Resident Assistant Information
Resident Assistants are an integral part of cultivating a thriving community and fellowship on Midwestern’s campus. The Resident Assistants take on a shepherding-like role for the students of the community. The RA’s are knowledgeable in student resources, biblical encouragement, and seek to make sure every student has an opportunity to be engaged with their campus community.
RA Team
Clayton Miller
Undergrad Male RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Lawson, MO.
Family: I have two younger brothers and two incredible parents who live in Lawson.
Degree Accelerate MDiv: BA Biblical Studies.
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: Hawaiian Bros
Most Impactful Book: Holiness by J.C. Ryle.
Raul Perez
Male Undergraduate RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Juncos, Puerto Rico.
Family: I am the youngest in a family of four. My two wonderful parents live back in Puerto Rico. My awesome sister is in her senior year at Spurgeon College.
Degree Accelerate Track: BA in Biblical Studies and M.Div.
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: My favorite spot in KC has to be Raising Cane’s. All I’m going to say is that I love chicken and their sauce is one of the best in the game.
Most Impactful Book: There are so many books that have been impactful on my walk with Christ. My top 3 are The Path to Being a Pastor by Bobbie Jamieson, The Glory of Christ by John Owen, and Lead by Paul David Tripp.
Elise Gelman
Undergrad Female RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: I have lived in too many places to have just one “hometown.” I was born in California, lived in New York and New Jersey while I was little, moved to Salt Lake City, Utah when I was 5, and back to California when I was 11. I was 14 when my family moved to Missouri, and then they recently left for Michigan in 2023.
Family: My dad is a pastor and my mom is a stay-at-home mother. I have four younger brothers, one is in the army, one is a welder, one has 17 followers on YouTube, and the other is Gen Alpha.
Degree Program: I am in the Accelerate program working on my bachelor’s in biblical studies and my master’s in biblical counseling.
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: My favorite KC restaurants so far are Pigwich in the City Market and Prime Sushi.
Most Impactful Book: Flowers From a Puritan’s Garden by Charles Spurgeon
Addy Wierck
Student Leader & Undergrad Female RAContact:
Hometown: I am from Ankeny, Iowa, where I was born and raised!
Family: I have been blessed with the most amazing God-honoring parents as well as two younger brothers, one of whom is 6’7″! I also recently got engaged!
Degree Program: I am pursuing a Communications degree, hoping to use it in ministry.
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: Q39 BBQ
Most Impactful Book: Outside of the Bible, Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper was very impactful!
Eliana Livezey
Graduate RA/Upperclassman Apartment RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Baltimore City, MD.
Family: My husband Billy and I met while we were both at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania. Throughout our marriage, we have lived in Maine, Oklahoma, Florida, and by the Lord’s grace, now Kansas City! We moved to Missouri in 2023 when Billy accepted the head Men’s Basketball Coaching position at Spurgeon College.
Degree MA in Biblical Counseling.
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: F325 has the best burnt-ends sandwiches in my opinion!
Most Impactful Book: The most impactful book I have ever read is Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis–but also, I’ve been greatly impacted by basically everything/anything that C.S. Lewis has written!
Noah Pratt
Upperclassmen Apartments RA & Student Leader ExecutiveContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Hot Springs Arkansas
Family: Married to Jordan Pratt
Degree Program: MDiv
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: Joe’s BBQ or Q39
Most Impactful Book: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund and Radical by David Platt
Evan Woodall
Grad Male RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Boyne City, MI
Family: I met my wife Katie at Cedarville university. We got married in 2022 and have an 8 month old daughter named Maisy.
Degree Program: Mdiv
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: Tacos El Guero in KCK, best tacos I’ve ever had!
Most Impactful Book: Two books that marked different seasons of spiritual growth in my life are Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and Ordinary by Micael Horton. I read Mere Christianity as a very young believer and it gave me a framework for understanding so many core beliefs of the Christian faith. Ordinary totally reshaped my understanding of what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus.
Miriam Ferguson
Family RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Helensburgh, Scotland
Family: Married to Ross, three girls, Leah, Eve, and Abbie.
Degree Program: MTS, Biblical Counseling.
Favorite Restaurant: Summit Grill or Stone Canyon Pizza.
