Our Team – Churches for Middle East Peace

Meet the CMEP Team

The full CMEP Team is made up of not only highly qualified, passionate, and innovative staff members but also bright Ambassador Warren Clark Fellows, dutiful interns and volunteers as well as committed board members and an esteemed leadership council of prominent diplomats (retired), politicians, church leaders, academics, and business and media professionals with a particular interest and connection to the Middle East.

We are grateful for each individual’s experience, wisdom, and work on behalf of CMEP and peace.

Staff Members

Board Members

Leadership Council

Regional Coordinators

Staff Members

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon

Executive Director

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)…

Cannon formerly served as the senior director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision U.S. on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International in Jerusalem; as the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church located in Walnut Creek, California; and as director of development and transformation for extension ministries at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. Cannon holds an MDiv from North Park Theological Seminary, an MBA from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an MA in bioethics from Trinity International University. She received her first doctorate in American History with a minor in Middle Eastern studies at the University of California (Davis) focusing on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine and her second doctorate in Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Northern Theological Seminary. She is the author of several books including the award-winning Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World and editor of A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, Leadership Magazine, The Christian Post, Jerusalem Post, EU Parliament Magazine, Huffington Post, and other international media outlets.

Social Justice Handbook: Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World (Bridgeleader Books)
Just Spirituality: Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action
A Land Full of God: A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land
Beyond Hashtag Activism Beyond Hashtag Activism: Comprehensive Justice for a Complicated Age

Kyle Cristofalo

Senior Director of Advocacy & Government Relations | Special Advisor to the Executive Director

Kyle holds a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from Messiah College, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology…

Kyle was first introduced to Middle East advocacy work during a semester abroad in Cairo, Egypt. After graduating from college, Kyle spent 10 months serving with the Mennonite Central Committee in Bethlehem, Palestine, where he was seconded to work with Bethlehem Bible College. Most recently, Kyle served as the Program Assistant for Middle East Policy at the Friends Committee on Legislation where he helped coordinate lobbying work on Middle East policy and trained grassroots advocates on how to lobby their Congressional representatives.

Nicole Parker

Director of Systems, Reporting, and HR

Nicole earned her Masters in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Public Policy from Palmer Seminary of Eastern University in Saint Davids, PA.

Before joining CMEP, Nicole worked with an educational non-profit near Chicago and as a high school teacher near Atlanta. Nicole believes deeply that the way we love our neighbors says a lot about our love for God. She lives near Atlanta, GA.

Destiny Magnett

Programs and Outreach Manager

Destiny Magnett is the Programs and Outreach Manager at Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) where she serves as the primary liaison for church partners, collaboratively builds CMEP’s online and in-person programming, and co-leads the regional coordinator program.

Destiny holds a Master of Theological Studies Degree and Religion & Public Life Certificate from Harvard Divinity School, where her work focused on decoloniality, religious ethics, peacebuilding, and religion in the public sphere. She also holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Grinnell College. Prior to joining CMEP, Destiny has experience working at the intersection of religion and peacebuilding in a variety of spheres, including the Office of International Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State, Search for Common Ground– Jordan, Harvard’s Office of Religion and Public Life, and on the digital humanities project Mapping Islamophobia. While born and raised in Kansas, she is now based in the Boston area.

Dr. Benjamin Norquist

Director of Academics and Grants

Ben is a researcher and organizer. In addition to his work with CMEP, he directs the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East. His first book, Every Somewhere Sacred: Rescuing a Theology of Place in the American Imagination (IVP Academic) is due out in fall 2025.

In his local community, Ben helps faith communities engage more thoughtfully with Native Americans and come to terms with histories of injustice.

Ben holds his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University (Los Angeles) and his M.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College (Annapolis). Ben’s dissertation is a qualitative regional case study exploring adaptive Palestinian approaches to pedagogy.

In his career in higher education leadership, Ben has experience building international educational partnerships, teaching, and establishing an academic center for applied public research.

Ben’s writing has appeared in Religion News Service, The Christian Century, Baptist News Global, and the Christian Citizen among others.

Mathias Jørgensen

Operations and Growth Specialist

Mathias Amlund Jørgensen is the Operations and Growth Specialist at Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). In this role, he contributes to organizational development, operational efficiency, donor engagement, and media strategy.

