Meet Our Staff

Carl

Carl Briggs  carl@studycenter.net

Director for Communications & Program Administration

Carl Briggs holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He worked previously at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philppi, W.V., as Director of Public Relations. He and his wife, Nancy, and their daughter, Dorothy, live in Charlottesville.

Tim McConnell

Timothy McConnell   tim@studycenter.net
Director of Graduate Ministries

Tim is completing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, where he is a Presidential Fellow. He holds a master's degree in theology from Oxford University, and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Northwestern University. He and his wife, Abigail, have three children: Eleanor, John, and Peter.

Ashley Mejias

Ashley Mejias   ashley@studycenter.net
Director of Women's Ministries

Ashley earned her M.A. in Theological Studies at the University of Virginia, where she served as a graduate research assistant with the Project in Lived Theology. She also worked with the student ministry Theological Horizons. She earned a bachelor's degree at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., double majoring in philosophy and religious studies. Ashley lives in Charlottesville with her husband, Alex.

Shelly

Shelly Pellish   shelly@studycenter.net
Director of Development, Alumni & Parent Relations

Shelly has worked in the non-profit arena for more than ten years, specializing in development and alumni relations since 1999. Prior to joining the staff in 2002, she worked at the University of Virginia's Office of Development. She is an active member of the Association of Professional Research for Advancement (APRA) and the Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE).

 

Debbie

Debbie Rodriguez   debbie@studycenter.net
Director of Finance and Administration

Debbie holds a bachelor of arts degree in Elementary Education with a major emphasis in English literature from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. She previously worked for CBN Worldreach in Virginia Beach, Va., where she was manager of finance and administration. She and her husband, Paul, live in Charlottesville.

 

Drew Trotter

Drew Trotter   drew@studycenter.net
President

Drew has taught biblical studies, systematic theology and cultural apologetics at the seminary level for more than twenty-five years. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Cambridge University and is the author of the forthcoming Show and Tell: How to View a Movie Responsibly (Baker Academic). The author of many articles and reviews, Drew has published in Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Critique, and a number of other publications. He lectures regularly on film and culture at seminaries, churches and colleges throughout the eastern United States.

 

Bill Wilder

Bill Wilder  bill@studycenter.net
Director of Educational Ministries

Bill Wilder received an undergraduate degree in English and German from Guilford College and an M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He completed his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He is the author of Echoes of the Exodus Narrative in the Context and Background of Galatians 5:18 (Peter Lang, 2001). Before coming to Charlottesville, Bill and his family spent two years in Ogbomosho, Nigeria, where Bill taught Biblical languages, history, and theology at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary. Bill and his wife, Nicolien, have four children.

 

Amy Zell   amy@studycenter.net
Director of Counseling Resources

Amy Zell began her ministry to UVa undergraduate women in January 2002. She holds a master of arts degree in counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. She earned her bachelor's degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. She is married to Wes Zell, Director of Undergraduate Ministries. They have a son, Elias. Before coming to Charlottesville, Amy was Director of Family Services of the Sunshine Mission, a homeless shelter and community outreach center near downtown St. Louis.

 

Wes Zell

Wes Zell  wes@studycenter.net
Director of Undergraduate Ministries

Wes Zell has been ministering to UVa undergraduates since January 2002. He is a graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, where he received his master of divinity degree. He earned his bachelor's degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He is married to Amy Zell, Coordinator of Women's Ministries. They have a son, Elias. During his final year in seminary, Wes worked at the Sunshine Mission, a homeless shelter and community outreach center near downtown St. Louis.

 

 
         


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