Vanessa Gomez Brake

In her role at the Office for Religious Life at Stanford University, Vanessa oversees programming which nurtures spiritual, religious and ethical life within the campus community. She is based in the historic Stanford Memorial Church, but can also be found working at the Windhover Contemplative Center and the CIRCLE: Center for Inter-Religious Community, Learning & Experiences.

EDUCATION:

B.A., Religious Studies, Arizona State University

M.S., Conflict Analysis & Resolution, George Mason University

M.Div, Interfaith Concentration, Chicago Theological Seminary, in progress

Certificate in Humanist Studies & Leadership, The Humanist Institute

Humanist Chaplain endorsement, The Humanist Society

While studying at George Mason, Vanessa worked as a graduate research assistant at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution. Her studies emphasized the relation of religious and ethical worldviews to peacemaking. Since that time, she has served worked on the ‘Abrahamic Family Reunion’ – (AFR) an international project offering ways to use psychological and spiritual approaches in reconciling conflicts among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. AFR is a project of Track Two: An Institute for Citizen Diplomacy. Vanessa has coordinated annual gatherings of religious leaders and academics for AFR at the Esalen Institute: Center for Theory & Research in Big Sur, CA.

From 2010 – 2014, she was Director of Operations & Outreach at The Chaplaincy Institute, An Interfaith Seminary & Community in Berkeley, CA. Additionally, Vanessa served as a guest faculty member, teaching courses such as: The Interfaith Landscape; Healing the Heart of Conflict; and Spiritual Guidance for Atheists, Humanists, and Agnostics.

In 2013, Vanessa was honored by the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County with their ‘Making a Difference Award.’ In 2011 & 2012, she was recognized by the North American Interfaith Network as a Young Adult Scholar.