Religious Life Leaders and Staff
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Joe Eldridge |
University Chaplain, eldridg@american.edu The University Chaplain is charged with providing leadership and counsel to the university community to facilitate the university’s commitment to spiritual growth, ethical discernment and community service. In coordinating activities in the Kay Spiritual Life Center, the office seeks to foster a welcoming, hospitable environment for the spiritual exploration and religious practice for people of all faiths. An ordained United Methodist minister, Joe Eldridge arrived at AU having spent more than twenty five years working in the public policy arena as advocate and analyst on international human rights and humanitarian issues. In 1991 he established the Washington office of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights; during the mid-1980s he worked in Honduras consulting on human rights and development issues; and after a three year sojourn in Chile working with the mission agency of the United Methodist Church, in the early 1970s he co-founded the Washington Office on Latin America and served as its first director. |
Charlotte Carroll |
Unitarian Universalist (UU) Co-Chaplain, cjonescarroll@aol.com Charlotte Carroll, an AU graduate herself (BA, SIS), began serving as lay chaplain for AU Unitarian-Universalist students in 2000. Before that, she worked for 31 years in economic development programs at USAID and the World Bank before retiring to deepen her involvement in peacebuilding and community development through volunteer work. She is a member of River Road Unitarian Church (RRUC) in Bethesda, MD, which sponsors the campus ministry at AU. At RRUC, she has been active with high school youth and Coming of Age programs, and has attended training for both youth and campus ministries. She’s a board member of the UU Service Committee and involved with a local Latino health clinic near All Souls Unitarian Church. She shares her role as chaplain with Rev. Ginger Luke, from RRUC, and in 2006-07, with Amanda Poppei, ministerial intern and student at Wesley Seminary. Charlotte’s daughter, Ilona, is finishing her BA in political science at Northeastern University in Boston, where she started a UU group. |
Kenneth Cohen |
Hillel Executive Director and Campus Rabbi, rabbi@american.edu Rabbi Ken Cohen is AU Hillel Executive Director and Campus Rabbi since 2001. Ken has served pulpits in Cardiff, Wales and Columbia, Maryland. He enjoys amateur radio, classical music, studying Jewish texts and riding his bicycle with his family. A former broadcaster with the BBC, he is widely published. His passion is working with and on behalf of Jewish college students. |
Donna Denize |
Donna Denizé, of Haitian-American descent,
is the author of the poetry chapbook, "The Lover's Voice"
(1997) and a book of poems, "Broken Like Job" (2005). Her
poems have appeared in anthologies such as Hungry As We Are; WPFW Poetry
Anthology; Weavings 2000, and magazines, Provincetown Arts, Gargoyle,
World Order, Innisfree Journal of Poetry, and Orison. She holds degrees
from Stonehill College and Howard University, where she was a student
of poet Robert Hayden, while he served as Consultant to the Library
of Congress. She served two years on The Folger Poetry Board, and has
also contributed to scholarly books and journals, including Shakespeare
Set Free, published by the Folger Shakespeare Library and Teacher’s
Digest, an educational magazine from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
She was also one of eight invited teacher's for The Corporation for
Public Broadcasting’s eight part mini-series, In Search of the
Novel (aired nationwide, 2000-present). |
David Gray |
Presbyterian Chaplain, davidegray@yahoo.com Rev. David Gray is the Presbyterian Chaplain at American University. He also serves as an Associate Pastor at Georgetown Presbyterian Church and is Director of the Workforce and Family Program at the New America Foundation, a non-partisan, centrist think tank. Rev. Gray is a former Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), where he managed the DOL offices of regulatory policy, programmatic policy, compliance assistance/technology, and economic analysis/research. He advised the current Secretary of Labor on a variety of policy issues, staffed a number of White House working groups, and represented the U.S. abroad in negotiations in Mexico and Chile. Rev. Gray has also served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and as a legislative and policy aide to Members of the House and Senate. He has worked in business at Procter and Gamble and Ward Steel, is the author of Faith In Service, 1015, and Butterflies and Rainbows, and is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a graduate of Yale College, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Northwestern University School of Law and Wesley Theological Seminary. |
Christine Gettings |
