Executive Staff

Joel Woodruff
President, C.S. Lewis InstituteJoel Woodruff, President, C.S. Lewis Institute, has worked in higher education, “tent-making,” nonprofit administration, and pastoral ministries in Alaska, Israel, Hungary, France, and Northern Virginia. He served as Dean…
Team Members

Joel Woodruff
President, C.S. Lewis InstituteJoel Woodruff, President, C.S. Lewis Institute, has worked in higher education, “tent-making,” nonprofit administration, and pastoral ministries in Alaska, Israel, Hungary, France, and Northern Virginia. He served as Dean of Students, Chaplain, and Professor of Bible & Theology at European Bible Institute, where he helped train Europeans both for professional ministry and to be Christian leaders in the marketplace. Prior to joining the Institute, he was on the leadership team of Oakwood Services International, a nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, earned his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. As a Parish-Pulpit Fellow, he studied Biblical Backgrounds & Archaeology in Israel for a year.

Joseph A. Kohm
Vice President for Development, CSLI & CSLI City Director, Virginia BeachJoseph A. Kohm, C.S. Lewis Institute Vice President for Development. He also serves as the City Director for C.S Lewis Institute -Virginia Beach. Joe is an attorney and…
Team Members

Joseph A. Kohm
Vice President for Development, CSLI & CSLI City Director, Virginia BeachJoseph A. Kohm, C.S. Lewis Institute Vice President for Development. He also serves as the City Director for C.S Lewis Institute -Virginia Beach. Joe is an attorney and formerly worked as a Certified Major League Baseball Player Agent. He earned his Master’s in Management Science from the State University of New York at Oswego and both his J.D. and M.Div. from Regent University. Joe also played basketball for Syracuse University and was a member of the 1987 team that made it to the Final Four.

Thomas A. Tarrants
Author, President Emeritus, CSLI & CSLI City Director for Washington D.C.Thomas A. Tarrants, Author, is President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute. After serving twelve years as president and nine years as vice President, he retired from his position as Vice…
Team Members

Thomas A. Tarrants
Author, President Emeritus, CSLI & CSLI City Director for Washington D.C.Thomas A. Tarrants, Author, is President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute. After serving twelve years as president and nine years as vice President, he retired from his position as Vice President for Ministry and Director, Washington Area Fellows Program, with CSLI in June 2019. Tom holds a Masters of Divinity Degree, as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Christian Spirituality. He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church Alliance and a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. Going forward, Tom will be spending his time writing, mentoring, consulting and traveling. His life story is told in Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Thomas W. Simmons
Executive Vice President, CSLIThomas W. Simmons, CSLI Executive Vice President, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with degrees in chemistry and English literature. He has also undertaken graduate…
Team Members

Thomas W. Simmons
Executive Vice President, CSLIThomas W. Simmons, CSLI Executive Vice President, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with degrees in chemistry and English literature. He has also undertaken graduate studies in business and finance. A 30-year Wall Street career led to positions as Senior Vice President in investment banking and finally as Managing Director of a venture capital firm. He has served on various boards of directors and boards of advisors.
Senior Fellow Staff

Arthur W. Lindsley
Senior Fellow for Apologetics, CSLIArthur W. Lindsley, is the Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Works, & Economics. He has served at the C.S. Lewis Institute since 1987 both…
Team Members

Arthur W. Lindsley
Senior Fellow for Apologetics, CSLIArthur W. Lindsley, is the Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Works, & Economics. He has served at the C.S. Lewis Institute since 1987 both as President until 1998 and currently as Senior Fellows for Apologetics. Formerly, he was director of Educational Ministries at the Ligonier Valley Study Center, and Staff Specialist with the Coalition for Christian Outreach. He is the author of C.S. Lewis’s Case for Christ, True Truth, Love: The Ultimate Apologetic, and co-author with R.C. Sproul and John Gerstner of Classical Apologetics, and has written numerous articles on theology, apologetics, C.S. Lewis, and the lives and works of many other authors and teachers. Art earned his M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