Most Impactful Book: The Hiding Place Corrie Ten Boom
Ross Ferguson
Family RAContact: [email protected]
Hometown: Edinburgh, Scotland
Family: Married to Miriam, Dad to Leah (12), Eve (10), & Abbie (10).
Degree Program: MDiv.
Favorite Kansas City Restaurant: Summit Grill.
Most Impactful Book: The Reformed Pastor by Baxter
Applying to be a RA
If you are interested in applying for this position, applications open every year in the month of February. Read more about the RA job description and expectations and apply below.
Resident Assistant Job Description
Status: Part-Time (Flexible Schedule)
Reports to: Director of Student Life & Events and the Assistant Director of Student Life
This position is a considered a flexible shift. This position is required to work a minimum of 4 hours within the office weekly, and to be present to work all additional assigned events for the Student Life & Events team. Due to the nature of the position, the RA is “on call” to some degree, and as a result some weeks may require more hours than others. As a result, this position requires a level of flexibility and availability, including nights and weekends.
Overview: The Office of Student Life & Events exists to create a vibrant campus environment, and to provide students with activities that promote growth, discipleship, and community. The Resident Assistant supports this mission by serving residents within campus housing and assisting within the office of Student Life & Events.
Essential Functions and Responsiblities:
- Oversee and serve residents within campus housing alongside the Housing Coordinator and Assistant Director of Student Life
- Basic administrative and organizational tasks within campus housing admin work
- Promote community engagement and spiritual growth among residents, and serve as a resource for students Intentional mentorship among residents – spiritual encouragement and church connection for discipleship
- Contribute to area and campus event planning and preparation (all hands-on-deck conferences or events as assigned)
- Basic administrative tasks within the office of Student Life & Events:
- Move-in days and vacates/checkouts for students
- Room checks bi-weekly for undergraduates
- Communicating campus events to students and participating when possible
- Communicating maintenance plans and helping with work orders or emergency maintenance if necessary
- Dorm meetings as needed
- Disciplinary incidents, mental issues or health concerns (bereavement, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, etc.) – work with Assistant Director of Student Life on this
- Following Title IX and Clery Act rules with reporting and care for students – work with Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Director of Student Life on this
- Plan and implement area events at least 4 times a semester
- Manage individual budget given at the beginning of the budget year (August 1) or coordinate other financial means with Assistant Director of Student Life
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned and needed
General Qualifications
- Must be a current MBTS or Spurgeon College student, at any degree level Interpersonal skills appropriate for interaction with faculty, staff, students, and guests
- Ability to maintain satisfactory attendance and punctuality standard to staff meetings and events
- Standard administrative skills (Google Drive, Email, Word, Excel, etc.)
- Must commit to a full-year contract
Housing Benefits
Each Resident Assistant will receive a housing stipend. This stipend varies by where you live on campus. For Undergraduate students, this will include your meal plan.
IR Division Values/Charater Qualifications
Hungry: Hungry team members are passionate about progress. They are continuously moving forward, innovating, and improving. Hungry team members are also determined, self-motivated, and willing to take ownership and do what is necessary to support the team and accomplish its goals.
Humble: Humble team members are eager to serve. According to Tim Keller, “the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.” That doesn’t mean these individuals are insecure. Quite the opposite, they recognize that God has given them pronounced gifts and weaknesses. In the case of both, others are the focus. Their strengths exist to serve others, especially their team. Similarly, their weaknesses are an invitation to depend on God and the strengths of others. Humble team members assume the best of others and are willing to “clean toilets” to support the team and get the job done.
Smart: Smart team members “get it.” They are exceptionally wise in how they deal with both people and projects. Smart team members intuitively understand people. They naturally see and appreciate underlying relational dynamics, allowing them to develop solutions and serve others well. As for projects, smart team members intuitively connect dots, see the big picture, and look for creative solutions to challenges. They ask lots of questions and assume there is almost always a better way to do something.
Happy and Hopeful: Happy and hopeful team members are kind, encouraging, and optimistic. They engage people and projects with a joyful heart and attitude to serve. They assume the best of others, are fun to be around, and don’t take themselves too seriously. Crucially, these team members are committed to hope and optimism. Yes, they’re realistic, but they are determined to be a voice of joyful courage and anticipation. Their glass is half full.
