President
Janessa Chastain was born in Boise, ID and has been an active member of Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Churches since her first service at one week old. She attended college at Willamette University in Salem, OR and studied politics. In her time at Drew, Janessa has served as Orientation Coordinator, Community of Shalom intern in Memphis TN, and an intern with the Church Center at the United Nation. She currently works with Green Faith/Green Seminary to develop a program to help seminaries around the country become more sustainable. She also graduates in May!
Vice President
Joe Samalenge is a third year Master of Divinity student from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is an ordained elder of the South Katanga Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He first served as a second year representative in the student assembly (SA) and the Community Life Constellation for the Drew Theological Student Association (TSA). Having an incredible passion for social justice gospel and theology, Minister Joe’s call to ministry is rooted in Mathew 12:18 ““Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.” He believes in an oppression-free and just world whereby love for God, neighbor and nature prevails. Joe’s motto is “I work within my limitations and I trust God beyond my limitations”
Secretary
Jennifer McNulty is a second year MDiv pursuing organization in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has a background in government and NGO media relations and speech writing, having worked for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Mayor of Philadelphia, and the American Civil Liberties Union. These experiences have helped her to realize her calling to social justice and community building ministries. Jennifer is the incredibly proud mother of two girls, Moira, 6, and Kali, 5.
Interim Treasurer
Paul Smith
I am a Master’s of Divinity student and expect to be graduating May 2013. I am a member of the United Methodist Church from the New York Annual Conference. I am serving as pastor at the Cutchogue UMC in eastern Long Island. I am on track to be an ordained clergy for the UMC after I leave Drew and I hope to be part of the renewal of my denomination while preserving the good parts of our tradition. Drew has taught me how to think critically, how to be theologically and ethically responsible, and has inspired ways the church needs to respond to issues in society. My greatest passion is being a bridge between religious and cultural diversity and modeling how to promote and represent peace and love.