Scott McKellar  
Director

Scott has a Masters degree in New Testament Studies from Regent College located at the University of British Columbia and is completing his Ph.D. dissertation in Catholic Moral Theology at the Pontifical University, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland.  He comes to the diocese from a teaching position at Redeemer Pacific College in British Columbia, Canada.  He is married and has five children.  He joined the Institute in August 2006.

Jeremy Sienkiewicz  Associate Director		 Jeremy grew up in the diocese and attended Christ the King and Rockhurst High School.  He studied Theology at Notre Dame University and received his masters from The Catholic University of America. He currently is completing a doctorate in Systematic Theology.  Jeremy is married and has two children.  His responsibilities include assisting with the administration of the institute and teaching courses. 

Jennifer Gordon  Instructor		 Jennifer is a graduate of Christendom College and has a Masters in Theological Studies from the Pontifcal John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, DC.  She has experience in Spanish interpretation, mission work in Honduras and teaching the faith.  She is coming to the diocese from Knoxville Catholic High School in Tennessee where she taught seniors Scripture and theology.  She joined the Institute in August 2006. 

Claude Sasso, Ph.D.  Vice-Chancellor

 

 

Gustavo Valdez

Instructor

 

 Claude has doctoral degree in history from Loyola University of Chicago and is currently completing a Masters degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.  Claude has 24 years experience in college teaching and has taught RCIA, apologetics and Bible studies at his parish for many years.  He was a founder of the Catholic Faith and Reason Association and one of the founders of Catholic radio in Kansas City.  He is married and has three children and four grandchildren.

Gustavo Valdez has a licentiate in Engineering in Computer Systems from the National Institute of Mexico and a bachelor’s in Philosophy from the Bishop Luis Guizar Institute of Saltillo.   He has also completed two years towards a Masters of Divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.  He has nine years of experience working for the Church as a teacher and missionary in the US and Mexico, and comes to this diocese as an instructor of theology for the Spanish-speaking faithful.

Brandi Miller

Resource Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Brandi is a recent graduate of Benedictine College with degrees in Religious Studies and Spanish, and a minor in Philosophy.  She studied abroad in Puerto Rico during the summer of 2006. She is now living here in the KC area with a Hispanic couple to further her Spanish-speaking abilities.  Before joining the Bishop Helmsing Institue crew, she worked for a few months with KEXS 1090, the local Catholic radio station.  She enjoys meeting new people, assisting with the “new evangelization” of John Paul II, and growing in her faith as well.