MinneEncounter Cohort 2026-27

Eamaan Rabbat, M.Ed.
Dean of Academic Affairs, Ribāṭ University

I am intrigued by the way that faith, values, and religion shape our lens of the world and how we interact with life and others. I am especially interested in finding common ground and exploring the ways that our faith traditions and value systems meet and interact across culture, time, and place. I am looking forward to being part of this cohort because I love to share about my own faith, Islam, and help people see and understand it in all the beautiful ways that touch people’s lives, and I love to learn about the faith traditions of others.

Dr. Felicia Washington Sy
Senior Director of Clinical and Group Services at Cornerstone Advocacy Services

I am drawn to interreligious learning and dialogue because I believe we have far more in common than the things that divide us. I care deeply about bringing people together across differences to build relationships, strengthen community, and create meaningful social change rooted in justice and shared humanity. I am also interested in being part of this cohort as an opportunity to challenge my own biases, grow in understanding, and learn how to better move beyond myself in the service of a greater purpose.

Hue Schlieu
DEI Coordinator

Though I no longer subscribe to an organized religion, I find religious traditions, beliefs, and practices deeply fascinating, and I value the meaning, connection, and sense of community they bring to people’s lives. I am interested in interreligious learning because it encourages curiosity, empathy, and deeper understanding across differences. I also want to hear from different people about the creative ways they have successfully brought people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs together.

Rabbi Jill Avrin
Director of Campus Affairs, Jewish Community Relations Council

Jewish tradition is grounded in a commitment to pluralism, sacred debate, and centering the humanity of all people. I believe we encounter God when we encounter others across differences of belief and perspective, sharpening each other and the space between us. I am eager to engage in a cohort of Minnesota faith leaders committed to these same ideas.

Kelli Kester, M.A.
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor

I am drawn to interreligious dialogue because I believe facilitated, intentional spaces provide a necessary container for the sacred messiness of human encounter. I am eager to join this cohort to explore how diverse spiritual and secular identities can move beyond surface-level differences to find common, holy ground and shared purpose.

Matt Kaul
Technical Writer at Medtronic, and Co-leader of Medtronic’s Christian Employee Resource Group

As a Christian, I believe that all truth is God’s truth. As we confront a range of global crises that demand courageous, creative responses, we must pursue wisdom together. I’m looking forward to learning how others in the cohort seek to live faithfully and wisely in this time.

Muhammad Jiwa
Professional Dot Connector, Facilitator to the Natural World, and Sustainable Realtor

I was born into a religious tradition, but my relationship to it has not been linear. Over time, I moved through periods of distance, questioning, and disconnection before returning with a more intentional and grounded understanding of why it matters to me. That experience allows me to engage with others’ beliefs with empathy, especially when their journeys include doubt, change, or complexity.

Sister Pearl Pham, VTC
Interfaith Chaplain

I am drawn to interreligious learning and dialogue by a deep appreciation for building genuine connections across religious and worldview differences, shaped by my own journey as an immigrant and my experiences with diverse faith communities. I look forward to enriching this cohort with my perspective as a Buddhist nun and an interfaith chaplain, while learning from others who share a commitment to unity and inclusion.

Sarah Chamseddine
Campus Minister, University of St. Thomas

I am drawn to this program because it not only provides opportunities to encounter people of various faiths and/or no-faith traditions who are navigating spaces of religious diversity, but also offers firsthand experience with a range of methods and techniques for dialogue and relationship-building across differences. The longer I work in ministry (and am a citizen of the world), the more I am convinced that the future of “encounter” needs to be through the lens of dialogue. I am certain that the methods and techniques of dialogue will be applicable to many spheres, not just religious, and that is exciting.