deal with the rise in Islamophobic, anti-semitic and anti-sikh sentiment in NYC.
Faiyaz Jaffer, Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
fj490@nyu.edu
Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer is the Assistant Research Scholar for the Islamic Center at New York University and an Associate Chaplain for the Center of Global & Spiritual Life at NYU. He attained an MA degree in Islamic Studies (UK), with a concentration on early Islamic history, after his undergraduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook University in Political Science and Religious Studies. He has had his research published by academic journals. In pursuing the classical course of Islamic education, Faiyaz studied in the Seminary of Karbala, Iraq, one of the most prominent centers for Islamic learning. He currently continues his fieldwork as part of the Islamic Research Institute in New York. As a faith leader and social activist, Faiyaz Jaffer has lectured at various universities, seminars, and workshops across the United States, Canada, Europe, East Africa, and the Middle East. Due to the political and social climate, he has been making strides in the greater New York area by taking part in a number of interfaith seminars and discussions in the aspiration of increasing dialogue with various faith leaders. His outreach efforts have allowed him to be featured in some of the country's most prominent media outlets. As a highly sought after lecturer and religious leader, Faiyaz regularly leads prayer services and delivers sermons across North America.
Protestant Spiritual Life Advisors
For questions about Protestantism abroad, please contact the Chairs of the Protestant Life Affiliate Network (listed below) and they can help find the Chaplain best suited to your needs.
180 Church
William Kim
billykim.180@gmail.com
Coffee and conversations are two of my favorite things. So, as a minister in 180 Fellowship, I enjoy listening to the story of people's lives in hopes to convey how God might be working. My desire to see God moving in our campus in multifaceted ways, engaging in stories of renewal, healing, and salvation.
Bridges International
Michael Henderson
michael.henderson@bridgesinternational.com
Michael was born and raised in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia. He now serves with the Bridges International student chapter at NYU and enjoys working with students from every corner of the world. Michael has travelled extensively to 30+ countries and feels privileged to put this global experience into practice here at NYU. He is member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church Downtown where he worships and serves weekly. He also enjoys sports, cycling, international cuisine and listening to NPR Podcasts.
Amanda Mutio
Amanda was born in Queens, New York but grew up and lived most of her life in North Carolina. She graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology and Hispanic Students at East Carolina University. She is a third generation Latina and also has a passion for the world and traveling. She loves learning about new cultures. She is newly married to Giancarlo who is from Peru and together they love eating Aji de Gallina - a peruvian delicacy. They live in New York City and work with Bridges International – a ministry to provide service opportunities, social networking and spiritual resources for international students. She also is a coffee lover and enjoys watching documentaries.
Giancarlo Oviedo-Mori
giancarlo.oviedo@bridgesinternational.com
Christian Humanist
Natalie Perkins, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
natalierperkins@gmail.com
This is Natalie's third year as a chaplain and she is loving every minute of it. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary, she now works with two religious institutes: Tanho Center– which focuses on early Christian texts, and Westar Institute– which aims to bridge the gap between religious scholarship and the general public. She is also a professional performer and often travels to sing around the nation. Reach out to her if you have questions or want to talk about the intersection of religion and justice. OR, religion and the arts. Or, both. Or neither.
Canterbury Downtown
Megan Sanders, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
Megan Sanders is an Episcopal priest who works with college and graduate students all around downtown NYC. She grew up primarily in Washington D.C. and the Florida panhandle. Megan's early religious and spiritual formation was spent in communities as a Roman Catholic Christian, and her formation continues now as an Episcopalian Christian (since age 24). Her first official NYC mailing address was at the General Theological Seminary in Chelsea (2004-2007), and if you ask her where her heart calls home, she'll most likely tell you her home is where she is now and also it's pieces of everywhere she's ever lived. And if home is a feeling it's when the conductor's voice announces that the next stop on the 1 train is Christopher Street.
Compass Koinonia
Vinny Wong, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
wong.vinny@gmail.com
Vinny was born and raised in New York and graduated from Columbia University with an engineering degree and from Baruch College with an accounting degree. At Columbia, she was introduced to Compass Christian Koinonia (CCK), the sister group of NYU’s Compass Koinonia (CK), where she began her spiritual journey. Five years and one million questions later, Vinny finally convinced the skeptic inside her (the product of being a scientist and a New Yorker) that there is no greater truth than Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Lord of her life. She recently joined the staff at CK and looks forward to experiencing God through this ministry. Vinny is easily amused and has a penchant for laughter, so don’t be afraid to say hi! Despite popular suspicion, she promises she is not a spy for NYU’s Upper West Side rival and she is genuinely excited to be a part of the NYU community.
