The Reverend Gregory W. McGonigle became University Chaplain of Tufts University on July 1, 2013. Reporting to the President, his duties are to lead the University Chaplaincy team in supporting religious, spiritual, and philosophical life at the university; to educate about spiritual and ethical issues in society and the world; to coordinate multifaith initiatives and pastoral care on campus; and to build strategic relationships and partnerships around the university and beyond.
Priya Rakkhit Sraman joined the University Chaplaincy team in August of 2016 as Buddhist in Residence and became Buddhist Chaplain in July of 2018. He is originally from Chittagong, Bangladesh and he received his Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School in 2017.
Lynn Cooper, A02, has served as Tufts’ Catholic Chaplain since 2008. As an undergraduate at Tufts, Lynn lived as a devoted Jumbo, splitting her time between her studies–Religion and English–and the Tufts Women’s Soccer team. Her experience at Tufts changed the way she thought about what it means to be church, and this was and still is very exciting.
Walker Bristol, A14, joined the University Chaplaincy team in August of 2016 as Humanist in Residence and became Humanist Chaplain in July of 2018. They coordinate the Humanist Chaplaincy programming and serves the needs of nonreligious, atheist, agnostic, Humanist, and otherwise spiritually nontraditional students at Tufts. This includes anything from one-on-one conversations about students’ existential journeys and college lives to organizing events that offer a safe space for students outside traditional religion to explore their metaphysical experiences.
Rabbi Naftali Brawer was appointed Tufts’ Jewish Chaplain and Neubauer Executive Director of Tufts Hillel in May 2018. Before coming to Tufts, Naftali was Chief Executive of the Spiritual Capital Foundation, a London-based think tank and consultancy on the centrality of values in organizations. Prior to that role, he was Senior Rabbi to the Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue in Northwest London, one of the largest Jewish congregations in Europe, with close to 1300 members.
Celene Ibrahim was appointed Muslim Chaplain at Tufts University in 2014. She has also served as Islamic Studies Scholar-in-Residence on the faculties of Andover Newton Theological School and Hebrew College and as Co-Director of CIRCLE, the Center for Inter-Religious and Communal Leadership Education.
The Reverend Daniel Bell was appointed Protestant Chaplain at Tufts University in August of 2016. As a member of the University Chaplaincy team, Dan is dedicated to enriching the spiritual and ethical lives of all those affiliated with Tufts, with a focus on the Protestant community. He works closely with the Tufts Protestant Students Association to develop the ecumenical Protestant community on campus. Dan works with students to coordinate worship services, spiritual formation activities, service and social justice projects, and ecumenical and interfaith initiatives. He also provides pastoral care to students, faculty, and staff
Zachary Cole joined the University Chaplaincy team in June of 2014 as Program and Outreach Specialist and became Program Manager in July of 2017. He is charged with coordinating and implementing high-level programming and outreach efforts to connect and integrate the University Chaplaincy with all segments of the university and external partners.
Alex Chiu joined the University Chaplaincy team in July 2017 as Chaplaincy Coordinator. In this role, she serves as the primary point of contact for the University Chaplaincy and ensures effective and efficient office operations. She manages the reservation, use, and upkeep of Goddard Chapel and the Tufts Interfaith Center, coordinates the University Chaplaincy Student Worker program, and monitors the department’s budgets and finances. She is also responsible for implementing department data management and communications plans and coordinating logistics for complex events.
Thomas B. Dawkins was appointed Music Director and Organist in the Tufts University Chaplaincy in August 2018. His main duties are to provide music for the Protestant Evening Worship that takes place weekly in Goddard Chapel, various university events including Matriculation, Baccalaureate, and Commencement, as well as performing and organizing concerts in the chapel such as the Halloween Midnight Organ Recital and Winter Holiday Concert. He also curates instruments and records the monthly tune played by the carillon in the bell tower. He is committed to making the chapel at Tufts a destination for those wishing to hear and to make great sacred music.
