Creighton University

Maria Teresa Gaston, M.A.
Director

Originally from Havana, Cuba, Maria Teresa grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She received her bachelor's degree in Theology from Marquette University and there began her work in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with Hispanic youth and young adults.  After her marriage to John Witchger (husband of 26 years) they followed their desire to serve in the missions and moved to the farm worker community of Immokalee, Florida, where they joined in ministry and organizing efforts with Guadalupe Social Services and the church and raised their three sons (Philip, Martin and Luke). Maria Teresa obtained her master's degree in Religious Studies/Hispanic Ministry from Barry University/Southeast Pastoral Institute in Miami and her Certification in Youth Ministry from the Center for Ministry Development (both in 1988).  She taught courses in pastoral planning and group process for Hispanic ministers in the mobile school of the Southeast Pastoral Institute.  In the Diocese of Venice in Florida she served as the director of the Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services until 1998 when the family moved to Omaha for Maria Teresa to become the director of the Creighton Center for Service and Justice.
Maria Teresa Gaston explains her work with the CCSJ on Creighton's Podcast! 

Ken Reed-Bouley, M.Div., MBA
Associate
Director

I grew up in Massachusetts. I am the youngest of four with three older sisters. I attended the University of Notre Dame as an undergraduate where I first became immersed in experiences of faith, service and justice. After college I volunteered for a year with the Dominican Volunteers. I lived with Dominican priests while teaching at Hales Franciscan, an African American male high school on the South Side of Chicago. After three years at Hales, I joined campus ministry at Loyola University Chicago where I worked for seven years--mainly in faith, peace and justice work--while earning my Master of Divinity and Master of Pastoral Studies. My wife, Jennifer, and I have two daughters. Maya, was born in March of 1998, and Rosa was born in December of 1999. They are the joy of our lives. I love my work at the CCSJ. The work of service, faith and justice is both fun and full of meaning.

Wendy Maliszewski
Administrative
Assistant

I am one of five children in my family. I grew up an “Air Force brat” and have had the opportunity to live in many parts of the country. However, I consider Omaha my home. I attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and Omaha and graduated in with a degree in Interior Design. I have been married to my wonderful husband Joe, for thirty-one years and we have two beautiful daughters. Kelly is 28 and lives in Omaha. She is an Esthetician working in her own business, K-Esthetics. Brianna is 25, a Creighton graduate, and is an assistant buyer at Gordmans Department Stores here in Omaha. My many hobbies include painting, decorative welding, mosaics, gardening, sewing, and quilting. I love my work here at Creighton. Through it I have had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and our students keep me energized and make me laugh. I can’t imagine a better job….unless maybe it had something to do with quilting!

Kelly Orbik
Assistant Director

I grew up in Papillion, NE. While I haven't moved far from home, I have traveled every chance I have gotten (even though it worries my parents)- to El Salvador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and on 6 service trips. These experiences have been incredibly educational, inspirational and life changing- it is truly amazing how connected we are as a human family, how much we depend on and impact each other. I live with 4 people in an intentional community called the Namaste Community. We try to live simply, volunteer in the community and support each other in this work.  My B.A. is in Justice & Society and Spanish. I just finished a masters in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution with an international concentration at the Werner Institute. I enjoy volunteering as a mediator with the Concord Center and doing Alternatives to Violence Workshops- in correctional centers or in El Salvador where I spent the summer.

Fr. Paul Coelho, SJ

The youngest of four children, Fr. Paul Coelho grew up in India. After graduating from the Jesuit-run St Xavier’s College in 1977, he joined the Jesuits and shortly thereafter volunteered for the missions recently begun among the indigenous people of Nagaland -- a state tucked away in the remote Himalayan mountains of northeast India. For nine years following his ordination, Fr Paul, as he is commonly known, was a high school principal, parish priest, and superior of the Jesuit community. In 1997 he moved to Assam to conduct the feasibility-study for a Jesuit University, and later moved to Arunachal Pradesh to establish a network of elementary schools. Fr Paul came to the US in 1999, to pursue a doctoral degree at Marquette University. His areas of professional expertise include academic motivation and achievement among indigenous students. Before coming to Creighton University, Fr Paul was principal of the Jesuit high school on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, SD. He is currently assistant vocation promoter for the Wisconsin Jesuits, teaches educational psychology, helps out with student retreats, and is part of the CCSJ staff. He speaks nine languages and enjoys reading, music, traveling, and the outdoors.