Janell Yoo
janellyoobkk@gmail.com
Janell was born in South Korea and immigrated to America at the age of 9. She moved from California to New York to attend School of Visual Arts to study photography. During her college years, she joined Compass Koinonia (CK) at NYU to continue her spiritual growth. CK provided new challenging questions about Christian living and what that means to a person, allowing Janell to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. After a year and half mission work in Thailand, she wanted to plug herself to a meaningful community to serve with NYU. She enjoys the challenges that comes with student ministry and continually pray for God’s direction in all things.
Chelsea Lo
Hello, friend! My name is Chelsea Lo, and I am a staff member of the Compass Koinonia (CK) fellowship at NYU. I grew up in a Christian family, but struggled with the finality of declaring faith in a God I could not prove existed. In 2010, I moved to NYC for college, where I began attending Compass Fellowship Church - to which CK is affiliated - and became very involved with campus Christian life, but did not officially accept Christ as my Lord and Savior until 2016. A not-that-fun fact about me is that since graduation, I have been working in finance. A more-fun fact about me is that I once rode down the boardwalk on the tricycle of Yo-Yo Ma's mother!
Mona Lee
Originally from the SF Bay Area, Mona has called NYC home for the past 22 years. An experienced high school math teacher, mother of two, and Baptist pastor’s wife, Mona serves the Compass Koinonia ministry. Lending her teaching and discipleship skills, Mona enjoys recruiting new volleyball enthusiasts to join her on the court.
Daniel Lee
I am a transplant from California, 22 yrs and counting. I enjoy NYC's density and energy, along with, in EB White's words, the gifts of loneliness and privacy it bestows. My two grown kids are both currently in graduate school, aka, "What's the interest rate on that loan?" school. My wife Mona and I try to have fun in the home, in the workplace, and in our shared ministry. For 2021, I am trying to establish prayer and walking as my mainstays.
Cru
Brandon Brooks, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
I grew up in Madison, WI and until moving to New York City in June of 2018, had lived there my entire life. I enjoyed school, basketball, soccer and golf growing up, as well as rooting for the Green Bay Packers football team and the Wisconsin Badgers football and basketball teams. My parents were nominal Christians and sent me to a Catholic school, but during all of this time, I didn't quite understand what it meant to have faith or have a relationship with God. I was pretty self-reliant. As I got older, I transitioned from lots of involvement in sports to a passion for music, specifically percussion. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, initially as a percussion performance major. However, God had other plans for me and after getting involved with Cru on my campus, I began to grow in my faith in ways that I never had before. I felt that God was changing the trajectory of my life and I decided to change my major (to Communication Arts) and pursue a career in vocational ministry. As I continued to grow, I continued to be assured of God's directing in this way. Once I graduated I started working with Cru at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and spent 5 years ministering to college students there before moving to New York to work with Cru. I have loved every minute of getting to love and serve college students; they are the best! One fun fact about me: I was born completely deaf in my right ear, so don't call my name in a large crowd. ;)
Sam Gryzwa
Sam was born in Wisconsin, and experienced Christianity in his family and at church from a young age. However, for most of his life until college ‘religion’ just meant a moral system of rules. He came into college as a nominal Christian, totally consumed with himself. A number of senior students involved with Cru befriended him early his freshmaen year, and their love, care, and sacrifice had a transformational impact on his understanding of God. He began to cultivate a real, active relationship with Jesus on his own for the first time; it completely changed his life.
Soon, God began to give him a passion to reach other students like himself with the Gospel. This strongly influenced his decision to spend his first year out of college as a missionary overseas. In the years since, it has led him to invest his life so students everywhere fall in love with Jesus and learn to follow Him for a lifetime. He loves New York City, plays cello & piano, writes music, reads books, adventures with his wife, and eats a good burger as often as he can (..which, if he’s honest? Is too often).
Tara Rifkin
Hi I'm Tara! I'm originally from Atlanta but have lived in the city for about a year now! I love swimming, watching movies, cheering on the Georgia Bulldawgs, and anything to do with the beach. Growing up, I didn't think too much about God or what it meant to have a relationship with Him. When I arrived at the University of Georgia my freshman year, I got plugged into a couple different campus ministries and really started to explore my faith. A couple of months into the year, a Cru staff member shared the gospel with me. That was the first time I ever remember hearing about the possibility of an intimate and personal relationship with God, and I became a Christian soon after. College was such a pivotal time in my faith which is why I am so excited to help students at NYU and across the city explore their faith and to be a spiritual resource for them!
