Robert Nicholson
Founder & Executive Director | @rwnicholson_
Robert Nicholson is Founder and Executive Director of The Philos Project. He holds a BA in Hebrew Studies from Binghamton University, and both a JD and MA in Near Eastern history from Syracuse University. A former U.S. Marine and a 2012-13 Tikvah Fellow, Robert founded The Philos Project in 2014. His advocacy focuses on spreading the vision of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Near East based on freedom and rule of law. Robert serves on the Board of Directors of Passages, and is a publisher of Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy. His written work has appeared in First Things, The Federalist, The Jerusalem Post, The Hill, and The American Interest, among others.
Luke Moon
Deputy Director | @lukemoon1
Luke Moon is the Deputy Director of The Philos Project. Prior to that, Luke served as business manager for the Institute on Religion and Democracy, and, before that, as a missionary with Youth with a Mission for 12 years. Luke has lived, worked, and taught in over 45 countries, and has advocated on a number of human rights issues along the way. He holds a BA in Biblical Studies from the University of the Nations and an MA in Global Politics from Regent University. Luke is also an ordained Southern Baptist minister.
CJ Quartlbaum
Operations Director | @CJ_Quartlbaum
CJ is the Operations Director at The Philos Project. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a B.S. in Finance and Western Seminary with an M.A. in Biblical Studies. He has a love for writing and teaching, his work can be found in The Gospel Coalition, The Witness, and Christ and Pop Culture. CJ frequently gives talks across the country at churches and schools on spiritual formation, personal finance, and racial justice and equity. Prior to Philos, CJ worked in finance and lead short term mission trips in city. In his free time, you’ll find CJ with a book, food, on the basketball court, or hanging with his wife and kids. His greatest passion is to make the Gospel known in this world.
Gabriella Miller
Communications Director
Gabriella is the Communications Director at The Philos Project. She holds a BA in Communications and Journalism and a MBA from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Gabriella has worked in a wide array of scopes, from special event planning to documentary film production. With a strong affinity for people, volunteer work and outreach, she has often found herself spearheading social groups, volunteering, and participating in events across New York City. In the summer of 2016 she lived in Zambia, Africa, living and volunteering at a home for abused and at-risk girls. Originally from Denver, Colorado, she is a lover of the outdoors and traveling. She is most at home when studying the arts; she can always be found with a new book, creating music and art, or learning a new talent/hobby.
Ashley Muse
Research & Education Director
Ashley Muse is the Research & Education Director at The Philos Project. She received her BA from the University of Florida, where she studied international relations. In the fall of 2016, Ashley moved to Washington, DC to pursue an MA in US Foreign Policy & National Security at American University’s School of International Service. There, she focused her studies on the Near East and completed her practicum on cooperation and peace building between Israelis and Palestinians. Ashley is also an alumna of the 2017 Philos Leadership Institute and a member of the Philos DC chapter.
Brittany Densieski
Leadership Development Director
Brittany is the Leadership Development Director at The Philos Project. She holds a BA in Bible and Urban Ministries from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. During her time mentoring youth on the SouthSide of Chicago, Brittany traveled to Israel with Passages and became involved helping to assist lead young college students to Israel. Soon after, she had the opportunity to live in Israel as a Teaching Fellow with the Galilea Fellowship. Here she studied Jewish-Christian relations and assisted in teaching English at local Jewish and Arab-Christian schools. Passionate about empowering others to reach their full potential, Brittany is an advocate for justice and reconciliation. In her free time, she can be found traveling, looking for new books to read, recipes to cook, and working on music.
Jesse Rojo
Hispanic Affairs Director | @jssrojo
Jesse Rojo is the Director of Hispanic Affairs at The Philos Project. A native New Yorker of Dominican descent, Jesse holds a BA in Theological Studies from Hyles-Anderson College. He has pioneered bilingual programs to engage and educate the Christian Hispanic community on Israel-related issues, including educational initiatives, alumni networks, and a nationwide leadership conference. In 2016, Jesse founded Israel A Cappella, an initiative to allow Hispanic Christians to connect with the land of Israel through the experiences and testimony of Christian music artists. In addition to his work at The Philos Project, Jesse is a part of Tim Keller’s international church-planting network, Redeemer City-to-City, and is in the process of planting a bilingual church among immigrant and native communities in Yonkers, New York. His work has been published in The Christian Post and Contexto Media.
