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HELMdisciples.org > About HELM > HELM Leadership Fellows Alumni

HELM Leadership Fellows Alumni

After six years, 32 students have graduated from the HELM Leadership Fellows Program — all of the original Division of Higher Education Leadership Fellows, the first class that gathered in 2001, and the second and third classes. Many are continuing studies toward ministry, others have started careers in their chosen fields. Here's a glimpse at what our graduates are doing now.

2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

Class of 2008

Jean Ellen Cowgill (Dartmouth College, Lexington, Ky.)	Chris Miller-McLemore (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.) works at Sanborn Western Camps and the Colorado Outdoor Education Center in Florissant, Colo.	Kelly Rand (Texas Christian University, Olathe, Kan.) works for Catholic Charities in Fort Worth and is studying for her master's in social work at the University of Texas in Arlington.

Class of 2007

Carissa Cullumber (Bethany College, Indianapolis) earned her Master's in Social Work from Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis and works for Hamilton County (IN) as a therapist for juveniles in the two lower-security residential programs.	Tiffany Curtis (Chapman University, Claremont, Calif.) will spend the summer as a Disciples Peace Intern before beginning studies at the Harvard Divinity School in the fall.	Rebekah Cypert (Bethany College, Allen, Texas) is studying for a Master’s in Divinity at Brite Divinity School and working at a Metroplex-area church.


Emily Brooke McIntyre (Hampton University, Beaumont, SC) is pursuing her master’s degree in counseling education in Virginia.	Cassie Poncelow (Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.) is a libraran at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins pursuing a graduate degree in counseling.

Class of 2006

Jenny Dale (Grinnell College, Chicago) spent the summer working in Chicago for the American Friends Service Committee before a four-month voyage through South America.	Charlie Hall (Oklahoma State University, Duncan, Okla.) works at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.	Michelle Harvick (Texas Christian University, Arlington, Texas) is a music teacher in the Arlington public school system.


Titus James, Jr. (Kansas State University, Wichita, Kan.) is currently in London, where his is continuing his education and his passion for performing on his cello.	Amanda McFarland (Centre College, Paris, Ky.) is in law school at Northern Kentucky University.

Class of 2005

Sara Blackwood (Texas Christian University, El Paso, Texas) is the Assistant Curator of the Visual Resources Collection at Arizona State University.	Sarah (Carter) Merz (William Woods University, Garden City, Kan.) teaches high school English in the Fairfax County, Va., district in suburban Washington D.C.	Natalie (Dixon) Ervin (Eureka College, Wellington, Kan.) is a seminarian at Phillips Theological Seminary and pastor of First Christian Church in Conway Springs, Kansas.	Laura Jennison Reed (Mount Holyoke College, Spokane, Wash.) lives and works in Spokane, Wash. She teaches adult Sunday School, has been involved in the Northwest Region's transformation process, and in 2009 will begin a term on the General Board.

Brandon Johnson (Transylvania University, Cedar Falls, Iowa) graduated from the Yale University Divinity School in 2008 and is an associate pastor of United Church of Santa Fe, New Mexico.	Krista Johnson (Chapman University, Greenwood, Ind.) is traveling the Midwest as she works to explain the roots of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. She also works for the Christian Church Foundation.	Emily Klingenfus (Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Mich.) is a graduate student in civil engineering at the University of Kentucky. She is also active in children's and youth ministries at two congregations.	Jeremy Spitzer (Virginia Tech, Winchester, Va.) lives and works in Raleigh, North Carolina.


Valerie Steffen (Drury University, Shawnee, Okla.) attends Denver Seminary in pursuit of an M.Div with a specialty in counseling and youth and family ministry. She hopes to be a singles or young adult pastor.	Ralph Wesley (Delaware State University, Washington, D.C.) is associate producer and on-air personality for WTEM SportsTalk 980 in Washington, D.C., and is pursuing a career in voice-over. He also serves on the General Conference of Disciples Men's Executive Committee.	Alison Williams (Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind.) lives in Bloomington, Indiana, and teaches in Columbus. She recently completed her term as co-moderator of Disciples Home Missions' Young Adult Commission.

Class of 2004

Casey Abney Matthews (Texas Christian University '04, Corsicana, Texas) is studying for her master's degree in divinity at Brite Divinity School.	Steve Mason (Drake University '04, Lincoln, Neb.) is a master's of divinity student at the Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt University.	Shannon Smith (American University of Rome '04, Boise, Idaho) is working at the World Food Program in Rome and is halfway done with an M.A. in Government and Politics from St. John's University.

Class of 2003

Diana Batzka (Lynchburg College '03, Jacksonville, Fla.) is a student at the Disciples Divinity House at Vanderbilt working on her master's in divinity. She is also a 2007 Fund for Theological Education Ministry Fellow.	Kelly Johnson- Hill (University of Otago '03, Dunedin, New Zealand) will begin M.Div. studies at Duke University this fall.	Laurie Budlong- Morse (Pacific Lutheran University '03, Kirkland, Wash.) earned her M.Div at the Pacific School of Religion (affiliated with the Disciples Seminary Foundation) and is the co-pastor (with her husband, Scott) at First Christian Church in Helena, Montana.


Sarah (Olson) Bradbury (Northwest Christian College '03, Ontario, Ore.) is working with her parents in a hospice program. She and her husband, Mark, live in Meridian, Idaho.	Jessica Wright (Culver-Stockton College '03, Lorena, Texas) now lives in Waco, Texas

Class of 2002

Joe Blosser (Texas Christian University '02, from Jefferson City, Mo.) earned his M.Div. at the Disciples Divinity Hosue at Vanderbilt University. He is now pursuing his doctorate at the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago and has been active in the development of the Disciples Leadership Institute.	Chad Delaney (Hiram College'02, Stow, Ohio) graduated from the Disciple Divinity House at Vanderbilt University in 2005 and is now the minister of your at High Street Christian Church in Akron, Ohio. He and wife Christin are the proud parents of C.J.	Katie Wiebenga (Calvin College '02, Cadillac, Mich.) lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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