Interim Director
Missy Deregibus is new to the Richmond area, but not to the Christian Study Center Movement. She moved to the Richmond Northside in 2021 from Farmville, Virginia, where she founded the Christian Study Center COGITO: A Forum for Faith and Reason at Hampden-Sydney College eleven years earlier. After founding COGITO, she passed the baton in 2020 to Dr. Jarrett Knight of Emory, who runs it successfully to this day. She has also served on the national board for the Consortium of Christian Studies for six years, including serving as the COB. She has a BS in Biblical Studies from Abilene Christian University and a GradDipCS at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. She thinks a lot about human agency and constraints of disease, culture and power; about AI, philosophy of mind, comparative species studies and the lives and thoughts of Christians of earlier ages.
She says, “I am excited and honored to build upon the impressive foundation at Scholé House, and to be a part of the next steps of serving the academic community at VCU and surrounding communities. Engaging the life of the mind in Christ is a worthy endeavor, one we aim to do thoughtfully and joyfully.”
If you’d like to learn more, please contact Missy at missyd@scholehousestudycenter.org.
Chairman
Stephen Day is a term associate professor in the VCU School of Business and director of the VCU Center for Economic Education. HIs teaching and research is about finding new and exciting ways for K-12 teachers to teach economics. Stephen is a member of City Church of Richmond, where he serves with the Mercy and Justice Team supporting neighbors in need. Stephen likes to spend time with his wife and four children, as well as read at coffee shops and play soccer. He is originally from West Lafayette, Indiana.
Secretary
Linda Pasquarell has been involved in campus ministry since she was a college student in upstate New York! She served on the IVCF Executive Committee and after graduation became a campus staff intern with InterVarsity in Central New York State.
When her husband, Gary, was in graduate school, they teamed with others to start a ministry to international students. During their years in Asia, Linda and family lived on college campuses and continued to meet with college students.
When Linda and Gary moved to Richmond in 2016, Linda began working for the Music Education Department at VCU. It seemed natural to once again reach out to international students and others. Scholé House seemed to be another avenue for ministry and outreach. She joined the board in 2022, serving as secretary.
Treasurer
Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology, former chair of the Psychology Department, and Coordinator of the Fulbright-affiliated Humphrey Fellowship Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. A risk and resilience researcher, Dr. Kliewer’s work considers both acute and chronic life stressors, linkages with both positive and problematic outcomes, and factors that contribute to resilience in youth and families. Dr. Kliewer’s current projects reflect her commitment to supporting the career development of current and former students and mentees, including Humphrey Fellows, as well as collaborating with VCU faculty on a variety of projects. She is particularly committed to increasing the leadership and research capacity of individuals in low- and middle-income countries, a passion that grew out of her experience as a Fulbright Research Fellow in South Africa for six months in 2011, and involvement with the Humphrey Fellowship program.
Board Member
Bailey Anderson is an alumna of VCU class of 2017, with a BA in English and a minor in Media Studies. She and her husband, Kelly, live in Hanover county. She has been involved in Scholé House since its creation in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry of VCU building at 819 S Cathedral Place, where she lived for two years. Her career is in the medical field. She is a member of Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville and can be seen singing in the choir on Sunday mornings. Her hobbies include reading, spending time with her pets, and embroidery.