Diana (she/her), Springtide Ambassador (15 – Colorado) Favorite entertainment: I enjoy reading books, typically about crime, poetry, or teenagers. My favorite book is The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo. My favorite show would have to be The Originals or It’s Okay Not to Be Okay just because I prefer series
Sam (he/him/his), Springtide Ambassador (16 – New York) Favorite entertainment: I love action and horror movies. My favorite recent movie was Smile. Favorite dessert: Brownies Place where I feel at home: My school is a place where I feel at home and safe. Unique talent or trait: My talent is
Grace (she/her), Springtide Ambassador (22 – Kansas) Favorite entertainment: Chiefs Football, time with friends, playing games like Code Names and Settlers of Catan, making things with my hands like painting, ceramics, knitting, crocheting, playing guitar, and listening to music Favorite dessert: Cake pops! Place where I feel at rest: I
Gabrielle (she/her), Springtide Ambassador (24 – California) Favorite entertainment: Stand-up comedy shows Favorite dessert: Anything with dark chocolate Place where I feel centered: Sacred Heart Chapel at Loyola Marymount University Unique talent or trait: My undergrad degree is in music, and I can sing in French, German, and Italian! Dream
Tábatha (she/her), Springtide Ambassador (20 – Texas) Favorite entertainment: Reading! My favorite books are A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Time in Between, and Redeeming Love. Favorite dessert: Carrot cupcakes (or lemon pie) Place where I feel at rest: In my room, while listening to worship music Unique talent or trait:
Mia (she/her), Springtide Ambassador (18 – New York) Favorite entertainment: My favorite entertainment is live music and theater performances. Favorite dessert: My favorite dessert is apple pie. Place where I feel centered: I feel the most centered when I am in nature surrounded by nothing but trees. Unique talent or
Steven Ellair (he/him/his), National Speaker Steven Ellair has a special passion for bringing faith and meaning to life for young people. He has been involved in religious education for over 30 years and has served as a Catholic school teacher, parish catechist, youth minister, and Archdiocesan educational consultant. Steven has
Marte Aboagye (she/her), Head of Engagement & National Speaker marte (at) springtideresearch.org Marte has worked domestically and internationally with nonprofits, public schools, and churches in the areas of social justice, diversity, arts engagement, media communication, community organizing, and youth empowerment. Originally from Greeley, Colorado, Marte studied communication and philosophy/theology in
Dr. Angela Patterson (she/her), Head of Content & National Speaker angela (at) springtideresearch.org Dr. Angela Patterson is a media psychologist who specializes in technology’s effects on religious and spiritual development. A career communicator, Angela worked as a newspaper reporter and as a corporate/nonprofit communications professional for 13 years before earning
Brandon Wong, Research Intern Brandon Wong is a Research Intern who recently graduated from Pepperdine University with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religion. Brandon is passionate about raising awareness of the lived experiences of those who have disaffiliated from religion, and he hopes working at Springtide will allow him to