Campus Chaplains and Religious Advisors

Campus Support Resources for Students and Employees

The Collegiate Religious Center (CRC) Campus Chaplain is a valued member of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) and key partner in facilitating the programs and services of the CRC and WPI’s religious diversity initiatives. Campus Chaplains assist the ODIME team with the holistic well-being of the WPI community by supporting the spiritual growth and development of students, faculty, and staff. Campus Chaplains serve as a resource for those seeking to deepen their faith, expand their spiritual identity, and/or seek guidance when navigating different life circumstances. WPI's Campus Chaplains are confidential resources for students and employees.

 

Religious Advisors are full-time faculty and staff members who elect to support religious and religio-cultural clubs and organizations on campus. Each club/organization is required to have an advisor who is a full-time member of the WPI faculty, staff, or administration. In addition to their role to help each group meet its goals, Religious Advisors hear the needs of religious groups and serve as another institutional support for student concerns and/or needs. These Religious Advisors recognize the importance of faith and meaning-making practices and extend their support to students beyond what is expected of them.

Campus Chaplains

Rocky Hedrick

Rocky Hedrick joined the Vox Church pastoral staff in January of 2020 as the Worcester Campus Pastor. Rocky originally moved to New England in January of 2017 to work for Callaway Golf in Chicopee, MA. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas and worked as an automation engineer in manufacturing. Rocky has been a member of Vox Church since 2017 and was a part of the Hartford and Springfield campuses prior to joining staff to launch the Worcester campus. Rocky is an avid college sports fan and musician. He and his wife, Kirsten, live in the Worcester area with ...

view profile
Nathan Pipho

Pastor Nathan Pipho is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and serves as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester on the campus of WPI.  He is involved in ministry in the city of Worcester, including serving as the Secretary of the Board for Worcester Interfaith. He participates in antiracism efforts of the New England Synod ELCA and is a past chair of the New England Synod Team for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Inclusion. He received his Master in Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and ...

view profile
Alfredo Porras Suarez

Fr. Alfredo Porras is a priest of the Diocese of Worcester who serves as Catholic Chaplain at WPI and as Diocesan Master of Ceremonies. Born in Venezuela, he has lived in Worcester for most of his life. Fr. Porras is a proud alumnus of WPI, and while he was a student he was also involved with the Newman Club, the Concert Band, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. He graduated in 2013 with a BS in Computer Science and Interactive Media & Game Development and then continued to study Philosophy and Theology. He received his STB from the Pontificia Universita S. ...

view profile

Chaplains Emeriti

Cheryl Leshay

Rev Cheryl is available to students of any faith for spiritual support and faith development. Her expertise is in religious education, faith development and pastoral care.  At WPI she shepherds students in Unitarian Universalist, Atheist, Humanist, Jewish, Wiccan, Pagan, Native American/Christian and emerging faith groups. Office hours: Tuesdays by appointment, Wednesdays  and Friday afternoon.

view profile
Ahuvah Loewenthal

Rabbi Ahuvah Loewenthal delights in helping students explore Jewish identity and Jewish religious culture. Rabbi Ahuvah finds beauty and meaning in ancient traditions while imagining ways of practice useful in our contemporary lives. Ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2012, she has served as a congregational rabbi and as a chaplain in varied settings. Rabbi Ahuvah is available to students navigating their Jewish identity, as well as to all members of the WPI for consultation and education.

view profile

Religious Club Advisors

Amy L'Heureux

Amy L'Heureux

Amy L'Heureux, Event Planner (WPI Events Office)

Advisor for the Pagan Circle

I support our students by working with them, teaching history, traditions, folklore, and spiritual exploration, and supporting them in their journey in any ways they may need while at WPI. I’ve got a great Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: 'The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.'

Chris Robertson

Chris Robertson

Chris Robertson, Head Football Coach (Athletics)

Advisor for Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Having worked at WPI for the better part of twenty years, I have come to love this place and feel at home around such amazing people, staff, faculty, and especially, students. Having faith is such an important part of keeping a balance to our busy lives and believing in something greater than all of us can help us keep that perspective to have the strength to persevere anything that life sends our way.

Michelle Ephraim
Michelle Ephraim, Professor of English

Advisor for Hillel

I'm a Shakespeare professor who writes about Jewish themes in literature. I'm also a mom of four kids and live in Brookline, MA. Whether your Jewish identity is religious, cultural, social, national (or any combination of these), I welcome the chance to offer you support and guidance. 

gkminnich
GlorieAnn Minnich, Grant Manager Materials & Manufacturing Engineering

Advisor for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Paula Fitzpatrick

Paula Fitzpatrick

Paula Fitzpatrick, Director for the Center for Well-being (Student Affairs)

Advisor for the Meditation Club

David Ortendahl

David Ortendahl

David Ortendahl, Executive Director of Advancement (University Advancement)

Advisor for Christian Bible Fellowship

Feel free to reach out to me! Faith is so personal and I'm happy to meet you in a quiet corner of campus with a coffee to learn more about you and the questions, joys, or concerns you might have.

Elder Mayase Sikazwe

Elder Mayase Sikazwe

Elder Mayase Sikazwe, Student Employment Coordinator (Talent and Inclusion)

Religious Advisor for Students of the Black Diaspora

Did you know that God cares about you? In Jeremiah 29 v 11 He says, 'For I know the thoughts that I have for you,' declares the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Yunus Telliel
Yunus Dogan Telliel, Assistant Professor of Anthopology and Rhetoric

Advisor for Muslim Student Association

As an anthropologist who has done research with Muslim communities, I'm always fascinated with the rich tradition of spirituality in Islam. I believe that this rich tradition has the potential to help students learn to ethically respond to challenges they encounter in life. I hope to support Muslim students as they explore such a rich tradition and translate it into their own lives.

SBalasubramanian
Sandhya Balasubramanian, Assistant Dean, Business Programs (The Business School)

Advisor for the Origins Club

kcummings
Kalvin Cummings

Advisor for Hindu YUVA Club

When we lead with civility and query, alongside a critique of the ways that things have always been, we can discover new pathways forward together where few are left behind. We can learn from each other. And I am happy to support the religious/religio-cultural, the spiritual, any and all forms of meaning-making expression on campus at WPI"

XLiu
Xiaozhong Liu, Associate Professor, Computer Science and Data Science

Advisor for Heavenly Chinese Christian Bible Fellowship

Daniel Reichman, Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Advisor for Hillel