Doug Pierce: Director of The Crossing and Campus Minister

Hi! Welcome to The Crossing! As an ecumenical ministry we strive to be holistic and provide an open, respectful and diverse Christian community where individuals can question, explore, understand, develop and affirm their relationship to God, each other and the world. Although ordained in the United Church of Christ, my own faith journey has been enriched and nurtured by several religious traditions (through upbringing, seminary training and mentors whom I was blessed to develop significant relationships with over the years). Therefore, I come to The Crossing with a deep respect and appreciation for the varieties of religious experience and its many expressions. As Director, I wear several hats. I am responsible for overseeing programs and staff, encouraging and nurturing partnerships, facilitating board development and addressing financial issues (management and development). It is a privilege for us to do the work we do! I look forward to meeting you.

Karla Schmidt: Campus Minister

I am excited about the 2011-2012 school year - excited to see returning students and to meet many new students - hopefully YOU! I have been with The Crossing since 2001 and feel so blessed by the students who have enriched us with their presence. This year we continue to offer small group worship, service, fun, prayer and study opportunities where you can find a place to belong.

As I grow in my own spiritual journey, I more and more embrace author Richard Rohr's understanding of God when he writes: "God becomes more a verb than a noun, more a process than a conclusion, more an experience than a dogma, more a personal relationship than an idea.  There is someone dancing with you, and you are not afraid of making mistakes." Here at The Crossing we seek to offer a "space for grace" where your own faith journey can be nurtured (even as you encounter questions, doubts, and mistakes).

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Nikki Carrow: Quest Coordinator 

I serve as the Quest Coordinator for the Crossing, and couldn't be happier about it. I graduated from the UW in 2009 with a degree in English Literature and I find myself deeply indebted to broad, integrated, global education. Though I loved the university setting, I was also fortunate enough to be able to do a lot of traveling during my college years, and the world proved to be an excellent classroom as well. I was so grateful for the opportunities that I had to explore to my heart's content, and I'm very passionate about creating unique, meaningful, and memorable experiences for others. 

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Jody Varney: Crossing Administrator 

Hello!  I'm excited to be the new administrator for The Crossing. As a lifelong Madison resident, I have had the good fortune to live here and enjoy all of the many great places that make Madison unique. I'm proud to call myself a Badger, having graduated from UW - Madison with a degree in Communication Arts. After a few years of working in advertising, I changed to a career in travel. As a travel agent, I helped many people get out and experience the world. 

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Eric Ogi: Ministry Intern

Hello friends! Allow me to introduce myself in just a few words. I am a(n): aspiring world-traveler. music/art enthusiast. just/fair-trade coffee aficionado. nature lover. interfaith dialogue advocate. peacemaker. apostle of grace, justice, and mercy. believer in unconditional love. follower of Jesus Christ.

I graduated from UW-Madison in May 2011 with a BA in Religious Studies and an emphasis on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. My involvement with The Crossing began in January 2010 when I joined the Quest Israel/Palestine team. This year I will be serving as a ministry intern leaving my fingerprint on a number of projects ranging from Vespers musical worship, interfaith service learning projects, an inclusive vision of the LGBTQ community, and co-leading next May’s Quest to Israel/Palestine. I truly look forward to meeting you – whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey!

Daniel Cochran: Theologian in Residence

Fresh from Cambridge, Massachusetts, I am excited to be serving as the new Theologian in Residence at the Crossing.
Born in California but raised in Rhode Island, I graduated from the University of Rochester in 2008 with degrees in Religion, Classics, and History. While at Rochester, I served as a student leader of the University’s Protestant Chapel Community; it was here that I first discerned God’s calling to a vocation in ministry. I followed this call to Harvard Divinity School, where I earned a Masters of Divinity while serving as the seminarian intern for King’s Chapel Unitarian Christian Church and Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church. 

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Ben Leudcke: Vespers Music Leader

I am a local guitar and piano player, choral conductor, and voice teacher, and I was drawn to The Crossing as I am excited to work with UW students. Young people's energy and creativity ignites my soul and I hope to reciprocate that passion here at The Crossing. Music is the perfect tool to open one's heart and to free one's mind, thus it is an invaluable tool in one's spiritual journey.

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Travis Tennessen - Environmental Consultant

Travis is a graduate student in Geography at UW-Madison, studying North American environmental history and policy. He taught Environmental Conservation 339 in the Geography Department for three years. Currently he is teaching at Penn State University this Fall but still leading our QUEST to Costa Rica over Spring break.

Bill Love - Development Consultant

Hello, I am thrilled to share in the experience of "the Crossing" and to
support its ministry.  My wife, Gayle, and I met and fell in love as
participants in an ecumenical "United Campus Ministry" program at Texas A&M university.  We moved to Madison in 1991 and love the area, though it took some time for me to get used to the Wisconsin winters.  I enjoy biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and have recently gotten into kayaking the lakes.
Gayle and I are members of Middleton Community United Church of Christ and on occasion over the years have helped with the after Vespers Sunday evening meal at the Crossing.  I have worked in the areas of case management and social work, but my longest most recent work was at First Unitarian Society as support staff in the areas of annual giving and planned giving.

Robert Schuettpelz - Financial Consultant, CPA 

I am excited to take the experience I have gained over the years working with other not-for-profits and apply it to the Crossing.  I have 18 years of experience in public accounting working with a wide range of not-for-profit organizations.  I am the proud father of two nine year old children adopted from Russia eight years ago.  I am also the Executive Director for a Madison based NGO working in Ukraine called Friends of Chernobyl Centers U.S. (FOCCUS).

Barb Weisensel - Weis Bookkeeping, LLC

The Crossing is grateful to our Bookkeeper, Barb Weisensel, who has been with us for several years!

A Day in the life of a Bookkeeper - from The Princeton Review: "Bookkeepers track all cash flows, billing, and lines of credit that affect their companies. They must be detail-oriented and tenacious; they have to track down and rectify any discrepancies, however small, in the company accounts. Most bookkeepers work as internal accountants for small firms that do not have an accountant on staff. They have a large amount of responsibility to the company, and sometimes (particularly at the end of the year and around tax-preparation time) have to work long hours in order to do their job properly..."