Rudy Carrasco
Kick-Off Dinner Keynote Address

Rudy Carrasco is the executive director of the Harambee Christian Family Center in Pasadena, California. For 16 years, since graduating from Stanford University with a BA in English, Rudy has focused on indigenous leadership development at Harambee and beyond. A writer by training, his articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Christianity Today, Religion News Service, the Pasadena Star News and other publications. He is a 2006 contributor to the Christian Vision Project.

In 2002 Rudy was inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund's Alumni Hall of Fame. In May, 2001 he joined a group of nine Hispanic religious leaders from around the country who advised President George W. Bush on the faith-based initiative. In 1996 Rudy was selected as One of 50 Leaders Under The Age Of 40 To Watch by Christianity Today. He serves on the board of directors of World Vision, the Christian Community Development Association, Emergent Village and TechMission.

His wife, Kafi, is the principal of Harambee Preparatory School. They have a six-year-old son, Samuel, and a two-year-old daughter, Micah.

Herma Williams, Ph.D.
Thursday Morning Plenary Address

Dr. Herma Williams is provost and academic vice president of Fresno Pacific University and a member of the the Act Six National Advisory Council.  Dr. Williams' current goals for FPU include strengthening the university's commitment to teaching and research, and reaching out to Fresno and the surrounding communities.

Williams came to FPU from Gordon College near Boston, Massachusetts. As associate provost at Gordon, Williams helped build enrollments of under-represented students, recruit a more diverse faculty and engage students to address Boston’s problems. These efforts helped Gordon College earn the Council of Christian Colleges and University’s Racial Harmony Award.

The author of one book and numerous articles and papers, Williams is committed to faculty scholarship and student research. As a Fulbright Scholar, she directed a program to strengthen academic excellence at two universities in South Africa.  Williams earned her B.A. and M.A. from Southern Illinois University and her Ph.D. from Iowa State University. She also completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard University and was named a Kellogg Foundation and Ford Foundation fellow. She is married to Eric Williams, Ph.D., a professor of education at Howard University. They have two adult children.

Robin Baker, Ph.D.
Friday Evening Plenary Address

Dr. Robin Baker has been the president of George Fox University since 2007. Prior to his appointment as president, Baker spent eight years as the university's provost, supervising all academic programs, intercollegiate athletics, student life, and initiating new efforts in globalization of the curriculum.

Baker completed a doctorate in history at Texas A&M University and a master's degree in history at Hardin-Simmons University. He earned his undergraduate degree from Grand Canyon University. His research has focused on the American Civil War and Reconstruction, 19th-century American political/quantitative history, and the history of the southern United States.  In addition to his work in political history, Baker speaks frequently on the integration of faith and learning in the Christian university and he has a special interest in the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Baker has been married to his wife, Ruth, since 1980 and they have three middle- and high-school-age children: Jacob, Rebekah, and Tara.

Lina Thompson
Saturday Morning Closing Address

Lina Thompson is the national director for training and capacity development for World Vision's domestic ministries.  In this role, she provides leadership and oversight to World Vision’s training and capacity development for staff and community partners. She has nearly 25 years of community youth development experience.

In addition to her work with World Vision, she serves as adjunct faculty member for the Center for Youth and Family Ministries at Fuller Seminary in the urban youth certificate program. She also teaches for the Center for Transforming Mission, an organization committed to the theological development and training of urban ministry practitioners. Also, Lina serves as the commissioned lay pastor for Mt. View Presbyterian Church, located in White Center.