The Team

Leadership

Ingrid Slikkers, Executive Director

ingrids@andrews.edu
(269) 471-6677
Professional Homepage

Charity Garcia, Director of K-12 Initiatives

garcia@andrews.edu
(269) 471-3436
Professional Homepage

David Sedlacek, Director of Pastoral Initiatives

sedlacek@andrews.edu
(269) 471-6375
Professional Homepage

Dustin Young,

Director of Strategic Initiatives

dustiny@andrews.edu
(269) 471-6249

Professional Homepage

24-25 Interns

School of Social Work:

School of Education:

Trisha Higgins Handy

Trisha Higgins Handy is a lifelong Adventist educator currently teaching at Greaves Adventist Academy in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mrs. Handy holds a BSc degree with an emphasis in Zoology and a BEd in Education and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Andrews University in Curriculum and Instruction. She is married to her high school sweetheart of 21 years, and together they share three wonderful children. Trisha enjoys reading, writing, travelling with family and friends, and dreams of publishing children's literature and educational curriculum one day.

Current Affiliates

Jenica Joseph

Jenica is an assistant professor of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, graduated from Andrews University with an undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in 2007. She received her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2009 from Loma Linda University. She has worked in a variety of settings such as: private practice, skilled nursing/acute care rehabilitation, school-based speech-language pathologist, travel speech-language pathologist, and as a bilingual assessment team member for a school district.

Lara Malabrigo

James Mello

James is the District Pastor for LaGrange and Carrollton Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Georgia. He graduated from Andrews University with an MDiv as well as an MSW. He is currently pursuing licensure as a therapist. He has experience as a pastor, chaplain, teacher, and social worker (including foster care and the juvenile justice system). He has given numerous presentations on creating trauma-informed churches and schools.

Sarah Reidel

Leslie Rodriguez (23-24)

Leslie holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work (2023) and a Master's degree in Social Work (2024). She has extensive experience working with children as a school counselor and with refugee and immigrant children at Bethany Christian Services. Currently, Leslie is a child therapist in Benton Harbor, dedicated to providing trauma-informed care. She is passionate about trauma work and is committed to bringing trauma-informed care to the Latino/Hispanic community.

Ricco Ruiz (23-24)

Ricco specializes in supporting the development of leaders who help hurting people. His background includes teen refugee resettlement services, children's grief counseling, and pastoral ministry- 10 years of which have been with Relove Church in Garden Grove, CA. He holds a Bachelor of Communication from Saginaw Valley State University, a Master of Social Work from Andrews University, and a Master of Youth and Young Adult Ministry from the S.D.A. Theological Seminary. Currently, Ricco is a program manager for Holy Cross Services, where he is pursuing a license for clinical social work while overseeing a community intervention for youth transitioning out of foster care and the juvenile justice system.

Emma Vanderwaal (22-23)

Not Pictured:

Laia Burgos

Willis Byas (22-23)
AJ O’Carey
Maci Chen

Jasmine Johnson
Abi Martin

Erick Pena
Naissa Ndiaye

Angel Smith
Alvin Waite

Katelyn Weakley
Jasmin Wilson

Advisory Board

Tara Bailey
Torben Bergland
Judy Bitzer-Rowe
Nestor Bruno
AJ O’Carey
David Faehner
Ann Hamel
Angela Pechero
Jennifer Jill Schwirzer
Mary Slikkers
Evelyn Sullivan

2023-2024 Interns

Yailin Contreras

Serika Charles Delfish

Isai Ramirez