Allison Kinney-Walker
Graduate Intern

Before beginning my time at Creighton, I lived in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Dowling Catholic High School.  While at Creighton, I studied Theology, Justice and Peace Studies, and Spanish.  I graduated from Creighton with a B.A. in December of 2006.  After graduation I moved to the Southside of Chicago to work in a Catholic Worker House with my husband, Rob Walker, also a Creighton grad and now Creighton grad student.  We married in June and we are enjoying life back in Omaha, eager to see what this new phase of life brings.  I am extremely excited to be working at the CCSJ again, now in a capacity as Graduate Intern. 

Student Coordinators

Laura Burke

I am now a Senior at Creighton University studying both English and Theology.  I was born and raised in Casper Wyoming. I love the vast amount of space that Wyoming offers and look forward to spending summers hiking and backpacking in the mountains.  My passion and connection to the CCSJ began my freshman year with the pilgrimage to the SOA and time spent tutoring at Kellom.  I am honored and excited to be a part of the CCSJ staff for the 2008-2009 school year!

Chadi El-Khoury

I have spent the past ten years in Dallas, Texas, but am originally from Beirut, Lebanon. My main passion is to travel. It allows me to experience different cultures and to meet all sorts of interesting people. As a Justice & Society major, my future goals are to move to the Middle East so that I may preach nonviolence and work toward lessening the conflicts between Christians and Muslims. I would like to return to the States after a couple of years and pursue a masters degree in Negations & Dispute Resolution...Personal Motto: "Much Love, No Worries"

Chandra Francis

Chandra is a junior from Salina, Kansas. She is majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Biology with plans for medicine.  She loves music, reading, and outdoor activities. She also enjoys working with Habitat for Humanity, and participating in the annual Hunger Cleanup. Chandra is excited to be a part of such a neat group of people, and  thrilled to work with Siena Francis House! 

Lauren Fukuda

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and am currently a junior at Creighton, majoring in social work. I love the ocean, beauty, and lifestyle of home, but am having a blast experiencing all sorts of fun things (like snow!) for the first time here in Nebraska. I got involved with the CCSJ during my sophomore year when i went on a fall break service trip to Mississippi...and I haven't looked back since. I'm an avid sports fan and live and die with the Boston Red Sox and the University of Hawaii football team. I am an adrenaline junkie and love traveling, skateboarding, books, movies, the arts, "Heroes," and generally live life by the seat of my pants. I'm so excited to be working in the CCSJ and look forward to an amazing and inspiring year!

Nayeli Lopez

I am a junior at Creighton University. I grew up in Tulancingo, Hgo., Mexico and came to live here to Omaha, Nebraska in the year 2000. I graduated from South High School and decided to come to Creighton because of my interest in medicine. I enjoy listening to Christian music and keep myself busy with school. Last year I had the opportunity to do another spring break service trip and I love it! It is an extraordinary experience that challenges me to live a more simplistic life every day.

Ben Lowndes

I am a senior English major/history minor and I hope to be a secondary education teacher after college. I am from right here in Omaha and absolutely love the community here. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, music of all genres, deep conversations, outdoor activities (camping/running/soccer/exploring/etc.), and living life to the fullest. I also am a huge college sports fan and I root for all Creighton teams (especially basketball) as well as the Nebraska football team. At Creighton, I have had the privilege to be involved in groups, organizations, and opportunities such as the Cortina Community, the Department of Residence Life, Campus Ministry, Spring and Fall Break Service Trips to New Orleans, and the Ratio Studiorum Program. I am elated and pumped that I get to work in the CCSJ office with so many wonderful people for the 2008-2009 year!

Mike McKenny

Watch this space for updated bio!

Nathan Megel

Seamus Regan

I grew up in Whitefish Bay Wisconsin, a suburb outside of Milwaukee with two brothers and two sisters.  I will now be a senior at Creighton and will hopefully graduate this spring with a major in international relations and a minor in justice and peace studies.  I enjoy reading, running, and discussing political/social justice related issues in my free time.  I'm pumped to work with the great staff of the CCSJ this year, I strongly believe in the work and mission that the CCSJ carries out, and am looking forward to a challenging and exciting year on staff.

Patrick O'Malley

I am currently a Sophomore at Creighton University. I am originally from Mobile, Alabama where I had great involvement with the L’Arche community. I became involved with the CCSJ early on in my Freshmen year when I went on a Fall Service Trip, which was one of the best decisions of my life (that is besides choosing Creighton). I’m going to be a Technical Theater Major, which means that I learn how to build, light, and design things, and once they’re complete, how to take them apart (destroy them at times).