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.

Bio coming soon!

Ashton Thiele is a senior studying International Studies and Political Science. He is also getting a certificate in Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian (REECA or CREECA) Studies, and African Studies. He is originally from Oconto, Wisconsin, where he grew up in the Catholic Church. Over time, as he grew older, he decided to look into other faiths before discovering Buddhism. He practiced Buddhism on his own before officially converting to Tibetan Buddhism by an ordained Nyingma monk in the spring of 2024.

He wishes to both use his faith to engage in topics related to pacifism and the abolition of war, as well as working with other faiths in and around the greater Madison area. Through working at the Crossing, he hopes to officially meet others who share a similar passion for the abolition of war and intersecting that with faith via interfaith advocacy.

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.

Khadijah Dhoondia is an Interfaith Fellow for the Center for Interfaith Dialogue at UW. For the past year she has been creating and organizing a pioneering conference on Interfaith bioethics, to be co-hosted by The Crossing and UW on February 14-15, 2026. The conference will address important healthcare issues that are directly impacted by 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/

https://www.thecrossinguw.org/calendarevents/interfaith-bioethics-conference

Mohammad Khurram Qureshi is an LL.M. candidate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School. Before coming to the United States, he trained and practiced as a lawyer in Kashmir after completing an integrated BA-LLB. His work focused on public interest advocacy, including documenting rights abuses and assisting clients in high pressure, complex legal settings. That experience shaped his interest in how law operates when institutions are under strain, and why access to counsel matters most for people with the least power.

In the U.S., he is preparing for a JD in Fall 2026 and hopes to build a career at the intersection of criminal and immigration law, supporting immigrant communities navigating the fallout of minor offenses, detention, or status issues. He also maintains a strong interest in energy and infrastructure, especially the legal questions around renewable projects, land use, and community impact.

He brings cross cultural perspective, practical legal experience, and a steady commitment to service into his academic and professional work.

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 has always had a passion for human wellness: mentally, spiritually & physically, and has allowed this drive to carry her through her professional opportunities. She started her journey gaining experience in the medical field, working in dental, clinic, and hospital settings. She then began looking at how humans’ relationship with food improves wellness, by studying horticulture at UW Madison. She has a BS in horticulture from UW-Madison, specializing in cold climate fruit crop production & viticulture. She is happy to be working at The Crossing, a hub for complete human wellness, where students can find connection to health in food, spirituality, sustainability, and community.

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 registered student organization (RSO) 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 #202 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

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

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

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

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

Member of the Board of Directors

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