Michelle Shokralla
I am a lover of the city, rich conversations and have a pretty big house plant obsession. Nothing makes me happier than getting to be a listening ear over a good cup of coffee. I love helping people dig deeper into their own spiritual journeys, in part because college was a huge turning point for my faith journey. I became a Christian in college and have love getting to dialogue with doubters and seekers just like myself. I want to be someone who is a life-long learner. I’m originally from North Carolina but have worked with Cru in New York City since 2015, meeting with students from campuses all over the city.
Encounter Christian Fellowship
Contact: encountercf.nyc@gmail.com
Jennifer Kim, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
During my fervent years in college pursuing my dream to be a filmmaker, I experienced the deep healing love and power of God that forever changed my life. My passion for film turned to a passion to see God's people encounter the Father heart of God. To follow after His call, I decided to serve on the mission field in East Asia before God called me back to the U.S. with the charge to be equipped and healed to serve the harvest. I now serve as the college pastor of Remnant Church seeking kingdom transformation in all of NYC.
Hanna Chung
Hanna H. Chung: Pastor's wife and Christian counselor (LMFT, Phd cand.in Family Ministry). My husband Joseph Chung and I serve The Remnant Church. I am passionate about working with people with problems. Mother of two sons and a spiritual mother of many, trying to share the love of Jesus in NYC!
Every Nation Campus Ministries
Fernando De Los Santos
In 2004, Selene and I moved to New York City in pursuit of our college degrees. She came here from Pennsylvania to study Acting at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy where she came to Christ through a rehearsal. A few years later she became involved in campus ministry when she went back to school at Hunter College. She ended up graduating from The New School where God called her to be a campus minister to this day! As for myself, I came from the Philippines to study Pharmacy at St. John's University where I became involved in campus ministry for eight years. This experience has built my foundation in the Lord and planted the desire in me to see college campuses be a place where God reigns. As a result, I was enabled to be a light for Jesus during my eight years of working as a Pharmacist by day and serving as a voluntary campus missionary by night. Fast forward to today and we are living in Harlem with two spunky kids and ministering to college
Faculty Commons
Sam Leopold
sam.leopold@facultycommons.org
Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Miami University in Oxford, OH in 2008. While on campus he was active as a resident assistant, a drummer in the marching band, a bassist in the Miami University Men's Glee Club, a leader in campus ministry and someone who was always down for coffee and a great conversation. Campus ministry, having had such a significant impact in Sam's life as an undergraduate, has been his professional focus since graduating serving at La Sapienza University, Roma Tre University and now at Columbia University, FIT and NYU. He moved with his wife and three daughters to New York in 2016 to continue his work in ministry and to complete his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in midtown Manhattan. In his free time Sam likes to play tennis, run in Central Park, read and explore all the amazing culture New York City has to offer together with his family.
International Students, Inc.
Jason Casper, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
Jason Casper moved to New York City in 2001 from Pennsylvania and it was his experience of witnessing the 9/11 attacks firsthand that helped guide him into a relationship with Jesus Christ. In 2012, after working as a senior graphic designer/art director for 13 years, Jason felt a call into full-time ministry to international students after volunteering since 2009. He had also served at Calvary Baptist Church with their Bowery Mission compassion outreach team as well as serving with their young adult ministry since 2010. Currently, Jason has a deep passion for engaging the Muslim community through interfaith dialogue and has been an active participant in the NYU student club MuCh (Muslim-Christian Dialogue) and has been invited to speak at several MSA functions at NYU. When not working with students at NYU Jason can probably be found listening to/attempting to play jazz guitar!
Hollie Casper
Before moving to NYC 13 years ago, I lived in Japan and worked with the church there teaching English classes for the community. It was during that time that my relationship with God was strengthened and I grew to appreciate dialogue with people of other faith traditions and cultures. I love creating community for internationals where deep connection can happen around discussions of faith and life (and hopefully good food)! I love exploring new corners of NYC and spending time with my husband, Jason and my son, Silas.
