John guides the overarching mission, vision, and strategy for the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation. He loves the entrepreneurial nature of his work and the opportunity to build a dynamic team and healthy organizational culture.

Before this role, John was Director of the Center for Integrity in Business (now Center for Faithful Business) at Seattle Pacific University. Before that, he worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA as the National Director for Professional Schools Ministries, Campus Minister at Harvard Business School, and National Director of InterVarsity’s MBA Ministry. Before InterVarsity, John consulted with Hay Group (now Korn Ferry), an international management consulting firm, and served as a real estate lender with Bank of America. John is an Indiana University (Bloomington) graduate, holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), master’s degrees in theology and religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a master’s and Ph.D. from Seattle Pacific University in industrial and organizational psychology.

John serves as board chair for Religion News Service and Religion News Foundation and as board chair for Science for the Church. He enjoys writing and speaking on higher education, business, faith, and cultural issues. He and his wife, Vanja, love traveling, reading, taking long walks and encouraging students and young professionals in their spiritual journeys. They have one daughter, Elena, who is seven but thinks she is thirteen.

Having invested 30 years in campus ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and then 10 years leading CIVA | Christians in the Visual Arts, Cam experienced a sense of homecoming when he joined the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation as the Associate Director. Here his deep love for the academy melds with his long experience in campus ministry and the arts. During any given week, you might find Cam wordsmithing a grant, teaching in our Fellows Program, or leading our team in Friday morning prayer. But as a writer and visual artist, Cam’s passion burns most brightly for the arts.

In 2021, Cam and co-editor Walter Hansen published God in the Modern Wing: Viewing Art Through the Eyes of Faith, a volume in IVP Academic’s prestigious Studies in Theology and the Arts (STA) series. Cam’s earlier book, The Faithful Artist: A Vision for Evangelicalism and the Arts is another contribution to that same series. Stay tuned for his next writing project, tentatively titled, Sentries, Stars, and Towers, and read his monthly blogposts at liminalmaker.com.

Cam holds a B.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, an M.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and he has completed post-graduate coursework in Art History and Aesthetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He and his wife, Cynthia (C.K.), have two adult children and two grandchildren and have resided in Madison since 1986.

Ana is passionate about managing projects and finding joy in overseeing diverse initiatives while integrating her hospitality skills. With a knack for organizing and executing, Ana ensures successful outcomes through strategic planning and a personable approach to every project she undertakes. As assistant project manager, she helps to manage the “Higher Pursuits 2.0" initiative, which aims to expand the Christian Study Center movement.

Before joining the Upper House team, Ana served as an Event Manager at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Prior to this, she worked with InterVarsity, coordinating the Urbana Student Missions Conference, and earlier in her career, she dedicated her efforts to fighting human trafficking with International Justice Mission. These experiences honed her project management skills and deepened her dedication to making a positive impact.

Ana holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a concentration in Social Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also earned certificates in Peace Corps Preparation and Global Education and enriched her academic experience by studying abroad in France and the United Kingdom. Ana serves as a young adult’s community group leader at Blackhawk Church and as a Young Life Leader with Verona High School students. Originally from the D.C. area, she continues to channel her dedication to social justice and community engagement in all aspects of her life. In her free time, Ana loves indulging in self-care, hosting aesthetic gatherings, and cooking while cheering on the Chiefs.

Supporting the Executive Director, Kate brings a warm and calming presence to her work behind the scenes. In addition to keeping things moving smoothly on the administrative side, she relishes opportunities for copy-editing and assisting with Arts programming. She is humbled to be part of an organization dedicated to bringing intentional and thoughtful programming to the intersection of campus and community.  

Before joining the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, Kate worked as Director of Member Operations for the non-profit CIVA | Christians in the Visual Arts, where she loved serving artists pursuing their vocations; she particularly delighted in interacting with local artists as part of managing Gallery 212. A graduate of Wheaton College with a BA in Art Education, Kate started her career as an art teacher, helping kids learn to love art-making.  