Christine Gettings is the Assistant Director in the Kay Spiritual Life Center and coordinates the interfaith community, as well as the Center's educational and social justice programs, including the signature "Table Talk Lunch Series" and Human Rights Defender Series. She has designed and facilitated trainings on "Navigating Religious Differences in the Workplace" and "Solidarity into Action: Workshops on Effective Student Activism." A New Jersey native, Christine came to Washington, DC to attend American University and earned a Bachelors of Arts in International Studies and in Women's & Gender Studies, as well as a professional development certificate in Women, Policy, & Political Leadership. She recently completed a Master's of Arts in International Relations. In addition to her duties at Kay, Christine has been elected to the American University Staff Council and serves on the Human Rights Council and is the staff advisor to the Student Campaign for Burma and to AU Global Trade Justice. As a member of the Alternative Break Committee, she has accompanied students to the Thai-Burma border for an exposure trip on the Burmese democracy movement. In 2007, she was awarded the Alice Paul Award from the Women & Politics Insitute and American University Women's Initiative for her committment and work on furthering women's rights. In her free time, Christine enjoys traveling, reading, road trips, and spending time with her nearest and dearest! |
Mike and Jen Godzwa |
Both graduates of a Central Bible College (Mike 1996, Jen 1997), they completed their campus ministry internship @ Eastern Michigan University in the spring of 1998 and received their national appointment as U.S. missionaries that September. Mike and Jen have served as the directors of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at American University since the fall of 1999 and were ordained with the Assemblies of God in May of 2003. Mike enjoys watching Yankee’s baseball, and has run 7 marathons. Jen likes reading, hunting for bargains, and hanging out with friends. Both Mike and Jen have a mutual fascination with their sons Samuel Jaden, who joined the family in July 2003 and Levi Christopher a recent arrival in April of 2006. |
Marinetta Cannito Hjort |
Baptist Chaplain, marinetta@msn.com Marinetta Cannito Hjort is the Baptist Chaplain at
American University. She is also an international trainer and consultant
on Restorative Justice and Nonviolent Conflict Transformation. She regularly
gives presentations on Restorative Justice for the Washington Semester
Justice Program and the School of Public Affair at American University,
and has recently completed a series of Restorative Justice training
for government employees in three States of Mexico. She periodically
assists Prof. Howard Zehr and Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz in teaching
the Restorative Justice course at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute
of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. Marinetta introduced the Restorative Justice paradigm
in her native country, Italy, through articles and presentations in
various Universities and settings. In May 2005 she conducted a Restorative
Justice workshop during the National Conference, “Finding Ways
to Overcome the Culture of Mafia” in Palermo, Italy. Since then,
she has been collaborating with the anti-mafia group in Palermo, and
has been researching and writing about the challenges posed by organized
crime to the restorative justice practice. Marinetta holds a M.A. in Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary and a M.A. in Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. She is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish and French. |
Mindy Hirsch |
Hillel Associate Director, hirsch@american.edu After 6 years of work in the Hillel world, Mindy Hirsch now serves as our Interim Associate Director. She is a native of the east coast, but after 4 years in Wisconsin, her heart remains in the Midwest. Her favorite foods include macaroni and cheese, challah, Kedem wine and ruggelach. Mindy recently finished her MFA in Film and Electronice Media at American University's School of Communication. When not on campus you can find her relaxing in her garage (ask her about it), exploring Maryland, or taking in a local rugby match. |
Kimberly Martin |
SGI Buddhist Chaplain, kmartin@american.edu Kimberly Martin serves as Buddhist Chaplain representing Soka Gakkai International – USA, a Buddhist lay organization of Nichiren Buddhism. She began her practice of Nichiren Buddhism in Jackson, Mississippi twenty years ago. As a Buddhist in Mississippi, she pioneered community outreach, public relations and interfaith participation on behalf of the SGI community. She successfully arranged for books on Buddhism to be donated to area college libraries and local public libraries. “I wanted to make information on Buddhism easily accessible, especially to students who may not encounter it otherwise.” She joined the Interfaith Alliance of Mississippi later becoming vice president, representing SGI Buddhist in many activities. As a member of the interfaith community she chaired several committees and planned many special events focusing on inclusiveness, diversity and tolerance. “I felt it was important to give American Buddhism a face and to become part of a larger community.” Becoming part of the Kay community has been a rewarding experience, especially through interacting with students. The SGI Student Group meets every Friday in Kay’s new small chapel, discussing Buddhist teachings and chanting together, both important parts of the Nichiren practice. For more information go to the main website and click on the “Intro to Buddhism” link, or go to the Boston Research Center homepage. Kimberly can also be found on campus working as Assistant to the Chair in the Department of Public Administration in the School of Public Affairs. |
Fr. David Mott, OP |
Catholic Chaplain, priest@american.edu |
Kevin Offner |
