Our Staff

Pictured (left to right): Megan Hoelle, Joseph Ward, Sara Reef, Rev. Robert Chase, Fred Johnson, Scott Thompson, Sung Won Park, Sam Simon, Lucretia Holden, C. Eduardo Vargas

In September 2007, The Rev. Robert Chase was called to be the Founding Director of Intersections, a new justice-based global initiative of the Collegiate Church of New York. Previously, Chase served as Director of Communication for the 1.2 million member United Church of Christ. At the United Church of Christ, he was responsible for the denomination's efforts in public relations; marketing and education through print, radio, video and emerging electronic technologies. He also served as Executive Director of the UCC's Office of Communication, Inc., the church's historic media justice agency, was responsible for the UCC's multiple web sites and served as publisher of United Church News with its circulation of more than 200,000.

Among other marketing efforts for the UCC, he was a principle architect of the church's award winning "God is still speaking," identity campaign. Chase has served congregations in New York and New Jersey and was founder and President of Creative Connections in Media, a full-service communications company. He is an award-winning video producer with more than 100 productions to his credit and he has standing as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.

Megan Hoelle works as Director of Communication and Program Development for Intersections. Her career to date has been an intersection of science, religion and public health. Hoelle has worked with religious communities in local, national and international settings for the past 10 years. Her favorite experiences include working for the United Church of Christ's "God is Still Speaking" identity campaign where she made over 700 websites for congregations and her ecumenical work with the World Student Christian Federation in Africa.

In a past life, Hoelle worked for a genetics research laboratory and taught undergraduate laboratory classes in Biology. She has also worked as a sex educator, developing workshops and educational programs around sexual health, HIV prevention and LGBT issues. She received her Master in Public Health from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Zoology from Oregon State University.

Lucretia Holden works as Operations Manager at Intersections; she helps keep the staff on track with the logistics of their extraordinary work. Holden runs her own photography business part time. She photographed public figures such as Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, Mayor Cory A. Booker and The Newark Municipal Council. Her images have appeared in The Hub and Exceptional Parent.

Always the explorer, Holden has worked for The New York Academy of Medicine, Olan Mills and United Cerebral Palsy and has lived and worked across the country from the Mid Atlantic Region to Kuwait.

Holden earned a M.A. degree from American University and a B.A. degree from American College for Applied Arts.

Fred Johnson has spent the past 16 years presenting international seminars on the power of creative expression as a tool for personal wellbeing and healing. As a student for 9 years of a master teacher from the West African natural healing indigenous music traditions, he brings to the contemporary world a fusion of ancient sound traditions coupled with 21st century science on the power of the vibration universe.

Johnson has been involved in the development of global programs in America, Europe and the Middle East, bringing people together from diversified spiritual and cultural backgrounds to create artistic forums for learning, sharing, reconciliation, vision and hope. A highly regarded artist, visionary and spiritual teacher, Johnson inspires people to be conduits of justice, joy, truth and creative potential. He brings this expertise and commitment to his role as Artistic Director of Creative Content for Intersections. In addition to developing Intersections creative arts offerings, Fred will help with the development of programs to strengthen marginalized communities in the New York City area.

Sung Won Park is a Project Manager for Intersections with roots in community organizing. Before joining Intersections, Sung has worked for the Asian & Pacific Islander communities around HIV/AIDS prevention program design, implementation, and management. During that time, Sung developed and produced first ever needs assessment studies for overlooked groups such as the South Asian and Asian & Pacific Islander LGBT communities in New York City. He has also presented at multiple local, state and national public health forums. Growing up as an immigrant in Brooklyn, he has developed a deep passion for socio-economic justice and action for marginalized communities. In addition, Sung has an academic background studying the cross-sections of race, politics, and health care.

Sara Reef is a Project Manager focusing on intercultural dialogue and action, with a focus on the Middle East. Before joining Intersections, she worked as a Program Coordinator at UJA-Federation of New York. Her responsibilities included project management, and providing capacity building services to 100+ non-governmental-organizations.

Reef earned her Master of Arts degree from the City University of New York, Graduate Center. She received an Anna Sobel Levy Fellowship to be a visiting graduate student at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. During her tenure, she focused her studies on Middle Eastern affairs and took intensive Hebrew language courses. Reef earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the School of International Service at American University, along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. She speaks varying levels of French, Hebrew and Italian, and has published several articles on international affairs.

Sam Simon has spent nearly 40 years working at the intersection of power and values in our nation’s capital before becoming Intersections' first Fellow. Sam’s energies focus on programs intended to influence power with the values of peace, justice and reconciliation. Sam’s career includes work with Ralph Nader, positions on the Hill and in government agencies and over 20 years heading a consultancy that specialized in bringing disparate interests together to develop win-win solutions.

Sam has also been a leader in the media reform movement working closely with the Reverend Everett Parker of the UCC’s Office of Communication and later with Reverend Robert Chase. Sam’s many leadership involvements include serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Overseers of the New York campus of the Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion; Vice-Chair of the Board of the World Institute on Disability, and is former chairman of the board of the National Consumers League.

Scott Thompson works in the role of Program Coordinator for Intersections. A twenty year career in psychology, he maintains a private psychotherapy practice and directed mental health training programs in Manhattan. He has presented at local, national and international workshops and has spent his professional career integrating psychological and spiritual approaches to helping others. He also served as the Co-Chair for the Board of the Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis and board member of The Center for Spirituality and Psychotherapy of The National Institute for the Psychotherapies. Scott founded and directs Psychosynthesis Manhattan, which offers training to professionals and ongoing workshops for the public. His areas of focus include: Training, Leadership and Organizational Development, Peace Studies, Psychological and Spiritual Development. In addition to state licensure, he holds Master's Degrees in Science and Divinity.

C. Eduardo Vargas is a Project Manager with international experience in policy and program research and analysis, pedagogy, and political advocacy. Prior to joining Intersections, Vargas worked with the Office of Caritas Internationalis at the United Nations. His efforts raised awareness, and advocated for the needs of internally displaced persons and refugees to the member states of the United Nations Security Council and United Nations Economic and Social Council member states and civil society.

Vargas has authored articles on international organizations, primarily the European Union and the United Nations. A dual citizen of Colombia and the United States, he is fluent in both Spanish and English, and has a working knowledge of French.

Vargas received a Master of Arts degree from the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health--cum laude--from California State University, Long Beach.

Joseph Ward works with office operations and communications. His background includes political campaigns and creative services. Recently, he helped organize Sen. Tom Udall's senate campaign in New Mexico where he worked closely on veteran's issues. Prior to this, he worked on voter outreach for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign during the historic 2008 democratic primary.

Ward is a graduate of The George Washington University were he studied Design and Politics. While in Washington, he worked as a designer for a multinational architecture and design firm and editor of a small publication.

All Staff Photos by Keith Major