Kenny Chau
Kenny grew up in NYC’s Chinatown where he played lots of basketball and developed street smarts. After completing a term with the US Army Reserve and undergraduate studies at SUNY Buffalo, Kenny returned to lower Manhattan to help immigrant youth and their families adjust to life in the Big Apple. Kenny and his wife, Cindy, also spent a memorable 2004-2005 living in Beijing. In 2008, Kenny received a Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and returned to NYC to pastor at his home church association until 2014. With excitement to be part of a chaplaincy team at NYU, Kenny is committed to help international students and their families thrive in this thrilling city. Though Kenny still plays basketball, the only quickness in his game is how fast he gets tired. Lastly, Kenny enjoys savory dishes of all cultures, strategic board games and gets a kick out of being mischievous with their kids, Joey and Makayla.
Cristobal Tong
God has led Cristobal to a wide range of occupations in his journey to ministry ranging from working as a sushi chef to a potential legal career as a paralegal. It is through these unique experiences that he has been able to minister and bless youth, college students as well as young adults alike at 3Stone/NYCAC for the last 10 years as a counselor, intern, and as of 2015, an associate pastor. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He is currently working towards his ordination with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Cristobal wants God to use all aspects of his life in spreading the gospel to the nations, and desires to equip, empower, and encourage the local church to be the arms and legs of Christ in their community and throughout the world. Having grown up in NYC, Cristobal feels naturally led to serve and make disciples of the 2nd and 3rd generation of Asian Americans through mentorship and living life together and truly living out the invitation to come and see. Cristobal is married to his wife, Carla, whom he calls the biggest blessing of his life. They look forwarding to faithfully following God, wherever He calls them.
Lisa Voth
Lisa grew up in Oklahoma and later Washington State. She decided to become a follower of Jesus at an early age. In college, she discovered a love for biblical narrative and theology and gained a master's in biblical interpretation. Lisa spent a year in Cameroon assisting a Bible translation team.She's passionate about connecting Muslims and Christians in friendship and dialogue and loves learning about how people from other cultures see the world. One of Lisa's favorite things is a conversation over coffee digging into life's big questions. She likes to rock climb, is a die-hard Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fan, and has a movie quote for every occasion.
Lachlan Warrell
I grew up in an Australian family with a strong belief in a higher power/God, but a many ways up one mountain approach. I have deep Catholic roots on my mum's side, but we had a pluralistic emphasis on spirituality. However, shortly before 9th grade, my mum unknowingly gave me a book about Christian Basketball players living out their faith in Jesus Christ. While reading it, I became curious and started reading the Bible and looking for answers about Jesus on youtube, and the rest is history. Since He found me then at 15, I've been talking with Him about what to do with my life and He led me to social work at NYU and now working with International Students with ISI alongside helping with NYU All Campus prayer as part of the Christian Interfellowship Council. Additionally, I was first exposed to spoken word poetry at 15 when my life was changed by a spoken word poem called Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, and I've been writing and performing spoken word poetry myself ever since!
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Trevor Agatsuma, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
trevor.agatsuma@gmail.com
I was born in Seattle which at the time had one of the lowest rates for church attendance in the country. I am grateful that growing up as a Christian in this environment caused me to ask critical questions about what I was brought up in. This has greatly strengthened my faith. I have had many conversations with friends where we disagree in fundamental ways on our worldview. But instead of bringing discord these conversations brought us closer together as friends. I hope to bring more conversations like this to the university. I also love hiking, running, Spartan Races and listening to NPR Podcasts.
Chelsea Lee Whitfield
chelsea.whitfield@gmail.com
Chelsea Whitfield is a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate and Faculty Ministries at NYU. Chelsea is passionate about empowering students for ministry and creating spaces for international students to encounter God and use their gifts to further his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. When she's not on campus, Chelsea can be found at Kopi Kopi, Pokee, or having bubble tea. She would love for you to join her!
Ariana Waters
ariana.waters@intervarsity.org
My name is Ariana Waters. I grew up in the South, where the tea is sweet and ice cold but the people are warm and full of the best stories ever told. I am a Campus Staff Minister for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I am a Christian and specialize in conversations surrounding the intersection of Greek Life and Spiritual Life. As a sorority alumna myself, I believe Greek life is a great place to follow your faith in college. In my free time I love to hang out with my two kittens, Tigran and Joy.