Kevin Offner has been on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 21 years, serving at Harvard University, M.I.T, and Brown University, and currently at five universities in the Greater Washington, DC area. He is also working on his Ph.D at The Catholic University of America, focusing on the Early Church Fathers. He has been involved in many Catholic-Protestant dialogues and he's interested in writing his doctoral dissertation on Saint Augustine, showing how both Catholics and Protestants have drawn deeply from this man's writings. Kevin has been married to Amy for eleven years and they have a 19-month old son, David. Kevin currently serves as an elder in the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America), at Grace Presbyterian Church, which meets in China Town in Washington, DC. The Offners live on Capitol Hill and enjoy exercising their gifts of hospitality with the students to whom they minister. |
Mark Schaefer |
United Methodist Chaplain, schaef@american.edu Reverend Mark A. Schaefer is the United Methodist Chaplain at American University. Mark grew up in Upstate New York and studied Russian Language at SUNY Albany. He studied law at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and received his Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, adjacent to the AU campus. Rev. Schaefer is an ordained United Methodist minister in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. |
Sylstea Sledge |
Sylstea C. Sledge, music educator and composer, is a native of Washington, DC. He is the only son of proud parents, Tammah L. Sledge and the late Sylister Sledge. The musical talents of playing the piano and making up songs were discovered very early when Sylstea would visit his Uncle Elisha’s and Aunt Emma’s house and play on their old up-right piano. His musical talents were also nurtured in the Sunday School Department at the Trinidad Baptist Church and the Guiding Star Baptist Church. While continuing to build a stronger musical foundation, blessed teachers: Rev. Rosalynd Reed-Walker, Professor Bernard Barbour, Mrs. Beatrice Gilkes and Dr. Raymond Jackson were among the first inspiring mentors. While at Hampton University, Sylstea was dedicated to the curriculum of music education and spreading the gospel through music with the University gospel choir, “His Chosen Sounds.” Being highly inspired by Hampton’s rich choral history and professors, Sylstea began another level of the journey of songwriting and arranging. An original composition, “I Can Depend On God” was received at the Hampton Ministers’ Conference in 1985 and was later recorded by Minister Jeff Jacobs and the International Praise Workshop Choir. In 1989, he became active in the arena of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and in 1999 one of his songs, “I Woke Up This Morning” was selected and recorded on the album entitled “GMWA Live in Philadelphia.” This organization gave more exposure, not only with the gospel music genre, but opportunities on a national scale. In 2005, he made his acting debut and arranged original music for a BET film entitled “A Multitude of Mercies”. Sylstea continues to share his choral arrangements, lecturing and conducting music ministry workshops in the local Washington, DC vicinity, Vienna, Austria, Hawaii, Bermuda, University of Arkansas, and Hampton University. Professionally, Sylstea holds a Bachelor of Science from Hampton University and a Master’s of Music Education from the University of Arkansas. He is a former music teacher of the Prince George’s County Public School System, Adjunct Professor at American University, full-time Minister of Music at the First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, Virginia, Member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, President and Founder of Selmar Publishing. |
Karin Thornton |
Associate Catholic Chaplain, thornton@american.edu Karin Thornton was born in Berlin, Germany and attended
schools in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. after completing the
Swiss High School
Matura, she studied at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and graduated
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in German Literature. Following a year
of studies in Germany, in Cologne and Tuebingen, she was admitted to
the Graduate School of Columbia University where she completed her
studies with a Ph.D. She also holds a certificate in Pastoral Ministry, "Education
for Parish Service" from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. Karin
Thornton has one daughter and two sons. She recently celebrated her
25th anniversary of being the Associate Catholic Chaplain at American
University. During her first year of Studies in "Education for
Parish Service" she was asked to be a team member on the ECHO
- Encountering Christ in Others - retreat at American University. She
was subsequently asked and happily accepted to be the Associate Catholic
Chaplain. She is a " Lady of the Holy Sepulchre" and the
recipient of the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" award by Pope
John Paul II. Karin finds it a great joy and a privilege to be a part
of a vibrant Catholic Community at American University. |
Bhante Katugastota Uparatana |
Buddhist Chaplain, kuparatana@gmail.com In 1981 Ven. Dr. Henepola Gunaratana, the president
of Washington Buddhist Vihara invited Bhante Katugastota Uparatana to
join the temple as a resident monk. Upon arriving, he earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Philosophy at University of District of Colombia.
He has served as the Buddhist chaplain at American University in Washington,
D.C. since 1989 where he also teaches Vipassana meditation. In an effort
to nourish Theravada Buddhism among the Sri Lankan, American and foreign
born people in the United States, Bhante Uparatana founded the International
Buddhist Center in Wheaton, Maryland in 1996. |
