President

Nathan Albert, University Chaplain and Assistant Vice President for Belonging, University of Lynchburg

Hello! My name is Nathan Albert (he/him) and I am truly grateful to be nominated for the role of President of the ACSLHE Board and would be honored to serve in this capacity. Previously, I have served as the Vice President and New Member Representative. In these roles, I have assisted in developing the mentoring program, hosted new member check-ins, co-chaired the 2022 Conference Committee, led all strategic planning retreats, and assisted the President as needed.

As we seek to be “the leading authority on religious and spiritual life in higher education,” it’s my goal to not only support ACSLHE members, but also work to ensure we are an organization set up for long-term success. This will include developing guidelines and standard operating procedures for all Board members’ roles, grow our strategic partnerships, increase our membership, ensure our committees are robust and active (especially our credentialing and affinity committees), maintain a balanced budget and find sustainable revenue streams, pursue regional gathering opportunities, and create a new website that will allow for greater data collection, event management, and better serve our membership.

Currently, I work as the Assistant Vice President for Belonging and University Chaplain at the University of Lynchburg in central Virginia. I recently completed my Doctor of Ministry in Interreligious Chaplaincy and my research addresses how chaplains can disrupt Christian hegemony in order to help students develop a more expansive, inclusive, and pluralistic spirituality. Last week, my family just adopted the cutest two-month-old puppy and I’m happy to share photos with you all!

Vice President

Jigna Shah, Senior Associate Dean & Director of Spiritual Life, University of Chicago

Thank you for the nomination. ACSLHE has been my professional family and home through the organizational transitions and positions. I am inspired and motivated by my colleagues across the country and am always eager in learning about the best practices employed on other campuses. 

Although I’ve had an unconventional path to my current role as Senior Associate Dean and Director of Spiritual Life at University of Chicago–more than a decade working in student affairs, co-building the spiritual life office at UChicago, and having never left Higher Ed for the last 25 plus years–I believe that I bring valuable insight and a unique perspective to the board. 

I rely on values-based, generational approaches, and a cup of chai to bring people together. This has served me well in my communities where I live, work and play. I believe the work of chaplaincy and spiritual life in strong collaboration with partners across our campuses is critical in shaping the future of our students and our communities. I would love the opportunity to continue my work with ACSLHE in realizing our full potential and impact in higher education as one.  

I’m a mom of two teenagers, and a maltipoo named “Steel”. Born and raised in New York and a Chicagoan for the last 20 years. My competitive nature comes out on game nights (Codenames is my favorite). I love Bollywood movies, chai chats, travel and being an engaged citizen in my town of Plainfield, IL.

Secretary

Andrew Cirillo, University Chaplain, Rochester Institute of Technology

Serving as a chaplain since 2017, I have been blessed to accompany many students as they navigate the joys, sorrows, and complexities of our postmodern university landscape.  From breakups to student passings to warring conflicts across the globe, our students are intricately connected to a variety of experiences, backgrounds, creeds, and identities.  It is our job as chaplains, a role that I have embraced, to offer sound and gracious counsel, loving mercy, and active listening as we live, move, and bear witness to the interfaith and intersectional environment that is tertiary education.

Listening to conversations that traverse the liminal nature of the sacred, I have come to appreciate the vulnerability that is entrusted to me by my students and fellow chaplains even more so as this world becomes seemingly more violent, turbulent, and disturbed by the forces of politics, climate, racism, and, of course, spirituality.  I consider myself lucky that I have had countless colleagues and friends who have guided me along this journey of accompaniment.  From professors, family, fellow chaplains, and intersectional colleagues, all have led me from humble beginnings as a Catholic campus minister to a now more universal role, serving as the university chaplain to a large, non-profit, research-heavy institution in Upstate/Western, New York.

With this nomination in mind, I would be honored to serve on the board of an organization that, since 2022, has provided much solace, understanding, belonging, and wisdom beyond what I thought possible.  Being involved with the Communications Committee for the past several years, I am now ready to step into an even bigger role, and to serve ACSLHE to the best of my ability.  Thank you!