Kaitlyn Yiu
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Most of my life I've spent trying to figure out what it means to love God and love others well. I moved from sunny Los Angeles to The Big Apple / NYU in Fall of 2013 to pursue Dance at Tisch School of the Arts, but two degrees later (with a BFA in Dance & Psychology in 2016 & M.A. from Steinhardt in Dance Ed. in 2017) I found myself desiring more than just a career of performing for others. Fall of 2018 in the middle of work (I was a part-time freelance dancer & barista at the time), I felt clearly God telling me to quit my job and come back to NYU. I committed every weekday morning 8-9am to praying on campus and asking for discernment, and the longer I stayed, the more He opened my heart for the students, the campus, and the vision He had to see NYU and NYC truly transformed...to see REVIVAL. He also grew my heart for unity on campus, and led me to students and leaders from different fellowships, too, who also had a heart to see God move and answer prayers radically. As a now Campus Staff Intern with InterVarsity at NYU, some of things on my heart include 1) cultivating a culture of prayer on + for campus; 2) building unity across fellowships and departments; and 3) prayerfully entering and ministering to schools/departments/students who have yet to know God's Love. I'm committed to praying regularly for campus, and my hope is to invite more and more students to join me in seeking God first in all we do. I also partner with CIFC (Christian Inter-Fellowship Council) to build relationships across campus between all the many ministries and chaplains that already doing God's work at NYU. My longing to see all believers join hands and hearts, building an altar of prayer and worship through which God can move powerfully and bring renewal and revival in our time. I want to see this whole CITY transformed by the way we as Christians LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Apart from doing life with students, I love dancing and teaching others (especially children) how to dance, and I make a mean chocolate-chip banana bread! I also published a devotional book on Amazon titled Devoted, highlighting some of the spiritual experiences and reflections I've had since moving to the city. :)
KCSA
Soo Ho Park
I became a Christian in my 3rd year in college. After receiving my degree in Physics from Seoul National University, I worked at R&D in the LG headquarters for 2 years and started to study at Seminary. After serving as a young adults’ pastor at Sarang Community Church for several years, I came to America for further studies. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to help Korean international students (KCSA students) on campuses in New York since 2003, teaching the Bible, helping students to deal with conflicts in relationship with parents, friends, professors and overcome difficult circumstances in studying as international students, and counselling them to choose jobs and further study for the next step under pressure of their future. I have been married and have two sons and a daughter. As a forever friend of young adults, I like what young adults like, eating, chatting, and sporting. I love to hike, play tennis, and drink tea.
PRiSM Student Ministry
Becca Seely, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
pastor@thevinenyc.org
Becca Seely is a Lutheran pastor who works with college and graduate students throughout New York City. She was not raised in church and first began to explore questions of faith when she was in college. As a result, Becca is particularly passionate about working with young adults who are asking questions about God and what gives our lives meaning and purpose. She love hearing people's stories, learning new things and discovering the unexpected ways God is working in the world around us. In her free time, she enjoys running and biking in Central Park, hanging out with her wife, Abby, and planning elaborate theme parties. Becca is an active member of Proclaim, the professional community for LGBTQ Lutheran clergy.
Rev. Barbara E. Davis
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Davis is the Executive Minister at The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York. The mother of two amazing daughters, Barbara is an avid reader, essayist, sketcher, sky watcher, nature observer and proud Brooklynite, Barbara can often be found cycling the city’s streets.
Reformed University Fellowship
Megan Terrell
Megan was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson University with a bachelors in Psychology and went on to obtain a masters degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. After spending 4 years working with college students in Birmingham, AL, Megan and her husband Matthew, along with their three kids, moved to NYC where they have lived for the last 4 years. Megan loves living in NYC with her family and hopes to stay here for many years. Some of her favorite things to do are grab a cappuccino from a local coffee shop or go for a run along the Hudson River.
Matthew Terrell
Matt hails from Atlanta, GA and is happily married to Megan. They have three children -- Eliot , Zoey and Margaret. Matt has identified as a Christian since a young age and has been serving with RUF in campus ministry since 2012. He enjoys reading, fly fishing, watching Seinfeld, and eating donuts.
Haley Williams
Raised in Newtown, Connecticut, Haley Williams decided to become an RUF intern because she is passionate about the work RUF is doing to point students toward Jesus. She is a 2020 dance and theological studies graduate of The Ailey School/Fordham University BFA Program, and is eager to share the freedom she's discovered from making the glory of God her artistry's purpose. As an undergraduate, RUF City Campus proved to be a supportive, collaborative hub for her and for other college students pursuing excellence in their specific disciplines. Now, it's her turn to be able to continue its mission. As an intern, Haley hopes to continue dancing as a freelance artist for contemporary dance companies around the Northeast. She is also exploring her interest in creating her own dances and plans on furthering her dance career in the city after the internship ends. She loves organizing her free time into game nights, movie nights, TV show marathons, and dance parties with friends! When she has a moment to herself, she likes to listen to music, journal, or write poetry.
