Creighton University

          Maria Teresa Gaston
                   Director

    Ken Reed-Bouley, M.Div., MBA
              Associate Director

I grew up in Massachusetts. I am the youngest of four with three older sisters. I attended the University of Notre Dame as an undergraduate where I first became immersed in experiences of faith, service and justice. After college I volunteered for a year with the Dominican Volunteers. I lived with Dominican priests while teaching at Hales Franciscan, an African American male high school on the South Side of Chicago. After three years at Hales, I joined campus ministry at Loyola University Chicago where I worked for seven years--mainly in faith, peace and justice work--while earning my Master of Divinity and Master of Pastoral Studies. My wife, Jennifer, and I have two daughters. Maya, was born in March of 1998, and Rosa was born in December of 1999. They are the joy of our lives. I love my work at the CCSJ. The work of service, faith and justice is both fun and full of meaning.

                    Kelly Orbik
               Assistant Director

I grew up in Papillion, NE. While I haven't moved far from home, I have traveled every chance I have gotten (even though it worries my parents)- to El Salvador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and on 6 service trips. These experiences have been incredibly educational, inspirational and life changing- it is truly amazing how connected we are as a human family, how much we depend on and impact each other. I live with 5 people in an intentional community called the Namaste Community. We try to live simply, volunteer in the community and support each other in this work.  My B.A. is in Justice & Society and Spanish (Creighton '06). My Masters is in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution with an international concentration through the Werner Institute. I enjoy volunteering as a mediator with the Concord Center, doing Alternatives to Violence Workshops and with the group Ixim: Spirit of Solidarity, a twinning relationship between Omaha and Huehuetengango.

               Fr. Paul Coelho, SJ

The youngest of four children, Fr. Paul Coelho grew up in India. After graduating from the Jesuit-run St Xavier’s College in 1977, he joined the Jesuits and shortly thereafter volunteered for the missions recently begun among the indigenous people of Nagaland -- a state tucked away in the remote Himalayan mountains of northeast India. For nine years following his ordination, Fr Paul, as he is commonly known, was a high school principal, parish priest, and superior of the Jesuit community. In 1997 he moved to Assam to conduct the feasibility-study for a Jesuit University, and later moved to Arunachal Pradesh to establish a network of elementary schools. Fr Paul came to the US in 1999, to pursue a doctoral degree at Marquette University. His areas of professional expertise include academic motivation and achievement among indigenous students. Before coming to Creighton University, Fr Paul was principal of the Jesuit high school on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, SD. He is currently assistant vocation promoter for the Wisconsin Jesuits, teaches educational psychology, helps out with student retreats, and is part of the CCSJ staff. He speaks nine languages and enjoys reading, music, traveling, and the outdoors.

                   Jeff Peak

                Betsy Scarpaci

I come with great enthusiasm to the CCSJ office for the Fall 2009 semester!  I graduated from Blackburn College, in Carlinville, Illinois in 2007 and received my B.A. in Psychology and Communications. I am currently the Apartment Coordinator in Opus Hall for Residence Life and will be working with the CCSJ as a graduate intern!  I am originally from Illinois and came to Creighton University last year to work on my Masters in Counseling. I am currently in my second (and last) year of my graduate program. I have a deep passion for working with all students and am very excited to dive into my new role at Creighton and the CCSJ.

                 Patrick Carter

My name is Patrick and I am a Senior Justice and Society Major, minoring in Applied Ethics and Environmental Policy. I was born in St. Paul, MN where I grew up playing neighborhood sports and attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School. My mom, dad, and sister are actively involved in the St. Paul community and our family Parish. My brother will be a Freshman at Creighton this year. Over the last several years, I have been blessed with numerous opportunities to participate and contribute to the Creighton and Omaha Communities. I have worked in the Collaborative Ministry Offices as a work study student updating and maintaining parts of the Online Ministries web pages. I am a member of the Honors Program, the president of the Creighton Chapter of the Jesuit University Humanitarian Action Network (JUHAN), and participate on several intramural sports teams. I was a two year member of the living-learning-service program Cortina Community and this past summer, through the CCSJ, I was an intern at NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, DC. I like hanging out and watching movies, cooking, playing pick-up games of basketball, badminton, and soccer, listening to Dave Mattews Band and Bruce Springsteen, and going to Creighton soccer games.

