2023 Graduate Profiles
THE 99TH ANNUAL CONVOCATION OF ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Seung Hee Kang
After completing advanced degree in philosophy in England, Seung Hee Kang obtained an MDiv. from the Faculty of Theology, University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto. She received spiritual direction training at the Carmelite Monastery/the Haden Institute. She has been a chaplain and spiritual director for over two decades and has had the privilege to provide spiritual care in various healthcare settings; acute care, mental health/correction services, long-term and addiction and mental health, and spiritual direction in church settings. She is a certified member of CASC/ACSS (Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/Association canadienne de soins spirituels) and Canadian Multifaith Federation.
Her areas of research and publication entail spiritual growth in conflict management, emotional healing and ethical discernment and moral distress in care, spiritual care for palliative and the dying, the elders with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and ethical dilemma in residents’ care.
Dissertation Title: St. Edith Stein’s Holy Realism as a Framework of Spiritual Care for Elders with Dementia
Favourite SSC memory: Seung Hee’s favourite memory of SSC is concerned with its mission, vision and vocation, and community-centred inter-relational teaching and learning, and it helped her grow more fully while studying at STC.
Future ambitions: She wishes to continue participating in God’s ongoing creation through her professional work, contributing to the divine purpose of humanity. When not working, she enjoys walking in nature, spiritual reading, writing, playing music, and spending meaningful time with her family.
Kehinde Olabimtan
Kehinde Olabimtan studied architecture at the University of Lagos (MED, 1986) and theology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (PhD, 2010). From 2007 to 2017, he taught theology at universities in Nigeria and Ghana. In 2017, both learnings in the study of built environment and theology providentially found resonance in his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program in eco-theology at St. Stephen’s College. ”
Dissertation Title: Ecology and Human Flourishing: Theological Insights from an Urban Community Garden in Western Canada
Favourite SSC Memory: He particularly treasures the rich intellectual and cultural perspectives that characterized the annual doctoral seminars at the college as they accelerated his orientation into Canadian society.
Future Ambitions: Kehinde hopes to continue to plumb depths in the understanding of human engagement with the total environment through study and teaching.
Osita Chidi Oluigbo
Osita is an Anglican priest currently serving in the Diocese of Huron as Rector at St. John’s Tillsonburg and Archdeacon on Huron East, in South Western Ontario. He is married to Jennifer and they have three sons. His research in missional ecclesiology, with particular focus on the transformational leadership process of transitioning parishes to missional models. His dissertation was on the process of using the generative dialogical method of Appreciative Inquiry to live into the Five Marks of Mission. He is a passionate lover of The Beautiful Game: the real game of Football, soccer (as a player and spectator).
Dissertation Title: Drawing on Inherent Congregational Strength: An Appreciative Inquiry into Living Out the Five Marks of Mission
Favourite SSC Memory: My favourite memory at St. Steven’s was the light-bulb moment when the cards fall in place for the direction of my Integrative Paper. I was lost for months trying to figure it out. Then came a session with my course advisor to review the work done in my methodology course. It was literarily epiphanic. The Integrative Paper was a natural next-step to the methodology cause! Beautiful ordering!
Future Ambitions: To remain in parish ministry, and become a louder voice and participant in the mission of God applying the learning from St. Stephen’s Collage in the mission field.
Master of Theological Studies
Elicia (Lee) Andrus
Lee has served Edmonton and Sherwood Park professionally as a Pastor, Addictions Counselor, Crisis Counselor for victims of domestic violence, Legal Aid Justice Navigator, Family Law Manager at Edmonton Community Legal Center, Mental Health First Aid facilitator, and End of Life Doula. In 2016 she began her Clinical Psychospiritual Education and FINALLY completed her Masters of Theological Studies. She has worked at the Cross Cancer Institute as a Spiritual Care Counselor and is currently working at the Grey Nun’s Community Hospital as a Spiritual Care Practitioner on a casual basis. In her down time Lee is playing with her grandchildren and forever reading.
Culminating Paper Title: Presence: Sacred Accompaniment for End-of-Life Care
Favourite SSC Memory: The rich discussion between fellow classmates, dedication of instructors, and applied experience of Spiritual Care in various hospital settings.
Future Ambitions: To become a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist in private practice with a focus on palliative care.
Nils Hahn
Nils Hahn lives in Edmonton, where he works primarily as a structural engineer and partly as a spiritual director. From time to time, Nils volunteers to lead worship in his local community of faith, Trinity United Church, where he has also facilitated various small group studies over the past decade. It was these lay leadership activities that led Nils to St. Stephen’s College with the goal of deepening his ministry beyond his initial spiritual direction training from the Pacific Jubilee Program. During his time at St. Stephen’s College, Nils explored the early Christian tradition, particularly the Desert Fathers and Mothers, and the gifts these fourth to seventh century monastics and their ascetic disciplines might have to offer to modern-day spiritual seekers in an increasingly pluralistic and secular context.
