Matt Bennett
Founder and President
Matt Bennett is founder and president of Christian Union, a Christian leadership development organization with the mission to bring sweeping spiritual and cultural transformation to our nation and the world by developing and networking Christian leaders to make an impact for Christ. Christian Union focuses its activity on America’s most influential universities and on professionals in the nation’s key cities.
A native of Houston, Texas, Matt earned BS and MBA degrees from Cornell University and holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He worked for Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) at Princeton University for 12 years, and developed the ministry into one of the largest in the history of the Ivy League. In 2002, he founded Christian Union. The ministry has been featured in The New York Times, PBS, NPR, Christianity Today, and World Magazine. Matt currently resides in New York City.
Follow Matt Bennett on Twitter: @MattWadeBennett.
Marcus Buckley
Vice President of Development
Dr. Marcus Buckley serves as the Vice President of Development for Christian Union. A graduate of Stetson University, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and North Greenville University, Dr. Buckley spent nearly 30 years pastoring growing churches in Florida and South Carolina. His ministry has always focused on taking the unchanging truths of Scripture and teaching them in such a way that they can be understood and applied by anyone. He has also served as a police chaplain for over 28 years, has contributed to a number of publications on theology and Christian living, and is the author of two best-selling Christian novels. His wife, Lea Ann,has previously served as a Christian Union ministry fellow at Cornell University and as the manager of the Christian Union Mott Center on Cornell’s campus, and currently serves as a cornerstone partner coordinator on the development team. They have three grown children.
Daniel Knapke
Senior Consultant to the President
Dan Knapke’s career has spanned both the non-profit and for-profit sectors enabling him to lead in ministry and nonprofit settings as well as in the corporate world. For the last 20 years he has served Christian Union in a variety of roles including ministry director (at Princeton), chief operating officer and chief operating and development officer where he saw the organization experience rapid growth.
Before that he successfully managed over $1.5 billion of business in the high-paced, corporate environment of a fortune 500 company. His work experience has also encompassed living and ministering cross-culturally in places like Europe, Australia and Central America.
Not only has Dan led and served in a multitude of environments that combine his lifelong passions for people, ministry and business, but he has served in a variety of local church roles. Dan has had the privilege of leading a church’s mission’s program, serving on a men’s ministry leadership team, launching a new church service, leading home groups along with his wife, Laurie, teaching Sunday school classes, being a part of welcoming teams, and offering premarital counseling for young, soon-to-be married, couples. He and his wife, Laurie, are proud parents of three children in North Carolina.
Kimani Smith
Multi-Site Ministry Director
Kimani Smith is a speaker, author, and pastor dedicated to helping people walk in freedom and purpose through Biblical truth and practical transformation. As the founder of Kimani Speaks Ministries, he inspires audiences to break free from limiting beliefs, overcome spiritual and emotional strongholds, and step confidently into their divine calling.
With over a decade of ministry leadership, Kimani has served as lead pastor, mission pastor, and teaching pastor. Currently, he develops university students into devout Christian leaders, serving as interim or part-time director at various Christian Union university ministries.
Through his book No More Open Doors and his dynamic speaking style, Kimani brings messages of hope, healing, and empowerment that resonate across generations. His mission is simple yet powerful — to awaken, equip, and release people into the life of freedom Christ intended.
Jeffrey Walsh
Vice President of Christian Union America
Jeffrey Walsh is a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with over 23 years of experience as a Military Police Soldier, Educator, National Director of Police, and leadership education. He is also an ordained Christian minister with a lifetime of experience in pastoral ministry. He has served in various assignments and attachments worldwide with the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau, the 5th Special Forces Group, and the 169th Regional Training Institute. Jeffrey spent the last ten years in senior leadership positions, including National Director and Subject Matter Expert of Military Police Education and Leadership and Senior Leader of Advanced Leadership Training Programs.
Jeffrey is an expert in spiritual care and reducing destructive behaviors like suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. He has trained military leaders across North America in his former role as the National Military Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert and Connecticut State Equal Opportunity and Sexual Assault Program Coordinator. He is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at Alliance University in New York City, with prior education in Biblical Theology and Pastoral Ministry from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. Jeffrey’s overseas combat experience has earned him numerous service awards, including the Bronze Star medal with Valor and four presidential unit awards. His passion for serving others stems from a personal journey of healing and transformation through the Spirit of God.
Jason Walsh
Vice President of Christian Union Universities
Jason Walsh brings a distinguished record of service and Christ centered leadership to his role as Vice President of Christian Union Universities. He served ten years in the United States Marine Corps, three years in the Connecticut Army National Guard, and four years as a Firefighter and EMT in Stamford. At the Pentagon, he supported senior national leaders through mission planning for the President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and military commanders. During his deployment to Afghanistan, he served as a Combat Aviation Operations Chief at Camp Dwyer in the Helmand Valley.
Across nearly twenty years of combined service, Jason excelled in leadership. He graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Training as the Platoon Honor Graduate, rose to Sergeant within four years, and was selected from the top one percent of the Marine Corps for recruiting duty. He later earned selection as a Firefighter and EMT from a field of two thousand applicants and went on to instruct at the Stamford Regional Fire Training School. His awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Jason’s life is marked by a deep devotion to Jesus Christ. Having overcome homelessness and hardship, he experienced the transforming grace of Christ and served six years as an associate pastor at The Rock Church in Wallingford, Connecticut. He now works to share the hope of the Gospel with students across America’s universities.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Leadership and Ministries from Nazarene Bible College, with further studies at Alliance Theological Seminary in Manhattan.
Quincy “Wolfgang” Watkins
Vice President of Spiritual Formation
Wolfgang is a sought-after preacher, lecturer, and prophetic bishop with more than two decades of ministry experience. As bishop with Momentum City Church, he overseers 2 congregations.
Wolf joined Christian Union in 2008, bringing a dynamic blend of corporate and ministerial experience to his roles, including five years as a ministry fellow at Christian Union Nova at Princeton. As current VP of Spiritual Formation, Wolfgang ministers to Christian Union faculty, staff, and students, helping develop and deepen lifestyles of seeking God wholeheartedly.
Wolfgang attended Temple University and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has held numerous executive-level, corporate positions and is a gifted business strategist.
Wolfgang’s lifelong mission is to provide health and balance to the Body of Christ through holistic preaching, teaching, and deliverance. A native of Chicago, Wolfgang is happily married to Fay.
