Bio coming soon!

Farhan Adnan is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. His academic interests lie at the intersection of bioinformatics, cybersecurity, machine learning theory, and data analysis.

Originally from small town Peoria, Illinois, Farhan has been active in a small but vocal Muslim community. As a child, he participated in a joint dialogue program between local mosques, synagogues, and churches, whetting his appetite for more interfaith collaboration in the future. Arriving at Madison, he quickly involved himself in the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and the local chapter of the Muslim-Interest fraternity Alpha Lambda Mu (ALM), serving simultaneously on the boards of both organizations for nearly two years. He is certain that moments of fear and doubt are the tools by which true change is achieved; every challenge we face as a society is an opportunity for shared growth and lasting connection.

When not studying or engaged in organizational work (which, admittedly, is rare), Farhan enjoys exercising, cooking, and reading excessively long books. He is a firm believer that curiosity not only spared the cat, but led it to many adventures—some treacherous, some absurd, and all worth taking.

Elisa Nerenberg is a Junior studying Global Health with a certificate in Health Policy. She is originally from South Bend, Indiana, where she grew up at a conservative synagogue and went to a reform Jewish summer camp. Although Judaism was a part of her childhood, she found a strong Jewish community on campus through Hillel and the resources they provide. This led her to do multiple Hillel internships, take on leadership roles, and volunteer at events. 

She wishes to connect with different religions and cultures around campus and in the greater Madison community to learn from each other and find shared beliefs that bring one another together. Through her work at the Crossing, she hopes to bring meaningful discussions to an interfaith setting and share her knowledge about Judaism.

Khadijah Dhoondia is an Interfaith Fellow for the Center for Interfaith Dialogue UW. For the past year she has been creating and organizing a cutting edge conference on Interfaith Bioethics to be co-hosted by The Crossing and UW on February 14-15. The conference will address important healthcare issues that are impacted my faith perspectives. More about Khadijah… As-salamu alaykum! My name is Khadijah Dhoondia, and I am from Pewaukee, WI. I am currently a junior majoring in Biology and Global Health with certificates in Biocore and Life Science Communication. Growing up as a Muslim, conversations of community service, equity, and Islamic values were commonplace in my household. I spent my weekends both at Sunday School and volunteering with my family’s non-profit, LOAF, a Muslim organization committed to providing essential items to communities in need and organizing marches for social justice. My education on the pre-health track has also allowed me to gain an appreciation of the field of Religious Bioethics, and upon pursuing an internship with the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, I was inspired to found the Islamic STEM Association, a student organization committed to creating sustainable platforms on the science-spirituality interface. Overall, these experiences have led me to recognize how religion intersects with various aspects of individuals’ identity and daily lives, and I am eager to dissect these intersections further through cultivating interreligious dialogue with the Center For Interfaith Dialogue.

https://interfaith.wisc.edu/staff/dhoondia-khadijah/

Hi! My name is Cece Babat. I am currently a senior at UW-Madison studying Psychology and Social Work. I intend to apply for my master's in social work by the end of the year. I am super excited to be a social justice advocate at The Crossing for the upcoming school year and hopefully next year too! I began my involvement with The Crossing during the Spring 2024 semester where I worked with Talib Akbar to promote his life-size solitary confinement display. I look forward to continuing my advocacy as The Crossing’s criminal justice social advocate! My work this semester will primarily be focused on consolidating re-entry resources within Dane County for released individuals. I intend to partner with MOSES and other criminal justice organizations around Madison to organize and create social change.

Jack Miller is the Crossing Building Resident. He provides staff support for building management issues and can be reached at jjamiller05@gmail.com .

I am a sophomore studying Consumer Behavior and Marketplace studies, and some things I like to do include playing basketball, listening to music and spending time with friends.

Advocacy has defined Rev. Michael Burch’s ministry, non-profit and university experiences. He returns to UW-Madison, having started his coaching career at UW years ago. He later coached and taught at UC Davis and Brown University where he led two widely publicized student civil rights lawsuits against both institutions. The Title IX case at UC Davis helped initiate women’s wrestling at the college level.  Mike has served as a non-profit leader, senior minister for historic churches in Rhode Island and the SF Bay Area., and as a professor and coach at several universities.  Rev. Burch earned graduate degrees in the history of religions at the Graduate Theological Union-UC Berkeley joint MA program and later at Brown University. His research and teaching interests include the historical Jesus, Christian origins, ancient GR philosophy, Early Judaism, Islamic history and interfaith collaboration among Abrahamic traditions.  

"I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve The Crossing community and support its inclusive mission through our core values of belonging, exploration, advocacy and becoming – in a multi-faith context.  I‘m very fortunate to collaborate with such talented and inspirational students."

For anyone finding their way at UW, you are welcome at The Crossing. I look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you.”

Reach Rev. Burch at The Crossing (#211), and by e-mail at Burch.Director@TheCrossingUW.org , or call/text at (608) 217-4403

Andi started as a student at The Crossing in 2016. She has fulfilled many roles in the organization since then, including student intern, The Crossing student organization president, building resident, building manager, and now most recently, the building administrator. Reach out to Andi for any questions pertaining to the building, events, space rentals, and logistics.

You can reach Andi by stopping by her office room #219 on the second floor of The Crossing, by e-mail at Office@TheCrossingUW.org , or by call/text at (608) 257-1039

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Carolyn at: carolyn.betz@sbcglobal.net

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Jen at : jen.bloesch@gmail.com

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Kory at: deaconkory.bethany@gmail.com

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Phillip at: phillip.kollmeyer@gmail.com

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Sue at: suedix@charter.net

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Sherry at: cavessherry@gmail.com

member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Tim at: tim@firstbaptistmadison.org

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Brian at: brian@awab.org

Member of the Board of Directors

Please e-mail Tom at: tpgerman@aol.com