Culminating Paper Title: From Spiritual Direction to Spiritual Fatherhood: A Journey towards the Christian East
Sandy Pihowich
Sandy Pihowich grew up as a child of the Alberta prairies. She fulfilled a childhood passion for teaching by becoming an elementary school teacher, a vocation that runs strongly in her family. In response to a personal loss Sandy began to look beyond the surface of life with a desire to cherish living deeply. While raising her two daughters this hunger for the spiritual life eventually brought her back to learning in Norbert Krumins Questing Faith course at St. Stephen’s College. One of her strongest memories of St. Stephen’s is Norbert’s suggestion that she embark on a master’s degree after taking his class, something Sandy found hard to imagine at the time. Carrying out this endeavor as an older student has brought academic challenges, personal fulfillment, and inspiring experiences of Sacred Mystery. In completing her degree Sandy was trained in the art of spiritual companioning/direction and mentored in the Pacific Jubilee Program. Practicing spiritual accompaniment continues to teach and amaze Sandy as she comes alongside others in the liminal spaces of their spiritual journeys. Sandy now lives with gratitude in the beautiful territory of the Hul’qumi’num speaking people known as Point Roberts, Washington.
Thesis Title: A Spiritual Director’s Embodiment of Dynamic Trinitarian Flow in the Art of Spiritual Accompaniment
Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality
Maria Liane Achtemichuk
Maria is a former classroom educator who developed a passion for mindfulness and meditation that ultimately led her to start her own wellness-based business, Heartmind Creations. Maria‘s desire to study and apply the combination of the spiritual and the psychological in the healing process led her to the MPS program at St. Stephen’s College.
Capstone Title: Cultivating Wellness: Mindfulness-Based Retreats for Educators
Favourite SSC Memory: Her favourite SSC memory is the weeklong zoom intensive for the Spirituality: from Contemplation to Action course.
Future Ambitions: In the future, Maria plans to work with educators, youth and adults and also to offer more programming specifically combining contemplation and expressive arts.
Rebecca Bonham
Rebecca Bonham has been on a vocational adventure for over thirty years, starting with undergraduate and graduate studies in theology, Clinical Pastoral Education and work as a hospital chaplain and spiritual director, and finally finding her vocational home in spiritually-integrated counselling. She enjoys working at the intersection of theology, spirituality, and psychotherapy. She lives in Edmonton with her partner Stephen and their four kids, who have been incredible supporters on her vocational journey. She is happiest when she is in, on, or near the water or wandering amongst the trees.
Capstone Title: Wandering Home: An Experiential Group Therapy Project to Support the Spiritually Homeless
Favourite SSC Memory: Although I have many happy memories of spending time at SSC during my CPE training, I started my MPS just a few weeks before Covid struck. So, my first in-person class for my MPS came two and a half years later – for the first day of my last course! It was so great to see everyone in person and sit in the rolly office chairs once again.
Future Ambitions: I am looking forward to continuing to hone my craft as a Canadian Certified Counsellor at River’s Edge Counselling Centre, and putting my capstone project into practice next spring with the first offering of the Wandering Home Group. My long-term goals are to further specialize in spiritually-integrated therapy and support clients who have experienced spiritual or religious loss, trauma, abuse, or deconstruction.
James Samuel Drew
Sam lives in Edmonton. He has been working as a counselling intern with the Community Counselling Centre since July of 2022, and he hopes to continue on there as a contract counsellor after graduation. He and his wife also own a website business.
Capstone Title: Understanding How Attachment Orientation affects Military Couples during Deployment: A Workshop to aid in Communication and Relationship Satisfaction
Favourite SSC Memory: Sam’s favorite course at St. Stephen’s was group therapy with Jenny McAlister.
Jody Hegel
Born and raised in Calgary, Jody holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Theatre Studies from Dalhousie University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University. She began the Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality degree following a fulfilling career as a contemporary dance artist and yoga teacher in Montreal.
Capstone Title: Towards the Inner Self: A Dance and Movement Process for Inner Self Attunement
Favourite SSC Memory: The first big circle introduction/sharing on day one of Intro to Psychotherapy with Nicole Imgrund in April 2016. The cohort was large and the energy tingled with newness, a tinge of familiarity, and excitement.
Future Ambitions: I hope to pursue the integration of Authentic Movement and other dance modalities within my psychotherapy practice.
MASTER of Theological Studies in Diaconal Ministry
Kelley Warner
Kelley embraces her call to Diaconal Ministry as a person who loves stories. Kelley’s ministry training program through the Centre for Christian Studies, gave her opportunities to do field placements at two United churches, the Calgary Young Offenders Centre (CYOC) and for a social agency, Exploring Solutions. Part of her training required her to participate in a Global Perspective Experience in Palestine/Israel for three weeks. In the capacity of many roles, she heard stories from many individuals and communities through which she developed an awareness and understanding of the power of story to define and motivate individuals and communities in both beneficial and/or harmful ways.
Integrative Theology Paper Title: Re-authoring a New Canadian Narrative for Reconciliation
Favourite SSC Memory: Some fond memories include: learning about theology through poetry, film clips, and discussions including an excerpt from Winnie the Pooh; exploring the topic of Ethics by hearing different guest speakers that included an Indigenous social activist to someone who sits on a medical ethics review board at a hospital; attending a retreat where she participated in a contemplative nature walk reflecting on big questions about God and Science; writing and presenting a skit for a Women in Hebrew Scriptures class, about Queen Vashti speaking to other woman, in the menstruation hut, about her forced abdication; writing a letter to Paul for a Christian Scripture specific course, questioning Paul’s apparent inconsistencies around the role of women in the Christian community. She applauds St. Stephen’s progressive approaches to education highlighting inclusivity, creativity, flexibility, and cultural relevancy.
Future Ambitions: Going forward, Kelley continues with her passion for Reconciliation through volunteering her time in organizations committed to this justice work. She also continues to nurture her spirit by spending time with her family, taking classes in art, a chorus, and dance. She remains open and excited to the God nudges and where they may take her in the future, grateful to be part of the story.
Corvi Zeman