Staff Information

 Jill Carroll: Co-Director and Initial Creator of AFP

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Dr. Jill Carroll is the initial creator of the Amazing Faiths Project and continues to have a direct role in the management and development of the project both locally and nationally.

Dr. Carroll earned her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Rice University in 1994. She is the author of numerous articles and four books.
 

She believes that peaceful coexistence between people of different religions and cultures is the central challenge of our era. Twenty-first century mass communications, mass travel, and the global economy ensure that we are interconnected and interdependent in ways never before seen in human history. This reality makes new demands on us – and presents new challenges for us - in both our personal and professional lives.

Dr. Carroll is a public scholar who believes peaceful coexistence can be achieved when people make an effort to understand each other rather than relying on stereotypes and prejudice. Understanding requires knowledge, that is, factual information presented in an unbiased fashion and rooted in the latest data and research. As a scholar in religious studies, Dr. Carroll has spent over two decades studying the world’s religions and major religious movements – their histories, principal founders, central beliefs, basic rituals, current issues, and their impact in public life and in contemporary politics.

 Dr. Carroll directs the Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University in Houston, Texas where she is also Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies. She is a recognized expert on issues of religious tolerance, philosophy of religion, American religion, and religion in public life. Her areas of specialty include: the role of religion in world politics, comparative world religions, trends in American religion, and the impact of religious diversity in global business.

 
 

Betsy Gerdeman: Co-Director of AFP

Ms. Gerdeman co-leads the work of the Amazing Faith Project and oversees the day-to-day operations both locally and nationally. She develops funding strategies, and provides overall organizational management for the project.

Ms. Gerdeman believes that people of faith share common tenets for service and a common call to compassion. As a person of faith, she believes that people of faith can stand firmly in their faith tradition, in her case Christian, while reaching across faith lines to foster mutual respect and understanding among people of diverse faith or no faith. She espouses the idea that there is “Strength in our Shared Beliefs.”
 
Ms. Gerdeman earned her MBA from Boston University in 1993, with emphasis in European Studiesand has completed graduate work in Theology at Wesley Seminary in Washington DC. She has worked as a manager, director and executive for more than 25 years in a variety of local and national organizations including public broadcasting United Way, YMCA and Washington National Cathedral.
 
Ms. Gerdeman is Vice President for Community Engagement and Development for Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston where she oversees all interfaith relations, funds development, marketing and communications, and volunteer services.
 
Betsy has two grown children. Her son Jack and daughter-in-law Virginia live in Roanoke Virginia and her daughter Liz currently lives in Bosie, Idaho.  
 
 
 

Lauren Santerre: Project Manager of AFP

Lauren Santerre is the Interfaith Relations Manager at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. She provides daily management of the project, including working with partnering cities, communicating with project participants, and coordinating project activities.

Lauren earned her B.A. in Religion from The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO. She has recently completed her M.A. in Urban Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

She is very passionte about Interfaith Dialogue, Women in Ministry, and Issues of Social Justice. Lauren has moved back to her hometown of Houston, TX and is enjoying living in the city and being close to her family. She is looking forward to the day when she will have a Cavalier King Charles puppy!

 

B.J. Smith: Project Manager of AFP

B.J. Smith is the Administrative Coordinator for the Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance at Rice University. She provides logistical and coordination support to project activities.

Ms. Smith was born in Norton, Kansas. She earned her B.A. in business from Fort Hays Kansas State College. B.J. joined the Boniuk Center Staff in September 2007. She has held a number of positions at Rice. She most recently served as the Computer Science Department Coordinator and prior to that was a staff assistant for the Office of Sponsored Research.

B.J. has two grown daughters that live in Austin, Texas, Tina and husband Jesse and daughter Tiffany who lives with her newly adopted dog Potter.