              Becca Harvey

I am a Junior at Creighton and am majoring in Justice and Society with minors in Environmental Policy and Applied Ethics. I’m from Lenexa, KS- right outside of Kansas City. My fire for social justice issues began in high school when I visited El Salvador with my church. Since then I have fallen in love with Creighton and all its amazing volunteer opportunities. I have been on two service trips. My freshman year I went to Okolona, Mississippi and learned about racism while also fixing up houses and tutoring in an after school program. I loved it and recommend SBSTs to everyone! Then sophomore year I stayed in Omaha and learned about sustainability on my FBST. I studied abroad in the Dominican Republic in Spring ‘09 as a part of Encuentro Dominicano, serving the community at Hogar Luby- an orphanage for developmentally disabled children, and falling in love with my host families. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I am addicted to coffee, social justice issues, and talking with friends. I can’t wait to have new experiences and expand my knowledge of the world while helping others to grow as a member of the CCSJ staff!!  

                   Ana Heck

I am from Minneapolis and have three younger siblings. As a Junior at Creighton, I study Spanish, Philosophy, and Justice and Peace Studies. Last Spring I spent four months in the Dominican Republic with Creighton's Encuentro Dominicano program, where I experienced the daily life of the Dominican people and fell in love with the elementary students at my service site. Other service trips I have grown from include a service trip to Denver and a homeless immersion in Omaha I did through the CCSJ. I am excited to take on the mission of the CCSJ and to work with passionate people!

          Amanda Grade

I am from Glidden, IA, but Creighton has made Omaha my home! I am a Senior Social Work Student, and I will be doing my practicum this year at Campfire USA. I spent my summer as a head counselor at Camp Lake Hubert for Girls, living in a cabin with 10-12 year old girls. I love reading, sports, and service trips! I can't wait for another wonderful year with the CCSJ!!!

                 Cat Keating

Nayeli Lopez

Hola my name is Nayeli, I am originally from Tulancingo, Hgo. a small city in the state of  Hidalgo, Mexico. I am currently a Senior Biology Major. When I came to Creighton, I came with the idea of studying, getting my degree and moving on with life, but  little did I know of the changes that were about to began in my life. It all started my freshman year on my first service trip to Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. It was life changing experienced that showed me the other side of the United States. As an immigrant, I used to think of the United States as the world of opportunities, where dreams came true and life was better for everyone that lived there. However, Rosebud change my ideals drastically and pushed me to learn more about this new country I called home and pursue me to give more to my community. Since then, I have done more than five service trips with the CCSJ, and in each and every single one of them have allowed me to grow. Although, I may sometimes not understand completely the situations, I still come back because I know it is my call to serve.

                Caitlin Malone

I was born and raised just outside of St. Paul, MN. I'm going to be a Sophomore at Creighton University this coming fall and am planning on majoring in International Relations and Spanish. The mission of the CCSJ through Jesuit teaching is the reason that I chose to come to Creighton. I am so excited to be able to work with the amazing people that make the CCSJ what it is. My passion is other cultures, ranging from languages, to traditions, to politics and everything in between. I love to travel and I have always been drawn to Latin America. I want to live in Latin America for a few years after Creighton and then go to Law School. I try really hard to live my life not stressing over little things and knowing that everything happens for a reason.

        Patrick O'Malley

I am a Junior Technical Theater Major at Creighton. Did you know you can do that here? I am originally from Mobile, Alabama where I was extremely involved with the L’Arche community. My first experience with the CCSJ was early on in my Freshmen year when I decided to go on a Fall Break Service Trip, and now I'm one of the people planning them! This summer I had the opportunity to intern at the Siena/Francis House which was an amazing opportunity and learning experience for me. My plan is to pursue a career in Stage Management, I've already had the opportunity to work with a Tony Award winner when I Stage Managed West Side Story.

                Andres Recinos

               Claire Schuster

I am a Sophomore English Major and a Sociology minor here at Creighton. I am a Chicago native and went to Saint Ignatius College Prep on the Near West Side. My love of service developed there after participating in service trips to Walls, Mississippi and Neon, Kentucky. I have two older brothers, and they helped shape a lot of my interests; in literature, travel, and especially music. I am a concert/album reviewer for an online music magazine and have been since January 2007. During my freshman year at Creighton I went to Wind River, Wyoming on a Spring Break Service Trip. I love going to school in Omaha and I'm looking forward to working with everyone at the CCSJ during the 2009-2010 school year!