Doug Kindschi, Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Founding Director

Pronouns: he/him
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (616) 331-5878

Now in my 47th year at Grand Valley State University, I have served in the position of Dean of Science for 28 of those years. I am currently University Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy and the Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Founding Director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute. While Dean, I was responsible for 14 departments including the basic sciences, mathematics, computer science, the School of Engineering, the School of Health Professions and the Water Resources Research Institute. I received my bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Houghton College in New York, and did graduate study at the Divinity School, University of Chicago. I received my M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I also completed a minor in philosophy as a part of my doctoral study.

Kyle Kooyers, Director of Operations

Pronouns: he/him
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (616) 331-5718

I have an immense passion for community organizing and capacity building. From working with youth in under-resourced neighborhoods to tackling the nuances of food insecurity in rural areas, I have long seen the power and impact of people working together across lines of difference to make a community a healthy and inclusive place for everyone. I have a love for community-based interfaith engagement, dialogue and relationship-building spaces, and simply being a connector between religious, secular, and spiritual communities as well as social service organizations.

Liz English, Program Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (616) 331-7863

I have been a perpetual student of religions for almost half of my life, predominantly in an academic setting though my own religious experiences have colored every aspect of my life. By joining the Kaufman Interfaith Institute team, I’ve come out from behind my stacks of books and taken a much-needed step into the lived experiences of my community. From worldviews on a page to worldviews as they are lived - complex, personal, and dynamic. Campus remains my happy place, though, and as such, I am devoted to curating spaces of interfaith engagement and exploration for the GVSU community - students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 

Zahabia Ahmed-Usmani, Program Manager

Pronouns: she/her
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (616) 331-5702

As an involved community member, mother and mentor to youth, I am passionate about fostering youth leadership and embedding youth perspectives into the direction of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute. I believes that creating belonging within our community begins with our youth leaders deeply understanding their own identity and having the skills to dialogue across lines of difference. I hope that anyone who takes part in Kaufman's youth programming gains appreciative knowledge about traditions different than their own and that their attitudes are transformed through relationships they have built.

Phil Oosterhouse, Tech Specialist

Pronouns: he/him
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (616) 331-5702

Directions: Our primary office is located at 301 Michigan St NE, within GVSU's Cook-Devos Center for Health Sciences building (CHS), located on the corner of Michigan & Lafayette. To reach the visitor parking lot, turn off of Michigan St. at the Prospect light. The entrance to visitor parking will be on your left.  

When you pull under the building, go all the way to the end to park. Enter through the door with the "Elevators" sign above it. We'll be on Floor 2, right in front of the elevators, in room 290. 

Please contact us to receive a visitor's parking pass.

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We do also have an office on the Allendale Campus in the Cook-Dewitt Center. Send us an email to set up a time to meet there!