William L. Kynes
Pastor, Senior Fellow for Pastoral Theology, CSLIPastor William L. “Bill” Kynes, is the Senior Fellow for Pastoral Theology at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and retired Senior Pastor of Cornerstone, an Evangelical Free Church, in Annandale,…
Team Members

William L. Kynes
Pastor, Senior Fellow for Pastoral Theology, CSLIPastor William L. “Bill” Kynes, is the Senior Fellow for Pastoral Theology at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and retired Senior Pastor of Cornerstone, an Evangelical Free Church, in Annandale, VA, where he served from 1986 – 2022. He was an undergraduate at the University of Florida with a major in philosophy. There he also played quarterback and was later inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, receiving an MA in theology. He received an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, before returning to England for a PhD in New Testament from Cambridge University. From 1997-1999, he served as an adjunct professor in New Testament for the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Washington, DC, Extension Program.

James M. Houston
Professor, CSLI Co-Founder, Senior Fellow for Faith and Vocation, CSLIJames M. Houston, Professor, is a co-founder of the C.S. Lewis Institute. From its beginning, Jim has served as a Senior Fellow of the Institute, lecturing at CSLI events…
Team Members

James M. Houston
Professor, CSLI Co-Founder, Senior Fellow for Faith and Vocation, CSLIJames M. Houston, Professor, is a co-founder of the C.S. Lewis Institute. From its beginning, Jim has served as a Senior Fellow of the Institute, lecturing at CSLI events over the past four decades. He received his Bachelor of Science and M.A. degrees from the University of Edinburgh and a D. Phil. from Oxford University. He was a University Lecturer at Oxford from 1947 – 1971 where he taught cultural and historical geography. While teaching at Oxford, he met C.S. Lewis and participated in a regular Bible study with him for six years. He is known as one of the “founding fathers” of Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia where he has served as the first Principal, Chancellor and Professor of Spiritual Theology.

Jerry Root
Professor, Christopher W. Mitchell Senior Fellow for C.S. Lewis StudiesJerry Root, Professor, is a graduate of Talbot Graduate School of Theology at Biola University. He received his Ph.D. from the Open University through the Oxford Centre for Missions…
Team Members

Jerry Root
Professor, Christopher W. Mitchell Senior Fellow for C.S. Lewis StudiesJerry Root, Professor, is a graduate of Talbot Graduate School of Theology at Biola University. He received his Ph.D. from the Open University through the Oxford Centre for Missions Studies. He has written C. S. Lewis and a Problem of Evil, An Investigation of a Pervasive Theme, and is the co-editor of, The Quotable C. S. Lewis. He wrote, The Sacrament of Evangelism and published The Surprising Imagination of C. S. Lewis and co-authored The Neglected C. S. Lewis. His most recent book is Dymer: A Splendour in the Dark. Jerry has lectured on C. S. Lewis at 78 Universities in 18 different countries. He is currently serving as the Director of the Institute for Strategic Evangelism at the Wheaton College.

Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Professor, Senior Fellow for Systematic Theology, CSLIKevin J. Vanhoozer, Professor, received his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University. He joined the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1986. He was…
Team Members

Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Professor, Senior Fellow for Systematic Theology, CSLIKevin J. Vanhoozer, Professor, received his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University. He joined the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1986. He was Senior Lecturer at New College, University of Edinburgh; and Blanchard Professor of Theology at Wheaton College. Vanhoozer is the Senior Theological Mentor for the St. Augustine Fellowship of the Center for Pastor Theologians. Vanhoozer has written several notable books, including The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology, which won the Christianity Today 2006 Book Award for best book in theology, and Faith Speaking Understanding: Performing the Drama of Doctrine, which won the Christianity Today 2015 Book Award for best book in theology.

