Director of the Collaboratory;
Sector Leader, Mechanical Projects
Jeremy Freimark
Director of the Collaboratory;
Sector Leader, Mechanical Projects
Jeremy joined the Collaboratory in 2022. He lives in Elizabethtown with his wife Christi and two children. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Development from the School of Engineering Technology from Eastern Michigan University, Jeremy continued his work as a project manager in the automotive industry, exercising his skills in lean process improvement and optimization. Jeremy served in missions in Central America for one year and pursued a Master’s in Christian Ministry with a focus of Discipleship from Liberty University. The path of engineering, missions, and discipleship has led Jeremy to Messiah University, as the director of the Collaboratory, to carry out the mission of service to Messiah students and to those in need, locally and internationally.
Program Manager of the Collaboratory and Sector Leader for Biomedical Projects
Bryce Watkins
Program Manager of the Collaboratory and Sector Leader for Biomedical Projects
bwatkins@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 ext 7226
Sector Leader, Electrical/Computer Projects
Dereck Plante
Sector Leader, Electrical/Computer Projects
dplante@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 ext. 3004
Sector Leader, Civil/Environmental Projects
Andy Erikson
Sector Leader, Civil/Environmental Projects
aerikson@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 ext. 2754
Student Director of the Collaboratory
Rachel Rashford
Student Director of the Collaboratory
collaboratory@messiah.edu
Rachel Rashford is a senior mechanical engineering student from Gaithersburg, Maryland. In the Collaboratory she has been a member of the Sustainable Mobility team since the fall of her Sophomore year. Outside of the Collaboratory, she is on the Women's Volleyball team at Messiah, and loves spending time outside in nature. Rachel is excited to serve the Collaboratory in this position and work alongside Brandon this upcoming year.
Assistant Student Director of the Collaboratory
Brandon Koehnke
Assistant Student Director of the Collaboratory
collabad@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 ex. 7226
Brandon is a junior mechanical and electrical engineering double major from Lancaster, PA. He has been serving on the Egg Incubator project for the past two years and had the incredible opportunity to travel with them to Zambia in May 2022. During his sophomore year, Brandon was blessed to serve as a Discipleship Community Leader. Outside of the Collaboratory, he spends time playing guitar, is a member of multiple rec sports teams, and serves as the Senior Resident Assistant of Naugle Hall. Brandon is very excited to continue investing in the Collaboratory and serve both those working on projects and clients around the world.
Media Manager of the Collaboratory
Jenna O'Connell
Media Manager of the Collaboratory
Collabmarketing@messiah.edu
Jenna O'Connell is a sophomore from Candor, NY. She is a marketing major with a minor in hospitality and tourism management. Her freshman year she was a member of the site team for the Nepal Wheelchair project. This allowed her to have an amazing experience traveling to Nepal to build a wheelchair for Green Pastures Hospital. Outside of the Collaboratory she pursues a passion of art through drawing and painting, and she enjoys spending her time with family and friends. She is looking forward to working alongside the Collaboratory team to assist with media and marketing.
