DIRECTOR, Office of Service and discipleship, campus pastor
EDUCATION:
D.Min. Leadership and Global Perspectives, Portland Seminary, George Fox University
M.A. Intercultural Studies, Community Development, Fuller Theological Seminary
B.A. Communication Studies/Theatre Arts, Azusa Pacific University
What do you do on campus? I get the opportunity to develop discipleship and local and global service experiences for our students by connecting with staff, faculty, and external community members around the San Gabriel Valley and around the world. I also get the chance to teach and train our students in our programs as well as in our chapel spaces. Lastly, I get the chance to prayerfully guide our students through some of life's biggest questions and toughest challenges through pastoral care and counseling.
Fun Fact: I've never had a bloody nose. Ever. In my whole life.
What's your favorite music genre? I love all pop music!
What is the best meal you've ever eaten? I have eaten so many good meals it's hard to choose! I've had delicious dim sum in Hong Kong. I've eaten Alpaca in Peru, which was really good, and I've had some of the perfect tacos in Mexico. But I think my favorite meals have been from this small place called the Sage Room in Malibu that sadly no longer exists. The food was made by a man and his Italian mother who emigrated over from Italy, and it was so fresh, rich, and delicious. And one time - I saw Robert Downey Jr. there, so if Iron Man dined there, you know it was good!
What was your first job? The first job I ever had was working for a volleyball and beachwear store in high school! Then I worked as a server in a few different restaurants, and I loved it!
What hobbies do you have? I love traveling, baking bread, hanging with my kids, watching anything Star Wars, anything having to do with the Lord of the Rings, and my tbr pile is currently about 60 books deep.
What's your secret talent that no one knows about? I can blow spit bubbles off my tongue.
What's the best advice you have been given? At a time when I was feeling particularly challenged about how to balance being a working mom, a very dear friend reminded me that God gave me the exact kids I needed - that they needed me as a mom, a mom who could exemplify what it meant to fold them into my calling in this work. And that God gave me the kids I needed - ones that would be resilient and be able to navigate having me gone for different periods of time. God knew exactly how to knit my family together in better ways than I could ever ask or imagine!
Rev. Rebekah Rossi -Loufik
Campus Pastor / On-Campus Ministry and Local Engagement Coordinator
EDUCATION:
M.Div. Emphasis in Islamic Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
B.A. in Intercultural Communication, Bethany University
Minor: Biblical Languages
What do you do on campus? I get to care for, resource, counsel, equip, teach, preach, empower, and love APU students, and I get to connect them to Jesus and to ministry and service opportunities for their spiritual formation and love of God! BEST JOB EVER!!!!
Fun Fact: I had bronchitis 4 times before I was 2, and as a result, I now growl when I sing and cough when I laugh. Like awkward, somewhat useful superpowers. LOL. It's weird, but that's something not too many people know! Boom! Or, you could say I am working on an album to be released in 2024.
What's your favorite music genre? TOO HARD. I like Soul, R&B, Rock, Gospel, Pop, Rap, some Country, Dance/Electronic... It all depends on the MOOD!!! I also really love spontaneous, Holy Spirit-filled worship music!
What is the best meal you've ever eaten? Probably this AMAZINGLY fresh pecan-encrusted ahi tuna in Kauai! It was like a bite of Heaven!
What was your first job? I was a regularly occurring cartoonist for a local Spanish newspaper at the age of 9! I created a cartoon strip about a little girl with a big imagination and her best friend and stuffed bear. It was called Ruby y Tobi, and I got paid $15 a strip!! I was big time.
What hobbies do you have? I like to draw, sing, write, cook, learn new things, do Pilates, and travel! I can plan an itinerary like nobody's business!
What's your secret talent that no one knows about? Impersonations/impressions.
What's the best advice you have been given? Slow down. Breathe.
Julie Ploehn
Global Engagement Program Coordinator
EDUCATION:
M.S. College Counseling and Student Development, Azusa Pacific University
B.A. Communication Studies, Biola University
Minor: Biblical Studies
What do you do on campus? My job is to recruit, train, and mobilize students towards short-term service work that takes place around the world during the fall, spring, and summer break. I have the honor of walking closely with students as they are having their hearts expanded for the global church and how they can be a part of it.
What's your favorite music genre? Top 40 pop forever - if it was sung by a boy band or featured heavily on Disney channel, I was probably a huge fan of it.
What is the best meal you've ever eaten? In Kyoto, Japan, I had a sushi experience and a ramen experience that I believe will be at the feast in heaven because it was unreal good. I went back twice on my ten-day trip.
What was your first job? I worked at my family's pharmacy as a pharmacy technician - not my favorite job, but it was my first.
What hobbies do you have? My favorite hobby is going to concerts - I love live music and think concerts are the best thing. I enjoy reading, binging new Netflix series, and traveling.
What's your secret talent that no one knows about? The thing about me is if I am talented in any way, it wouldn't be a secret - I'd make sure everyone knew just how talented I was.
What's the best advice you have been given? Life is short - live it well.
