Chapter Leadership

Christian is currently a PhD student pursuing a degree in Kinesiology.  He received his M.S. in epidemiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his B.S. in biochemistry and mathematics from The College of Saint Scholastica. His research interests are preventative medicine and seeking to improve frailty among high-risk patients on the kidney transplant wait list.  In his free time, Christian enjoys being outside as much as possible - especially camping, canoeing, and hiking. He is also an avid sports fan, rarely missing a Badger hockey game, and plays rugby with the Madison Minotaurs. He is active in his church community at St. Mark's Lutheran Church and is passionate about building community, delving deeper into the word, and sharing God's love with others.  He found it strange to write this in the third-person.

Paul is a MS/PhD student in the Department of Geoscience and holds a B.S. in Geology from Marshall University. He is currently working in the Subsurface Hydrophysics Lab applying inverse modeling theory and geostatistics to better describe PFAS transport processes in groundwater. Paul is actively attending Red Village Church and is passionate about building communities openly discussing The Word, worshipping God through music, and serving Christ wherever needed. Outside of the lab, you will probably find him playing guitar and clawhammer banjo, fishing, or reading a book. If you happen to find him playing banjo, feel free to cover your ears.

Jon is a PhD student in the Mechanical Engineering department. His research focuses on creating safety profiles for solid-state lithium batteries. Jon received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then spent 4 years in Portland, OR working in the automotive sector. He and his wife currently attend Blackhawk Church - Downtown. In his spare time, Jon enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, and cooking for others.

My training and background is in agronomy and engineering. I worked for the USDA for 5 years. However, for the last 15 years I have been studying grad students and faculty as an IVCF staffworker. My wife, Julie, and I have two boys, Erik and Hans. We live on the near west side not far from the UW. Besides my interest & commitment to seeing 'thy kingdom come and thy will be done' at UW, I enjoy reading, travel, construction, theology, fabrication, anything with a motor, history, literature, bikes, hiking, canoeing, the Terrace with friends, etc. You get the idea.

Jeff Hardin received his B.S. in Zoology and B.A. in German from Michigan State University. He received a Master of Divinity degree at the International School of Theology in Southern California, during which he met his wife, Susie. After seminary Jeff returned to academic science at the University of California-Berkeley, where he received a Ph.D. in Biophysics. After postdoctoral work at Duke University, Jeff joined the Zoology Department at UW in 1991, where he is currently a full professor and chair. Jeff's research focuses on the cellular mechanisms of embryonic development. Jeff is faculty director of the Biology Core Curriculum, a four-semester honors biology sequence for undergraduates. Jeff is the only scientist who is a professor of Religious Studies, and he is co-Director of the Isthmus Society, a campus organization committed to promoting dialogue between science and religion on the UW campus and in the Madison community. Jeff and Susie have two adult sons, Jon and Christopher.

I graduated from UW-Madison with my Master’s in Japanese in 2024. My background is in Linguistics, but I leaned more towards Japanese literature during my program at UW. There’s a special place in my heart for campus ministry and grad students; I know it can be difficult to find fellowship in the maelstrom. On the other hand, some of my most important relationships were formed on campus. College is where I met my wife, Lillian, and some of my closest friends — all of that was thanks to my undergraduate campus ministry. I love learning of all kinds, and am always happy to hear about whatever you’re doing in the lab, the classroom, or on your own time. I’m an avid fan of film, video games, literature, poetry, anime, manga, cooking, music, and more, but always enjoy learning about others’ hobbies — you never know when you’ll find something else to add to your repertoire. My wife and I enjoy exploring the great outdoors together and live with our cat, Brego.