Our Staff Team
Dagoberto Valladares | Co-Director
dagoberto.valladares@cru.org
tara.valladares@cru.org
Dagoberto (Dag) and Tara Valladares both graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2016, and have been married since January 2018. Dagoberto has been working with Cru at UVA and PVCC since graduating from UVA. He began his career with Cru having realized how formative the college years are in the lives and futures of students. He is passionate about introducing students to Christ, walking alongside them as their relationship with Christ develops, and equipping them to be Christ’s ambassadors for the rest of their lives. In his free time, Dagoberto loves playing sports and board games, getting to know new people, and enjoying the company of his community. His wife Tara received her PhD in Quantitative Psychology from UVA in 2023, and works in the private sector while also serving with Cru as affiliate staff. They are parents to an adorable and fearless 2 year old girl named Lucy.
Caela Carlson | Co-Director
caela.carlson@cru.org
Caela graduated from the University of Maryland where she fell in love with Jesus and in deep like with the ministry of Cru. After serving there for a number of years, she excitedly joined the UVA staff team as a Team Leader in 2022. Caela loves and is still a little in awe that this is her job. She loves students and truly believes this next generation is going to change the world. Caela enjoys a good book, good coffee, and good friends. You can find her doing a puzzle, trying new places to eat, or passionately discussing Harry Potter with anyone who will engage with her.
PJ Ochoa
pj.ochoa@cru.org
PJ is a 2019 graduate from Liberty University with a B.S. in electrical engineering and minor in mathematics. As he worked with the college ministry on his campus, he felt the Lord calling him to consider full time college ministry. As he learned more about Cru, he decided he wanted to try it out for 2 years. After interning with Cru in Lynchburg, Virginia with an incredible staff team, he fell in love with the ministry of Cru and wanted to serve with them full time. Analyzing his giftings, areas of need, and the people he felt most connected with, PJ felt called to go to serve on UVA and PVCC’s campus.
Chris VanHimbergen
christopher.vanhimbergen@cru.org
Chris is a 2022 graduate from the University of Virginia with a double major in Linguistics and Philosophy. He has decided to intern with us this year out of a desire to see God do much needed work here at PVCC and UVA, as well as to spend his two gap years prior to attending law school in a way that he hopes will prepare him morally, spiritually, and personally for his career. As a native son of Ohio, Chris has many quirks including a love for chocolate milk superseded of course by his love for Jesus Christ - the creator of all things, including chocolate milk. He looks forward to getting to know more students at PVCC and UVA and to brighten their lives with the Gospel and his personality.
We also have a few other staff members serving on our team this year, but they are keeping the door open to returning to overseas ministry. If you would like to get in contact with Christina or Rachael please contact a staff member above to ask for their contact info.