Our Leaders
The leaders of the Rensselaer Christian Association are a very important team. They form RCA's Excecutive Board, commonly called Exec. This team is appointed by members of RCA once every year. Below, you can learn who currently is part of Exec. The mini-bios have some interesting facts about who they are, and the important roles they play in our group.
Jonathan Rankin - President
E-mail: rankij3@rpi.edu
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Accord, NY
Birthday: October 2, 1987
Random Fact: I grow plants. Lots of plants.
Favorite Foods: Strawberries, chocolate peanut butter ice cream, grilled cheese, buffalo chicken.
Favorite Band(s): band of Mongols, rubber band, band saw.
Favorite Book of the Bible: Philippians
Leadership Duties: Cast vision for the chapter. Provide leadership and direction for the chapters' spiritual growth. Encourage communication and accountability within Exec and also the chapter. Play the part of public relations and encourage relations between other campus groups. Organize and lead weekly meetings with the rest of the leadership team. Personally invest in all the members of the chapter! Do everything that needs to be done.
Erin Turk - Vice President
E-mail: turke@rpi.edu
Major: Biology
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Birthday: August 4, 1988
Random Fact: My parents live in Canada...do not be fooled by the crazies telling you I'm Canadian.
Hobbies/Interests: Research, Skiing, Reading, Wandering around with my favorite people
Favorite Band(s): Always hate this question...Switchfoot, Hoobastank, Chicago, any of the old musicals (I know, eclectic)
Favorite Book of the Bible: Ecclesiastes & Romans
Leadership Duties: As VP, I pay bills, write checks, keep everyone in line, and support the rest of the team (but especially Jon).
Adam Hardy - Large Group Coordinator
E-mail: hardya@rpi.edu
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Allentown, PA (there’s a Billy Joel song about it)
Birthday: November 16, 1988
Random Fact: Among my many aspirations in life is to play Dragonforce’s Through the Fire and Flames on expert and score a 90% or higher.
Hobbies/Interests: DotA, Guitar Hero, Sleeping, Singing to the radio, Staying up really really late, Watching the sunset, Procrastinating, Taking hot showers, Using hot air dryers, Trying to parkour/free run
Favorite Band(s): Relient K, Bon Jovi, John Reuben, Aqua
Leadership Duties: Planning and running large group meetings. Scheduling guest speakers. Brainstorming and organizing post-group events.
Jessica Hettinger - Small Group Coordinator
E-mail: hettij@rpi.edu
Major: Biomedical Engineering, Economics
Hometown: Tolland, CT
Birthday: December 15, 1987
Random Fact: I have a pet snake.
Hobbies/Interests: baking, shopping, being with friends, Gilmore Girls
Favorite Band(s): Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Casting Crowns
Favorite Book of the Bible: James
Leadership Duties: To organize small groups for the semester and encourage everyone to join one, to pray for each small group, and correspond with the leaders.
Brett Mace - Outreach Coordinator
E-mail: maceb@rpi.edu
Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Riverside, CA
Birthday: October 23, 1985
Random Fact: I've lived in the same log cabin all my life, and it's in the middle of a desert. Kinda strange.
Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, Model railroads, watching movies, hanging outwith people, studying stuff like how things work, why we have traffic and how can we get rid of it.
Favorite Foods: Meatloaf, bbq chicken pizza, steak and potatoes, ribs, and spaghetti.
Favorite Band(s): Five Iron Frenzy, The O.C. Supertones, The W's, MAE, Second Hand Serenade, Newsboys, Anberlin, Ember and Emery.
Leadership Duties: To set fire to the members of RCA a desire to invite their friends to RCA and to their home church around RPI, also to create avenues in which others on campus can get to know members of RCA and to learn more about the gospel.
Kelli Gardner - Prayer Coordinator
E-mail: gardnk3@rpi.edu
Major: EMAC/ Pre-Med
Hometown: Missoula, Montana
Birthday: March 24, 1988
Random Fact: I collect Panda Bears!
Hobbies/Interests: Running, NROTC
Favorite Band(s): I have to choose one!!! Linkin Park and Jeremy Camp
Favorite Book of the Bible: Jeremiah
Leadership Duties: To inspire everyone in the chapter to pray and take it seriously. Also, to organize the concert of prayer and daily prayer.
Brooke O'Donnell - Worship Coordinator
E-mail: odonnb@rpi.edu
Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Mount Union, Pennsylvania
Birthday: October 19, 1986
Random Fact: My left knee cap is broken in half
Hobbies/Interests: Singing, guitar, piano, music, basketball, running, sports, rensselyrics, dancing, making things, baking, cooking, my pets, hanging out with friends
Favorite Band(s): DC Talk, TobyMac, Goo Goo Dolls, Iron and Wine, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Tonic, Lifehouse, Rascal Flatts
Favorite Book of the Bible: Romans
Leadership Duties: To coordinate the worship team such that we are ready to lead worship on Friday nights. This includes picking out music, heading up practices and small group and serving in any way that I can.
Niki Campbell - IVCF Staff
E-mail: campbn@gmail.com
Major: I graduated in 2004 with a degree in Architecture. I currently work at a local firm. And in my "spare" time I am the volunteer staff for RPI's InterVarsity
Hometown: Athens, PA
Birthday: February 2, 1981
Random Fact: I have a cat named Dave Matthews
Hobbies/Interests: drawing, painting, fixing up my 120 year old house, golfing and cross country skiing with my husband, Matt.
Favorite Foods: Chocolate!!!!!
Favorite Band(s): The Dave Matthews Band, Lifehouse, Switchfoot, John Mayer, Michael Buble, Billy Joel, Bare Naked Ladies, Newsboys, etc.
Favorite Book of the Bible: Romans and Hebrews
Leadership Duties: As the volunteer staff worker it is my job to disciple students in the chapter and help guide and encourage them to fulfill the vision of the chapter; Students and Faculty Transformed, Campuses Renewed, and World Changers Developed. I pray for the chapter daily and am always finding new people to be involved in the ministry at RPI either through monetary donations, prayer commitments, or speakers. I love talking to perspective students or parents about the amazing way RCA helped to form my college life. If you have any questions about RCA please contact me.
Heather Ardrey - IVCF Staff
E-mail: ardreh@rpi.edu
Major: I work full time as an IV staff for RPI
Hometown: Rock Hill, NY
Birthday: September 24, 1979
Random Fact: I have a plant named Edgar.
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, writing, cooking/baking, hanging out with my husband, Dave, and our friends.
Favorite Foods: Pizza, pineapples, chocolate.
Favorite Band(s): Switchfoot, Ben Folds, others too numerous to mention.
Favorite Book of the Bible: 2 Corinthians
Leadership Duties: My job is the help the students in the Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF) as well as RCA to fulfill the vision of InterVarsity (see Niki's bio). I believe this lives out through students individually and corporately pursuing God in every avenue of their lives, through friendships, church, and their studies. In addition, I pray for the students and faculty of RPI and actively invite others to be investing in this ministry through a variety of avenues.