Lyle Dorsett
Professor, Senior Fellow for Spiritual Formation, CSLILyle Dorsett, Professor, holds the Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism at Beeson Divinity School in Samford University. He taught courses in evangelism, spiritual formation and church history. He also…
Team Members

Lyle Dorsett
Professor, Senior Fellow for Spiritual Formation, CSLILyle Dorsett, Professor, holds the Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism at Beeson Divinity School in Samford University. He taught courses in evangelism, spiritual formation and church history. He also serves as the pastor of Christ the King Anglican Church in Homewood, Alabama. Lyle received his PhD in American history and has published numerous books, including several Christian biographies and three works on C. S. Lewis.

Randy Newman
Author, Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism, CSLIRandy Newman, Author, is the Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He has taught at several evangelical seminaries. After serving for over 30 years…
Team Members

Randy Newman
Author, Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism, CSLIRandy Newman, Author, is the Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He has taught at several evangelical seminaries. After serving for over 30 years with Campus Crusade for Christ, he established Connection Points, a ministry to help Christians engage people’s hearts the way Jesus did. He has written six books, Questioning Evangelism, Corner Conversations, Bringing the Gospel Home, Engaging with Jewish People, Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism and his most recent, Mere Evangelism. Randy has also written numerous articles about evangelism and other ways our lives intertwine with God’s creation. He earned his MDiv and PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity International University.

Stuart McAlpine
Pastor, Teaching Fellow, CSLIStuart McAlpine, is a teaching fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute and the founding pastor of Christ our Shepherd Church located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. He speaks…
Team Members

Stuart McAlpine
Pastor, Teaching Fellow, CSLIStuart McAlpine, is a teaching fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute and the founding pastor of Christ our Shepherd Church located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. He speaks at churches and conferences around the world and lectures for the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program. He has a great knowledge of and love for the works of C.S. Lewis. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Theology from Cambridge University in Great Britain.
Administrative Staff

Semy Godo
Senior Administrative Associate, CSLISemy Godo, Senior Administrative Associate, Semy joined the C.S. Lewis Institute in September 2016 as Senior Administrative Associate. Her professional experience in budget, project management, event coordinator, operations management, and…
Team Members

Semy Godo
Senior Administrative Associate, CSLISemy Godo, Senior Administrative Associate, Semy joined the C.S. Lewis Institute in September 2016 as Senior Administrative Associate. Her professional experience in budget, project management, event coordinator, operations management, and quality analysis over the years ranges in various sectors including higher education, small business and non-profit. Semy received her MBA from Florida Tech (Melbourne, FL) and a BS in Business Information Technology from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA.) Semy’s passion is to empower and help the amazing team of staff and volunteers at CSLI, that they may daily strive for excellence while serving others to fulfill the mission of the Institute – discipleship of heart and mind!

Dave Chaves
Technology and Communications Associate, CSLIDave Chaves, Technology and Communications Associate, Dave has worked in nonprofit, Christian communications for over 10 years, including most recently with Five Talents USA. He…
Team Members

Dave Chaves
Technology and Communications Associate, CSLIDave Chaves, Technology and Communications Associate, Dave has worked in nonprofit, Christian communications for over 10 years, including most recently with Five Talents USA. He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and an MDiv from Africa International University. He’s been involved in cross-cultural missions in East Africa for over 10 years and is an Associate Missionary with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders. Dave met his lovely wife Lucy in Kenya and they have four children. He is excited to be part of the CSLI team and to support communications and technology to further the ministry of discipleship.

Barry Bradshaw
Bookkeeper, CSLIBarry Bradshaw, Bookkeeper, Barry was born and raised in Japan. He received his college education in Kentucky and then spent seven years in the U.S. Army before settling down…
Team Members

Barry Bradshaw
Bookkeeper, CSLIBarry Bradshaw, Bookkeeper, Barry was born and raised in Japan. He received his college education in Kentucky and then spent seven years in the U.S. Army before settling down in Hawaii to begin his accounting career. Although starting out as an auditor for a CPA Firm, he specialized in nonprofit organization work, ranging from Easter Seal Society and American Diabetes Association to National Right to Work. He also has twelve years of church accounting and administrative experience. Barry brings over 32 years of accounting experience to the table. He is married with two children.

