Our Team
Program Directors
Matt Vaughan, MA
Director of Ministry Leadership Initiatives at CYMT
CliftonStrengths: Strategic • Context • Individualization • Relator • Learner
Emily Nelson Dixon
Lead Developmental Coach and CliftonStrengths Facilitator
Youth Director at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS
CliftonStrengths: Strategic • Input • Ideation • Activator • Command
Rick Bartlett, DMin
Instructional Designer at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
Meredith Holladay, PhD
Professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Shawnee, KS
Kristen Kvam, PhD
Professor at St. Paul School of Theology, Leawood, KS
Phil Meckley, PhD
Professor at Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, KS
Kevin Wilder, MA
Pastor and Former Professor at Hesston College
Zach Walker, MDiv
Associate Pastor at Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
Practical Ministry Faculty
Jason Carle, MDiv
Pastor at Overland Park Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS
Melissa Collier Gepford, MTS
Intergenerational Discipleship Coordinator at Great Plains United Methodist Conference
Lydia Kim, MA, MDiv
Associate Pastor at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS
Jacob Martin, MBA
Former Campus Minister at Washburn University, Topeka, KS
Victoria Luhrs Lynch, MA
Instructional Coach with Shawnee Mission, KS, Public Schools
Taylor Ogden Thomas
Former Youth Minister at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS
D.J. Whetter
Director of KC Area Initiatives at Kansas Leadership Center, Wichita, KS
Sally Wright, MDiv
Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care at Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
Mentoring and Coaching Staff
Scott Bons, MDiv
Associate Pastor at New Beginnings Church of God, Decatur, IL
Teri Chalker, MA, LCSW
Social Worker at Blue Valley School District, Overland Park, KS
Brenda Davis, MDiv
Pastor at Council Grove United Methodist Church, Council Grove, KS
Andy Dykhouse
Executive Director at Camp Rivercrest, Omaha, NE
Chris Hansen
Coach with Leadership Harbor, Lincoln, NE
Lori Richey
Director at the Wilke Institute for Discipleship, Winfield, KS
Meghan Riegerix
Pastor and Clergy Coach, Central Missouri
Ben Wheeler
Former Youth Minister, Central Kansas
CREATIVE Team
Grace Cantril
Logo & Branding for MLI
Made in KC, Kansas City, MO
Jenna Soltys
Print Media and Web Design
Second Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, MO