Meet the Team

Jonas Bognar, Campus Minister for Liturgy

Jonas hails from Orange County, California, and has been involved in liturgy, music, mentoring students, and parish life for more than two decades in both the Diocese of Orange and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. An LMU graduate in Theological Studies and History (Class of 2000), Jonas worked in LMU Campus Ministry as the Head Sacristan and a Resident Chaplain in McKay Hall until moving to Belgium for his graduate and doctoral studies in Theology and Church History at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. After 12 years abroad, he has rejoined Campus Ministry, working on the Liturgy Team, assisting with Faith Formation in the RCIA and Confirmation programs, and serving as a Resident Minister.

Rabbi Rebeca Carrillo

Rabbi Rebeca Carrillo, Chaplain for Jewish Student Life & Hillel Advisor

Rebeca.Carrillo@lmu.edu | 310-338-2862

Rabbi Rebeca Carrillo, was born and raised in Guatemala and is the daughter of the founders of the reform Jewish community in Guatemala City. For many years she worked in collaboration with the Jewish Latin American Reform movement (UJR) in developing local and regional programming.

At the age of 23, Rebeca served as the president of her Guatemalan Jewish community making her one of the youngest board presidents to serve a congregation in the region ever. She has an MA in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR, and a Master’s Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership from the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management. Rebeca’s two-year student pulpit was at Congregation Brith Sholem in Ogden, Utah. She also served as a Spiritual Counselor at the sober living residency program Beit T’shuvah in Los Angeles, and worked as the Intern Rabbi at Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood.

Rebeca is the LA rabbinic ambassador of AMMUD The Jews of Color Torah Academy initiative and she is currently the full-time Chaplain for Jewish Student Life and Hillel Advisor at Loyola Marymount University.

Chris de Silva, D.Min., Associate Director of Campus Ministry

Christopher.deSilva@lmu.edu 310.338.2976

Chris de Silva is a widely published composer of sacred music whose music appears in hymnals and compilations throughout the world. A native of Singapore, he currently resides in Los Angeles where he enjoys serving as music minister on the campus ministry team. Chris holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition and Film Scoring from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University and a Doctor of Ministry from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In addition to his role in Campus Ministry, Chris also lectures in the Department of Theological Studies at LMU.

Diana Hadjiyane, Campus Minister for Retreats

Diana.Hadjiyane@lmu.edu, 310.338.3005

Diana Hadjiyane, a native New Yorker and graduate of Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry, has followed a passion for the power of retreat-ministries to join the LMU Campus Ministry team. After attending and leading many retreats during her time at Boston College, where she graduated with both her B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology and her M.A. in Theology and Ministry, Diana is excited to see how retreat programs can continue to enliven the hearts of LMU students, steering them towards compassion, community, and authentic relationships. Specifically, her goal is to see how retreats as spiritual spaces can allow folks to feel free to bring forth their truest selves and become awakened to how deeply they are loved. As a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, Diana has served as a Youth Outreach Coordinator for an Orthodox Parish while exploring different pathways to uplift and engage in interreligious, ecumenical dialogue. Her academic and pastoral passions center around moral theology, with a focus on re-envisioning ethical theories to foster ministerial spaces of radical hospitality.

Beyond her professional life, you can find Diana embracing her Greek heritage in her love of cooking and baking, where she specializes in spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) and sourdough bread. She loves all things philosophy (specifically the ancient Greeks), board games, 80s rock, and building community, and she is overjoyed to be a part of the team!

Allie Holmquist, Campus Minister for International Immersion

Allie.Holmquist@lmu.edu, 310.338.7160

Allie was born and raised in Long Beach, CA. She attended Regis University, where she received her dual bachelors in Peace and Justice Studies and Sociology. Allie holds a Master of Development Practice from Regis University and a Master of Divinity from Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry.

As a student at Regis, Allie experienced an international immersion for the first time in El Salvador & Guatemala. This experience ignited her heart to live a faith that seeks global justice. After graduating, she worked as the university minister for liturgy at Regis. Allie’s personal mission in ministry is always to strive to be and to create brave spaces for all identities to encounter the Divine.

Allie's top interests (ministerially & generally) include: The intersections of sustainability & spirituality, racial justice, eco-justice, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, feminist theology, theologian Elizabeth Johnson, her cat Hugo, husband Zach, nephews & nieces, anything Taylor Swift/Maggie Rogers/Florence & the Machine/boygenius/Chappell Roan, pop culture, and watching reality TV.

Campus Minister for Ecumenical Student Life

Ramsey.Jeanty@lmu.edu, 310.258.4664

Ramsey Jeanty brings over a decade of experience in higher education, where he has dedicated his career to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for students. A native of Miami, Florida and a first-generation Haitian American, Ramsey is deeply committed to celebrating the diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds students bring to campus. He holds an MA with an emphasis in expository preaching and is currently completing a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. This blend of pastoral care and counseling informs his approach to ministry, rooted in empathy, cultural competence, and understanding mental health.

Ramsey has led educational and service trips to Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras, experiences that have deepened his commitment culturally competent programming. In his role as Campus Minister for Ecumenical Student Life at LMU, he is honored to walk alongside students in their personal and spiritual growth. When he's not welding or studying, Ramsey is enjoying his newest hobby, Brazilian Jiujitsu, boxing, or basketball. He also enjoys standup comedy and listening to hip hop and r&b music like H.E.R, Tobe Nwigwe, J$PH, LaRussell, and Cleo Sol.

Sr. Maria Lai, C.S.J., Campus Minister for Graduate Student Ministry

Maria.Lai@lmu.edu, 310.338.6475

Sister Maria is called to journey with our graduate students at LMU. She is also a Spiritual Director, a Resident Minister, an adjunct instructor for the Theology of Ignatian Leadership course at LMU, as well as for the Catechist Certification Course for the Diocese of Orange. Sister Maria is originally from Hong Kong. She earned an MA in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University, an MA in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University, and an MS in Family Consumer Sciences from California State University, Northridge. Most of all, Sister Maria enjoys being a mentor for and learning from the survivors of human trafficking. She loves people and organizes pilgrimages.

Kienan Taweil, Interim Associate Director of Campus Ministry, Muslim Student Life, and Interfaith Initiatives

Kienan.Taweil@lmu.edu, 310.338.5390

Kienan Taweil earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola Marymount University in 2019, where he also co-founded and served as Co-President of the Muslim Student Association. He later earned his Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies, with a concentration in Islamic Studies, from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.

From 2016-2019, Kienan served as a student worker in the newly established Office of Muslim Student Life. Since 2019, he has served the program as a staff member and now serves as the Interim Associate Director for Campus Ministry, Muslim Student Life, & Interfaith Initiatives. In this role, he supports the faith formation of Muslim students through Islamic pastoral care, mentorship, and community-building. He develops programs that center spiritual growth, personal development, leadership, diversity, interfaith understanding, and civic engagement. Kienan also leads LMU’s weekly Friday-Jummah Prayer and collaborates widely across campus on interfaith initiatives. Coming from a multi-ethnic and multi-faith family, he is deeply committed to fostering dialogue grounded in compassion, understanding, and love for our neighbors.

Beyond his campus work, Kienan serves as President and Treasurer of the Academy for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic Studies in Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to building bridges of understanding, mutual respect, and cooperation among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Academy provides interreligious education programs for universities, colleges, religious congregations, and other community groups.

A Los Angeles native of Syrian and Hungarian heritage, Kienan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, exploring new cultures, and watching films. He is an avid reader who loves discovering new bookstores and especially enjoys books on politics, history, and theology.