Remnant Christian Fellowship
Jonathan Kim
Jonathan is currently a Pastoral Intern at Remnant Westside Church in NYC, where he has attended since his freshman year at NYU. He is a seminary student at Reformed Theological Seminary pursuing his Master's in Christian Counseling. Before transitioning into ministry, Jonathan received his undergraduate degree from NYU Stern and worked in the corporate world for five years. Jonathan's passion is to serve college students and help them discover their identities in Jesus Christ and develop a genuine personal relationship with God. He currently lives in Queens with his lovely wife. He loves to watch and play sports and his dream is for the NY Knicks to win a championship at least once in his lifetime.
Noah Woo Jeong
Noah Jeong has been a part of the NYU Remnant Christian Fellowship since he was a Freshman in 2013 and has served from apprentice to small group leader to overseer of the campus ministry. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism & Philosophy and now works in marketing for an insurance tech startup in the city. Noah has been on many mission trips and went through the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Fire & Fragrance program, spending three months in training and three months abroad in Kyrgyzstan for missions. He wants to see the lives of students transformed by the gospel and the love of God and for students to be able to discover this for themselves within the confines of healthy community.
Seventh Day Adventist
Stephen Erich
Stephen Erich is a college chaplain for students in New York City. In May ’21, Stephen graduated with an MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School, where he organized a conference on mass incarceration and was an editor for the Yale Journal of International Affairs. Prior to Yale, Stephen studied international business and received an MBA from Andrews University. Stephen has worked on religious and human rights issues in over 15 states and 5 countries. He currently attends a Seventh-day Adventist Church on the Upper East Side and enjoys hosting friends at his home in Lincoln Square.
SOON Movement
Caleb Muhn, Senior Spiritual Life Advisor
Hello! My name is Caleb Muhn. I was born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 5. Since then, I’ve been a proud New-Jerseyan. I graduated from Rutgers University with a double B.A. in Communications, and African American Studies. I lived in Boston for 6 years, working as a chaplain for Boston College and Northeastern University. Last year, I moved back home to NJ to live with my father, in order to restore and rebuild our relationship. It’s been a fun journey, to say the least. My favorite pizza is from Prince St. Pizza. It is one of God’s magnificent creations. :)
Shinne Park (Protestant- SOON)
Hi, my name is Shinne and I'm a full-time staff with SOON Movement Global. Although I grew up in a Christian home, my relationship with God grew exponentially in college. My hope is that NYU students would also have this life-changing experience during their college years. After graduating from University of California, Irvine in 2018, I did missions in Japan for two years. Now I live in New Jersey to work with college students in the NJ/NY region. I love meeting students and especially grabbing food with them. One fun fact about me is I can eat sushi every day!
Haeun Yang (Protestant- SOON)
Haeun was born in South Korea and immigrated to New Jersey where she attended both middle and high school. She then moved to Boston to attend Northeastern University, studying Behavioral Neuroscience. During that time, God showed her His heart for His people as she grew to love discipleship and evangelism through a campus ministry called SOON Movement and her local church. After a year of mission work in the Middle East and many short terms in East Asian countries, she grew in passion to invest in leaders who will be compassionate to the world around them. She is also passionate about discovering new snacks and taking long walks in nature.
The Navigators
Jared Parsons, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
jared.parsons@navigators.org
Jared Parsons absolutely loves his job of working with students and sharing the freedom that comes from knowing who Jesus Christ is and the love he showed us. He has worked in full-time Christian ministry for 6 years now, all with his amazingly kind wife Jana. His father started a Christian school for at-risk teens in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska so ministry is in his blood. He enjoys watching soccer, playing basketball, and reading pretty much anything besides romance novels.
Melissa Crockett
melissa.crockett@navigators.org
Melissa has been a campus minister with The Navigators for seven years. Born in Texas and raised in Texas and Germany, Melissa decided to follow Jesus as a little girl. God used her time in The Navigators as a student at Texas A&M University to show her the depths of his love and grace for her, that she could stop "doing" to earn his approval. Having served on staff at Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin, Melissa is passionate about helping students know and enjoy Jesus personally, passing on to them a vision of making Christ known. She loves strong coffee, deep laughs, thoughtful conversations, long runs with her dog, and calling New York City her new home.
