The Spiritual Life Center is located on the corner of Brevard and College streets, behind Elliot and Rosel Schewel Hall.
The center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mailing Address
University of Lynchburg
Spiritual Life Center
1501 Lakeside Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24501
Physical Address
Spiritual Life Center
500 Brevard Street
Lynchburg, VA 24501
Our religiously diverse staff of chaplains and ministers are available to journey with any student as they pursue their spiritual path. All of our chaplains are active members of the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education. Please contact us to schedule a time to meet.
Rev. Nathan Albert
University Chaplain
Nathan Albert is a professional actor turned ordained minister who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance from Rockford University, Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary, and a Certificate in Spiritual Transformation from The Transforming Center. Nathan is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry in Interreligious Chaplaincy. After a career as a singer and actor, Nathan worked as a pastor at a church in Rhode Island, a campus minister at North Park University, a pediatric chaplain at a hospital in Chicago, and as the Director of Pastoral Care and Counseling for The Marin Foundation. He is the author of the book, Embracing Love: My Journey to Hugging a Man in His Underwear, and writes regularly on his website. He is married to Kate and they have two sons, Foster and Theo.
Jeremy Bryant ’03, ’10 MA, MFA
Assistant Professor of English
Richard H. Thornton Chair
Director of the Wilmer Writing Center
Interfaith Chaplain
Jer Bryant ’03, ’10 MA is a two-time alumnus of the University of Lynchburg. He holds a master of fine arts in creative writing from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is a published poet, essayist, artist, and a human rights advocate. Jer, an assistant professor of English, serves as director of the Wilmer Writing Center.
Jer is highly influenced by Eastern religions, having independently studied various spiritual paths for over 15 years. One of his greatest passions is interfaith dialogue, and he enjoys building bridges between people of different religions and non-theists. Jer founded Queer & Spiritual, the University’s Humanist Community, and University of Lynchburg’s Buddhist Community as well as co-founding Sangha. He is also the advisor for Hillel. Jer enjoys chanting, meditation, and spiritual artwork.
Christie Rapp ’83
Office Manager
The glue that holds our office together, Christie Rapp has been employed on campus since 1989, the past 25 years of which were spent in the Spiritual Life Center where she has served with at least five different chaplains. She is a 1983 graduate of the University of Lynchburg (then Lynchburg College) with a degree in English, and a minor in Journalism. Other departments to which she has contributed on campus include the Economics Department, the Bonner Leader Program, the Summer Residential Governor’s School, and for two years as Vice Chair of the Commencement Committee. Christie and her husband, Chip, have three grown children, the youngest of which is an LC grad – woohoo! She is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia and loves water sports, southern rock music, and dining out. Her favorite thing about working in the Spiritual Life Center is learning more about and appreciating the many different religions and spiritualities of Lynchburg’s students.
Kayla Serratore
Director of Catholic Campus Ministry
Kayla Serratore is the Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Lynchburg. A graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Development, she was the founder and president of the school’s first Catholic Campus Ministry. An avid reader, runner, and lover of the autumn season in Virginia, Kayla is very excited to be joining the Spiritual Life Center on campus.
Ministers on Call
Our ministers on call support our spiritual life staff through pastoral care and as on-call minister presence to the campus. During the academic year, a minister on call is available 24 hours a day for any crisis or emergency.
- Randy Bower
bower.r@lynchburg.edu - William Deal
- Gail Goldsmith
- Nina Salmon ’93 MEd, PhD
salmon@lynchburg.edu
Graduate Assistant
Mimi Oliver ’22
Graduate Assistant for Initiatives in Peacebuilding Through Spirituality and the Arts
Mimi Oliver graduated from the University of Lynchburg in 2022 with a degree in Environmental Science, and is currently pursuing her Master of Education in Science Education. She enjoys hiking, reading, being creative, and supporting Lynchburg Sports (she was a member of the Women’s Tennis and Basketball teams). Mimi said she enjoys working in the Spiritual Life Center because of the opportunity to learn about the many different religions, spiritualities, and practices of the student body, and how commonalities can bring students together.
