Our Staff
Who we are!
Office of the Dean
D. Maurice Charles
Dean of Rockefeller Chapel
773.702.8282
mcharles@uchicago.edu
The Dean of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel supports religious and spiritual life in the University. An alumnus of the Divinity School (MDiv, PhD), Maurice returned to UChicago in 2019 to serve as the seventh dean. He leads a team that offers an array of interfaith engagement activities through the Spiritual Life Office, and curates and produces musical performances in Rockefeller and Bond Chapels. With over 25 years of experience as an Episcopal priest and a BA cum laude in Psychology from Case Western Reserve University, Maurice is available to persons of all religions and philosophies of life who are wrestling with questions of vocation, meaning, and moving through life transitions. He works closely with his colleagues in Student Wellness and UChicago HELP.
Matthew Dean
Director, University Chapels
773.834.8428
mcdean@uchicago.edu
As Director, University Chapels, I steward the site management, fiscal planning, and archival curation at Rockefeller and Bond Chapels. A College and University alumnus (AB, MLA), I joined the team in 2014, after serving as vocal artist in residence in the Rockefeller Chapel Choir since 2005, and working musically across traditions with Harran Productions Foundation and Congregations K.A.M Isaiah Israel and Rodfei Zedek. Please reach me for questions on special visits, long-term departmental memorial plans and civic commemorations, art and architecture, strategic partnerships, and donations. Relaxation for me is cooking, retro gaming, and Lego. (Pronouns: he/him).
Irene Claude
Rockefeller Chapel Administrator
773.834.8538
iclaude@uchicago.edu
Irene Claude joined Rockefeller Memorial Chapel as Chapel Administrator in 2022. She provides administrative support to the Dean and coordinates the business and facilities affairs of the university chapels and Spiritual Life office. Irene is a flute teacher and freelance musician in the Chicagoland area. She has lived in Hyde Park since 1997 and enjoys reading, gardening, and seeing friends and former Music Together families on her daily walks in the neighborhood. Irene has a MM from DePaul University and a BMA from the University of Michigan. (Pronouns: she/her).
Mike Boyman
Events Manager
773.702.8682
mboyman@uchicago.edu
Mike is the Events Manager for Rockefeller and Bond Chapels, and is responsible for curating, planning, and executing chapel events. He is passionate about collaboration, both within and outside the University, and is always seeking to expand the range and reach of chapel programming. Mike is from New York, where he worked at Carnegie Hall, and joined the Rockefeller Chapel staff in 2021. Mike is an active composer and violist, and enjoys hiking, biking, and going on adventures with his son Teddy.
Ana West
Wedding and Events Coordinator
773.702.9202
anawest@uchicago.edu
I joined the team as a wedding coordinator in 2022, and I also works on memorials, ceremonies, concerts, and campus events in Rockefeller and Bond Chapels. I have a background in faith-based community engagement, and I love assisting with the diverse array of events we host in our spaces. Outside of work, you can find me running on the lakefront trail, bouncing around several of Hyde Park’s intentional communities, and doting on my cat. (Pronouns: she/her)
Spiritual Life
Jigna Shah
Associate Dean; Director of Spiritual Life
773.834.1885
jigna@uchicago.edu
As Associate Dean and Director of Spiritual Life, I oversee and manage support for religious and spiritual life on campus, including addressing the needs of students of particular traditions, facilitating understanding of and across traditions among other things. A native New Yorker commuting from Plainfield, IL–I joined UChicago in 2005 and the Rockefeller & Spiritual Life team in 2011. I love UChicago’s Shake Day tradition, chai, chats, board games and Netflix binges! Come see me for any of the above or anything else (even coffee!) (Pronouns: she/her).
Tauseef Akbar
Assistant Director, Spiritual Life; Coordinator of Muslim Life
773.702.2484
takbar@uchicago.edu
As Coordinator of Muslim Life, I advise, facilitate, advocate for and support our vibrant Muslim community on campus. As chaplain I also offer spiritual care and counseling to the whole campus community. I joined Spiritual Life in the Fall of 2022, after serving as Chaplain of Muslim and Interfaith Life at Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges. If you have questions about Spiritual and Religious Life or regarding the Muslim community on campus don’t hesitate to reach out to me and/or set up an appointment. I also enjoy discussions around shared interests of religious studies, literature, history, creative writing, graffiti, travel and chess!
Choir, Organ, and Carillon
James Kallembach
Director of Chapel Music Senior Lecturer, Department of Music Office: Cobb 429
773.702.6063
kallemba@uchicago.edu
As Director of Music I direct the Rockefeller Chapel Choir, plan music for concerts and services, and help to curate and produce concerts in our spaces. I have been at the University of Chicago since 2005. Please reach out to me directly if you are interested in participating in our music programs. (Pronouns he/him)
Tom Weisflog
University Organist
773.590.3549
Appointed as University Organist at the University of Chicago in October 2000, Tom Weisflog directed the historic restoration of Rockefeller Chapel’s massive E. M. Skinner organ. He also served as organist and artist-in-residence with Chicago’s William Ferris Chorale and director of music for both the First Unitarian Church of Chicago and St. Thomas the Apostle Church. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and on recordings on the Meridian, New World, and Vox labels.
Alex Johnson
University Carillonist
773.834.4462
alexrjohnson@uchicago.edu
As University Carillonist, Alex performs for Sunday services, weddings, memorials, and more. Alex also serves as advisor and teacher to the University of Chicago Guild of Carillonists, a group of about 20 students who play many of the weekday recitals. Alex is an alum of the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Belgium as well as the University of Rochester, where he obtained a degree in Physics. He joined the team in 2022.