Sarah Esselborn
Sarah Esselborn is from Katonah, NY. She graduated from Boston University in 2014 with a bachelor's in Human Physiology with a minor in Public Health. She spent a few years working with the Navigators in Amsterdam developing an international student ministry, followed by a year at her alma mater and has been on staff with The Navigators at NYU for 2 years now. This last year, she joined the team at NYU Tandon. She loves espresso, biking, a great non-fiction book, sunshine, open-air markets, the beach, exploring new cities, and picnics. Sarah is passionate about investing in and equipping the next generation of laborers to share the gospel in their own countries and contexts.
Brendan Mahar
mahar.brendan@gmail.com
Brendan is a staff member of The Navigators, a Christian fellowship. He grew up in America, England, and Australia. Brendan is not ashamed to be described as a Bible and philosophy nerd.
Mishhael Ramirez
Mishael.ramirez@navigators.org
My name is Mishael Ramirez, although most people call me Misa. I have been a christian and in pursuit of God for as long as I can remember. My parents were the pastors of a small hispanic church in Brooklyn named "Casa Del Rey" or "House of the King". There I learned a lot about ministry and grew a lot in the skills surrounding ministry such as discipling, leading bible studies and playing for worship teams. However when I got to college and met the Navigators, i began to learn so much more about God and his call for my life. As course work at NYU consistency challenged my ideas about God and faith, The Navigators provided a safe space for me to bring those challenges and grow in my understanding of who God is and in that process, learn a bit about who I am. I cannot even pretend to have all the answers, but I am looking forward to helping others learn about God and counsel them through their spiritual questions alongside the Navigators who've done the same for me. Fun Fact: I was born and raised in NYC, I love it and am a proud New Yorker.
Joshua Yuan
Josh Yuan is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2019 with a degree in Architecture. He grew up in the church but only began to walk deeply in his faith when he met the Navigators in college. It was there when Josh saw his utter dependence on Christ and that his identity and all of his longings ultimately are found in Him. Josh is eager share his passion and love for Jesus with students and live out the vision of knowing Christ and making Him known. Josh worked as a real estate developer in New York City before joining the Navigators and is a huge (and often disappointed) fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
Interfaith
Kate Andre
After studying Music and Drama as an undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill and pursuing performance in NYC, Kate attended Yale Divinity School where she earned an M.Div. and S.T.M. Her master's thesis focused on sketch comedy as a tool for community-building in worship. Kate also trained in multi-faith college chaplaincy with Yale University Chaplain Sharon Kugler and served from 2013 to 2015 as the Director of Campus Ministry at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. From 2015 to 2019, Kate taught World Religions, Philosophy & Ethics, and led the Upper School Campus Ministry program at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls' Catholic school in Manhattan's Upper East Side. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Kripalu in 2013 and 40-hour Basic Mediation Training with the New York Peace Institute in 2016. Kate served as a Chaplain Resident at The Mount Sinai Hospital from 2019 to 2020. Kate is a progressive Catholic but has had a long and circuitous spiritual journey and is enriched by the many religious and spiritual traditions she has explored over the years. She is excited to support members of the NYU community who may not claim a particular religious affiliation but who are seeking or spiritually hungry. Fun fact: Kate has a twin sister and didn't try broccoli until she was 21 (now it's a favorite food- growth!).
Jewish
Emily Aronson
Rabbi Emily Aronson was ordained from HUC-JIR in May 2021 and serves as the Reform Rabbi at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU. During rabbinical school, Rabbi Aronson served as the rabbinic intern in synagogues, pastoral care settings, and Israel organizations. Rabbi Aronson attended List College at the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, earning a B.A. in Jewish Thought and a B.A. in Ethnicity and Race Studies. Originally from Bethesda, MD, she lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner, Levi, and their rescue dog, Fitz.
