Senate
Each graduate school at Regent University has two COGS senators. Meet the senator for your school below.
School of Communication & the Arts
April Allbritton
COGS Office Hours: Thursday, 1- 3 p.m.
April is going into her 2nd year of the M.A. program in Journalism at Regent University. April currently serves as the Associate Editor for the Daily Runner. She is originally from Dallas, Texas where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Broadcasting and played basketball at the college and semi-pro levels. April says that she lives to please God and help others and is looking forward to her time as a Senator within the Council of Graduate Students.
Rebecca Brittingham
COGS Office Hours: Monday, 8-10 a.m.
Rebecca hails from San Jose, CA. and is currently pursuing an M.A. in journalism at Regent University. After graduating from Pensacola Christian College, she went on a two-year sabbatical before the Lord led her to pursue her educational dreams here at Regent. Her plans changed when Rebecca travelled to Israel last summer and saw first-hand the importance of using the media to communicate untold truth.
Before coming to Regent, Rebecca worked as a piano teacher, high school teacher and the Worship Arts Director at her church in Wilmington, NC. Rebecca has served COGS in the capacity of a Chaplain and now as a Senator for the School of Communication and Arts. She is an active member of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a staff member of the Daily Runner (Regent’s student newspaper) and the graduate assistant for the Center for Christian Thought and Action. Rebecca has a desire to empower the powerless, speak against injustice and communicate truth. Rebecca strives to glorify the Lord in all that she does and hopes that her service through COGS will unify the student body, empower other leaders, and create community.
School of Divinity
Joanna Choi
COGS Office Hours: Monday, 11:45a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Joanna Choi is a second-year Master of Divinity student serving in her second term as a first-year Senator. She is from Maryland and is passionate about worship and missions. Joanna looks forward to serving and learning alongside her peers this semester.
Lester Deane
COGS Office Hours: Thursday, 11a.m.-1 p.m.
Lester (Deane) Deane is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree. Deane served as a police officer in the United States Virgin Islands prior to his arrival at Regent University in 2010. In addition to being a Senator with COGS, he serves as a Professional Development Advisor in the University's Career Services Department. Deane has a special interest in the theory and practice of discipleship and fellowship among believers. He enjoys serving his fellow students in any way that he can!
School of Education
Lynnese Bland
COGS Office Hours: Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
Lynnese Bland is originally from Brooklyn, NY but has spent the majority of her life in Virginia. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Currently, Lynnese is in her final semester of the Master of Elementary Education program at Regent University. Lynnese was initially drawn to the Council of Graduate Students by its commitment to advocate and represent the graduate student body. She is involved in various community service projects through her church located in Virginia Beach, Va. Her future plans include working in education as an elementary school teacher and eventually completing her doctorate. Lynnese looks forward to serving you this semester.
Alicia Langley
COGS Office Hours: Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
Alicia is a May 2012 graduate of the Master of Education program at Regent University. By day she is a fifth grade teacher at a local private school. In the evening she becomes the student, working towards certifications in Teaching English as a Second Language and Autism Studies. Alicia has served as COGS Senator for the School of Education since August 2011. In January of 2012, she was elected to the office of COGS Treasurer, and COGS Vice-President in August of 2012. Alicia was awarded the Dede Robertson Student Leader, Virginia Teacher of Promise, and Barnabas Service Awards in May of 2012. In her free time she enjoys traveling, adventure sports, and volunteering as a special education consultant. Alicia is a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Read about Alicia’s experience in the Master of Special Education program at http://www.regent.edu/acad/schedu/alumni/langley.cfm
School of Business & Leadership
Namie Bimba
COGS Office Hours: Tuesday, 7-9 p.m.
Born in Liberia, Namie Bimba and her family immigrated to the United States to escape the Civil War that erupted in the early 1990s. Currently, Namie is pursuing an MBA at Regent University, and looks forward to giving back to Liberia & the rest of the world.
Rachel Santiago
COGS Office Hours: Monday, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Rachel holds an M.A. in Biblical Interpretation from the School of Divinity and is currently pursuing an MBA from the School of Business and Leadership. She is privileged to be a voice for SBL and hopes to encourage all students to be all they can be in Christ who calls them for His purposes. She desires to see students be the light and salt of the world so men and women will see their good works and praise God.