Mathias has a diverse background in strategic communications, organizational growth, and public affairs. He has worked across sectors, including peacebuilding at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, where he led communication strategies, supported fundraising initiatives, and contributed to multi-stakeholder program design. Mathias also served as a trainee at the European Parliament, providing policy analysis and strategic advice, and founded his own social media marketing agency, which helped clients significantly increase revenue through innovative advertising strategies. He is currently pursuing a dual degree at Minerva University, focusing on political science, economics, and philosophy.

Christopher Huth

Project Coordinator for the Executive Director and Communications Coordinator

Christopher Huth is our Project Coordinator for the Executive Director and Communications Coordinator at the CMEP Office in DC. He grew up moving back and forth between Berlin, Germany – Beirut, Lebanon – and NYC, NY.

This ultimately inspired him to pursue a double major in Political Science and History at Brooklyn College. While there Christopher joined many social justice groups particularly concerned with Armenian and Middle Eastern issues. In 2022 he moved to Washington DC to pursue a Master’s in International Peace and Conflict Resolution” from the School of International Service at American University. During his studies, he interned with the Institute of World Affairs where he helped implement a conflict resolution and violence prevention program before ultimately graduating and joining CMEP.

Fayelle Ewuakye

Communications Coordinator

Fayelle earned her B.A. in Humanities at Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville, Alabama with a concentration in Anthropology and Geography.

She’s been the Social Media Curator for her local church in northwest and finds the gifts and benefits of social media to be great blessings toward any organization wishing to reach out to the masses. She wants to be a part of some meaningful work, both locally and globally, and believes peace and justice are two things the public at large needs to know more about.

Raven Diaz-Smith

Grants and Administrative Coordinator

Raven holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Native American Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Before joining CMEP, Raven spent four years as a Software Quality Assurance Analyst at the largest tech employer in Oklahoma City.

Raven is driven by a lifelong passion for making a positive impact, she believes her role at CMEP will help her achieve this mission.

Hannah Hutton

Middle East and Events Coordinator

Hannah earned her B.A. in Humanities from the University of Louisville with a concentration in literature and religious studies. She has been involved in various organizations over the last twenty years that work to create a safe space for dialogue between cultures and religions.

Hannah is passionate about people, hearing their stories and amplifying their voices. She is starting her Master’s in Peace and Justice from St. Stephen’s University.

Carol Yatim

And Still We Rise Coordinator

Carol graduated from Bethlehem University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management. Shortly after graduation, she participated in a five-month student exchange program in Denmark, focusing on the “ChangeMakers” subject. The program highlighted project development, guiding participants in transforming small ideas into impactful initiatives through innovative thinking and leadership.

Upon returning, she built a strong career in the hospitality industry, working in several prestigious hotels. This experience was built on a foundation developed during university years, where she gained hands-on expertise working in hotels and restaurants.

Recently, she joined Dar Al-Kalima University as a lecturer, teaching courses on Food Service and Beverages. This role allows her to mentor the next generation of hospitality professionals.

In addition, she is a coordinator with Churches for Middle East Peace, specifically working on “And Still We Rise” Summit, contributing to impactful initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration and positive change throughout the region.

Dr. Scott Gustafson

Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow

Dr. Scott Gustafson is the Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow at CMEP. He has extensive experience in the Middle East as a practitioner and consultant with faith-based charities and churches in humanitarian relief and mission work.

He earned his PhD in Religion and Theology from the Vrije Universteit (VU) in deradicalization, extremism and religious conversion. He is a member of the Extreme Beliefs/Strong Religion working group at the VU, funded by the European Research Council. He earned an MA in Intercultural Studies/Middle East Studies from Moody Graduate School, and a BA in Nursing and Biology from Western Michigan University. He studied Arabic at the University of Jordan and holds a certification through the Cultural Intelligence Centre as a CQ Certified Facilitator.

Current Interns

Sophia Kanazeh

Communications Intern

Sophia Kanazeh is a sophomore at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, studying Global Affairs with a minor in Arabic.

Sophia previously served as a year-long volunteer missionary in Mexico, where she engaged in humanitarian work and facilitated formative experiences for youth. She is passionate about advocating for communities in need, particularly in the Middle East, and is excited to work with CMEP.

Ben Bigcraft

Communications Intern

Ben is a recent graduate of the University of Utah with a B.S. in International Studies and minors in Middle East Studies and Arabic.

Ben has experience in humanitarian and mission work domestically and abroad and has a particular interest in restoration, healing, and peace for those affected by conflicts, especially in the Middle East. He is also passionate about promoting understanding between people across ethnic, religious, and cultural lines through storytelling.

