Meet the Team

William B. Whitney, Ph.D., MFT

Executive Director, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

William B. Whitney, PhD, is the Executive Director for Faith, Leadership, and Service and an Associate Professor in the School of Behavioral Sciences at Azusa Pacific University. He earned a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MA in Theology from Oxford University, a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Seminary, and is currently completing his PhD in Developmental Psychology at Claremont Graduate University. His teaching and research focus on the integration of theology, positive psychology, human development, and culture. He is co-author of The Integration Journey (IVP, 2024) and Theology for Psychology and Counseling (Baker Academic, 2022), both of which explore how Christian theology can inform and enrich psychological research and clinical practice. His scholarship has been supported by the John Templeton Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the Louisville Institute. A licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 15 years of experience, he draws on his clinical work with individuals, couples, families, and groups to inform his teaching, research, and service.

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wwhitney@apu.edu

Caleb Roose, M.Div.

Director of Program Development and Strategic Operations, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Caleb Roose, M.Div., is the Director of Program Development and Strategic Operations at the Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service (IFLS). Over the course of his career, Caleb has managed multiple million-dollar research and development grants, coached, consulted, and spoken for organizations around the world, and coauthored multiple resources for leaders. In addition to his work at IFLS, Caleb is the founder of Good Enough Dads (goodenoughdads.com), where he provides career and parenting coaching for fathers. A Southern California native, Caleb lives with his wife and three children near Pasadena, CA.

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croose@apu.edu

Caleb Roose, M.Div.

Director of Program Development and Strategic Operations, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

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croose@apu.edu

Andrew Harootian, M.Div.

Assistant Director, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Andrew Harootian, M.Div., is an Assistant Director at the Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service. Andrew had the honor of pastoring in three different local churches in various capacities over the span of a dozen years before joining the IFLS team. He is an APU alum where he got both his Bachelors in Youth Ministry (’13) and his Masters of Divinity (’18). Andrew has a heart for both care and empowerment that is inspired by God’s love. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Elyssa, and his two sons, Henri and Asher, as well as reading, hiking, TV shows, and all things superheroes.

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aharootian@apu.edu

Rev. Candice McVey, M.A.

Assistant Director, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Candice McVey is an Assistant Director at the Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service. She is passionate about sharing the redemptive love of Christ, the spiritual formation of children, and supporting brave ministry leaders in this journey. Candice’s ministry background is in children, families, and pastoral care. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies from California State University Long Beach and an MA in Ministry from Point Loma University of the Nazarene. In 2026, she received her ordination in the church of the Nazarene. Before joining the Lord in ministry, she worked as a teacher and marketer in commercial real estate. Candice is also devoted to being a wife and mom to three amazing kids.

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cmcvey@apu.edu

Rev. Candice McVey, M.A.

Assistant Director, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

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cmcvey@apu.edu

Ruth Tjakra, M.A.

Assistant Director, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Ruth Tjakra, M.A., is an Assistant Director at the Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service. With over 10 years of experience in worship leading, youth pastoring, mentoring, and music teaching, Ruth’s passions lie in youth and young adult ministries, creative arts, and helping individuals tell their stories. Ruth’s work and ministry are characterized by working to bridge generational and cultural gaps, as well as challenging and empowering students to be authentic and explore questions regarding faith, identity, and culture. She is also a two-time APU alumna, earning her Bachelor of Music in Music & Worship with a minor in Psychology, and her Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies. Ruth loves spending time with her fiancé, Colin, and any opportunity to eat good food or get lost in a good story.

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rtjakra@apu.edu

Lisa Keesler, M.Div.

Operations Manager, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Lisa Keesler, M.Div., is the Operations Manager for the Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service at Azusa Pacific University. After earning her B.A. in Biblical Studies and Master of Divinity as a first-generation college student, Lisa joined IFLS and now oversees the operations for all Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service programs. She hopes to embody “loving thy neighbor” in every area of life and is passionate about the church being the hands and feet of Jesus. Lisa serves as a worship leader, pastor, writer, and discipleship mentor at her local church; alongside being an avid Lord of the Rings watcher and puzzle-solver at home.

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lkeesler@apu.edu

Lisa Keesler, M.Div.

Operations Manager, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

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lkeesler@apu.edu

Paola Mae Biton, B.S.

Program Manager, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Paola Mae Biton serves as a Program Manager for the Institute of Faith, Leadership, and Service at Azusa Pacific University. Raised in one of the most multicultural neighborhoods of Los Angeles to first generation Filipino immigrants, she is passionate about community-based programming and research that centers the strengths and lived experiences of God’s sons and daughters across the lifespan. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from APU (‘23), where she participated in research initiatives focused on culture, well-being, and positive psychology. Following graduation, she worked closely with older adults, a meaningful experience that grounded her commitment to intergenerational connection. She is eager to serve the Lord and the APU community in the Institute. In her free time, she enjoys reading, junk journaling, and trying new food!

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pbiton@apu.edu

Leah Villalobos, MBA

Program Coordinator, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

As the Program Coordinator for the Institute of Faith, Leadership, and Service at Azusa Pacific University, Leah is enthusiastic about belonging to a workplace where she can contribute to the Kingdom of God. She is a double alum of California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, with a BS in Business Administration (’24) and an MBA (’26). She comes from a background in event management, working with organizations like Crypto.com Arena, the LA County Fair, and The Walt Disney Company. She thrives on seeing events come to life from initial vision to execution and wants to use the skills learned from her experience for the Lord. A fan of slow mornings and active days, she loves a good morning run followed by visiting a cozy coffee shop. In her free time she enjoys going on nature walks, baking, crafting, and spending time with her dogs Rex and Cody.

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lvillalobos@apu.edu

Leah Villalobos, MBA

Program Coordinator, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

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lvillalobos@apu.edu

Annelyse Thomas, M.Div.

Preaching Lab Coordinator, Compelling Preaching Initiative

Annelyse Thomas, M.Div., was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. After completing her Bachelors in Philosophy and Government & International Relations, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary. Annelyse has over 12 years of experience in church ministry and mentorship. She is passionate about helping individuals discover who they are, whose they are, and where they belong. She loves to spend time with her husband, Ryan, and her son, Levi, baking sweet treats, and sitting down with a good book and a cozy coffee.

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athomas@apu.edu

Daniel Aguirre

Student Administrative Assistant, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service

Daniel Aguirre is a theology student at Azusa Pacific University and serves as a Student Administrative Assistant for the Institute of Faith, Leadership, and Service. Through his involvement in youth ministry and preaching, Daniel has developed a passion for helping young people grow in their faith and discover how God is calling them to serve. He has served as a youth leader at his local church, where he has had the opportunity to encourage and walk alongside young people in their faith. Daniel is passionate about continuing to grow as a leader and learning how to communicate Scripture in ways that are faithful, meaningful, and relevant. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, exploring new technology, and watching movies with his wife.

Daniel Aguirre

Student Administrative Assistant, Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service