Fr. Jay Buhman grew up the oldest of three children in York, Nebraska. After completing his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was ordained to the priesthood for his home Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2004. Following ordination, he served the first six years of his priesthood as a parochial vicar in three parishes in Lincoln, Nebraska, including three years at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and the Newman Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Fr. Jay then served five years as a pastor of two rural parishes in east-central Nebraska. He spent eleven years teaching in the Diocesan Catholic Schools. In 2015, Fr. Jay was released from the Diocese of Lincoln to serve as a national chaplain for FOCUS and has spent the last two years with FOCUS living in Denver, Colorado. In addition to his love of baseball, travel and good food, Fr. Jay has been passionate about his establishment of a devotion in honor of St. Monica, called Masses and Tears. This devotion was created to help and encourage parents who are praying for their children to return to the practice of the Catholic faith.

Lisa Cotter is a nationally sought-after speaker on the topics of relationships, femininity and living life with excellence. Since 2007, she and her husband, Kevin, have served FOCUS as a family. Lisa and Kevin are the co-authors of “Dating Detox: 40 Days of Perfecting Love in an Imperfect World” and the co-hosts of the How-to Catholic podcast. Lisa is the founder of Made to Magnify, a ministry with a mission to help people become saints — because it’s worth it.

Paul has spent more than two decades helping people discover their purpose through Christ. Paul has served in various capacities, including as the president and co-founder of a non-profit (Adore Inc.), a speaker, a mentor, a consultant, a coach, an author, a diocesan director (young adult ministry and evangelization), a youth minister and a college campus minister. It’s his role as a husband and father that Paul cherishes the most. After receiving an undergraduate degree in education, Paul went on to get a master’s degree in theological studies from the University of Dallas. Paul has been married to his amazing wife, Gretchen, for twenty years, and they have five children. Paul is founder and director of Art of Living, Inc. (discovertheartofliving.com) and is a sought-after speaker, consultant and life coach (paulgeorge.la). He resides in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Samantha currently works as the educational program manager for the Theology of the Body Institute. She is also the founder and president of FIERCE Athlete Inc., a nonprofit that reaches out to female athletes across the country. Prior to this, she worked for FOCUS and Varsity Catholic for five years. She holds a master’s degree in Catholic psychology from Divine Mercy University and bachelor’s degrees in finance and political science from the University of Connecticut, where she also played soccer. She currently resides near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where you can find her rowing competitively on the Schuylkill River, embarking on an outdoor adventure or enjoying a good craft beer with friends.

John Leyendecker lived a very prodigal lifestyle that led him to search for fulfillment in drugs, alcohol and unchaste relationships until his conversion to Catholicism in 1999. From that place of brokenness, John shares what Jesus Christ has done in his life. He has had the opportunity to share the truth of Christ and His Church in numerous venues over the years, making him even more passionate for the work of the New Evangelization. Currently, John is the director of The Holy Family School of Faith in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and their seven children.

Sr. Peter Marie Chrismer, O.P., is a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee. Before entering her religious community in 2001, she graduated from the University of Kansas, where her faith was rekindled and she heard the call to give her life to Christ as a consecrated religious. After serving in the community’s teaching apostolate for seven years, she was appointed vocation director in 2012. Sr. Peter Marie finds great joy working with women discerning a religious vocation, coordinating retreats at St. Cecilia Motherhouse and speaking with groups of young people on the call of the New Evangelization.

Curtis Martin is the founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). He holds a master’s degree in theology and is the author of the best-selling book “Made for More.” In 2011, Curtis was appointed to serve as Consultor to the Pontifical Council of the New Evangelization. Curtis and his wife, Michaelann, live in Westminster, Colorado. They have been blessed with nine children and one grandchild.

For more information on Curtis Martin, please visit his page on focus.org.

Daniel Paris, originally from Alexandria, Virginia, is currently in his sixth year with FOCUS as a senior Formation specialist. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, he holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute. Daniel came alive in his faith in college after a powerful encounter with Christ on a retreat. With his job, Daniel specializes in intellectual formation and designs curriculum for FOCUS’ national training, through which he lives out his passion for discovering, sharing and teaching the profound and life-changing truths of the Catholic faith. Daniel likes to spend his spare time exploring the beautiful mountains of Colorado by snowboarding, swing dancing and playing ultimate Frisbee. He is known by his friends for having no sense of smell. One thing you might never know is that Daniel has serenaded the Queen of England with his college a cappella group and might even sing for you here at Legacy!

Emily Runyan, a Delta Gamma, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in advertising and public relations. She recognized her call to serve Christ and His Church while on mission in the Dominican Republic, which is also where she met her husband, Jeff. She served as a FOCUS missionary in Arizona and California, and now she serves on the FOCUS Recruitment team in Colorado, where she lives with her husband and their son, Isaiah. Emily loves seeking the truth, goodness and beauty in the world we live in and sharing it with others, especially through art. Her artwork is an expression her love for Jesus, and it is her hope that it will open the eyes of others to the infinite.

Alex is a fourth-year missionary with FOCUS. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in psychology. In the summer before his freshmen year of college, he encountered the love and mercy of God. Since then, he has dedicated his life to bringing that same love and mercy to everyone he meets. He has spent the last three years in FOCUS serving at Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa. He currently serves as a team director for FOCUS at Kansas State University and lives with his wife and one-year-old son.

Kelsey Skoch is in her sixth year with FOCUS, currently serving as the Regional Director for Parish Outreach. After graduating with a business marketing degree from the University of Kansas, her passion for mission started when she interned at two Fortune 500 companies and saw the greater need for Christ in our world. Through speaking at international and national Catholic conferences, emceeing at World Youth Day 2016 and training hundreds of missionaries each year, Kelsey has been able to share her love of Christ to thousands all over the world. She considers Chipotle and footie pajamas the finer things in life, is a proud Kappa Delta Alum and currently resides with her husband in Denver, Colorado.

Mallory Smyth speaks around the country on topics such as the Catholic worldview, inheritance of faith and the feminine genius. Mallory fell in love with Jesus during her junior year at Louisiana State University and entered into full-time ministry after one year of working as an accountant. She served as a FOCUS missionary for five years and is currently the director of program growth for ENDOW, Educating on the Dignity of Women. It is her dream to see this generation of Catholics fall deeply in love with the God who loved them first, fully living the joy of the Gospel. Mallory currently lives in Denver with her husband, Jared, and their two daughters, Penelope and Eliza.

Amanda Teixeira hails from Nebraska, where she attended college and pledged Alpha Phi. She is a momma by day and a cofounder of WalletWin by night. Amanda is a nationally sought-after speaker and writer on the topics of finances, femininity, infertility, leadership and intentional living. Before launching WalletWin, she served four years as a campus missionary with FOCUS at the University of Illinois. She went on to serve two years as the founder of FOCUS Greek and two more years establishing FOCUS Summer Projects. She blogs alongside her husband at truegoodandbeautiful.net, reaching tens of thousands of people each month. When she isn’t running her business, speaking or writing, Amanda can be found having spontaneous dance parties or exploring the outdoors with her husband, Jonathan, their daughters, Josephine and Charlotte, and their beloved Labrador Retriever, Wrigley.