Corey MacPherson, University Chaplain and Protestant Campus Minister at Colgate University

My name is Corey S. MacPherson, and I am honored to be considered for the role of Secretary on the ACSLHE Board. I am in my 10th year at Colgate University, where I serve as University Chaplain, leading a vibrant and inclusive Office of the Chaplains that supports 13 religious and secular student groups. Before my time at Colgate, I served for eight years as Vice President and Chaplain at a Christian college, an experience that deepened my understanding of the opportunities and challenges of chaplaincy in higher education.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of advising diverse student groups, including Muslim, Hindu, Jewish (during a year without a rabbi), and secular/atheist communities. These experiences have broadened my perspective and reinforced my commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments for all students. My administrative expertise, attention to detail, and extensive experience leading chaplaincy offices make me well-prepared to fulfill the responsibilities of Secretary.

I am passionate about mentoring and supporting my chaplain colleagues in higher education. Serving on the ACSLHE Board would provide a meaningful opportunity to give back to a field that has profoundly shaped my professional and personal journey.

Membership Secretary

Maeba Jonas, Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, Goucher College

I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving ACSLHE as the Membership Secretary after filling in this past year. I have served on the ACSLHE Board previously as Communications Coordinator and was part of the transition team during the NACUC/ACURA merger. I hope to help ACSLHE continue to move forward and streamline its website and membership benefits in the future. 

At-Large Member (1-Year)

Daniel Bell, Protestant Chaplain, Tufts University; Affiliate Campus Minister, Episcopal Community at Boston College

I am passionate about interfaith chaplaincy in higher education and have contributed to its growth and vitality at Tufts over the past nine years. It would be an honor to help make a wider impact in our field as a member of this board. I bring strong spiritual care and administrative leadership skills from my work in university and congregational settings. Thank you for your consideration.

Maddie Herlong, Christian Chaplain, Emory University

I currently serve as the Christian Chaplain in the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life. My role includes overseeing a weekly ecumenical Protestant worship service, supporting our Christian religious life affiliates (campus ministries) and student organizations, participating in interfaith events, and collaborating with campus partners. I love the work I get to do with students in particular and the ways we get to watch students develop over their time with us. 

As this is my first full-time chaplain role, ACSHLE has been a significant resource for me, particularly through the conferences and email listservs. I hope to use the opportunity as an at-large member to supper others who are new or early in their careers as chaplains. I am passionate about advancing the work of chaplaincy and spiritual life in higher education, particularly since it can be misunderstood. As members of ACSHLE, we know what vital resources we are for our campus communities, and I hope to support our work as an at-large member on the board.  

Maryam Sharrieff, Babson College-Muslim Chaplain/Harvard Divinity School-Muslim Denominational Counselor

It is such a privilege to be of service in a university setting. I’ve held this board position in various other organizations and enjoy playing a supporting yet crucial role.

Nora Weiser-Woods, Interfaith Chaplain, Bryn Mawr College

I am a Reconstructionist Rabbi, serving as the Interfaith Chaplain of Bryn Mawr College where I provide spiritual healthcare for faculty, staff, and students. As the only religious and spiritual life professional on campus, building relationships with colleagues from other institutions through ACSLHE has been invaluable to me. I’m honored to be nominated for board service consideration, and hope to give back to this invaluable organization. I am excited to continue to create opportunities for cross-institution relationship building, with a focus on supporting efforts for more frequent, local gatherings. 

Professionally, I am particularly interested in spiritual care for students contending with addiction, mental illness, and trauma recovery. My focus is on making spiritual wellness an integral part of the campus experience, irrespective of an individual’s religious identity. 

I was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, graduated with B.A. in Religion from Earlham College, and received a certificate in Leading Spiritual Diversity in Higher Education from NYU’s Of Many Institute. Prior to working at Bryn Mawr, I was the rabbinic intern at Georgetown University, worked with survivors of human trafficking in New York, and served as a chaplain for elders in a number of residential facilities. 

I’m also always happy to talk about farming, musical theater, food, and connecting spiritual concerns to reality tv.

At-Large Member (3-Year)

Cecil Andrew Duffie, Dean, Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel | Wiley University

Greetings friends! I am Cecil Andrew Duffie and I serve as Dean of the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel of Wiley University in Marshall, Texas. I previously served as Assistant Dean of Religious Life at Howard University. My  research interests have been in the areas of spiritual formation and college & university Black chaplaincy in the 21st century.

I earned an M.Div., Ph.D., and a Certificate of Executive Leadership from Howard University. Additionally, I hold a degree in Telecommunication with a minor in Education from the University of Florida.

