Student Development
Get to Know the Student Development Staff!
Some of the Student Development Staff have provided their profiles so that you can get to know them better.
Bettie Ann Brigham
Vice President for Student Development
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5823
E-mail: bbrigham@eastern.edu
Hi! I am the Vice President for Student Development, Bettie Ann Brigham. I graduated from Eastern College with a B.A. in Communications and then received my M.S. in Counseling and Human Relations, with an emphasis in Higher Education, from Villanova University. Currently I am in the dissertation phase of the Ed.D. at The University of Calgary's Graduate Department of Educational Research: Higher Education Leadership. I began my career in Student Development at Eastern as a Residence Director, became Assistant Dean, Associate Dean and then Dean of Students in 1996, and in 2004 became the Vice President of the department. Although I loved living on campus (and in fact, I lived in Hainer Hall for 15 years), I now live with my husband in Wayne, PA. I have two grown children, Allison who is a Registered nurse living in Maine and Jon, who is in medical school in Philadelphia. I believe that among the Christian colleges, Eastern is unique; in fact there is no comparison! We allow students a great deal of personal freedom while maintaining the essentials for Christian community. We are more inclusive than exclusive and we like questions! We believe that diversity in community is important and that learning to appreciate those who are different than us is essential to effective living. We place an emphasis on caring for each other and for those outside Eastern as Jesus did and this has become a framework for an ethos within the student body that is refreshing and enjoyable, as well as challenging. I am deeply committed to Eastern University and its students. My major responsibilities include working with a wonderful staff of Directors who oversee all aspects of student life and working with the President and other Vice Presidents to promote a student-centered and growth producing University community. Although I enjoy every aspect of my work, I especially enjoy working with students to problem solve, promoting programming and policies that both challenge and support all EU students and working through issues with individual students; helping them to adapt if necessary, grow as needed, and meet challenges that shape their future lives and the lives of those they touch.
Daryl Hawkins
Dean of Students
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5822
E-mail: dhawkins@eastern.edu
Daryl comes to us from Youth Service Inc. in Philadelphia where he was the coordinator for the West Philadelphia Fatherhood Program. He earned his undergraduate degree from Southern University of New Orleans and his Master of Arts Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. He is currently earning a Master of Divinity at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He looks forward to encouraging students’ development, both emotionally and spiritually, as he serves Eastern in the capacity of Dean of Students.
Joseph B. Modica
University Chaplain / Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5826
E-mail: jmodica@eastern.edu
As University Chaplain, I am primarily interested in assisting students in their faith development and spiritual formation through teaching, preaching, and spiritual direction. I am also interested in the classroom integration of faith and learning in the areas of New Testament studies and Christian spirituality. I am married and have four children, two of whom currently attend Eastern. My wife Marianne is a professor in Early Childhood Education at Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, PA. We are both involved in Christian education at our local church. · My formal education includes a B.A. Psychology, Queens College of the City University of New York · M.Div. Alliance Theological Seminary Served as a pastor in Queens, New York and ordained by the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination · M.Phil. and Ph.D. New Testament and Early Christianity, Drew University.
Heidi Birtwistle
Associate Athletic Director / Hainer Hall Residence Director
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.1738
E-mail: hbirtwis@eastern.edu
Heidi earned her B.A. in Psychology in 1988 from Messiah College and her M.Ed in Educational Counseling in 1995 from Eastern College. She serves as the Associate Athletic Director and Residence Director of Hainer Hall. She and her husband Mark have a daughter, Ali, and a son, Jackson. Heidi has been at Eastern since fall of 1990.
Theresa Noye
Kea/Guffin Hall Residence Director & Chapel Worship Teams Coordinator
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5992
E-mail: tnoye@eastern.edu
Theresa AKA “KeaMomma” has been a part of the Student Development team since 1995. Her love for students is evident and quite contagious. She holds a MA in Education from Chestnut Hill College and a BA in Communications from Hampton University. Theresa is the Resident Director of Kea-Guffin Hall. In addition, she serves as the Black Student League Advisor and coordinates the Chapel Worship Teams. In her spare time, she oversees The Better Part Ministries, a ministry committed to facilitating selfless, uninhibited worship experiences. Theresa lives in Kea Hall with her wonderful husband Henry, an avid sports fan. They have two beautiful children, Regal and Nia.
