The Rev Dr. Tamara Nichols Rodenberg is the Interim President of DSF. Dr. Rodenberg is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Ethics from the Graduate Theological Union. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, she serves as adjunct faculty at Claremont School of Theology and San Francisco Theological Seminary, Southern California. She also serves on the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is the denominational representative to the National Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches. Her passion is preparing theological leaders for a diverse and changing global community.
Joseph Driskill is DSF's Dean in the Berkeley office and is also Professor of Christian Spirituality and Ronald D. Soucey Lecturer at PSR. He holds a Ph.D. from Graduate Theological Union as well as degrees from Culver-Stockton College and the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University. He has been a pastor and college chaplain. His books include Protestant Spirituality Exercises: Theology, History and Practice published in 1999, and in 2002 he published the well received Spiritually Informed Pastoral Care: The Elder's Ministry of Care-giving in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). More recently he co-authored and published with Karen Lebacqz Ethics and Spiritual Care: A Guide for Pastors, Chaplains and Spiritual Directors. Joe's wife is Dr. Leslie Bryant, a staff psychologist and administrator for Kaiser Permanente.
Mark David Parsons is Assistant Dean of DSF in Claremont. He is also Assistant Professor of Church Music at Claremont School of Theology where he teaches in the areas of music and worship, theology and the arts, and religion and popular culture. He holds a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and brings a strong background in music ministries, with 10 years of experience as a church music director and numerous publications in the field.
Young Sook Kim is the Director of Korean Church Studies and Certificate of Ministry Studies at DSF and her passion is a pastoral formation of theological students and pastors. She serves the Committee of Ministry in Pacific Southwest Region of Christian Church (DOC) and is a story teller trainer for the "Children Worship & Wonder" through the office of Family and Children's Ministries of Disciples Home Missions of Christian Church (DOC) in the United States and Canada. She received her Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary and ordained in the Christian Church (DOC) in 2002. She became the first Korean staff in the 50 years of history of Disciples Seminary Foundation. She is one of ministerial staff of Saegil Christian Church, Burbank and is going to study at Claremont School of Theology focusing on Pastoral Care & Counseling. She is married and has 3 college graduate daughters. Young Sook and her husband Jacob enjoy having Julia who was born into the family in 1998.
John Rodenberg is the Director of Development for the DSF - . Before coming on staff at DSF, John served as co-pastor of Mayfair Christian Church in Stockton CA. Prior to his congregational leadership, he served with the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (DOC) in Swaziland. John has chaired Regional ministry boards and served on the General Board and Administrative Committee. John's passion is embracing the rich ethnic diversity in our denomination and equipping new theological leaders for the future. John and his family enjoy the small community of Claremont with its many educational and recreational opportunities.
Christina Hutchins is the Administrator of the Berkeley Office of DSF, Adjunct Faculty at Pacific School of Religion, and a poet. Her role with DSF involves advising students, recruitment, and the facilitation of educational and community events for Disciples' students.
Lori Ruff-Schmalenberger is Administrative Assistant at DSF, Claremont. An active Presbyterian laywoman, she received an M.A. in Religious Education from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, an M.A. in Education from CGU, and has also done coursework in Christian Education at CST. Lori is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. Lori and husband Russ have one daughter who is in high school.
Dave Petteway is Business Manager at DSF in Claremont. He semi-retired in 2001 after 34 years as a financial and management executive in the field of nonprofit healthcare. He currently works as a ministry and nonprofit consultant specializing in planning, financial management, and organizational development. Dave holds Masters degrees in Ministry Management from the School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University and in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Dave and His wife Lynda have three children and three grandchildren.
Nini Mejia is DSF's new bookkeeper in Claremont. As a staff member of C Business services, owned by her brother, she worked on the conversion of DSF's accounting system. When DSF's transition plan dictated the need for an in-house bookkeeper, her expertise fit the bill. Prior to joining her brother, Nini worked as an accounting manager and a realtor. Nini and her husband Tony live in Orange County, and they have 7 children and 15 grandchildren.
Jean Makunga is our librarian in Claremont. Born in Zaire and trained in economics and banking, he later lived in South America and returned to enter Claremont School of Theology. He has served as a pastor of an Hispanic UCC congregation in Pomona and as Head of Library Support Services for CST. He has four grown daughters raised in First Christian Church, Pomona, with their mother. He is now married to Nancy and has a young son.
Carolyn Patterson is Program Assistant at DSF, Claremont. She is halfway through her PhD program in Hebrew Bible at Claremont Graduate University, with an emphasis in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology. She holds degrees in History and in Anthropology from Sonoma State University, with an emphasis in Archaeology and in Radical Feminist Scholarship.