For the past seven years, under the direction of Dean Bernard Richardson and in collaboration with Dr. Kanika Magee, I have convened the Black Chaplains Gathering, an aggregation of Black religious and spiritual life leaders in higher education. We have met physically, and virtually to share best practices, network, produce knowledge and invest in the importance of the field of chaplaincy in higher education from a Black perspective

I am humbled at the nomination and opportunity to serve ACSHLE. I have worked with new members of NACUC as the new members representative, and assisted with the organization’s transition to ACSHLE. As an at-large member of the board, I would like to focus attention on helping members publish more research about our field. 

I respectfully solicit your support in this endeavor.

Jenny Peek, Associate University Chaplain at Yale University

I’m Rev. Jenny Peek and I serve as Associate University Chaplain at Yale University. This is my eight year at Yale and ninth year as a part of the college and university chaplaincy community. Through my role at Yale I serve as Associate Pastor of the University Church in Yale and I focus on offering programming to Yale’s graduate and professional student community. Like many of you I can often be found facilitating retreats or spring break immersion programs, meeting one on one with students, staff, and faculty, serving on university committees, and adapting to the needs of the campus based on what is happening in our world and local communities. I also work closely with Yale’s LGBTQ community, guest lecture on queer pastoral care at Yale Divinity School, and thoroughly enjoyed leading a workshop on “W{holy} Queer: Fostering Integration, Community & Joy with LGBTQ Students” at our 2023 ACSHLE conference.

ACSLHE has been a community and organization where I have found sustenance, energy, new ideas, mentorship, and friendship for the journey. I would be honored to serve as a 3-year At-Large Member to try to further these gifts and serve our diverse community of religious life professionals. Too often our work on campus can feel isolated or misunderstood. ACSHLE can interrupt this isolation and help our campus communities better understand our work. I would love to offer my time and insights while furthering your hopes and wisdom for how we navigate the years ahead. Thank you for your consideration.

Morgan Redmond, Associate Director, Kay Spiritual Life Center, American University

Hello ACSLHE members! 

My name is Morgan Redmond, and I am honored to be a candidate for the At-Large Member at ACSLHE. Over the last ten years, through learning and working at Elon, Hartford Seminary, Brandeis, Georgetown, and American – five universities with distinct histories and investments in both religious and interreligious life – I have experienced the rich variety of ways that religious and spiritual life can enhance university communities and how essential it is to support the professionals that create those spaces in higher education.

I currently serve as the Associate Director of Kay Spiritual Life Center at American University, where I have had the privilege of developing interfaith programming, leading a team of almost 20 Community Partner and Volunteer Organizations, and guiding a dozen student organizations. I've also worked at Georgetown University as the Office Manager and Special Events Coordinator, supporting a Campus Ministry with an interreligious staff of 30. 

I'm passionate about bringing together religious and spiritual life professionals to create community, foster learning and development, and provide opportunities for growth and change. Last year was my first conference as a member of ACSLHE and I was so inspired I immediately committed to co-host this year's conference! I'm hopeful and motivated to contribute to the unique ways the ACSLHE organization invests and develops our network.

Rahimjon Abdugafurov, Muslim Chaplain and Director of Interfaith Academic Partnerships, Emory University

Ustadh Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov is a Muslim humanist, and promotes human centrality, human equality, human freedom and human potential in his work and scholarship. He is dedicated to improving Muslim relations with people from other traditions and focuses on goals that serve humanity in general and brings us together for a cohesive and harmonious existence, 

Seth Linfield, Michael Steinberg '61 Rabbi and Executive Director, Hillel at Dartmouth College

I humbly seek your support to serve as an at-large member of the Board. As I complete my two-year term as co-chair for New Members, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside the most inspiring people I have ever encountered—you! I hope to continue to add value to ACSLHE. 

The monthly meetings we have offered new members capture the essence of our strategy—to nurture, guide, and motivate. As an at-large member, I would renew my commitment to developing platforms that allow every member to access our wealth of collective experience and the warmth of collegial support. 

Our work on campus is more pivotal than ever. In these times of division, we stand as beacons of hope, fostering honest conversations (both one-on-one and in more extensive settings) and nurturing the souls of our communities. Through ACSLHE, we can continue advancing our field. To paraphrase Abraham Joshua Heschel, we are the curators of radical amazement. Let us embrace this sense of wonder and responsibility as we serve our communities and each other. Together, we can illuminate paths of spiritual growth and understanding for generations of students to come.