OUR LEADERS

Abby hails from the great state of New Hampshire, where she grew up as a preacher’s kid. She went to college at Lincoln Christian University, where she studied philosophy and spiritual formation. Abby now works at Dana-Farber Cancer institute as a New Patient Coordinator. She’s a fan of Jane Austen movies, coffee, and all things blankets.

Jeremy is originally from Daytona Beach, Florida and he still has a soft spot for Florida beaches and theme parks. Jeremy grew up in church (he’s also a preacher’s kid), and attended Johnson University Florida (B.A. in Humanities and Bible) and later attended the seminary at Lincoln Christian University where he earned his Master of Divinity. He now works at Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, a nonprofit that finds adoptive homes for children in foster care, as the Director of Communications. Jeremy loves thick books, writing, and board games.

Laura is originally from the farms of Iowa, where she grew up in a strong Christian family. Laura studied at the University of Northwestern and later worked as a teacher and missionary in Russia for eight years. She also earned a Masters of Religious Education from Lincoln Christian University. She now works at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences as an Administrative Assistant, and is working on a certificate in gerontology so that she can better pursue a passion for helping the elderly. Laura loves good popcorn, quiet walks, and exploring different cultures.

Kyle Vining and his wife Melissa have been residents of the Woodbourne neighborhood and involved with RIZA since 2016. They are members of Old South Church in Boston, MA. Originally from Minnesota, Kyle appreciates Boston's closely-packed mixture of residential, urban, and green spaces. He advocates for safer and more equitable urban cycling. Professionally, Kyle is a scientist at Harvard University and practices preventive, restorative, and esthetic dentistry in Brookline. His research develops new biomaterials and investigates the role of mechanics in regulating inflammation. He earned a Ph.D. in bioengineering from Harvard University, D.D.S. from the University of Minnesota, and B.S. in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University. He enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, urban cycling, reading, and running.

Caleb is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University, where he earned both a Beachelor of Arts degree and a Master's in Spiritual Formation. Caleb and his wife Lizy currently reside in Augusta, GA.