Meet the team
Multifaith Chaplaincy Assistant
Louise Lloyd
Louise is the Multifaith Chaplaincy Assistant. She works part-time in the office next to the Garden Room in the Buckley Building, and makes sure the service runs smoothly. Her role is to manage room bookings, greet students, staff, and visitors and ensure sure we offer a warm welcome to everyone using the service. Louise came to Brookes after a career as a lettings agent, and recently spent a semester in Inclusive Support, where she learned more about the experience of disabled students.Chaplains are appointed by the University and their faith community, or another appropriate organisation, to serve staff and students by offering spiritual and pastoral care as well as worship and events. The University Chaplain and Pastoral Care Lead is a permanent member of University staff who coordinates the service.
A chaplain can also support you if you need to make adjustments in order for you to access the University as a person of faith, for example if you need to avoid attending teaching or examinations during Shabbat.
University Chaplain and Pastoral Care Lead
Rev. Kate Harford
Kate is employed by the University to lead the Multifaith Chaplaincy. She coordinates chaplaincy events and makes sure that all staff and students can access the Multifaith Chaplaincy for support. Along with her colleagues, Kate offers spiritual and pastoral care to any member of the university of any or no faith - get in touch if she can help.
Kate was ordained as a Christian minister in November 2015 by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). She has a particular interest in interfaith dialogue, queer and intersectional feminist theology, and theologies of disability and mental health. She is studying for an MA at the Queen’s Foundation and in her leftover time she enjoys knitting, crochet, and playing the flute. She is married to Emily and they live locally with a cat called Mrs. Evadne Cake.
You do not have to have any sort of faith or belief to use the services of the Multifaith Chaplaincy, please feel free to visit.
Anglican Chaplain
Rev. Heather Leppard
The Anglican Chaplain is appointed by arrangement with the Diocese of Oxford.
Heather is here to offer pastoral and spiritual support to students and staff of all faiths and none. She is ordained in the Church of England, and worked in parishes in Salisbury and Basingstoke before joining the team here at Oxford Brookes.
As a student, Heather valued the multifaith chaplaincy at Bristol, both the friendships formed and the richness of interfaith dialogue. Heather loves hearing people’s stories, especially over a cup of tea, and can offer a friendly listening ear when life gets tough. She also likes being active - running, walking and swimming, as well as building Lego and doing puzzles with her children.
Heather is usually available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Catholic Chaplain
Fr. Prem Fernando is taking sabbatical leave
The Catholic Chaplain is appointed by arrangement with the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Fr. Prem Fernando has been granted sabbatical leave from his chaplaincy role after 12 years at Brookes. He promises to continue to pray for you all, and is grateful for everyone who shared in the life of the Catholic Chaplaincy with him. We wish him well in his future ministry. If you need information about Catholic Chaplaincy, please email the office.
International Chaplain
Jonnie Green
Jonnie will be taking a sabbatical from his role for three months from April-June 2024 (inclusive). Please contact the office with enquiries during this time.
The International Chaplain is appointed by arrangement with Friends International.
Jonnie Green serves as the International Chaplain. He is here to offer Christian care for all international students - whether they are Christians or not. He works with several local churches and Brookes Christian Union to provide international student-friendly events, such as the International English Club (IEC) and the hospitality scheme.
Jonnie works at several university centres, so he is not full-time at Oxford Brookes. You can find him most easily at the International English Club on Monday nights. Alternatively, you can email. If he can help in any way, listen to your questions, or discuss matter of faith, culture or anything else, just let him know.
Jewish Chaplains
Rabbi Michael and Tracey Rosenfeld-Schueler
- rosenfeld@brookes.ac.uk
- 07717 742 835 (Michael)
The Jewish Chaplains are appointed by arrangement with University Jewish Chaplaincy.
Our local Jewish chaplaincy couple are committed to empowering students to grow and explore their Jewish identity. They provide opportunities for students to engage in new Jewish experiences and welcome them to their home in the familiar Jewish home-away-from-home environment.
Michael, originally from the United States, graduated from University of Wisconsin (History, Hebrew and Jewish Studies) and received smicha from Yeshivat Hamitvar. He studied and lived in Israel for 8 years.
Michael participates in local and national interfaith groups. He enjoys educating Jews and non-Jews about Jewish practice, observances, thought and philosophy. He was most recently the Rabbi for Kingston, Surbiton and District Synagogue where he served for nearly 5 years. He loves biking around Oxford, photography, rock climbing and ultimate frisbee.
Tracey graduated from Monash University, Melbourne with a double Bachelor degree in Arts (Drama and Theatre Studies / Business Marketing). Having spent the last 10 years working in the Arts, her most recent post has been as the Marketing Campaigns Manager at the Barbican Centre where she worked for 5 years looking after the programme for Theatre and Dance. She is passionate about student theatre, and practices mindfulness and yoga.
Tracey has been extensively involved in Jewish youth education, and recently completed the Susie Bradfield Leadership and Education Programme at the London School of Jewish Studies.
Methodist Chaplain
Adrienne Cooke
Muslim Chaplain
Sheikh Ramzy
The Muslim Chaplain is appointed by arrangement with Madina Masjid Oxford.
Hojjat Ramezanzadeh, known as Sheikh Ramzy, was born in the Middle East but has lived in Oxford for over 30 years. He achieved an undergraduate degree from Oxford Brookes University, and went on to complete further Islamic studies at Markfield Institute in Leicester. Sheikh Ramzy is an Islamic scholar, versed in Islamic law and jurisprudence.
For a number of years, Sheikh Ramzy has been working with the Muslim Council of Britain and with local, national and international religious leaders of all faiths. He established the Oxford Islamic Information Centre for the purpose of providing accurate and accessible information about Islam with a view to promoting understanding, peace and brotherhood within the local and national community.
Sheikh Ramzy is available to any student or staff member who would like to discuss Islam - whether you share his faith or not - and he leads Friday Prayers on campus at least once a month.
Faith Community Contacts are members of local faith communities who are a named point of contact for Oxford Brookes staff and students.
Oxford Buddha Vihara
Ven. Dhammasami
Ven. Dhammasami is a monk with the Oxford Buddha Vihara. He is available to offer information to Buddhist staff and students, or those wanting to learn about Buddhism.
Hindu Temple
Dr. Gian Gopal
Dr. Gopal is the Chair of the Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project (OHTCCP). He is available to contact if you would like to know more about Hinduism or find out where to worship in Oxford. OHTCCP run a lively programme of events open to the whole community
Hope Vineyard Church
Funmi Akinola
Funmi is the student worker at Hope Vineyard Church. She is available to contact if you would like to know more about Hope Oxford. As well as Sunday worship, Hope runs community projects in Cowley.
Group Leaders work with Chaplains to offer events in the Multifaith Chaplaincy for staff and students.
Dr. Sola Adesola
Dr. Sola Adesola is a Senior Lecturer in Oxford Brookes Business School and is an ordained Minister of the Gospel at Holding Forth the Word Ministry, Milton Keynes. Within the Multifaith Chaplaincy, Sola is the Group Leader of the ‘Finding God at Brookes’ Bible study which she has been leading alongside members of the Chaplaincy team since 2016. Sola sits on the University's Multifaith Advisory Board as a staff representative.
The Multifaith Chaplaincy is seeking to work with all the faith groups represented in our community, to better serve the University. We seek to be a safe space for all members of the University, of all faiths and none.
If you are a member of the University community and would like to discuss your faith needs with a chaplain, please do get in touch.
If you represent a faith group and would like to discuss how you could work with us in the Multifaith Chaplaincy, please contact us.