Robert A. Holsapple (Rob) is a second year Master of Divinity student at Palmer Theological Seminary and currently serves as the Public Voice Theological Field Intern at the CA.  He is attending seminary as he says “because I am on a journey to discover what it is that our incomprehensible but loving and embracing Creator has in mind for me in my walk through this cycle of life.”  He acknowledges as well that he has “some pretty big shoes to fill” in the wake of his predecessors at the CA.

Born in the Bronx, New York (yes, he unabashedly admits to being both a New York Yankees and New York Giants fan), he obtained his BA degree from Herbert H. Lehman College of The City University of New York with a major in Psychology and a minor in Theatre.  Following a two year break he earned his Masters in Social Work degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and remained there for two years of Ph. D. studies in both public policy and clinical studies.

Subsequent to beginning a family Rob interrupted his studies and moved to Wilmington, NC to begin a career in Hospital Administration in the field of behavioral health.  This began a professional trek that took his family and him to Providence, RI; Cleveland, OH; Denver, CO; Houston, TX and finally to West Chester, PA.  After deciding to hang up his administrative spurs in Houston, Rob began practicing as a social worker and psychotherapist both there and in West Chester before taking leave to work on his own personal and spiritual growth.

Rob presently lives on campus at Palmer Theological Seminary with his 14 year old son Izaak with whom he is sharing this aspect of their journey through life together.  Or at least, as Rob says, until “Izaak has spent enough time under my wing and is ready to fly under his own power.”  Rob is excited about the privilege of being able serve the Penn community through the CA and to further the progressive mission and social justice agenda of the CA.  As a “child of the sixties” he remains passionate about issues of peace, justice, and reconciliation.  He anticipates continuing his studies on the doctoral level upon receipt of his M.Div. and plans to serve in a ministerial capacity in a secular setting using his gifts in counseling, teaching and writing.