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MEET THE STAFF
Glen Robyne
Lead Pastor & Director
he/him or they/them
Glen is Director of Wesley Foundation at Purdue. He's a tall goofy guy who likes all things recreation. If you hang around him very long he will convince you to play Wallyball or Ulitmate Frisbee during the semesters. During the breaks he continues his recreational ways hiking with students in Colorado and bicycling on our week-long Bikers for Jesus. At the drop of a hat, he will go with you on a mission trip just about anywhere in the country or world. Never at a loss for words, he also loves good conversation both in small groups and one-on-one. As we seek to be the spiritual community, we are called to be.
Desiree Keiper
Business Administrator
she/her
Desiree chose to work at Wesley Foundation because of its core mission to create a strong nurturing community for students that is centered on faith in God. She says, “It is inspiring to see the students learn and grow in their faith as they strive to make a difference in the community by serving others and being great role models in Christ. Being a part of this wonderful support system during such an essential time in the students’ lives as they prepare to go out into the world is a rewarding benefit!” When not at Wesley, Desiree is a Ballroom dance teacher. She also loves to volunteer as the production choreographer for St. James School musicals. In 2015, she ranked among the top two Indiana couples in the Professional Open Smooth Ballroom Competition circuit. For the past 12 years Desiree has been a member of the Lafayette community with her husband, 4 children, 2 dogs, and Jerry the chinchilla. Desiree is a devoted mother, dancer, and staff member of the Wesley Foundation at Purdue.
Mack Owings
Associate Pastor
he/him or they/them
Pastor Mack comes to Wesley Foundation with a passion for youth and LGBTQ ministry. They graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in May of 2021 with a Master of Divinity, and then moved to Lafayette with their now wife, Monica. Pastor Mack grew up United Methodist in a small town in Indiana, where they enjoyed playing soccer, softball, and even the cello. They attended the University of Indianapolis planning to become a physical therapist, but in their junior year, heard God's call into full-time ministry and changed their major. You can often find Pastor Mack downstairs enjoying the cereal bar or out on the deck. They are always down for a good board game or video game, and you may convince them to GM a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Pastor Mack leads our LGBTQ student group Love Always Wins.
Janelle Ohlemiller
Therapastor
she/her
I wanted to take some time to introduce myself and share a bit about my journey to ministry and joining the Wesley staff. I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and went on to earn my Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago.
My call to ministry came in a moment of frustration while working as a case manager in the Chicago suburbs. I felt like I wasn't able to provide the help that my clients truly needed, and I knew I wanted to make a change. Through the support of a friend, I explored Christianity and eventually became ordained as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. I am excited to be joining the Wesley staff and to have the opportunity to normalize conversations around mental health and provide support and resources for students in need. I hope to offer a female pastoral perspective as well as the expertise of a trained therapist to those who may benefit from it. I am dedicated to being there for students during times of need and providing pastoral care whenever it is needed. I am thrilled to begin this new journey and look forward to getting to know each and every one of you at Wesley.
Wellington Chiomadzi
Pastor and Director of Lafayette Ubuntu International Community (LUIC)
he/him
I am originally from Zimbabwe, I came to the States in 2017 to pursue my graduate studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. I graduated in 2019 with a masters in Evangelism and Spiritual Formation. Following graduation, I worked at Wesley Foundation at Purdue for two years before transitioning into full-time Pastoral Ministry with the United Methodist Church in Indiana. I am now back at Wesley and excited to be starting a new community in the greater Lafayette area called Ubuntu, which means an African Community. This community will be a gathering place for students of African origin, as well as graduate students and graduates still in the area. My passion for bringing people together and fostering community has led me to this new endeavor, and I am eager to see how it will impact our community here at Wesley. I have a history with Wesley, having been one of the first pioneers to start the Global Connections program that still runs today. I am thrilled to be back and to continue to contribute to the vibrant community here at Wesley.