Buddhist
Qalvy Grainsvolt
Rev. Qalvy Grainzvolt (Meditation Teacher) is a native New Yorker and an ordained Shinnyo-en Buddhist priest. Qalvy (pronounced: KAL-VEE) has been focused on service and wellbeing including during his time in the U.S. Army National Guard, as a police chaplain in Westchester County, and the first Buddhist chaplain in the history of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City Transit system. In 2018, Qalvy helped bring mindfulness to the New York City Police Department as part of its official training curriculum. He continues to promote mindfulness as a visiting mindfulness instructor for the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), after a tenure of teaching meditation for various New York-based organizations such as Bryant Park’s official programs, the Horticultural Society of New York, and at CNN news headquarters. Qalvy also holds a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and currently uses those skills in psychotherapy with incarcerated individuals in the jail system of the Westchester County Department of Corrections. Qalvy’s main talents are being tall, cleaning the high windows at his temple and meditation center, as well as having a unique name that works well in Scrabble, if ever proper nouns get their day. https://shinnyocenternyc.org/
Sikh Spiritual Life Advisors
Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
simranjeet@sikhcoalition.org
Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is an educator, writer, activist, and scholar who currently serves as the Senior Religion Fellow for the Sikh Coalition and Henry R. Luce Post-Doctoral Fellow for Religion in International Affairs at New York University’s Center for Religion and Media. He enjoys running marathons and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Muslim
Faiyaz Jaffer
fj490@nyu.edu
Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer is the Assistant Research Scholar for the Islamic Center at New York University and an Associate Chaplain for the Center of Global & Spiritual Life at NYU. He attained an MA degree in Islamic Studies (UK), with a concentration on early Islamic history, after his undergraduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook University in Political Science and Religious Studies. He has had his research published by academic journals. In pursuing the classical course of Islamic education, Faiyaz studied in the Seminary of Karbala, Iraq, one of the most prominent centers for Islamic learning. He currently continues his fieldwork as part of the Islamic Research Institute in New York. As a faith leader and social activist, Faiyaz Jaffer has lectured at various universities, seminars, and workshops across the United States, Canada, Europe, East Africa, and the Middle East. Due to the political and social climate, he has been making strides in the greater New York area by taking part in a number of interfaith seminars and discussions in the aspiration of increasing dialogue with various faith leaders. His outreach efforts have allowed him to be featured in some of the country's most prominent media outlets. As a highly sought after lecturer and religious leader, Faiyaz regularly leads prayer services and delivers sermons across North America.
Protestant
Bridges International
Michael Henderson, Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
michael.henderson@bridgesinternational.com
Michael was born and raised in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia. He now serves with the Bridges International student chapter at NYU and enjoys working with students from every corner of the world. Michael has travelled extensively to 30+ countries and feels privileged to put this global experience into practice here at NYU. He is member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church Downtown where he worships and serves weekly. He also enjoys sports, cycling, international cuisine and listening to NPR Podcasts.
International Students Inc.
Jason Casper
jasoncasper15@aol.com
Jason grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to New York City in the Spring of 2001. It was his experience of witnessing the 9-11 attacks firsthand that helped guide him into a relationship with Jesus Christ. He worked as a professional graphic designer and art director at various advertising agencies for 13 years before feeling called to do international student ministry with ISI. Jason's interest in cross-cultural ministry began 2006. He has also been active in compassion ministry to the homeless for many years through Calvary Baptist Church and The Bowery Mission. Jason loves most things jazz and enjoys playing guitar.
The Navigators
Jared Parsons, Senior Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
jared.parsons@navigators.org
Jared Parsons absolutely loves his job of working with students and sharing the freedom that comes from knowing who Jesus Christ is and the love he showed us. He has worked in full-time Christian ministry for 6 years now, all with his amazingly kind wife Jana. His father started a Christian school for at-risk teens in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska so ministry is in his blood. He enjoys watching soccer, playing basketball, and reading pretty much anything besides romance novels.
Sarah Esselborn, Affiliate Spiritual Life Advisor
sarah.esselborn@navigators.org
Sarah Esselborn is from Katonah, NY. She graduated from Boston University in 2014 with a bachelor's in Human Physiology with a minor in Public Health. She spent a few years working with the Navigators in Amsterdam developing an international student ministry, followed by a year at her alma mater and since fall 2018 is on staff with The Navigators at New York University! She loves espresso, biking, a great non-fiction book, sunshine, open-air markets, the beach, exploring new cities, and picnics. Sarah is passionate about investing in and equipping the next generation of laborers to share the gospel in their own countries and contexts.
Please note: if you cannot find a spiritual life advisor that meets your religious or spiritual needs, or if you are a student who is studying away at a global site and you would like to be connected to a Chaplain at NYU, please contact the Office of Global Spiritual Life.