Staff and Leaders

Campus Minister

Director of The Wesley Foundation

jen.wesley.psu@gmail.com

Jen Gruendler has been in State College since late August 2014. She loves that God has called her to serve as the Director of Campus Ministry at St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation where she gets to work daily with a diverse group of amazing Penn State students from around the state, country and world. She has a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelors from University of Colorado, Boulder (Go Buffs!). She has a passion for exploring the intersections of faith and life and justice, for enjoying the great outdoors, and believes grace and love can transform just about anything. She is a Minnesota girl at heart, who loves Jesus, the mountains, college sports, Chai tea, large bodies of water, and sound theology. Her favorite job in the world is being “Aunt Jenny” to her beautiful and spunky niece, nephew, cousins and Godchildren. If you are looking for support, looking for a way to grow in your faith, or just want to sit and chat about life over tea and coffee she would love to get to know you! 

Abba Java Coffeehouse Manager 

abba.java.psu@gmail.com 

Sue graduated from Penn State in 1990 with a degree in elementary education. She hopes that Abba Java is a place where students can come to feel "at home" - safe, loved, and refreshed. Her favorite part about Abba Java is meeting and getting to know students! She loves hearing about their studies and plans for the future! Sue is a mother of three daughters and an animal lover who is also "mom" to two dogs, a parrot, and a horse. Sue is the person to contact if you wish to volunteer or get more involved at Abba Java! 

Wesley Assistant

Karen grew up in State College and has attended St. Paul's her entire life.  She graduated from Penn State in 2004 with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management.  Karen, her husband, Steve and two boys, James and Zachary currently reside in Pine Grove Mills.  

St. Paul's and Wesley Intern 

Major: Chemical Engineering

 Hometown: Huntington Mills, PA

 Favorite Place in State College: The Life Sciences Bridge on campus. I could sit and watch people walk by all day!

 Favorite Breakfast Food: Home fries!

 Favorite inspirational quote  that helps guide your life?

"She turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans" -Kobi Yamada

Abba Java Volunteer Management Intern

Major: Human Development and Family Studies

Hometown: Chantilly, Virginia

Favorite PSU Creamery flavor: Happy Happy Joy Joy

Favorite inspirational quote that helps guide your life:  “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

St. Paul's Children's Ministry Intern

Major: Political Science

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee

Favorite Creamery Flavor: Cookies n Cream or Death by Chocolate

Favorite Breakfast Food: Egg White omelet with Spinach and ham/ Waffles

One super power: I would want the ability to fill anything, i.e., a water bottle, gas in my car, my bank account

Abba Java Management Intern

Major: Smeal Business School

Hometown: Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

Graduate Student Leader

Major: PhD Candidate Meteorology

Favorite Place in State College: Penn State Golf Course

Favorite Creamery Ice-cream: Death by Chocolate

Any Super Power? Atmokinesis... endless case studies and control over the chaos.