Get to Know our Life Directions Center Team
Jason Shipman
Director of life directions center
Jason Shipman joined the LDC team in 2022 after serving at Life Pacific University for 14 years and in pastoral ministry for 25 years. His passion is to create learning environments where students can identify their calling, strengths, and gifts and put them into practice to succeed educationally and develop practical skills to be effective in the marketplace and ministry. Jason possesses two Bachelor's degrees in Engineering and Theology and a Master's degree in Education in College Student Affairs. When you see Jason off campus, he typically has a fly rod or volleyball in his hands and loves spending quality time with his wonderful wife, Amy, and his three children Olivia, Selah, and Gabriel.
Derek Zeller
Assistant Director of Life Directions Center
Derek Zeller graduated from CCU in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in youth ministry and completed a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at CCU in 2010. In addition to his advising responsibilities, Zeller is the LDC assistant director. He enjoys using his education and experiences to help students navigate their college experience at CCU.
Kayla Duley
Senior Staff Life Directions Academic Advisor
Kayla Duley graduated from CCU with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Interpersonal Communication. After graduating, Duley completed her Master of Science in Counseling/School Counseling. She has enjoyed working with students ranging from middle school through college and the adult students at CCU in her past role as a student service advisor for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. Duley has supported students in various roles in the Life Directions Center. She has a passion for people and developing others' God-given gifts.
Crystal Rants
Administrative Assistant
Crystal Rants has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and 20 years of experience in the field of Christian Education. Prior to joining the team at CCU, she served as a Director and later as a Support Representative with Classical Conversations in Miami, Colorado Springs, and the Denver area. For much of that time she also served as a military spouse. Her heart for equipping and encouraging students led to establishing and running a tutoring service for six years, focusing on the areas of high school mathematics and Spanish. Rants is a certified PraiseMoves instructor, sharing her love for the Word of God in classes with students across the United States. Rants loves creating beautiful things to share with others, whether those are quilts or homemade cards. She also serves as part of the host team for her local church. Rants is the LDC admin, acts as the liaison for New Student Registration, and oversees Student Staff Development.
Matt Larsen
Life Directions Academic Advisor
Matt Larsen graduated from CCU with a Business Administration degree in 2018 and was with the CCU undergraduate admissions department for four years before moving to the LDC. He is currently pursuing a master's in Counseling at CCU. Larsen loves watching youth and young adults grow and learn, so the LDC is a natural fit for him. Larsen is a big fan of traditional Colorado activities like camping and off-roading, as well as spike ball and board games. He also enjoys serving in youth ministry.
Dawn Schmidli
Life Directions Nursing Advisor
Dawn Schmidli holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Oklahoma Christian University and a master's degree in professional counseling from Oklahoma City University. She is a wife, mom, and counselor and has worked in residential treatment, on ropes courses, inpatient psychiatric and substance use hospitals, and for the last many years as a Licensed Professional Counselor in a private agency setting. She also served as a classroom tutor and a director in the Denver Classical Conversations community through many years of homeschooling. Schmidli enjoys incorporating her education and many experiences into her position with the LDC team advising nursing students. She has enjoyed involvement with the local refugee community and Eastern European missions. Schmidli advises nursing students.
Kristine Hunerwadel
Life Directions Academic Advisor and Undeclared Student Services Coordinator
Kristine Hunerwadel joined the LDC team in the fall of 2018 after working in student affairs at the University of Colorado Law School. She serves as the undeclared student services coordinator and loves getting to use tools like the Strong Interest Inventory to help students think about their interests and life goals for fields of study at CCU. Her educational background is in pediatric medicine, but a career change resulted in discovering her love for students and the academic environment. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Malone College and a Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant master's degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Kristin Wright
Life Directions Academic Advisor and Ministry Hours Coordinator
Kristin Wright has a heart for helping students and has served in various roles and capacities at CCU, including in the Student Life Office, Admissions, and now the Life Directions Center. Wright brings a passion for supporting students in their life journey and many years of experience working with young adults. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Wheaton College and a master's degree in College Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University, and she has spent many summers on staff at Christian camps. Wright has discipled young people as a Young Life leader and a church youth group leader. She met her husband working at a Christian summer camp, and they now both enjoy the ministry of raising their two daughters. In her spare time, Wright can be found enjoying coffee and meals with family and friends, walking her dog Max, and singing (mostly in the car).
Mike Finnefrock
Life Directions Academic Advisor
Mike Finnefrock has spent his entire career working with students. He displays a passion for seeing students maximize their God-given potential. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Special Education both from the University of Northern Colorado. He also has studied at the graduate level at Denver University, obtaining his principal's license in the state of Colorado. He loves most of all, spending time with his wife, three sons, and two daughters-in-law, doing anything outdoors.
Hank Shuler
Life Directions Academic Advisor
Hank Shuler is the LDC academic advisor. He has a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from Olivet Nazarene University and is currently getting his master's degree in counseling along with a post-grad Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Regis University. His three years as a residential advisor in Residence Life ignited his passion for higher education, mentoring, and student development. Alongside equipping students in his academic advisory role, Shuler enjoys shooting photography with his wife, Hayley, backpacking, all things soccer, competitive foam fighting, and playing guitar.
Rachel Urban
Life Directions Academic Advisor and International Student Services Coordinator
Rachel Urban is an LDC Advisor and also serves as CCU's international student services coordinator. She's a CCU alum and holds a bachelor's degree in Theology and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction. She's passionate about the journey college students encounter as they're developing professionally, personally, and spiritually. In her free time, Urban enjoys reading, biking, baking, and playing in the University's handbell choir.
Julia Bakker
Life Directions Advisor and Study Abroad Coordinator
Julia Bakker graduated from Dordt University with a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's degree in Sports Leadership. Julia coached volleyball at Dordt while completing her Master's degree. During that time, she treasured working with her teams through the peaks and valleys of their college experiences on and off the court. Most recently, Julia worked as an Advisor with the College of Adult and Graduate Studies at CCU. She enjoys walking alongside students and getting to know their goals and passions. Julia is excited to see students develop a deep understanding of God's love and grace in their lives. In her spare time, she is often outside hiking, camping, and playing volleyball with her husband and friends.
Lisa Glazier
Coordinator of Student Success Services
Lisa Glazier has been an educator for over 25 years. She earned her B.S. in English from Liberty University and her MACI from CCU and is an adjunct faculty member in the CCU English department. She finds great joy in helping students utilize resources, achieve their goals, and realize their value as a masterpiece of God. As the coordinator of student success services, she is honored to serve the students of CCU through accessibility and academic support. Lisa claims Proverbs 4:23 as her life verse, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs to life."
Katie Jensen
Graduate Assistant for Student Success Services
Katie Jensen has a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science and worked for two years in a veterinary office. She is currently in the CCU Clinical Counseling Master's program pursuing a degree in counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Katie loves kids and has a passion for helping others. Besides going to the beach every chance she gets, Katie loves to ride horses and dance, especially ballet.