Our Staff
Chris Hoover Seidel
Director director@hr.bridgeofhopeinc.orgChris Hoover Seidel recently joined Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg Rockingham as the 1st director for the affiliate. Chris is a multipotentialite, with a background in Behavioral Science and Education. Following her time as a public school teacher, she and her husband lived in Palestine for three years doing advocacy work through Mennonite Central Committee. Chris then served as Director of Children and Youth Programs at Community Mennonite Church in Lancaster, PA, while pursuing her MA in Religion at Lancaster Theological Seminary and Spiritual Direction Training at Kairos School for Spiritual Formation.
In 2016, Chris and her family moved to Harrisonburg, VA and she recently worked on staff at Eastern Mennonite University Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Chris currently practices spiritual direction and Reiki as a way of accompany others in the deep work of healing and presence. Chris has hung several art shows, depicting her experience of faith and the world.
When she’s not working, Chris spends time playing games with her children, walking in the woods, refurbishing furniture, or talking and laughing with friends.
Jane Ellen Reid
Neighborhood Resource Specialist nrs@hr.bridgeofhopeinc.orgJane Ellen Reid comes to us with a background in Educational Psychology (MEd) with an emphasis on human development and Conflict Analysis and Resolution (PhD coursework). She has decades of experience in mediation, interpersonal communication training, strategic planning, leadership and academic coaching, mentoring, creative problem solving, and restorative justice practice.
Jane Ellen also works as an associate in a consulting practice, Cooperative by Design, LLC., working with churches and organizations for healthy change. She worked with Eastern Mennonite University as University Ombudsman, was a member and co-chair of the Diversity Task Force, and worked as a CoachLink coach, coaching/mentoring at risk students.
Jane Ellen is excited to apply her skill set to the Neighborhood Resource Specialist position at Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg-Rockingham. What she appreciates about Bridge of Hope is that “it gives people an opportunity to walk a path, a tangible path to things that Jesus called us to do, things that are not always easy”, which is what she believes the church is all about. Jane Ellen is a member of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg,VA.