Campus
Our Team
Meet the people on the ground making it all happen.
Leadership Team
Nate Beasley
Director of CCI
Nate is the team leader of the Chicago Campus Initiative (CCI). Jesus changed Nate early on in his life and specifically called him to serve the church. Along with leading CCI, he now pastors Trinity Anglican Church, a congregation which he planted. Nate and his wife Sarah have 4 children: twins Joshua and Eliana, Simeon, and Isaiah. Nate holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Illinois and a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College. For fun, Nate loves to juggle and even had a juggling business in 2008.
Allie Phalin
Executive Manager
Erin Betts
HR Manager
Erin graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014 and came to know Jesus through CCI’s ministry outreach. After spending several years as a campus missionary at UIC, she now runs policy management and human resources for CCI. Erin is married to Aaron (really), and loves doing crafts, walking their rescue greyhound, and reading fantasy books on the couch with their cat.
Tom O’Connor
Managing Director
Tom is one of the Chicago Campus Initiative’s two managing directors. His job is to lead CCI’s staff and student leaders in the work of sharing the love of Jesus on Chicagoland college campuses, discipling in local churches, and training next-generation leaders. It’s the coolest job in the world. Tom gave his life to Christ as a young boy, and discerned a call to ministry late in his college years after experiencing the transformative power of one-on-one discipleship in the context of the local church. Tom is married to Rebekah, who works as a pediatrician in the city. As if they weren’t cool enough already, Tom and Rebekah make a mean scone.
Kate Warren
Managing Director
Kate is the managing director of the Chicago Campus Initiative and also has the privilege of teaching the theology training course for our Fellowship. She loves to see how God transforms people slowly and faithfully through relational connection and diving into the deep things of God. When not being nerdy, Kate loves to ride her moped, ice skate, and walk in the woods with her husband, Joel, who is the congregational pastor at Trinity Anglican Church.
Olivia Haak
Recruiting Director and UIC Campus Leader
Olivia joined the CCI Fellowship in the Fall of 2020 after she graduated with a degree in math and secondary education from John Carroll University in 2019. After finishing up the Fellowship, Olivia joined full-time CCI staff. She leads recruiting new fellows for CCI, and works at UIC doing campus ministry. When Liv is not working, she loves to work out, play sports, and try a new recipe!
Kjetil Odden
UIC Deputy Movement Leader
Alyssa and Kjetil met at Northwestern University, where Jesus changed both of their lives through the Cru movement on campus and their local church in Evanston. Kjetil graduated in 2020 with a degree in Earth & Planetary Sciences, and Alyssa finished her degree in Learning Sciences in 2021. Kjetil and Alyssa were married in May of 2022 and have since enjoyed doing ministry together with Chicago Campus Initiative. In their free time, they enjoy reading, cycling, backpacking, musicals, and talking about their curly hair.
Training
Kate Warren
Theological Director, Fellowship Director
Lisa and John Traylor
Pastoral Cohort Director
Lisa & John are passionate about living in joy and peace, connecting with God and recovering from big emotions. Both have been trained in Immanuel Prayer through Alive & Well and in 2022 they completed Thrive Today’s 3 year training program on emotional and spiritual maturity. Sharing these skills with others is crucial in developing mature Christian disciples and the Traylors are excited to share them with the CCI fellows!
Employment
Administrative Assistant:
To advance the purpose of Chicago Campus Initiative, this position will provide administrative support to the Leadership Team, particularly in leadership meetings, recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training of fellows. For more information, or to pursue applying for this position, please contact Makenna Karnosh at mkarnosh@greenhousemovement.com.