Kate and her husband, Jacob (a native Wisconsinite) began to establish roots in Madison in 2011. Together with their three daughters, they enjoy hiking, biking, and paddling and taking in art exhibits together. Kate is an adult adoptee in reunion, a hobby artist, and happiest when reading with her kids, enjoying God’s presence in nature, or digging in the garden.

Brian comes to the Mad City from Cincinnati, Ohio. He has also worked in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Colorado Springs. It’s taken many years for him to say he thrives in an ever-changing environment, but the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation is a great example of a place that perpetually keeps him on his toes. No two days are ever the same!

Throughout his career, Brian has served at evangelical churches and schools as a communications or creative arts director and has also been a production director or audio producer for advertising agencies and parachurch organizations. A unique highlight of his career was when he and his family spent five years living in Seoul, South Korea, while working at an international school comprised of students from over 65 nations.

Brian grew up in New Jersey and earned a degree in communications from Messiah College (now Messiah University). He and his wife Kirstan are the proud parents of their daughter Davis, son Webb, and M.J. the Aussiedoodle. In his free time, Brian enjoys playing pickleball, discovering new restaurants, and perfecting his favorite Shakshuka recipe.

As Director of Learning and Formation at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, Tony is currently leading the Academy Initiative for the Foundation. The Academy Initiative is a new initiative of the Foundation that will focus on courses and academic programs related to the study of Christianity. He is also the project lead for a recently awarded grant from the Templeton Foundation: Higher Pursuits 2.0: Enlarging the Impact of the Christian Study Center Movement.

Previously, Tony served as the Executive Director of New Hope Peru, an organization that serves vulnerable populations in southern Peru. In this role, Tony oversaw the organization’s significant growth, working closely with government officials, ministers, and community leaders to launch a pilot foster care program—the first of its kind in southern Peru. Tony’s previous positions include a Templeton postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Jerusalem and a teaching position at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he taught a range of courses, including Ethics, Philosophy of Science, and Epistemology. While at VCU, Tony also co-founded, with another philosopher, Scholé House—a place where students, faculty, and the Richmond community engage with scholarship related to the Christian tradition.

Tony earned his MSc and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh, an MA in Philosophy of Religion from Denver Seminary, and a BA in Biblical Studies from Crown College. Originally from Utica, NY, Tony lived in Peru both as a teen and, more recently, with his family in Arequipa, Peru.

Leading the Upper House Fellows Program brings together Eric’s background and interests in unique ways. He has spent most of his life, both as a student and an educator, in the public university setting and is invested in helping students thrive during their university years and beyond. He loves exploring life’s big questions with students and thinking with them about the relevance of Christian faith for pursuing their callings and navigating life’s complexities.

At the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, Eric also serves as Foundation Advisor to the Lumen Center. He is also a Teaching Professor in History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he teaches courses on European intellectual and religious history. His research and writing focus on the emergence of modern theology and biblical scholarship in the era of the Enlightenment. Eric holds a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan, an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from UW–Madison.

Eric grew up in Sweden and has lived in the U.S. since high school. He met his wife Cindy, a UW–Madison professor of medicine, in college. They are the proud parents of three grown sons. His other loves include reading and traveling widely, learning languages, music of many kinds, and beautiful summer evenings with friends on the Memorial Union Terrace.

Jean can be found, most often, in her office, managing everything from payroll and human resources to making sure that behind-the-scenes organizational nuts and bolts operate smoothly—whatever it takes to welcome and serve our guests. Jean is amazed by God’s leading in her life, especially in this season of closer connections with college students and the University and Madison communities.

She is passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with God by integrating their faith with all aspects of life, exactly the kinds of opportunities the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation provides. Jean came to the Foundation with many years of experience as a business administrator, first for a private engineering firm and, more recently, for High Point Church.

Jean grew up in Illinois, earned a degree in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University, then moved to Madison and married Matt, her high school sweetheart and a University of Wisconsin–Madison alum. Here in Madison, they have enjoyed a full life, including parenting four (now adult) children. With Matt, Jean enjoys travel, camping and hiking, and every opportunity to spend time outdoors.

