Richard V. Horner,
Executive Director

In 2001 Dr. Horner left his position as a Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia to become the first Director of the Christian Study Center of Gainesville. Richard has his M.Div. From Covenant Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in the Intellectual History of Modern Europe. He has pastoral experience at churches in Delaware and Virginia, and he has taught as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Delaware, James Madison University, the University of Florida, and Reformed Theological Seminary. He and his wife April, have three children: Rachel, Ken, and Jenna.

Todd Best,
Director of Programs

Mr. Best has been linked to the Study Center since its inception. Todd participated in the discussion that led to the formation of the Center, served as an intern with the Center while completing his MA in Religion at the University of Florida, and returned to assume his current full-time position as Director of Programs in the fall of 2006. In his current role Todd manages Pascal’s coffeehouse, oversees the Center’s web site, serves as editor of Reconsiderations and e-considerations, directs the Center’s reading group and the Graduate roundtable, and helps formulate the Center’s classes and lectures. He and his wife Holli have a daughter, Marin, born in the fall of 2006.

Nora Avery,
Administrator

Initially, Nora served in the Study Center office as a volunteer, became a part-time staff member in 2002, and assumed her current position as Office Administrator in 2005. Nora focuses on communications, publicity, and general oversight and management of operations, but her duties are too many and varied to enumerate. Nora is the mother of three adult children and has one grandchild, Bella, born in the fall of 2006.

Board

Ron Akers, PhD
Professor of Criminology and Sociology
University of Florida

Betty Jo Hickox, CPA (Treasurer)

Fran Holm (Board Secretary)
Ret., Santa Fe Community College

James W. Lynch, M.D. FACP (President)
Professor and Section Chief
Hematology/Oncology VAMC
University of Florida College of Medicine

C. John Sommerville, PhD
Professor of History, Emeritus
University of Florida

Kendall Spencer
President
Mercantile Bank

Advisory Board

Ashley Rogers Berner
Associate Director In Medias Res and Fellow
Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, University of Virginia

Vonda Nikitin, M.D.
Director, Flow Cytometry
Director, Hematopathology Fellowship
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan

Part-time Staff

Terry Henry - Custodian

Patrick Sadik - Building and Grounds Superintendent

Ruthie Jo Popp - Accountant

Baristas (coffeehouse): Nick Gizzi, Jessica Mosley, Anne Grayson, Leah Bochichio, Sean Hill, Anthony Pifferer, Laurie Phippps, Lauren Langston, Trevor Richards

Volunteer Staff

C. John Sommerville and Sarah Hamersma - Faculty Advisors to the Pascal Society

Laura Lynch - Director of Development

Mary Lou Schubert - Librarian

Nick Alvarez, Tim Gossett, Jason Rogers - Technological Support

Robert Privette - Graphic Designer

William Glass - Gallery Assistant