Kristina King
African American Affairs Director
Kristina King is the African American Affairs Director at The Philos Project. Originally from the San Francisco bay area in Northern California, she currently lives in Chicago. She pioneered the African American Outreach programs for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and the International Fellowhip of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). She studied at Duke University. Kristina is passionate about drawing connections between the cooperation of the Jewish and African American communities particularly during the civil rights movement and how this can inspire further cooperation today.
Giulia Nembrini
Advocacy Director
Giulia Nembrini is the Advocacy Director at the Philos Project. She has a degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations, which she obtained at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, located in Milan, Italy. After her experience as a humanitarian worker in the town of Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil), Giulia decided to continue her studies and moved to New York City, and then to Tel Aviv, where she graduated from the International Master's Program in Security and Diplomacy at Tel Aviv University (TAU). After serving on the Holy See Permanent Observation Mission to the United Nations in New York, Giulia returned to Rome, Italy. Her career has spanned topics such as international diplomacy, geopolitics of the Middle East, religious freedom, human rights of refugees, peacemaking, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. In her spare time, she loves to explore New York City, spend time with her husband and puppy, organize trips, and read Italian poetry.
Rebeca Cruz
Hispanic Affairs Associate
Rebeca “Becky” Cruz is the Hispanic Affairs Associate at The Philos Project. Rebeca was born in El Salvador and moved to the United States when she was seven years old. She attended Valley Forge Christian College, studying social work. In 2010 she Graduated from the Latin American Bible Theological Institute (ITLA), Assemblies of God in Wayne NJ, studying pastoral ministries. Prior to working at The Philos Project, Rebeca served as the Promotion Director Assistant in a Spanish-speaking Christian Radio Station. She is a pastor's daughter and the youngest of four children. Due to her upbringing, Rebeca has forged a passion and love for serving in the ministry and serving in the community. She now resides in New Jersey with her two daughters Annalyn and Elizabeth.
David Newman
Advocacy Associate
David Newman is the Advocacy Associate at The Philos Project. A graduate of the University of Mississippi in May of 2018, David holds a BA in International Studies and Arabic with concentrations in governance and politics and the Middle East. During his undergraduate years, David studied in South Africa, Jordan, and Israel, and he has conducted research on terrorism and electoral political systems in the Near East. David also spent his time at Ole Miss touring and playing drums with recording artist Sam Mooney. An alumnus of The Philos Leadership Institute 2017, he has now dedicated himself to advocacy for pluralism and justice in the Near East by joining The Philos staff. In his free time, he enjoys reading, listening to various genres of music, and spending quality time with his wife Madison.
Caroline Walker
Development Associate
Caroline Walker is the Development Associate at The Philos Project. She graduated from The King’s College with a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, minoring in Theology. She has a love for public speaking and performance, having been an active member of mock trial, debate, and dance teams during her time in college. Caroline’s work experience includes serving as Social Media intern at Salem Media, Administrative Assistant and Scholarship Coordinator at The King’s College Admissions Department, Philos Project intern, and Office Administrator for Reclaim New York. Outside the office you can find her binging political podcasts, taking dance classes, attending concerts, or writing music.
George Goss
Communications Associate /@GeorgeGoss4
George Goss is the Communications Associate at The Philos Project. He is a graduate of the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and holds two graduate degrees: a Master’s in Digital Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York City as well as a Master’s in Journalism with a Business Concentration from the City University of New York. During his time in New York he was an active volunteer with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity sisters, assisting them care for and provide fellowship with residents at their shelter for men with HIV in the West Village. His collaboration with Philos began in 2018 when he participated in the Philos Leadership Institute and that has expanded to include membership in the DC Philos Chapter and a Philos Catholic trip in 2019. Prior to Philos, he was an intern at the White House Photo Office as well as a Poynter-Koch Media & Journalism Fellow. In his free time, he enjoys being with his wife and two-year-old son as well as exploring Arlington, Virginia, by foot and bicycle. One of his favorite weekend pastimes is reading newspapers, especially the latest current events happening in Israel.
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