Now a veteran to the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, Rebecca’s excitement to craft and lead meaningful gatherings that lead to spiritual formation is realized in her multi-faceted role at the foundation. She directs the Intern Program, instructs in the Fellows Program, and curates programs to highlight diverse voices in the church. On any given day, you might find her mentoring college students, emceeing a conference, or leading a cohort on African-American history.

As a Chancellor’s Scholar, Rebecca earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In the years since she worked with multiple ministries in event coordination and teaching. In 2023, she was recognized as one of Wisconsin’s 51 Most Influential Black Leaders.

Rebecca delights in living in Madison, and she spends her time loving her friends as family, training in taekwondo, hunting for the best chai latté, and singing whatever Broadway tunes come to her mind.

As an advisor for multiple foundation initiatives, Jean finds deep satisfaction in integrating several aspects of her career and life—from ideating programs to mentoring students to working with people of different faiths and backgrounds on social justice issues. At the Foundation, she helps lead the Upper House Fellows Program and teaches a track on service and leadership called Making a Difference. She also provides strategic input to several aspects of the foundation’s work, especially as it relates to innovation and creative partnerships.

For over a decade, Jean has led an anti-human trafficking project at the University of Wisconsin–Madison called 4W-STREETS. Her deep foreign policy experience in human rights and related issues at the U.S. Department of State, the National Security Council, and various think tanks and international organizations, undergirds her foundation advisory role. As a researcher, she studied social networks in Southeast Asia, and technology, child protection, and anti-trafficking projects in Africa and Latin America; and she has taught courses on human rights advocacy, human trafficking, and international child rights as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University and a Visiting Distinguished Lecturer at UW–Madison.

Jean earned a B.S.B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.S. from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. from UW–Madison, where she also received the 2006 Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Jean is married to Chris and lives in Oshkosh with her family. You’ll find her happiest hanging out with eagles, chickadees, deer, and other critters on the shores of Huron Bay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Kim is the Foundation's Administration Office Assistant. Behind the scenes, she smooths the way for all things organizational, from human resources, to financial matters, to any number of tasks that help make Upper House and Dottie’s Ranch welcoming spaces for our guests. Having spent years in administrative positions, she genuinely enjoys applying her gifts to creating and streamlining systems to make them more efficient and effective for everyone she works with.

Before joining Upper House, Kim served as a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (UW–Eau Claire and UW–Madison, respectively), eventually moving into the role of Executive Office Administrator to the President of InterVarsity. Most recently, Kim served in a volunteer position with her local church as the Women’s Ministry Event Coordinator and as a lecturer for a weekly Bible study.

Kim earned her degree in Psychology from the UW–River Falls. Married to an administratively gifted man, she relishes the chaos of life that comes with two teenagers and a full-sized fluffy Goldendoodle named Aravis. In her spare time, she enjoys tackling DIY home projects, gardening, camping, and playing family games.

Trained as a historian at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Dan has a passion for engaging with the university and serving its community. The Lumen Center offers him the opportunity to keep one foot in the university world while also bringing his training to bear in service to the church.

Prior to joining the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation and leading the Lumen Center, Dan held postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University and UW–Madison. He continues to publish on American religion, politics, and culture, and remains affiliated with UW–Madison as a research fellow in the Department of History.

Dan earned a B.A. and M.A. from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from UW–Madison. Dan grew up in Germany as a “missionary kid,” before moving to Colorado, and since 2010 has called Madison home. Dan and his wife, Veronica, stay busy raising three young boys.

Prior to this role, Daniel served as a Young Life area director in Bettendorf, Iowa for ten years. And prior to his time in Iowa, he restarted a dormant Young Life ministry in Plano, Texas. Dan has pioneered and led many projects for Young Life across North America and beyond, with a focus on communications, social media, and technology needs.

Dan holds a leisure, youth and human services degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and is working toward a graduate degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Originally from the Madison area, Dan grew up in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Barbara, have five children. He loves all things technology, Wisconsin sports, investing in the lives of young people, and spending time with his family.

Melissa delights in the innovation and collaboration required to design and implement programs that inspire spiritual transformation. Committed to activating the gifts of those around her, she thrives on mobilizing teams, pioneering new ideas, and transforming creative energy into practical next steps.

