Residence Life Staff

The Residence Complexes are under the direct supervision of the Director of Residence Life through the Residence Life Staff. The Resident Directors, with the assistance of the Resident Advisors, and Complex Councils, aim to provide a safe living/learning environment.

	Ken Litscher Director of Residence Life 731-661-5433 klitscher@uu.edu		Ema VanCleave Female Quads 731-661-5012 evancleave@uu.edu
	Ashley Jackson Heritage Complex 731-661-5148 ajackson@uu.edu		Luke Pruett Male Quads 731-661-5020 lpruett@uu.edu
	Blake Pennington Assistant Resident Director, Heritage Residence Complex 731-661-5510 bapennington@uu.edu		Kristen Wells Secretary 731-661-5432 kwells@uu.edu

Ken Litscher
Director of Residence Life
731-661-5433
UU # 1806
klitscher@uu.edu

Favorite part of being on Res Life staff: I love working with college students and Residence Life provides an exciting avenue to do it. So much of who I am was a result of having intentional relationships in college and I love to help facilitate that opportunity for others.
Hobbies: Sports (Go Packers!), technology, outdoor recreation, woodworking, playing guitar and traveling.
Favorite Res Life memory from college: I don't have a specific one, but I lived with fantastic guys all four years in college and I still keep in contact with them to this day. My time living in community in college is a perfect illustration of Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Meaningful verse of Scripture: Colossians 1:28 "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ."
Family: Renee and I met at the end of our freshmen year of college and we were married in 2002. Jonathan joined us in 2005 and Gabriel came along in 2008.
Education: B.A. in Information Systems, Theology & Church Education from Trinity Christian College; M.Div. in Youth and Family Ministries from Denver Seminary

Ema VanCleave
Residence Director, Female Quads
731-661-5012
UU Box 441
evancleave@uu.edu

Hobby(s): I love planning trips/vacations for my family. We enjoy traveling to new states and love the outdoors. I also love playing games, most outdoor activities and being in or near the water.
Favorite Quote: "Few things ever come to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work." Booker T. Washington
Favorite part about being on Res. life staff: I was an RA and RSA while a student at Union, and have come to love the passion this staff has for the students. We have worked hard to present a genuine transparent heart within our staff and with students. The reality of the job keeps me on my toes and keeps me seeking wisdom with every situation.
Favorite Season: I love fall. Any excuse to wear flip flops or walk barefoot in the grass. And who doesn't love a cool breeze?!
Meaningful verse of scripture: The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15
Family: I am married to my best friend, Tim, and we recently welcomed our first daughter, Carly, in June 2008.
Education: B.A. in Music from Union University

Ashley Jackson
Residence Director, Heritage Residence Complex
731.661.5148
Box 443
ajackson@uu.edu

Favorite Season: My favorite season has to be fall. Growing up in Florida, I was not able to experience seasonal changes because it is always hot! From mid September to late November I am outside with my children or students enjoying the crisp air or admiring the leaves changing. Seeing these amazing colors brings me great delight and allows me to reflect on the beauty of His Creation.
Favorite thing about UU: There are many things I could say about Union, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be the community. People-focused, one of Union's core values, is reflected in the community of believers who live, eat, work, study, and play together. Students can identify Union's Christ-centered, People-focused community efforts from residence complexes to professors' home.
Hobby(s): Weekends in the fall are defined by watching Florida Gator football with my family. Outside of football season, I enjoy scrapbooking life's memories for my children, and teaching Kindermusik.
Family: I am blessed to have a wonderful husband, Ernie, whom I met while attending Union University. Ernie and I have the joy of serving and living among students with our two boys, Clark and Matthew. Our boys have a once in a lifetime privilege of growing up on a college campus and having incredible male spiritual role models.
Education: Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Union University; Masters of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from Union University (in process)

Luke Pruett
Residence Director, Male Quads
731.661.5020
Box 442
lpruett@uu.edu

Favorite part about being on Res. life staff: I love being a Resident Director, it definitely meets me in my sweet spot. I'm a huge nerd and fan of the academy, I love being around knowledge particularly in a Christ-centered environment like Union. I also am passionate about God's call to young college guys to become men who passionately pursue things of Him. This job therefore allows me to do everything from playing frisbee with guys on the lawn, to attending lectures with students, to helping in administratively directing our brilliantly built Quads. Once again, I love my job and am a huge fan of the guys whom I serve.
Favorite food: If it's local, I'm in.
Historical Hero(s): William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonheoffer, for choosing to pursue faith and action within community. They each personified Christ's call to be salt and light and literally gave their lives for the cause of justice.
Favorite Season: You cannot beat a Tennessee fall anywhere.
Meaningful verse of scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
Family: I am the husband of my beautiful wife April Leigh. She's my present day hero.
Education: B.A. in English with a minor in Philosophy and Ethics from Union University.

Blake Pennington
Assistant Resident Director, Heritage Residence Complex
731.661.5510
Box 444
bapennington@uu.edu

How did you get to UU? I graduated from UU in May 2007. My four years at UU were transformational, and Residence life was a huge part of that. This made coming back to work here such an easy transition!
Favorite Season: Fall, because it is a great time to play sports. Not too hot, and not too cold.
Favorite Books: The Case for Faith, Crash Proof
Meaningful verse of Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Family: I am married to Claire Pennington. We met at Union and got married June of 08'. Currently Claire is in her final semester pursuing a Special Education degree.
Education: B.S. in Management with a minor in Marketing from Union University

Kristen Wells
Secretary for the Office of Residence Life
731.661.5432
Box 1806
kwells@uu.edu

How did you get to UU? In high school I skipped my senior prom to instead visit Union for the first time. After spending one weekend on campus meeting students, staying in the residence complexes and through conversations with my enrollment counselor I knew Union was where the Lord had me. After graduating from Union in 2008, within a year I moved back to the Jackson area and knew I had a passion and love for Union and desired to again be a part of this community.
Favorite season: Fall! I am from beautiful East Tennessee and there is nothing better than driving home during fall to see the trees full of vibrant colors.
Favorite food: I love, love lasagna. It has to be homemade though. I also love warm, gooey brownies with vanilla bean ice cream. Yum, yum!!
Favorite residence life memories from college: As a student I had the opportunity to serve in residence life as a Resident Advisor (RA) and Resident Staff Advisor (RSA). My favorite memories are centered around the students in my building and the conversations held with them as well as the daily ministry opportunities this position provided.
Family: I am married to my wonderful husband, Brody, whom I met while working a summer camp. Brody now teaches Algebra at a local high school and currently is the tennis coach. Together we love getting to know students, playing sports or simply being outside, and hosting people at our home.
Education: B.S. in Psychology and Family Studies from Union University