Pastoral Staff

Michelle graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 with a degree in Global Public Health. While she was a student in Chi Alpha, she experienced a deeper love of God through community, leading to a call to do the Chi Alpha internship after graduation. After completing the internship in May 2021, she worked at a local non-profit for a year. After some time of prayer and discernment, Michelle felt it was time to return to Chi Alpha. Michelle is excited to serve students and build the kingdom at UVA! When Michelle is not in the office, you can find her learning new dances, cooking fun recipes, or watching a Disney Channel movie. 

Contact Michelle at michelle.abban@xaatuva.com

Leah graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. During her time in Chi Alpha she encountered Jesus in new and exciting ways, and her life was changed. After graduating she got her nursing license, but felt called to serve Chi Alpha through the CMIT. After experiencing this year in ministry, her passion for working with college students grew and she decided to continue working on staff with Chi Alpha. She is most looking forward to discipling her girls and meeting with international students! Leah enjoys spending time with people she loves, reading, being outdoors, playing pickle ball, and a good lazy day around the house.

Contact Leah at leah.andersen@xaatuva.com

John and Savannah both graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Foreign Affairs and Classics and Archaeology, in 2018 and 2021 respectively. John and Savannah were both involved in Chi Alpha during their times as students and were deeply impacted by Jesus and Christian community. Upon graduating, they completed the CMIT internship and joined pastoral staff to see students reached and inspired to follow Jesus in this critical time in their lives. While working together, they also started dating and the rest is history! Outside of work, they can be found hanging out with their cat Winnie, drinking coffee, or occupying themselves with their many art hobbies.

Contact John at john@xaatuva.com, Savannah at savannah@xaatuva.com

Melody graduated from the University of Virginia in 2023 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in English. As a student in Chi Alpha, Melody’s heart began to open towards missions and ministry through the discipleship she experienced, the strong Christian community, and her experience as a core group leader. She felt the Lord calling her to pursue a role in campus ministry, leading her to complete her Chi Alpha internship at UVA following graduation. After that year, she felt there was more the Lord wanted to do through her here at UVA! When Melody is not in the office chatting it up with her coworkers, she can be most likely found in a local coffee shop (SJs Ivy is her favorite!), thrifting, playing pickleball/basketball, or chilling with friends or her housemates watching a movie!

Contact Melody at melody.day@xaatuva.com

Will graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 with a degree in Economics. As an undergraduate student Will’s life was radically changed by discipleship and community in Chi Alpha. As a student Will felt the Lord calling him toward missions and, after graduation, decided to do the Chi Alpha internship to minister and point students toward Christ. After completing his internship year Will felt that there was more that God was calling him to do in Chi Alpha at UVA so he decided to join Chi Alpha Staff. On top of serving students Will enjoys napping, hiking, and playing tennis.

Contact Will at will.deng@xaatuva.com

Thomas graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with a degree in Statistics. Thomas came into college as an agnostic person but gave his life to Christ during his time with Chi Alpha. Through his Core Group and the community of Jesus, Thomas experienced the love of God, and it radically changed the plans he had for his life. By the end of his third year, he began to feel that the Lord was calling him into ministry, and he worked as an intern after graduating. Thomas decided to stay on our staff for the near future, trusting that God has much more to teach him and steward through him. In his free time, Thomas keeps it simple — he loves to go on walks, cook new recipes, work with his hands, and put on his favorite 70’s music.

Contact Thomas at thomas.hamilton@xaatuva.com

Daniel graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a degree in Computer Science. Daniel was raised in a Christian home in Atlanta, GA, but he really started developing his faith once he got to UVA. He got involved with a small group in Chi Alpha on move-in day, setting him on a trajectory towards an active, deep, and transformative relationship with Jesus throughout his four years in college. As graduation approached, Daniel considered a job offer back home, but he felt called to serve the Lord by staying at UVA, completing the internship with Chi Alpha, and joining staff! When not working at the best job in the world, Daniel's most likely watching sports (go Braves), listening to every genre of music, or at the gym.

Contact Daniel at daniel@xaatuva.com

Barnes graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Foreign Affairs and in East Asian Studies in 2022. While he was raised Christian, it wasn’t until college that Barnes fully made the decision to make faith his own. Through the discipleship and the community he found in Chi Alpha he seized the opportunity to give back by serving full-time after graduation. A man of many passions, Barnes loves Spikeball, cheap eats, history, friends, basketball, reading, and Spotify playlists, preferably in classic rock or contemporary indie. 

Contact Barnes at barnes.moreau@xaatuva.com

Jordyn graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She joined Chi Alpha during her first year and her life was completely transformed by Jesus, discipleship, and the intentional community she experienced. After going on two overseas spring break trips with Chi Alpha, Jordyn felt that the Lord had something else in store for her instead of a nursing job and decided to complete the Chi Alpha internship at UVA and join staff. Jordyn loves spending time with students, being with her cat Eddy and husband Eric, playing Nertz and Bananagrams, and reading!

Contact Jordyn at jordyn@xaatuva.com

Isaac graduated from the University of Virginia in 2023 with a degree in Commerce. He came to UVA looking for two things: a good job and good friends. In joining Chi Alpha, he not only found these, but also a relationship with the Lord. After learning what it means to live for Jesus from his Core Group leaders, Isaac developed a heart to see more students devote their lives to Christ. He felt a call to full-time ministry as a student and joined staff after completing his internship in 2024. Isaac enjoys basketball, pickleball, cooking, and peaceful walks in the woods.

Contact Isaac at isaac.stapleton@xaatuva.com

Lindsey graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a degree in civil engineering. As a student she always enjoyed her classes, but what she really loved was core group leading and discipleship. Additionally, she was deeply impacted by Chi Alpha’s emphasis on missions and outreach, so she wanted to give a year back to the ministry before heading into the marketplace. God had other plans for her though, and after completing the internship she decided to remain on staff with Chi Alpha! Lindsey also enjoys reading, playing basketball, laughing, taking care of all her plants, and her newest hobby, roller skating!

Contact Lindsey at lindsey.stegenga@xaatuva.com