Prior to joining Upper House as its third staff member in 2015, Melissa managed her brother’s art business, Inspiring Art by Alex, and together with her family, founded the nonprofit Alex Haunty’s Theater & Arts Fund, Inc., to create access to the arts for people with disabilities. Melissa holds a B.A. in Communication Arts and Literature Education (5-12) from Bethel University and is a third-year graduate of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, CA. She also is a 2018 Alumna of Leadership Greater Madison and currently serves on the boards of Inspiring Hope Ministries and Alex Haunty’s Theater & Arts Fund, Inc.
 
Born and raised in the Madison area, Melissa loves living in a four-season state close to family, drinking locally brewed Wonderstate coffee, and going on neighborhood walks. She is married to Peter, and they have one son, Solomon, who already loves a good Wisconsin fish fry. Outside the office, you can find her and Peter introducing Solomon to Madison’s infamous Farmers’ Market, the Henry Vilas Zoo, and various music performances at Middleton’s Stone Horse Green.

Jaclyn’s role in Hospitality brings together all her passions, especially her love of people, learning, and creating efficient processes to serve everyone well. She wants every person who walks through Upper House’s doors to feel completely welcomed and authentically valued.

Jaclyn’s faith story ties together her worshipping at Blackhawk Church—where she also met her husband—and attending Upper House events. The integration of faith with learning is something that Jaclyn is deeply passionate about. Previously, Jaclyn worked as Associate Director of High School Ministry at Blackhawk Church, and she brings the energy and creativity of that role into all things hospitality.

Madison is Jaclyn’s hometown, and she relishes farmers’ market Saturdays, brunch on Sundays, and hiking in Wisconsin’s beautiful parks. She also loves to travel with her husband, Aaron, who is pursuing a career in nursing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. When not out exploring, Aaron and Jaclyn can be found reading books, playing board games, and spoiling their border collie, Gus.

If Susan were asked to design her dream job, it is what she is doing every day at Upper House, where she is the resident witness and storyteller of the transformative work happening in and through the community.

Previously, Susan led communication efforts for two federal research projects in K-12 education and family engagement through the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She also worked on communication research related to environmental stewardship funded by the USDA, focusing on the different ways program leaders reach out to meet and effectively serve their audiences.

Susan earned her M.A. in mass communication from the University of Denver and a Ph.D. in communication—with an emphasis on information campaigns and diffusion of innovations—from the UW–Madison. During grad school, she also attended InterVarsity Christian Graduate Fellowship and matured in her understanding of Christ’s vibrant love, prayer, and the intersection of scholarship and faith. She met her husband, Dean, on the stairs of the Communication and Life Sciences Department, and they later adopted two amazing daughters from China and Ethiopia. In her “spare” time, she is writing a memoir and enjoys time reading in her peaceful backyard—until winter.

Susan Swanke works primarily with two initiatives of the Foundation: the Lumen Center and New College Madison. She aids in the strategy and building of these two projects and the daily running of the academic programs and events. Susan’s academic interests include theology, philosophy, psychology, and Christian anthropology. She is currently studying the work of Pope John Paul II on Christian anthropology, commonly referred to as the Theology of the Body.

Susan has more than 15 years of experience working in the Catholic Church, primarily in adult discipleship and evangelization. She earned a BS in Education, Spanish, and ESL from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, and went on to earn an MA in Systematic Theology from Christendom Graduate School in Virginia.

A native of Madison, Susan enjoys spending time by our city’s beautiful lakes as well as visiting as many Wisconsin State Parks as she can.

Josephine Botchek is driven by a passion for creating spaces that connect people and foster community. As a senior at the University of Wisconsin–Madison pursuing Interior Architecture in the School of Human Ecology with a certificate in Global Cultures, Languages, and Education, Josephine has developed a strong foundation in life-centered design principles. She is an active member of a few student organizations, campus ministries, and the UW Figure Skating Team. Additionally, she serves as a board member and events coordinator for IDO, an interior architecture student organization at UW–Madison.