Barbara Ramey
Data Management, CSLIBarbara Ramey, Data Management, CSLI, Barbara seeks to live her life devoted to faithfully following Christ as described in God’s word. Her husband Rob’s career in the…
Team Members

Barbara Ramey
Data Management, CSLIBarbara Ramey, Data Management, CSLI, Barbara seeks to live her life devoted to faithfully following Christ as described in God’s word. Her husband Rob’s career in the Air Force allowed Barbara and her three grown daughters to explore three continents for roughly twenty-five years, before she and Rob settled in Western Pennsylvania in 2021. The Lord strengthened Barbara’s witness thru the C.S. Lewis Institute’s Fellows Program, from which she graduated in 2019. A former librarian and teacher, Barbara has homeschooled and has taught various subjects from kindergarten through 12th grade at classical Christian schools in Alexandria, and Herndon, VA. Following a year volunteering at the C.S. Lewis Institute in Northern Virginia, Barbara now enjoys supporting the team by working with the administration staff as well as the website team.
Volunteers
Ed Glancy, J.D. – Ed was a member of the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Class of 2002-2003 and completed the Year Two program the following year. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1977 and received a J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1980. He served as an attorney with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 32 years, most of that time as Senior Attorney. He currently serves the C.S. Lewis Institute part-time as a volunteer.
Susan Horn – Susan completed both years of the Fellows program and knew from that time that God had called her to give back the C.S. Lewis Institute in a volunteer capacity because of how impactful the program had been for her. She is retired for the FAA after a 30+ year career of Federal Government Service. She has a big heart for missions, has served in a small village on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala for over 20 years and sponsors 5 children from there. She serves in her local church, Parkway Bible church, as a Deacon and as a member of the Mission and Mercy Committee. She is currently attending Dallas Theological Seminary working toward a degree in Christian Education and trying to figure out how to incorporate missions into her studies.
Aimee Riegert – Aimee earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and foreign language studies from Southern Methodist University. In addition to supporting various national security efforts in Northern Virginia, she has worked as an itinerant high school math teacher and drama coach, and has served in women’s ministries, praise teams, on the adult support team for Young Life and as a “mentor mom” for MOPS International ministries, as well as English instructor in several ESL programs in Japan. She is a graduate of the C.S. Lewis Institute Year One Fellows Program.
Michael Unger – An avid student of C.S. Lewis, Mike has completed both year one and two of CSLI’s Fellows program, as well as the Life, Faith, and Writings of C.S. Lewis program. He also mentors year one and year two fellows in the Fellows program. Mike is a member of National Presbyterian Church. He received his BS degree from The Ohio State University, MA from Washington University, and PhD degree from Penn State University. Upon retirement from the government he became a professor of international business and globalization at Loyola University Maryland. Unger is an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategy and International Studies (CSIS) as well as Senior Institute Associate at Harvard Business School’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness.
Chip Wedan – Chip serves as the CSLI City Director for Washington, DC. After earning his law degree from the University of Florida, he accepted an officer’s commission in the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. For the next 28 years, he served as a trial defense counsel and advisor to military commanders in international law, ethics, and military criminal justice. After retirement from the Navy, he served in the Department of Defense Office of General Counsel in the Pentagon. Today, in his role as City Director, his desire is to encourage followers of Jesus Christ to know Him better as Lord of their lives and to live effectively for Him.
The programs and ministry of the C.S. Lewis Institute are indebted to the numerous volunteers who graciously offer their time and talents throughout the year. Their generosity enables the Institute to maintain lower overhead expenses and to provide higher quality conferences, publications, and Fellows programs than would be possible through the staff alone.