Keynote Sessions

Camille is a 27 year old Filipino-American who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She works as a Certified Prosthetist Orthotist at Transcend Orthotics and Prosthetics where she designs and fits individuals (primarily pediatrics) with external braces or prosthetic limbs to help them stand, walk, run, and more. She is a cradle Catholic who embraced her faith during undergrad at NC State University where she was involved with her campus ministry. Her current engagement with young adults in Fort Wayne includes helping with a series that explores how to walk with people on their faith journey. In her spare time, she likes to play the guitar, dance, and cook and hopes to one day learn how to fence.

Cynthia De Leon is a 33 year old latina from San Antonio, Texas. Growing up on the East side of San Antonio she ran into a lot of problems in balancing both her faith and her ability to be someone who could run with the crowd. Once she graduated she began attending a young adult group called Tongues of Fire. The group is a charismatic group and embraces each other's growth in the faith. She has been serving in this group but has also been able to speak and sing at different retreats and conferences around the U.S. She is honored to share a little bit about herself as a part of the mass population of young adults trying to keep the flame alive in her heart.

Kara Dixon is a reporter in Norfolk, Virginia. She grew up in Winchester, Virginia and is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. At UMD, she participated in the CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship Program led by UNC and WRAL. During college, Kara was a member of Capital News Service and ViewFinder presented by the University of Maryland. Both programs won numerous regional and national awards. She spent two years as a multimedia journalist at KFDM/KBTV in Beaumont, Texas, where she covered everything from historic flooding to crime. Her station was awarded the Texas Associated Press Jordan Flaherty Award in 2016. After spending two years in Texas, Kara joined the WAVY Team in June 2016.

​

In June 2019, Kara was one of 120 young women chosen to participate in the Given Forum, a Catholic leadership forum held in Washington, D.C. In 2020, she completed the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership’s Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Leadership. Kara is also a member of the Hampton Roads Black Media professionals,where she serves as membership chair. In her free time, Kara volunteers at local soup kitchens and reads to students.  She is an active member of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, the only Black basilica in the United States, and assists in a variety of ministries.

Brian Rhude is the Project Coordinator for the Catholic Apostolate Center where he works in developing Center programming, assists in updating and creating new resources on the Center's website, collaborates on the development of social media content, and participates and presents at various events and conferences on the themes of young adult ministry, accompaniment, and vocation.  

Along with his work for the Catholic Apostolate Center, Brian is the Assistant Director of Summer Programs and Formation for the Lay Apostolate for the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America where he directs their summer institute, Light the World! and does formation work with the undergraduate students. Originally from central Maryland, Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and Religious Studies as well as a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from the Catholic University of America and an Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He also works as a music minister.

Tracey Lamont, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Religious Education.