Josie’s journey with Upper House began in her freshman year, and she is now in her third year with the Upper House Fellows Program and her second year as an Upper House intern. This role has enriched her understanding of hospitality, and she is eager to expand this further in a supportive yet challenging environment. Her work at Upper House allows her to engage with different cultural and religious perspectives, grow in her career and faith, and integrate these experiences to shape the way she interacts with the world.

Outside of class, Josie loves traveling, hiking, paddleboarding, spending time with family and friends, and taking her dogs on adventures.

Hanna is a communications intern at Upper House. She is currently a second-year student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, hoping to double-major in international studies and English. After first being introduced to Upper House through participation in The Impact Movement her freshman year, she grew to love it immediately.

She has always had a deep interest in communication and the creative arts, constantly exploring her faith through film and media. She enjoys film editing, fellowship with her peers, and studying abroad. Throughout her internship, she hopes to strengthen her writing abilities and cultivate her voice through communications work. She’s excited to incorporate her faith into her career through her experience working at Upper House.

Outside of school and work, Hanna enjoys scrapbooking, going for walks, and spending quality time with friends. She loves to sing, take dance classes, and analyze movies.

A sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Clay is studying communications with an emphasis on production and marketing, and is looking to pursue a career in media management or marketing after college. He loves coming up with new ideas to create content and tell stories through photos or videos.

Clay’s passion for producing media began in the summer of 2021, working on the video team at a summer camp in Western New York, and he has immersed himself in it ever since.
 
Clay spent a lot of time at Upper House his freshman year, and he is excited to be a part of what it represents in the community and the ways that it enables people to go deeper in their faith on campus. He is an active leader in Badger Cru, a member of his church, Doxa, and a part of the Fellows program at Upper House.
 
Whenever he has free time, Clay enjoys being in the mountains, in the gym, or with his friends and family. He loves spikeball and most sports, especially when it brings him closer to the people he cares about.

Hayoung is excited to pursue her passion for Christ and community as a communications intern.

First introduced to Upper House through Badger Cru, Hayoung found Upper House her second home. It was the place where she could grow and rest through worship, fellowship, and open study hours. Hayoung was touched by the hospitality and motto of the Upper House and is motivated to join the movement as an intern. Hayoung is most excited to witness how God uses the SL Brown Foundation to illuminate Madison with his light.

Currently declared as a communication major, Hayoung plans to apply to business school in her junior year and study marketing. Applying to law school is still one of her considerations. Hayoung wants to bring her education into Upper House by discovering ways to reach out to more students on campus. She is excited to help students in Madison feel welcomed, encouraged, and loved.

Hayoung’s favorite thing is to meet new people and get to know them on a deeper level. Playing Spikeball and tennis with friends, watching the sunset, and playing JustDance are some of her favorite hobbies. 

Brianna is excited to serve the Lumen Center, a new initiative of the Foundation, this upcoming year. She is committed to creating an academic sphere for Christians to engage with the secular university.

Brianna is a gap year student who is proficient in Latin and Greek, and has a deep interest in philosophy and psychology. She enjoys engaging people on an intellectual level, and likes to encourage people to think outside of the box. Upper House, and by extension the Lumen Center, offers an avenue for people from various backgrounds to challenge one another intellectually (at least in her mind). She hopes to contribute to this mission and community at Upper House. 

In her free time, Brianna enjoys going to concerts and listening to music, as well as working out and reading books on philosophy.

Courtney Snoberger is dedicated to providing a genuine welcome to all those who enter Upper House. Being blessed by Upper House hospitality has been a foundational experience while a student at UW, and she is grateful to offer the same to others and help events run smoothly. 

Courtney is a senior pursuing a double major in Psychology and Spanish with a minor in Education Policy and Social Justice, and she is passionate about working with kids and understanding how they learn and grow in creativity and intelligence. In connection to her studies, Courtney works as an undergraduate research assistant in the Infant Learning Lab, where she is currently working on her own year-long thesis project about how three to five year olds learn new words in a classroom environment. She plans to pursue graduate school and a career working in education policy and advocating for young kids’ learning.

During her free time, Courtney enjoys reading books or planning weekend trips to go home and spoil her new nephew and cuddle with her dog, Dakota. She is also a regular at Badger sporting events and enjoys thrifting, working out, and spending quality time with friends and family.