Meet the CPYU Staff
|
|
Walt Mueller is the founder and President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and has been working with young people and families for 31 years. As a result of his work with CPYU, Walt has become an internationally-recognized speaker and author on contemporary youth culture. He has written extensively on youth culture and family issues and is the author of the following books: The Space Between: A Parent's Guide to Teenage Development (Zondervan, 2009); Opie Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: Where Faith, Family, and Culture Collide (Standard Publishing, August 2007); Youth Culture 101 (Zondervan, June 2007); I Want to Talk With my Teen About Movies, Music & More (Standard Publishing, September 2006); Engaging The Soul of Youth Culture: Bridging Teen Worldviews To Christian Truth (InterVarsity Press, February 2006); and the critically acclaimed Gold Medallion Award winner, Understanding Today’s Youth Culture (Tyndale House, 1994). He is also a regular contributor to numerous journals and magazines. A graduate of Geneva College (B.A.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Walt has recently completed his doctorate at Gordon-Conwell in “Ministry to Postmodern Generations.” Walt has served in ministry with the Coalition for Christian Outreach and as a youth pastor in churches in |
|
|
Clifford Frick is CPYU’s Vice President of Administration. Besides handling administrative duties, he also coordinates donor relations, the CPYU speakers bureau, fund raising, all CPYU conferences, training seminars, and events. Cliff has over 20 years experience in non-profit and event management. Prior to joining CPYU in 1996, he was Director of Communications for a |
Chris Wagner (e-mail) |
Chris Wagner is the Media and Research Specialist for CPYU. His major focus includes web site management and production of CPYU's Youth Culture e-Update, as well as researching and writing for CPYU’s newsletter and web site. He also plays a role in the production of CPYU’s video resources. Before joining CPYU full-time in January 2004, he served as an intern with CPYU while a student at |
![]() Derek Melleby (e-mail) |
Derek Melleby is the Director of CPYU's College Transition Initiative. This initiative will help college bound high school juniors and seniors, and their parents, successfully make the transition from high school to college. Derek graduated from |
![]() Paul Robertson (e-mail) |
Paul Robertson, an Associate Staff Member of CPYU, makes CPYU presentations across the |
![]() Marv Penner |
Marv Penner is an Associate Staff member of CPYU. He is an internationally-known author, professor, motivational speaker, and youth ministry expert. He is currently the executive director of All About Youth and oversees the |
Rich Van Pelt |
Rich Van Pelt is the National Director of Ministry Relationships for Compassion International. Rich trains thousands of educators, counselors and youth workers each year in adolescent crisis intervention and teen suicide prevention and response. His expertise springs from more than three decades of youth and family work, including ten years with incarcerated youth in the Colorado Department of Corrections. He has helped kids and parents navigate some of life’s toughest stuff. He is the author of several books including The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Kids in Crisis and A Parent’s Guide to Helping Kids in Crisis. |
David William "Duffy" Robbins |
Duffy Robbins is an Associate Staff Member of CPYU. He is the Professor of Youth Ministry at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania and is a thirty-five year veteran of youth ministry. Duffy speaks around the world to teenagers and people who care about teenagers. Duffy has his D.Min. in Youth and Family Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is the author of numerous books including Ministry of Nurture, This Way to Youth Ministry: An Introduction to the Adventure, Speaking to Teenagers (which he co-wrote with Doug Fields), Youth Ministry Nuts and Bolts and Enjoy the Silence (which he co-wrote with a wonderful girl named Maggie Robbins that he married 35 years ago). |
Amy Flavin |
Amy Flavin is an Associate Staff member of CPYU. Amy is a therapist in |
![]() Jason Soucinek |
Jason Soucinek is an Associate Staff Member of CPYU. He is also the Executive Director and Founder of Project Six19, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to talking honestly about matters of sexual integrity. He loves to engage his audiences “where-they-are” and approaches God’s design for sex with relevancy and creativity. Recognized for his contributions and work with all ages and groups, he is a regular seminar and conference speaker. He has also written articles on issues surrounding sexuality for multiple magazines and news outlets. |
![]() John Fischer |
John Fischer is an Associate Staff Member of CPYU. His books Fearless Faith and Finding God Where You Least Expect Him have helped shape our worldview at CPYU and continue to be at the top of CPYU's suggested reading list. John's career spans over thirty-five years of distinctive ministry, first as a singer/songwriter, recording artist and pioneer of Jesus Music, then as a best-selling author, and currently as a popular speaker at conferences, retreats, churches and colleges/universities nationally. John's body of work includes 12 albums, 15 books, and numerous articles for a variety of publications. John graduated from |