Nathanial Stutzman Assistant Dean of Students & Doane Residence Hall Director Student Development Phone: 610-341-5952 E-mail: nstutzma@eastern.eduNathaniel Stutzman is back at his alumna mater, after previously working with students at Lebanon Valley College as an Area Coordinator and as an assistant teacher and head coach for the Lower Merion School District. Nate was a graduate of both Eastern University’s graduate and undergraduate schools; earning a B.S. and B.A. in Business Management and Business Marketing, and a M.ED in Multicultural Education. He is also in the midst of completing a Master's of Arts in Digital Media Communication at Regent University. Nate is blessed to be married to Marianne (also a graduate of Eastern), and currently resides with his family in Doane Hall. Nate has a real passion for sports and entertainment, and has both played and coached at the college level. He has acted in features such as "Prime", "Hitch", Without a Trace, and Amazing Sports Stories. Nathaniel enjoys spending time with his family, writing music on his guitar, cheering on his Philadelphia sports teams, HGTV, and writing. Overall, Nate has a true passion for students, and is excited to help them develop and mature as women and men of God at Eastern University.
Anthony HarrisHousing Coordinator & Eagle Residence Hall Director Student Development Phone: 610-341-5840 Email: aharris8@eastern.edu
Anthony hails from the great city of Louisville, Kentucky, where he most recently worked as a Residential Youth Counselor at Maryhurst with adolescent and teen girls in their Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program. He has earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Louisville, where he was an active student leader and involved in various areas of student development as a student and young professional. Anthony holds a B.S in Pan African Studies with a minor in Religious Studies, and an M.Ed in College Student Personnel. He looks forward to helping students grow and develop into the people they have called to be and wants to be of any assistance he can in their professional, emotional, and spiritual growth. He will serve Eastern as Housing Coordinator and Resident Director of Eagle Hall.
Larissa Leifer Student Activities Coordinator & Gough Residence Hall Director Student Development Phone: 610-225-5681Larissa joined the Eastern Student Development team in the summer of 2012 with excitement and eagerness to serve the students and community. She loves having the opportunity to walk alongside, encourage and challenge students in their college journey as they are continually molded into men and women of God. Larissa comes to us from Texas where she worked at Howard Payne University as a Resident Director and cheerleading coach. Before her time in the south, Larissa earned her Masters of Education in Student Development Administration at Seattle University where she also dabbled in the offices of New Student Programs, Student Government, and Career Services. However, her true passion for student development began during her undergraduate years at Bethany University (Santa Cruz, CA) where she earned her BA in Business Administration. Though originally from Washington state, Larissa is excited to begin a new journey on the East Coast. She loves deep genuine conversations, sushi, laughter, traveling, watching sports, good movies, country music, and coconut anything!
Benjamin Howard Student Activities Coordinator & Gallup Residence Hall Director Student Development Phone: 610-225-5045
Mike Schmersahl
Office Manager for Student Development & Yearbook Adviser
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5823
E-mail: mschmers@eastern.edu
Mike is a 2012 graduate of Messiah College and holds a B.A. in English Literature. During his time at Messiah’s Grantham and Philadelphia campuses, Mike was a student-athlete, playing basketball while working for the college as a writing tutor, fund-raiser, and office administrator. Mike is an avid Philadelphia sports fan, and enjoys creative writing, movies, music, cooking, and fellowship with family and friends. Overall, Mike is eager to participate in Eastern’s tradition of “Faith, Reason, and Justice,” and looks forward to helping Eastern University students foster intimate and transformative relationships with God. Mike resides in Coopersburg, PA.
Tess Bradley
Director of Career Services and Leadership Development
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5827
E-mail: tbradley@eastern.edu
Tess Bradley came to Eastern in 1990. Previously, Ms. Bradley was a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies in the area of career development, and taught in the MBA program at Simmons College in Boston. At Eastern, Ms. Bradley is responsible for the Office of Careers and Calling as well as the Leadership Grant Program and the Leadership Minor. She also teaches several courses in leadership.
Dr. Lisa Hemlick
Director of the Cushing Center for Counseling & Academic Support (CCAS) Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5830
E-mail: lhemlick@eastern.edu
Dr. Lisa Hemlick serves as director of the Cushing Center for Counseling and Academic Support (CCAS). She holds a B.S. in psychology and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. A licensed psychologist, Dr. Hemlick provided psychological services in several colleges, hospitals, and community settings before joining the staff at Eastern in 1995. In addition to her administrative duties, she provides counseling and psychotherapy to students, oversees the counseling internship program at CCAS, teaches and mentors students during the summer EQUIP program, and is an adjunct faculty member with the M.A. program in community/clinical counseling. Dr. Hemlick has a strong commitment to helping students of all backgrounds overcome obstacles so they can realize their personal and spiritual potential during their college years. Her particular areas of interest and expertise include college student development, integration of the Christian faith and the practice of psychotherapy, and counselor supervision. She is an active member of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Hemlick resides in Philadelphia.
