Meet the Staff
Charlie was born and raised in beautiful central New Jersey. After graduating from Houghton College (lots of cows, snow, and elbow room) he spent several years in New England working in residence life. In the summer of 1994, he arrived at APU in pursuit of an M.A. in Leadership Studies. After serving here for several years as a residence director, Charlie stepped into his current role as the director of Residence Life. This role allows him to do daily what he loves most—build supportive relationships with students. He sees this as being Residence Life’s primary mission: to actively support students as they explore who God has made them to be and how He wants them to use their gifts and talents to contribute to the community in which they live. When he is not bugging students, he can be found pursuing his other interests: egg salad sandwiches, antiques, and hanging out with the official Residence Life mascot “Noah the Wonder Dog.”
Hailing from delightful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Jen “Fleck” Fleckenstein is thrilled about relocating to sunny SoCal. Jen graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.A.Ed. in Educational Leadership. During her time at ‘Nova, Jen discovered her passion for working with college students, so she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in Residence Life at APU. Some of Jen’s favorites include her family, jogging, pancakes, reality TV, and simply enjoying everyday life!
Born and raised in Southern California, Kim has enjoyed living here all her life and serving APU for 13 years. When she is not working, she is most likely relaxing at home with her three children. Summer is her favorite season, and anywhere there is water is her favorite place. Kim has an eclectic taste in music and can be found listening to jazz, reggae, alternative rock, R&B, and yes, even some country. The most enjoyable part of her job is working with the wonderful Residence Life staff and interacting with APU's amazing students.
Jon grew up in a small town in East Texas where he learned the value of big trucks and high school football. He then headed a few hours west to TCU, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism and Sociology. After working for some newspapers and in campus ministry for a few years (and getting married to his amazing wife, Grete), he moved to Pasadena to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Seminary. When he’s not doing Residence Life stuff, Jon enjoys camping, hiking, attempting to cook, buying more books than he can actually read, and hanging out with folks at coffee shops, where he keeps trying to like coffee.
Leif was born and raised in beautiful Bakersfield, California. He attended Anderson University, earning a B.A. in Biblical Studies in 2002. While at Anderson, Leif served on the Campus Activities Board and as an RA. Leif earned a teaching credential and taught math at a junior high and then high school in Bakersfield for 5 years. Currently Leif is completing his final year of his M.S. in College Counseling and Student Development. He has served on missions’ teams to Costa Rica, Haiti, Mexico, and India. He loves the outdoors, sports of any kind, and ice cream. Leif is excited to continue working with students who are full of passion and dedication.
Tyler was born and raised in Escondido, CA. He was drawn to APU after graduating from a Christian high school and realized his love and need for a Christian community. Throughout his time at APU he had the great opportunity to work with and for his fellow students in the Offices of Orientation and Transitions and Residence Life. Last year he received his B.A. in Business Administration from APU and is also newly married to another APU graduate, Jesse. He is extremely excited to continue working with the amazing staff of Residence Life and the opportunity to work with the APU community for another year.
Chaili was born and raised in little ol’ Fallbrook, California. She attended APU, earning a B.A. in Communication Studies in 2009. While at APU, Chaili served as a resident advisor for two years and developed a passion for international missions and working with college students. After graduation she began working as an event coordinator for a farmers’ market management company in southern California and was able to spend some time in Haiti and the Dominican Republic with an amazing missions team of APU students and her incredible husband/co-leader, Chadwick. She loves adventures, soccer, crafting, and visiting farmers’ markets. Chaili is excited to be back in the APU community working alongside college students who are living passionately and seeking their purpose.
Born in Zambia, raised in Australia, guided through adolescence by the Brits, and educated further in the US, no one place has been home for this Zambian native. After having spent several years living in Australia with her family, Charity spent her later childhood and teenage years back in her home country of Zambia where she attended Chengelo Secondary School, a British boarding school, located in remote Zambia. It was here that her love for leadership and development began as she took on several leadership roles and served as a prefect (yes, like in Harry Potter) for first year high school girls during her senior year of high school. From there Charity obtained her BS in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Grace College in Winona Lake IN where she served in residence life as an RA for two years. She then went on to get her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the same institution after spending a year working at a drug and alcohol abuse treatment facility for teenage girls in San Jose CA. Charity is thrilled to be back on the west coast with the belligerent mid-western winters behind her, and to be a part of the residence life staff here at APU.
Alex was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to Los Angeles with his family at the age of seven. Since then, he has moved to various cities in Southern California - Glendale, Los Angeles, Rowland Heights,, San Diego, Azusa, and Pomona – just to name a few. Alex received his Bachelor of Science in Economics at University of California, San Diego, where he worked with Commuter and Transfer students and was an Orientation Leader for three years. He then decided to pursue his passion for college students and their development by pursuing and receiving his Master of Science in College Counseling and Student Development at Azusa Pacific University. He comes from Cal Poly Pomona, where he was a Residence Life Coordinator for a predominantly first-year student building. Alex enjoys spending his free time snowboarding, trying out new restaurants, playing ping-pong with students, and having conversations over coffee or tea.
Josh is in his first year as the residence director of Engstrom Hall. He graduated from Grace College in 2007 with a degree in Spanish Education. The summer of 2007 he and his wife, Chelsea, packed up their belongings and moved to California. Josh taught Spanish and PE at a small charter school in LA for four years, while Chelsea worked as the residence director of Engstrom. In May of 2011 little Naomi Wood was born and Josh took over as the residence director and Chelsea became a full-time mom. The Wood family is thrilled to still be in Engstrom and feel blessed to be a part of the APU community. Josh is also teaching the camping class at APU and is enjoying the change to teaching at the university level. Whenever Josh gets a free moment, you can find him skiing, hiking, mountain biking, spending time with his family, playing softball and conquering Settlers of Catan.