Robertson School of Government
Katherine Hamilton
COGS Office Hours: Tuesday, 2-4 p.m.
Katherine (Kate) Hamilton is a candidate in the Masters of Government program at the Robertson School of Government with a declared concentration in International Politics. Prior to attending Regent she earned an MA in the History of Christianity from Wheaton College and a BA in Political Science from Houghton College, where she served as both President and Chaplain of the student government. She is a seasoned international traveler and has a special interest in the Middle East, where she taught English and studied Arabic. In recent years Kate worked as an Archival Assistant for the Billy Graham Center Archives as the Communications Intern for the National Association of Scholars and as the Speaker Coordinator for the 2010 European Leadership Forum in Eger, Hungary. She is a dedicated member of the Anglican Communion and currently attends Galilee Episcopal Church by the oceanfront. Kate is grateful for this opportunity to serve on COGS and to represent her fellow students with humility, truth, and grace, following in the way of Christ.
Nathan Gill
COGS Office Hours: Thursday, Noon-2 p.m.
Nathan Gill graduated with a B.A. in History from Thomas Edison State College in 2011 and is now earning his M.A. in Government at the Robertson School of Government. He plans to pursue a PhD in politics and write history and political theory from a Christian perspective. He looks forward to serving the Graduate community this year and growing in his role as a Student Leader.
School of Law
Hannah Carter
COGS Office Hours: Thursday, 8-10 a.m.
Hannah Carter is a native of Louisiana and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a major in Political Science and minor in French. She is currently a third year law student at Regent University School of Law. Hannah has been married five years to her husband Abraham and has a daughter named Zoe.
She is involved with the Alternative Dispute Resolution board, Students for Life, and Phi Alpha Delta. Hannah came to law school to advocate for children of all ages from the unborn to children in foster care about to age out of the system. Hannah believes that God is raising up a generation of people that will see the orphans of the world not as the system's "children", but as children called to be accepted and adopted into the kingdom of God.
Anna Ernest
COGS Office Hours: Tuesday, Noon-2 p.m.
Anna Ernest is a third-year student at Regent University School of Law. She received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Russian State University of Commerce in Russia. After coming to America and learning how a truly free society interacts with both its laws and government, she was called to seek a career fighting for human rights and freedoms for people all across the globe.
As COGS Senator, Anna’s main objective is to build stronger community among students, faculty, and staff and further the fulfillment of Regent’s mission to train “Christian leaders to change the world.” Anna carefully listens to students’ ideas and concerns and advocates for them at the university-wide and school-specific levels.
School of Psychology & Counseling
Andreas Bienert
COGS Office Hours: Tuesday, Noon-2 p.m.
Andreas (Andy) Bienert was born and raised in a small country town about 30 minutes north of Vienna, Austria, close to the Czech-Republican border. He has completed internships and missions work in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Macedonia, and the USA. Andy is currently completing my Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Regent University. His undergraduate coursework was completed in Austria, majoring in Early Childhood Education and Children’s Psychology. He has worked with various populations including adults and youth with special needs. Andy still serves as an adjunct instructor in Austria, lending his knowledge of pre-school pedagogy, kindergarten didactics and developmental psychology to a private community college. His goal is to complete my Masters and Doctoral work here at Regent University, and then return to Austria, in order to establish a healthy foundation for Christian counseling and psychological services. In addition to COGS, Andy serves with a non-profit organization that supports human trafficking victims that are brought through Vienna, Austria. His core area of research interest is Fatherhood, especially the importance of a healthy relationship between a father and a son.
Stephen Hughes
Office Hours (CRB) - Thursdays
Stephen Hughes is a married, father of two. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Christal, for 15 years. He is currently a third-year student in Regent's Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. He plans to become a health psychologist upon completion of his education. Stephen believes COGS is a wonderful organization and views his role as a way not only to give back to his school and fellow students, but also to make this great institution better. He considers it an honor to serve as COGS senator from the School of Psychology & Counseling.
