Introducing our New Religious Life Advisers

We are excited to introduce nine new Religious Life Advisers who are joining our community this Fall semester. Their diverse gifts and talents will make us better able to meet the religious and spiritual needs of our students. Please join us in welcoming them!

Calvin Chan, Intervarsity

Calvin Chan is a Campus Staff Minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Columbia University, the Juilliard School, and the Manhattan School of Music. He loves having conversations about emotionally healthy spirituality, studying the Bible as a unified story that points to Jesus, and living simply in order to decrease environmental impact and increase overall human flourishing. Calvin is available to meet by appointment from Monday through Friday.

Yehuda and Naomi Drizin, Chabad 

Rabbi Yuda Drizin grew up in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. He studied in yeshiva abroad in Paris, Israel and Argentina before returning to New York to receive his rabbinical ordination. He loves to connect with people of all ages, stages and backgrounds to discuss Jewish thought, share inspiration and best of all to just schmooze over coffee.

Naomi Drizin was raised in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. After completing her schooling, she taught for three years at Beth Rivkah girls high school before beginning a masters program at Wurzweiler School of Social Work. She ensures that everyone who walks through the door at Chabad feels comfortable and welcome with her enthusiasm and warm smile.

Aharon Grossman, MEOR

Rabbi Aharon Grossman serves as director of MEOR at Columbia as well as co-director of MEOR at Rutgers. After graduating Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah in Richmond Hill, NY, Aharon spent three years studying and teaching Judaism in Jerusalem. Returning to the US, he completed his masters degree in rabbinics and talmudic studies at Beth Medrash Govoha. He leads classes on authentic Jewish values and culture at various sites throughout the New York region, and co-directs a yearly Jewish studies seminar each summer out West. He loves hiking, cross-country skiing, and sharing Shabbos meals with students and friends.  

Kevin Niemann, Bridges International 

Kevin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and Spanish minor from Texas A&M University in 1995 where he served as a resident director of one of the school’s oldest residence halls. Since graduating, he has served in campus ministry at Texas Tech University, Samara State University in Samara, Russia and Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia. Kevin and his family returned to Texas in 2009 to work with Bridges International – a ministry to provide service opportunities, social networking and spiritual resources for international students. In 2012, Kevin moved with his wife and two children to New York City to launch Bridges International at Columbia University and NYU. In 2014, Kevin received a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife, discovering new cultures, hanging out with his two children and exploring the history and culture of New York City.

Vicky Samaritano, Cru

Vicky works with Cru, a non-denominational Christian organization for students and other segments of society around the world. She’s been working with undergrad and grad students at Columbia since 2004 and in 2018 began investing in the faculty community through an initiative called The Faculty Roundtable. She loves coming alongside students and faculty serving as a safe place to listen, process, and support them in their spiritual and academic journey. She also enjoys working alongside her fellow Cru staff at Columbia who lead an arm of our global organization called Soon Movement (KCCC). She is available to meet by appointment throughout the week. 

Becca Seely, LaMP ( Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian)

Becca Seely is a campus pastor who works with college and graduate students throughout New York City.  Locally, she serves as pastor of LaMP (Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians & Friends), a progressive Protestant campus ministry in Morningside Heights.  She was not raised in church and first began to explore questions of faith when she was in college. As a result, Becca is particularly passionate about working with young adults who are asking questions about God and what gives our lives meaning and purpose. She love hearing people's stories, learning new things and discovering the unexpected ways God is working in the world around us. In her free time, she enjoys running and biking in Central Park, hanging out with her wife, Abby, and planning elaborate theme parties. Becca is an active member of Proclaim, the professional community for LGBTQ Lutheran clergy.  She holds a BA from Wesleyan University and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  

Andria Stewart, Adventist Christian Fellowship

Andria C. Stewart is currently the Religious Life Advisor (RLA) to the Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF) group at Columbia University. ACF is the official organization for Adventist campus ministry on non-Adventist college and university campuses within the North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists, including the US, Canada, Bermuda, and Guam. Currently, ACF is a network of over one hundred chapters across the North American Division.

As an RLA, she creates and curates a collegiate community where Seventh-day Adventist students can explore their faith, engage interfaith and social justice initiatives, form amazing friendships, and deepen their relationship with God. She is available to students during the academic year, to meet one-on-one or in a group setting to listen, offer insight, and help them discern where and how God is at work in their lives. Andria is a big believer in the power of chocolate, hugs, and humor, so when you see her be on the lookout for a hug and smile—except now with COVID-19, she has to settle for waving hello and sending virtual hugs.

Sunita Viswanath, Hindu

Sunita is committed to helping Hindu students learn more about their practices and is passionate about doing to doing seva (service) in the world so that the neediest and voiceless are empowered and can thrive. She is the cofounder of Women for Afghan Women (in 2001), Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus (in 2011), and Hindus for Human Rights (in 2019). Sunita was honored by President Obama at the White House in 2015 as a “Champion of Change” for her work. Sunita has edited “Women for Afghan Women: Shattering Myths and Claiming the Future” (Palgrave McMillan, 2003), a book of essays.