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.

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.

Maddy grew up in the sunny hills of California, where she cultivated a love for photography, music, community, and God’s presence. She attended bible college at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, where she studied worship arts. In 2018, Maddy “accidentally” moved to Wisconsin when a summer visit with relatives planting a new Anglican community (Christ Church Madison) became a permanent move. Maddy transferred to UW-Madison and graduated in 2021 with a major in legal studies. She worked as a communications director for three years in the Wisconsin Legislature before joining the Stephen and Laurel Brown Foundation team.

In her spare time, you can catch Maddy delighting in her nephews, photographing weddings, facilitating cross-church community in Madison, and buying snacks at Trader Joe’s.

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.

Courtney supports the SLBF team by helping plan and host events, coordinating volunteers, and overseeing front desk staffing—all with a focus on creating a warm, welcoming space where guests feel at home.
She first joined SLBF as a student intern while earning degrees in Psychology and Spanish, along with a certificate in Education Policy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her time as an intern shaped her understanding of hospitality as ministry and revealed how hospitality is demonstrated biblically. She believes that some of the most powerful ministry happens from inviting people into a home, around a table, or into a conversation.
 
With a passion for people and strong skills in organization and collaboration, Courtney enjoys finding creative ways to bring others together and foster meaningful moments. Outside of work, you’ll find her on hiking trails, exploring new foods, traveling, or getting lost in a good book or podcast—always eager to learn something new and experience God’s creation alongside others.

Tressa serves as Assistant Project Manager, supporting the development of New College Madison and Christian study centers across the country through a subgrant from the John Templeton Foundation. Her work helps connect people, programs, and institutions to resources that foster deeper learning and spiritual engagement.
 
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, Tressa began her career as a social worker in East Tennessee, serving foster children and families. After moving to Madison, she spent five years as Education Coordinator at UW–Madison's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Drawn to SLBF’s mission, especially its commitment to lavish hospitality, Tressa finds deep joy in creating spaces where others feel welcomed, connecting communities, and collaborating with purpose. She brings a unique blend of creativity, detail-oriented planning, and values-driven leadership to every project.
 
Outside of work, Tressa is often road-tripping to check off her last few states, attending bluegrass concerts, or hosting music listening nights with friends. She loves hiking, dancing at weddings, and finding joy in the small things—often with her large, orange tabby cat, Amos, by her side.

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.

Dr. Devin L. White serves the Lumen Center as its Fellow in Biblical Studies. Dr. White is the author of two books. The first, Teacher of the Nations, examines Paul’s reception of ancient educational traditions in 1 Corinthians. The second, Christ Reads in Me, is completed and awaiting publication. In it, Dr. White explores Origen of Alexandria’s reception of Paul’s hermeneutics and argues that Paul’s biblical interpretation remains a viable model for Christian exegesis of Scripture. Dr. White’s scholarly articles have appeared in various peer-reviewed journals and edited collections. He is beginning research on a third book, tentatively exploring the book of Colossians and its implications for Christian engagement with liberal democratic politics.

Dr. White enjoys working with a range of audiences, academic and popular. In addition to his published scholarship and service as an academic instructor, he frequently preaches and facilitates learning experiences in local churches.

Coming to us as a Consortium of Christian Study Centers intern, Nikki serves as the Upper House Fellows & Hospitality Assistant, coordinating logistics and communications for the Fellows program while supporting hospitality efforts across events and gatherings.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Minnesota, where she also interned at Anselm House Christian study center, contributing to both hospitality and digital communications. Her background blends technical skill with a heart for welcoming others.

Nikki is passionate about the mission of university study centers and has spent recent years engaging with their work from a student perspective. Now, she’s excited to take a more active role in shaping and supporting that mission through her work at SLBF. In her spare time, Nikki is looking forward to exploring bike trails in Madison, swing dancing, and practicing guitar.

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.