Writer Bios

We couldn't offer The Well to our readers without the generous contributions of our writers. Read through their bios to learn from their stories and click through for links to the articles they have written. If you are interested in writing for The Well, explore our Writer's Guidelines.

 

Laura Meitzner Yoder directs the Program in Human Needs and Global Resources and is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Wheaton College, IL.  Her educational background includes a BA in Biology from Messiah College, an MPS in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell University, and a PhD in Forestry and Environmental Studies from Yale University. She enjoys being in mountain forests, learning languages, and eating Asian food and tropical fruits. 

Jana is an Associate Professor of Voice and the Voice Area Coordinator in the School of Music at Kennesaw State University. Jana, a soprano, received her undergraduate vocal training at Baylor University, and holds two degrees; a BMEd and a BM in Vocal Pedagogy as well as a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Louisiana. A native Louisianan, Jana now lives in Kennesaw, Georgia with her dog Buster.

Nancy Wang Yuen (PhD, University of California) is a sociologist and pop culture expert. She is the author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism and serves as an associate professor of sociology at Biola University. She has appeared on PBS, NPR, NBC Nightly News, BBC World TV, Dr. Phil, New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. She is a guest writer at Newsweek, Elle, HuffPost, and Self. Follow Nancy on Twitter @nancywyuen and visit her website at nancywyuen.com.

Anne Zaki has long been working to integrate her faith and her passion for social justice. She also has dedicated much of her time teaching seminary students about preaching, worship, spiritual formation, psychology, and communication.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Anne was selected by the government at age 16 to attend an international school in Canada dedicated to peace and international understanding. Ever since, she has been cultivating a global perspective on life and faith, having served churches and church-related institutions in the U.S. and Canada for 13 years. In September 2011, nine months after the Arab Spring, Anne returned to Egypt with her family, where she has spent the last five years teaching. She has also spoken at gatherings like Missio Nexus, the Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM), and the Lausanne Movement’s Younger Leaders Gathering (YLG).

Anne has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Calvin College, a master’s in social psychology from the American University in Cairo, and an MDiv from Calvin Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing a PhD in preaching from Fuller Theological Seminary and serving as Assistant Professor at The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo.

Jen Zamzow is a philosopher, a writer, and a mom to two little boys. She explores how we can overcome obstacles to our thinking and decision making so that we can live more meaningful, intentional, and connected lives. Jen lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and teaches ethics online for UCLA and Concordia University Irvine. She blogs about religion, politics, and parenting at jenzamzow.com.

Amy earned degrees in English from Seattle Pacific University, Western Washington University, and the University of Tennessee. After teaching college composition and literature for several years at a Christian university, she worked as an editor for a research center in Washington, DC. Amy has published academic articles and is currently working on her first book — a memoir about not meeting her husband until age 35 and revising the conception of God she had grown up with.  

Amy lives with her husband and eight-year-old daughter in the suburbs of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She leads church groups and field trips, organizes play dates and closets, and makes as much time for reading and writing as this season of motherhood allows. Amy is passionate about encouraging others to actively engage with God to shape God's ongoing creativity in their lives.

After spending several years as a writer with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Abigail Zimmer will begin working on her MFA in poetry at Columbia College Chicago. She likes Old English, the sassy blues of Janis Joplin, and futzing with cameras. She blogs on art and good people at offthefrontporch.wordpress.com.

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