Ronnie was born in Anaheim, California, but grew up in Perris, a.k.a. P-Town, California. He graduated from California Baptist University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and History. For the past two years, he was residence director of Smith Hall but moved over to the Shire East in 2009. Another big event for him in 2009 was getting married to the love of his life, Shannon. They were married on June 13. He loves baseball (Go Dodgers!), basketball (Go Lakers!), going to the beach, fishing, and frisbee golf. His favorite drink is Mountain Dew and his favorite restaurant is Red Robin (bottomless fries, baby!).
Emily calls Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, home. There, she went to high school, earned a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern College in St. Paul, and fell in love with her husband. In college, Emily developed her passion for college residence life and community. Most recently, Emily lived in rural Western New York at Houghton College as a resident director. During that time she married and, together with her husband, discovered that living with college students in a college setting fit their lifestyle well. Emily hopes to pursue graduate school at Azusa Pacific University and is excited to be moving to a place with many things she loves in close proximity-family, the ocean, sushi, cupcakes, coffee shops, mountains, and APU college students!
Greg was birthed into this world on a cold and wintery Iowa day and his life has never been the same since. He was raised on the gravel roads of Victor, IA where he learned the foundations of faith and the intricacies of sheep farming. After graduating from Simpson College with a BA in Religion, he spent two years doing college ministry at the University of Northern Iowa with an organization called The Navigators. Soon, however, the warm and sunny call of southern California was too strong. It was here that he spent the last 4 years working as a young adult minister at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, CA and completing his Master of Arts in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. When Greg is not actively engaged in the defending of the planet from the evils of this universe, he enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and the occasional outdoor adventure. He came to APU with a dream in his heart and a smile on his face. This promises to be an exciting year for the hall that is SMITH!
Justin was born and raised in Folsom, California. After graduating high school, Justin went to California Baptist University, where he earned a degree in History and Visual Arts. While attending CBU, Justin served as a resident assistant for three years where he discovered his passion for the campus community. Currently, Justin is pursuing a Master of Science in College Counseling and Student Development at APU. His desire is to develop student leaders and promote a Christ-centered community as a residence director. Furthermore, Justin also loves reading, cycling, kayaking, painting, and deep conversations over coffee.
If you fold a map of California in both ways you’ll find Kelly’s hometown, Modesto. She attended the same tiny private school from kindergarten through her senior year of high school. Later she attended Point Loma Nazarene University for four years where she received her BA in Literature. Her intention was to be a high school English teacher, but instead began interning at Saddleback church under the head director of women's ministry and became highly involved in the college group. This unlocked a combined passion for mentorship, discipleship, and student development, leading to the Trinity Hall ARD position. Currently she is also pursuing a Masters in Clinical Psychology to be a Marriage and Family Therapist. In her spare time she loves writing and hopes to someday publish her own work. Kelly also enjoys to travel, which led her to study abroad while in college, and also loves San Diego's beaches.
Kelly is originally from Idyllwild, California and is married to his amazing wife Pamela. They are blessed with two sons named Brayden and Kyler, and a vivacious little girl named Naiya. Kelly graduated from APU in ‘03 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, and worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for three years before transitioning to Student Life. He is currently working on his Master’s of Arts in Leadership at APU. Kelly also heads up the Walkabout program, an 11 day backpacking trip which takes students into the wilderness to focus on community and leadership development. In his free time, he enjoys being with family, music, playing ultimate frisbee, and doing anything outdoors. Kelly loves working with students and is passionate about helping them discover and fulfill what God has called them to do. He is thankful and blessed to be working at a place like APU.
Jen is a California native born and raised in Sacramento. She attended Anderson University (Go Ravens!) in Indiana where she received her degree in Christian Ministries. After graduation, she took a job at her favorite coffee shop, Starbucks, while spending time with her parents and siblings back home. She then took on her first residence director job at Houghton College in New York. Now Jen is starting her fifth year at APU and is heading back home to Adams hall where she spent her first two years at APU. Jen has graduated with her Masters in College Student Affairs from APU. She loves road trips, time with friends, coffee shops, and is passionate about investing in the lives of college students. Jen is thoroughly enjoying being back in sunny California where there's a Starbucks on every corner!
Michelle spent most of her childhood just outside of Seattle, Washington. Growing tired of the rain, Michelle decided to attend college in sunny SoCal. She graduated from APU with a degree in Global Studies and a minor in Sociology. During her time as a student, Michelle spent several months in South Africa learning about the country’s struggle with AIDS. After college she worked with an organization that sends college students to Asia to teach English. While working there, she met the man of her dreams. Matthew and Michelle have been married since April 2005. She returned to APU as a residence director in 2006. She recently completed her graduate degree in Organizational Leadership. In her free time, Michelle loves to spend time with friends, grab a cup of coffee, travel, and is always up for a good adventure. She feels blessed to be at APU and enjoys working with college students in University Village and developing the Living-Learning Community Program here at APU.
Jonny Liu was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to beautiful Northern California at the age of five. Jonny received his B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Women’s Studies as well as his M.A. in Religion: Leadership Studies from Vanguard University. Some of his passions include local and global missions, soul care, plants, and things that are mysterious and intriguing. Jonny is the youngest of three siblings and absolutely loves his twin nieces, Katie and Ellie.
