Meet the Chaplains and Staff
The Interfaith Chaplaincy at the Claremont Colleges affirms the importance of the religious and spiritual dimension of life within the academic community and the significant role of training future leaders for service and society. McAlister Center welcomes students representing the diversity of world religions and traditions from across the seven campuses and advances unique opportunities for interfaith dialogue, service learning, and collaborative programming.
The Chaplains honor the religious freedom, human dignity, conscience, personal spiritual welfare and the diversity of beliefs represented in the Claremont Colleges community and are committed to creating a safe and open environment for students to learn about their own faith paths and listen respectfully to those who believe differently.
The Chaplains are available for counseling, spiritual direction, consultation on internship and post-graduate opportunities in social justice settings (both faith based and secular), textual study, and ritual development for life cycle experiences. We are available to all members of the campus community for assistance at any time.
Father Joseph Fenton, Chaplain- Send Joe an e-mail
After attending seminary at the Catholic University of America, he took an M.A. in journalism and public affairs from the American University, Washington, D.C., and a Ph.D. in history and theology from the Catholic University of America. He has produced radio and television programs and documentaries for American and British networks and has served as the American Catholic Bishops liaison with ABC, NBC News, and CBS-TV. He recently served as Director of Media Relations for the Diocese of Orange County, CA.
Rabbi Daveen Litwin, Chaplain-
Send Daveen an e-mail
Rabbi Daveen Litwin graduated at Brandeis University where she majored in English and American Literature, Sociology, and minored in Women’s Studies. She received her Master’s of Hebrew Letters and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Rabbi Litwin served as the Hillel Director at the University of Kansas and as the Campus Rabbi at Grinnell College. In addition, Rabbi Litwin was the spiritual leader of congregations in Massachusetts and Canada. She loves working with students and is thrilled to be here as Chaplain and Hillel Director of the Claremont Colleges.
Mary Hall, Administrative Assistant- Send Mary an e-mail
Ariel Carpenter, Community Service Coordinator-
Send Ariel an e-mail
Ms. Carpenter is pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education at Claremont Graduate University. She received a B.A. in Sociology from Wake Forest University. Ms. Carpenter comes to us with a strong background in the organization and development of volunteer and community service programs. Most recently, she held the position of Service Learning Coordinator and Student Life Instructor at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, NC. Ms. Carpenter also served as a Match Support Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle, Durham, NC and as a Public Ally at the Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina in Raleigh and Durham, NC.
