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» Some Servant Leaders

» Staff

» Small Group Leaders

» Other Leadership

Some Servant Leaders

Ben Fulan, President

Ben Fulan, President

Ben Fulan is a third year PhD student in the Mathematics department at UIUC. He spends most of his time thinking about equations and teaching the engineers of the future how to do calculus. He graduated from Wheaton College (like several members of GCF) in 2012. He enjoys running, hiking, camping, and anything else that involves being in nature, and has learned to appreciate what little nature there is in this wasteland of corn. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, he is a lifelong Ohio State Buckeyes fan who doesn't let being at the U of I stop him from cheering on his hometown school.

Patti Blair

Patti graduated from Wheaton College with degrees in Spanish and in Chemistry and entered the Department of Chemistry at UIUC in 2011. Her research interests are natural product biosynthesis and the development of antibacterials to combat human pathogens. She goes to Twin City Bible Church in Urbana. Patti spends most of her free time running but she also enjoys planning her next camping trip or hike, reading, and listening to NPR. She may be from Kansas but will take any excuse to go to the mountains.

Ben Chidester

Ben Chidester graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009 and is now a fifth year graduate student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. His research interests are in image, video and signal processing, in particular, he is interested in the impact of efficient signal representations to such applications as MRI and video compression. Originally from Maryland, Ben recently ventured on an incredible project with InterVarsity to central China. He is now also an active member of the International Friendship Link in their ministry to international students at UIUC. Ben attends All Souls Presbyterian Church and on the side is an avid Steelers fan and enjoys all things baseball and blues guitar.

Small Group Leaders

Stephen Mayhew

Stephen Mayhew and David Suryk - Paul's letter to the Romans

Stephen is a 2nd-year Computer Science PhD student, but don't worry, he showers regularly. His interests are in machine learning and natural language processing. Other activities he enjoys, such as soccer and violin- and piano-playing, are typically the next things that he lists when writing bios. He is married to Heidi and is the father of Alan. They attend Hessel Park Church (700 W. Kirby Av).

Jason Ahlenius

Jason Ahlenius and Juliana Wilhoit - Glory and Power in the Biblical Narrative

Jason is a 3rd-year aspiring Master of the Arts in English and Spanish literature. His research interests include discourses of modernity, secularism, and religion, as well as hemispheric studies in literature. He enjoys reading, writing, learning languages, cooking, traveling, and wishing he had spent the last summer gardening, learning piano, and dancing.

Jon Hoff and Bethany Fleming - Acts of the Apostles

Jon is a 2nd-year PhD student in Mechanical engineering. Bethany is beginning her PhD at the U of I.

Staff and a Small Group leader - The Jesus Story Told Right

David Suryk, GCF InterVarsity Staff and Small Group Leader

David Suryk is on staff with InterVarsity Staff who resources the Graduate Christian Fellowship and the Christian faculty fellowship). He studied economics and mathematics at Knox College where he took his BA. He became a follower of Jesus Christ somewhere during the last term of his senior year of college and the first year of law school. David first got involved with InterVarsity while doing his JD degree at the Drake Law School. After working as an attorney, he felt that he wanted to be back at the university helping others come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to grow as his disciples. David came to the U of I to work with grad students and faculty, and pursue graduate studies in philosophy. When not working on his house (there’s always some repair or improvement is needed—he even got to use a jack hammer) he enjoys reading, discussing big ideas, and leading Bible studies. He has enjoyed traveling in Europe (England, Austria, Germany and Netherlands) and has met many great people from around the world who study here. David attends Hessel Park Church (700 W. Kirby Av). His web page is www.gfmuiuc.org.

Other Leaders

Ian Robertson, Treasurer

Ian Robertson is in his third year in the materials chemistry PhD program at UIUC. His research involves the rapid reinforcement of flexible materials via propagating reaction waves. Ian is a proud Michigander, having grown up near Ann Arbor, MI and graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI in 2012. When he’s not in the lab, he enjoys watching movies, making movies, reading, spending time with friends, and playing video games. He also has a keen interest in the Tolkien mythos and has a growing collection of Middle Earth related decorations.

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