Hayden Jones

advocacy intern

Hayden Jones is a senior at American University in Washington, D.C. studying International Relations with a minor in Religious Studies.

Hayden’s studies and research have focused on ethnic, religious, and cultural factors in conflict and conflict recurrence, especially those in the Middle East and North Africa. She is particularly passionate about conflict resolution and transitional justice utilizing cross-cultural dialogue, community building, female leadership, and educational efforts.

Board Members

Alliance of Baptists

Katherine Metres Akbar is a businesswoman and activist. Previously she served as a U.S. Foreign Service officer and aide to Sen. Kennedy. She lived on the West Bank from 2003–2005, was married to a Palestinian who was imprisoned and tortured for his nonviolent political activities, and has been an advocate of peace and justice in the Middle East since her University of Michigan days.

American Friends Service Committee

Jennifer Bing

American Baptist Churches USA

Rev. William T. Young IV

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Fr. Thomas Zain, Chairman of Inter-Orthodox and Inter-faith Relations, Vicar General

Armenian Orthodox Church

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian is the Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). He sits on the executive board of the NCC, as well as on the board of the World Council of Churches.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Peter Makari is the Area Executive for Europe and the Middle East for Global Ministries for The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Christian Reformed Church

Rev. David Zigterman

Church of the Brethren

Nathan Hosler is the Director of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Public Witness based in Washington, DC.

Church World Service

George Devendorf

Community of Christ

Steve Kellogg

The Episcopal Church

Rev. Canon Robert Edmunds is the Middle East Partnership Officer for the Episcopal Church and serves as the liaison and communications/resource link for the Episcopal Church with the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

Evangelicals 4 Justice

Dr. Andrea Smith is a coordinator of Evangelicals 4 Justice, and a board member of North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies (NAIITS). She is the co-editor (with Mae Cannon) of the upcoming book, Evangelical Theologies of Liberation and Justice and author of Unreconciled: From Racial Reconciliation to Racial Justice in Evangelical Christianity.

Evangelical Covenant Church

Erikka Hedberg

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Dennis Frado is the director for the Lutheran Office for World Community with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He has two publications highlighted on our website: ELCA Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, and Developments in ELCA Engagement with Israel/Palestine.

Franciscan Friars (OFM)

Russ Testa is the founding Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN), a U.S. based Franciscan institutional effort to lend an effective voice to advocacy efforts for inclusive social transformation; he currently serves as an ex officio member of the organization’s Board of Directors. He is also director of the Office for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) of the Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor.

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Hassan El-Tayyab

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Katherine Wilkens

Lott Carey Foreign Missionary Society

The Reverend Dunn serves as Executive Secretary-Treasurer, CEO of the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention.

Maryknoll Office for Global Concern

Susan Gunn is the Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Mennonite Central Committee US

Zachary Murray

Moravian Church in America

Rev. Sue Koenig

National Council of Churches

Tony Kireopoulos is the senior program director for Faith & Order and Interfaith Relations at the National Council of Churches USA. Prior to this position, he served as the Associate General Secretary for International Affairs and Peace at the National Council of Churches, as well as the Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Religions for Peace.

Pax Christi USA

Scott Wright

Presbyterian Church, USA

Catherine Gordon is the representative for International Issues at the Presbyterian Church USA, Office of Public Witness.

Progressive National Baptist Convention

Tyrone Pitts

Reformed Church in America

Rev. Laura Osborne

United Church of Christ

Peter Makari is the Area Executive for Europe and the Middle East for Global Ministries for the United Church of Christ.

United Methodist Church, General Board of Global Ministries

David Wildman is the executive secretary for Human Rights & Racial Justice with the United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries.

United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society

Colleen Moore serves as the Director for Peace with Justice at the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church.

Unitarian Universalist Association

United Women in Faith

Tatiana Dwyer is the executive for Global Justice Issues at United Methodist Women.

Observer, Catholic Relief Services

Observer, Christians for Social Action

Nikki Toyama-Szetzo is the director of Christians for Social Action, and she guides the execution of CSA’s mission and vision. She also served on the board of Interserve USA, Missio Alliance, and Casa Chiralagua.

Observer, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Inc.

Jean Stokan

Observer, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Christopher S. Ljungquist is the Director of the International Justice & Peace, the Secretariat of Justice and Peace as part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops