The Academic Initiative (AI) team comprises full-time staff members committed to helping scholars make an impact on the university and the culture. Patrick Rist serves as the Academic Initiative's Director. Rounding out the lineup are Scott Waller, Randy Newman, Steve Faivre, Paul Gould, Mark Hansard, Chris Gadsden, William Lane Craig, Chris Peck, Matt Bazemore, and Phil Luther.

Patrick has served in vocational Christian ministry since 1988, ministering to students and faculty in the mid-Atlantic states. He holds a Master of Arts in Christian Thought with an emphasis in Christianity and Contemporary Culture from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His research interests involve cultural analysis from a Christian perspective and is deeply burdened to see greater influence in our culture and world through a better understanding of how God has called the Church to live and minister to those around us.

10503 New Hope Road
Bon Aqua, TN 37025
Phone: 931-670-0638
E-mail: prist@clm.org

Scott spent five years in full-time vocational ministry among college students before completing a Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology, graduating summa cum laude. His emphasis and research interests are in Social Ethics, seeking to bring the Christian perspective on central ethical issues back into the public discussion. Scott is also passionate about teaching Christian truth in such a way that the body of Christ is better equipped to explain and defend the Christian worldview on the university campus and beyond. Scott is currently doing doctoral studies with Political Philosophy and American Government at Claremont Graduate University.

15 Parrell
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
Phone: 949-586-4559
E-mail: swaller@clm.org
Endorsements

Randy has served in vocational Christian ministry since 1980, ministering to students and faculty in the Washington, D.C. area. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is the author of Questioning Evangelism (Kregel, 2004) and Corner Conversations (Kregel, 2006). His emphasis and continuing area of research is Old Testament studies, and is passionate about deeply understanding and fully applying the Scriptures in such a way that the Kingdom of God is significantly advanced.

8925 Sleaford Place
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-606-5936
Fax: 703-385-5551
E-mail: rnewman@clm.org

Steve has served in both stateside and international ministry since 1979. He received a Master of Divinity in 1991 from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School graduating magna cum laude. His research interests include biblical studies, theological studies, and philosophical hermeneutics. His passion is to promote personal and cultural transformation through the understanding and application of Scripture.

9182 Emden Road
San Diego, CA 92129-3352
Phone: 858-484-7093
Fax: 858-484-7093
E-mail: sfaivre@clm.org

Paul has served in vocational ministry since 1997. In 2001 he joined the staff of Academic Initiative. In 2003, Paul graduated with a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Talbot School of Theology with highest honors. His research interest include metaphysics, philosophical theology, apologetics, and the integration of the Christian worldview within academia. His passion is to promote a robust and viable picture of the Christian world and life to the academy and the culture at large. Paul lives in West Lafayette, Indiana with his wife and three children. In his spare time, Paul is also a doctoral student in Philosophy at Purdue.

205 Pathway Lane
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: 765-497-7876
E-mail: pgould@clm.org
Endorsements

Mark Hansard has served in vocational ministry since 1993 in the Northeastern Kansas area. In 2003 he joined the staff of Academic Initiative, and completed Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology, graduating with highest honors. His research interests include philosophical theology, philosophical apologetics, and philosophy of science. Mark is enthusiastic about seeing the Christian worldview coherently explained and defended in the Academy and in the Church, so that it becomes plausible for those inside and outside Academia.

Phone: 714-209-0185
E-mail: mhansard@clm.org

Chris' tour of ministry on the college campus has taken him through Atlanta, Manhattan (KS) and Orange County (CA) since 1993.  Teaming up with the Academic Initiative in the fall of 2005, Chris hopes to help influence the future of the university for Christ.  Completing his M.A. in Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in 2003 with highest honors, he is now pursuing doctoral work in philosophy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Chris' interests include the philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, the history of ideas, and spiritual theology.  He has taught philosophy and ethics at the college level, as well as Old Testament Genres at Emmanuel House Seminary in Manhattan, KS.

3312 Cherokee Cir.
Manhattan, KS 66503
Phone: 785-341-1970
Email: Chris.Gadsden@clm.org
Website: www.nihilfit.blogspot.com

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. Dr. Craig pursued his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971) and graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A. 1974; M.A. 1975), the University of Birmingham (England) (Ph.D. 1977), and the University of Munich (Germany) (D.Theol. 1984). From 1980-86 he taught Philosophy of Religion at Trinity, during which time he and Jan started their family. In 1987 they moved to Brussels, Belgium, where Dr. Craig pursued research at the University of Louvain until 1994.

ReasonableFaith.org

In addition to his work with professors through CLM at the University of Central Florida, Chris is working toward a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies degree at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Chris earned a B.S., Education with emphasis in Chemistry and Physics, Emporia State University, Kansas, 1987.

4526 Gilpin Way
Orlando, FL 32812
407-484-1347
E-mail: cpeck@clm.org

Matt recently joined the Academic Initiative team with his wife, Debra, and their new daughter Emma. He has served in vocational Christian ministry since 1998. Matt is working toward an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology. His research interests are the meta-narrative of scripture, philosophy of religion, and intelligent design. He is passionate about teaching the Christian worldview, helping the body of Christ understand the role of the mind in Christian discipleship, and understanding the culture in order to reach others with the gospel.

200 W Olive Ave. #103 
La Habra, CA 90631
562-694-8979
E-mail: matthew.bazemore@clm.org

Phil serves CLM at the University of South Carolina at Columbia while pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte. Phil and his wife Kay have been on our CLM team since 1988 mentoring and encouraging Christian faculty in the southeastern part of the U.S. They desire to serve as a catalyst to the integration of the Christian world view, bringing it back to prominence in the “marketplace of ideas” and again see it, and thus the Christian gospel, embraced by students and faculty alike. Phil earned a B.S., Physics, University of South Carolina, 1975; he has done work in Theological Studies at The International School of Theology, Bethel Seminary, and Reformed Theological Seminary.

11852 Broad River Rd
Chapin, SC 29036-8907
803-345-7000
E-mail: pluther@clm.org