STAFF

Image of Mike Weaver

Mike Weaver

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
mike@bradleystudycenter.org

Mike directs the programs and activities of the study center and helps to connect others to this important work.  He has a passion for helping students develop as leaders and connect their faith with all aspects of life.

Mike is a proud Hokie and 1988 graduate of Virginia Tech, where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.  He earned master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Duke Divinity School, and is a doctoral candidate in theology at the University of Winchester in the UK.  He enjoys throwing a frisbee for his golden retriever, Cooper, to catch.

Prior to assuming this role, Mike served six years as a deputy commandant for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, where he provided guidance, mentoring and education for cadets in a campus-based residential leadership development program. He now serves on the boards of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni, Inc. and the Consortium of Christian Study Centers.

James Depret-Guillaume

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
james@bradleystudycenter.org

James develops the programs at the study center – from pancake breakfasts to the Fellows program to large-scale events. He is the first face you’ll likely meet as a student or faculty member involved with the study center.

James grew up in Roanoke, VA. He studied Mathematics at Virginia Tech, earning both Bachelor’s (’17) and Master’s (’19) degrees in the subject. James spent the next two years in Macon, Georgia, serving as a ministry intern for Reformed University Fellowship at Mercer University. It was during that time that he met and married his wife, Merrianna. James loves soccer, pickleball, pool, board games, and – when he has the time – a little math. He also loves a good story, whether in a book or over coffee with a friend.

Rachel Kimzey

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
rachel@bradleystudycenter.org

Rachel helps keep the study center organized, provides administrative support, and helps keep the many activities and programs going smoothly!  Her passion is putting the hands to the head and heart of something — helping an idea become reality.

A Blacksburg native, Rachel got her B.A. in Humanities long-distance from Thomas Edison State University (’18) through Unbound. During school, she worked a variety of jobs, including housekeeping and childcare, floral design, and student event planning for Unbound. In addition to her role at the Bradley Study Center, she also works as an aide and art teacher at Valley Classical School in Blacksburg and served on the Student Leadership Initiative for Unbound.

She is also a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church; the eldest sibling in a family of 10; and a firm believer in books, community, rabbit trails, and Christ.

BOARD

Image of Ralph Amateis

Ralph Amateis

BOARD CHAIR

Ralph is a retired Senior Research Associate in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. He has been ministering to the VT community since 1979.

He is a founding member of CSN and current Chair of the Board. Ralph co-leads a home group for Blacksburg Christian Fellowship and along with his wife, Patricia, is a Senior Fellow for the Honors Residential College at Virginia Tech. He is also taking classes toward certification as a biblical counselor under the auspices of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation.

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Deborah Carlier

BOARD MEMBER

Deborah Carlier was born and raised in upstate New York to Chinese immigrant parents. Keen to avoid being merely a consumer of culture, she is interested in joining others in creating things that will aid in human flourishing.

With a BA in psychology from Boston College, Deborah began a career in operations management. A short-term missions trip to Haiti shortly thereafter resulted in a career redirection into public health (Boston University, MPH) as well as development work in Southeast Asia.  She later honed her skills in project management while directing a multidisciplinary research malaria project at Virginia Tech.  She currently oversees web design and development for International Christian Fellowship, serves on the board of the Renaissance Music Academy, plays piano on the worship team at church, volunteers for the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, and serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Engagement in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, book studies with college students, going to concerts, reading, spending time with her husband Paul and catching up on life with her daughters and sons-in-law. Her newest challenge is learning to play chamber music with friends.

Jefferson Jones

BOARD MEMBER

Jefferson J. Jones serves in full time ministry as the Senior Leader and Founder of Surge Ministries in Christiansburg, VA.  Surge is a college ministry that exists to help students find their identity in Christ while supporting them in life and spiritual formation during the college years.

Jefferson is also a licensed minister in the International Church of The Foursquare Gospel serving to assist young adults and college student. In partnership with his wife, they work together to provide pre-marital and marital counseling for couples in the NRV. He has been married to Rosa Carter Jones for 18 years. They have two sons, Peter James and Abraham Joshua.  They currently live in Christiansburg, Va.

Jefferson was born in Anchorage, AK and later moved to Freeman, VA. His childhood experiences have led him on a path to a heart for multiethnic diversity while serving college students and young adults.

Jefferson is an adjunct professor at Life Pacific University – Virginia Campus in Christiansburg, VA. Jefferson has a Masters of Divinity with a concentration in community chaplaincy from Liberty University.  He earned his B.S. in Biology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.

Taylor Rollo

BOARD MEMBER

Taylor Rollo has been the associate pastor at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church since moving to Blacksburg in 2013.

Among the general aspects of pastoral care for GCPC, Taylor specifically focuses on overseeing their Christian Education and church community life, leading their youth group, ministering to graduate students, and overseeing missions. Taylor and his wife, Erika, have been married for 13 years and have two boys: Gabriel (six) and Corban (four). In his spare time, Taylor enjoys reading scientific journals and theology, writing, home-improvement projects, and watching Braves baseball.

Image of Pablo A. Tarazaga

Pablo A. Tarazaga

BOARD MEMBER

Pablo is an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech in the Mechanical Engineering Department and is a Principal Faculty in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction.

His research focus is on vibrations and structural dynamics of intelligent systems.  He was awarded the 2014 Dean’s award for Outstanding New Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech and received the 2015 Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program Award. Dr. Tarazaga also serves as the Honors Residential Faculty in East Ambler Johnston at Virginia Tech. Dr. Tarazaga and his family (wife, 3 children and one on the way, and dog) live on campus and work towards building community and relationships in academia with students, staff, faculty and members of the community.

Pablo holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA) and a B.S. from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez in Mechanical Engineering and was born in Argentina. He also carried out his post-doctoral studies at the University of Bristol, UK.

Damon Thompson

BOARD MEMBER

Damon Thompson is the Founder/CEO of Real Life Dental, with locations in Blacksburg and Christiansburg. He is passionate about remaking the dental customer experience into one that is remarkable.

Damon is a “Townie”, having grown up in Blacksburg. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech (B.S. Biology 1992) and VCU (DDS 1996). Damon served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant in the Dental Corps, completing a Med Cruise in 1999. He is passionately married to Andi Thompson, and loves being a father to five sons.