Career Counselor / Director of the Multicultural Advisory Awareness Committee / Coordinator for the W. Wilson Goode Scholarship Program
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5872
E-mail: jirving@eastern.edu
Thelma Lunsford-Gray
Tutorial Coordinator
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5836
E-mail: tgray@eastern.edu
Rev. Lunsford-Gray coordinates and implements the tutoring services for the entire Eastern academic community, including students in the School of Professional Studies and in graduate programs. She also serves as coordinator for accommodations for students with learning differences and physical challenges. Before coming to Eastern, she served as a public school teacher and reading specialist in the Lower Merion School District, working primarily with students with learning differences. She received a B.A. in Education from Shaw University, her M.A. in Human Resources from Villanova University, and her M.Div. from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
John Nordlof, Ph.D.
Writing Specialist
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.1453
E-mail: jnordlof@eastern.edu
John graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and Philosophy from Wheaton College (IL) in 1991. He has also completed an M.A. in English at Loyola University Chicago and a Ph.D. in English at the University of Delaware. John has taught at numerous institutions, including Loyola, Delaware, Elizabethtown College, and Wilmington Friends School. Most recently he served as assistant professor of English at Regis College in Weston, MA. John lives in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Annika. In his free time John enjoys learning the guitar, camping, worship and song leading at his church, and involvement in church-based community organizing.
Andy Horvath
Director of Christian Formation
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.1830
E-mail: ahorvath@eastern.edu
After a decade in youth ministry, Andy began overseeing Eastern’s service learning, campus ministries, and non-academic missions trips in 2001. Mentoring and classroom teaching are particular joys; Andy loves college students' questions, issues, and openness. His academic background includes a B.A. Science and Technology Studies, Cornell University; M.Div. Regent College, Canada; D.Min. Palmer Theological Seminary. Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, Andy loves spending time with his family, hiking, eating, reading, and photography.
Janet Topper
Director of Student Health Center
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5955
E-mail: jtopper@eastern.edu
I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Gwynedd Mercy College, and have enjoyed 29 years serving in the specialty area of Community Health as a Home Health Care Nurse, Parish Nurse and a Certified School Nurse in the Public School System in Montgomery County. I enjoy working with young adults to empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices, learn to navigate our health care system, and provide medical treatment as needed. I believe in a holistic approach to healthcare, addressing and caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of our students. In my spare time I enjoy many outdoor activities, walks with our dogs, but most of all, spending time with my husband, Bob, and our three grown children.
Brad Fields
Director of Athletics and Athletic Development
Student Development
Phone: 610.225.5030
E-mail: bfields@eastern.edu
Diane Moore
CCAS Counselor
Student Development Phone: 610.225.5838 Email: dmoore3@eastern.edu
Jim Magee
Director of Safety & Security
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.1720
E-mail: jmagee@eastern.edu
Jim comes to Eastern University after a 30 year career in Law Enforcement. As a police officer Jim worked in patrol, motorcycle/traffic and investigations including 5 years undercover. Prior to coming to Eastern University, Jim was the Bail Administrator/ Director of Pretrial Services for Chester County. Jim is proud to be the husband of Kathie Magee a nurse he met while bringing a victim into the Emergency Room. Jim and Kathie live in Downingtown and have three children Mandi, Kelsey and Jimmy. Jim and Kathie are active in their church where Kathie is a Parish Nurse and Jim is active in Men's Ministry.
Kathy Kautz de Arango
Director of International Student and Scholar Services
Student Development
Phone: 610.341.5870
E-mail: kkautz2@eastern.edu
Rev. Kathy Kautz de Arango first developed her passion for international education when teaching at the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey CEM in the greater metropolitan Mexico City area. It was a natural fit to work with international students and scholars after returning to the U.S. She now has over 10 years of experience in international education and understands international students well. Her responsibilities include providing the wide variety of immigration-related papers that internationals need to live and maintain their visa status in the U.S., counseling them on decisions affecting their visa status, and helping them adjust to the American culture and educational system. Rev. Arango earned a B.A. from Goshen College, Teacher certification from Millersville University, an M.Div from Eastern Baptist (now Palmer) Theological Seminary and an M.S. in Non-profit Management from Eastern University. She is married to Obed Arango, they have two bi-national children, and they as a family are proud to be bi-cultural. Obed and Kathy together direct a non-profit organization for the advancement of Latino community.
