Amber Ruffo

Residence Director of Witmer

Amber Ruffo comes to Messiah College from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, where she served as a residence director for three years. Amber is originally from Western Pennsylvania.  She completed her undergraduate degree at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and received a Master of Science in leadership from Grand Canyon University. Amber loves to travel, learn about different cultures, watch movies, sing, and go out for coffee. She is very excited to be back in Pennsylvania for the real Italian-American food and for close proximity to her family.

Deborah Tepley

Manager of the Collaboratory

Deborah comes to Messiah from Pasadena, California, where she served on staff with the mission organization Educational Services International (ESI) as the regional director for programs in the Commonwealth of Independent States (the former Soviet Union). Before her time in southern California, Deborah spent three years in the former Soviet Union, working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Russia and later teaching English in Ukraine with ESI. She recently earned an Master of Arts in cross-cultural studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in English and history from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Deborah lives in Grantham with her cat, Sophia.

Wendell Witter

Director of Issachar's Loft

Wendell comes to Messiah through a partnership with the Coalition for Christian
Outreach. He is a 1996 Messiah alumnus who majored in mechanical engineering. After working in the field of engineering for two years, Wendell attended Wheaton College. There he earned a certificate in leadership and camp ministry in 1999 and a Master of Arts in educational ministries in 2000. For the past seven years he has served as the Intern and Adventure Ministries Director at Three Springs Ministries in Morris, Pennsylvania. He is an avid backpacker and climber, and he is committed to using experiential education to develop leaders. He relocated to Issachar's Loft this summer with his wife, Teri, and their three children: Jeremiah, Hannah and Joel.