Meet the Staff

  • Rev. Jenn Graffius, DMin

    Interim Executive Director

    Jenn leads the Center for Vocational Ministry and teaches courses in the Department of Practical Theology. She is passionate about the development, support, and success of students on their journey of discernment into ministry and their life in ministry. Jenn is an ordained minister and an APU alum (BA ’00), has pastoral leadership experience in church ministry, denominational leadership, and campus ministry, and mentoring is one of her areas of primary focus. Jenn has a Master of Divinity from Princeton Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Duke University. Her dissertation is titled “Transformational Mentoring for Ministry.” She is a frequent guest preacher and retreat speaker.

  • Rev. Freddy Rivas, MDiv

    Assistant Director of Vocāre

    Freddy, an Azusa Pacific alum, has 17 years of pastoral ministry experience. He helps lead Vocāre and serves as a mentor to APU undergraduate students who are discerning a call to vocational ministry. Freddy is also planting an Evangelical Friends church in Temple City, California.

  • Juliana Ford ’15, MDiv ’20

    Recruitment Coordinator

    Juliana works closely with our Vocāre and Youth Leadership Initiative programs. She initiates recruitment and orchestrates events, and is a mentor to undergraduate and graduate students. In spring 2019, she helped lead a group of 30 students on a 10-day trip to Israel. Juliana is a double alum of APU (BA in Communication Studies ’15, MDiv ’20). She has a passion for mentoring and discipleship and helping others grow into whom God has called them to be, and she feels especially called to pastoral ministry with college students.

  • Shawntay Lopez, MDiv ’21

    Administrative Assistant

    Shawntay has a background in professional counseling and is an APU alum, earning a Master of Divinity with a Biblical studies emphasis in 2021. She has more than 15 years of ministry experience that includes work in church administration, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, evangelism outreach, and more. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Ulyses, and creating fun memories with her family and friends.

  • Andrew Harootian, MDiv ’18

    Pastor-Mentor

    Andrew journeys with students who are exploring vocational ministry. He’s also the associate pastor at Bethany Church of Sierra Madre, and has been pastoring locally for 11 years, 10 of those in youth ministry. He is a graduate of APU’s youth ministry program, and also earned a Master of Divinity from Azusa Pacific Seminary. Andrew has a heart for God, people, theology, mentoring, and discipleship, and finds joy in helping people make their faith their own and grow as followers of Jesus to become the people God uniquely calls them to be. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Elyssa, and his son, Henri, as well as reading, following the NBA, watching movies and TV shows, and all things superhero.

  • Annelyse Thomas

    Pastor-Mentor

    Annelyse was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and journeys alongside students who are exploring vocational ministry. After completing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and government and international relations, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a Master of Divinity. Annelyse has spent more than 12 years working professionally and volunteering in church ministry—most recently, she was the director of youth ministry and outreach at a local church. Driven by her passion for discipleship and mentorship, Annelyse joined the Vocāre team in 2021 with a goal of helping students discern God’s call on their lives. She loves helping each individual discover who they are, whose they are, and where they belong. She lives in Pasadena with her husband, Ryan, and baby boy, Levi. She likes to run, play video games, and bake sweet treats, and spends way too much time trying to find the best places for good coffee and good food.

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