Staff
Meet the CFJ team!

Stephanie J. Peddicord
President
A lifelong Catholic and advocate of service and justice, Stephanie was appointed President of the Center for FaithJustice in April 2015 after having served the organization in a consultative way since 2013. An executive in the non-profit sector…
Read More
with more than 15 years of experience in all aspects of philanthropic management, Stephanie began her career and ultimately was promoted to Assistant Vice President at Community Counselling Service (CCS Fundraising), directing several major campaigns and other projects for a diverse client roster. During her time at CCS, she directed or worked on campaigns that raised hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, a selection of which included the Brooklyn College Foundation, Inc., Brooklyn, NY; Archdiocese of Atlanta, GA; Diocese of Allentown, PA; Elms College, Chicopee, MA; and St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC, which is the largest Catholic parish in the United States.
Upon leaving that firm, Ms. Peddicord assumed senior leadership positions at two non-profit organizations, Covenant House (Philadelphia, PA) and Interfaith Youth Core (Chicago, IL), respectively, both of which drew upon not only her fundraising expertise but also broader skill set in administration and communications. In these roles she was responsible for all aspects of external affairs in addition to managing diverse staff teams and providing executive-level strategic direction.
In 2009, she founded Peddicord Consulting, LLC, a boutique firm that has allowed her to provide a scope of capacity-building services to non-profit clients across the Delaware Valley. Her specialty is empowering small organizations to think and achieve results “like the big guys.” She brings to this work the unique experience of having helped steward numerous organizations at critical junctures, albeit start-up operations aspiring to grow or seasoned outfits in need of a reboot.
Stephanie resides in Pennington, NJ, with her husband, two children, and golden retriever. They are long-time active parishioners at the Church of Saint Ann in Lawrenceville. She graduated with Honors from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and earned her Master’s in Public Service Management from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Fluent in Spanish, Stephanie is well-traveled throughout the United States and abroad. Domestically, she has colloquial knowledge of the eastern corridor, southeast, and the greater Chicago area; internationally, she has lived in Spain and completed coursework and/or volunteer service in Germany, Kenya, Mexico, and Peru.
Having had deeply transformative service experiences herself as a teen and young adult, Stephanie views her work with CFJ as a full circle moment of opportunity to impact the world around her and the future of the Catholic Church: “Our programs are not just about community service. Instead, we really challenge young people to embrace the call of the Gospel – that when you see something that isn’t right in our world, you not only have the power to change it, you have a mandate by your faith to do so.” As our President, she spearheads visioning, development, external affairs, and strategic planning and partnerships.

Maggie Smith
Senior Director, Strategy & Implementation
Maggie joined the CFJ staff in 2017, after completing her Master’s in Theology and Pastoral Ministry at Villanova University. She credits her experiences on JusticeworX and LeaderworX as the inspiration for…
Read More
the initial call she felt toward ministry work. Maggie completed her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, New Brunswick before completing her master’s at Villanova.
Maggie’s many roles at CFJ opened her eyes and heart to the call to work for justice and peace in her local communities and beyond: “Jesus calls us to see our neighbors, to connect with them, and to show them love through our actions. My experiences with LeaderworX and JusticeworX in Philly, Trenton, and West Virginia gave me the opportunity to learn about and practice these things. I learned how to listen, to reach out, and to recognize the dignity of all of our sisters and brothers, especially the poor and marginalized.” CFJ’s programs taught her not only how to work for change on a large scale, but also the small things she can do each day to show love, fight for justice, and spread the gospel message.
In her role, Maggie works implementing the vision and broadening the reach of CFJ as well as representing CFJ on a larger scale.

Brooke Foster
Director of Programs
Brooke joined the CFJ staff in May 2022, after finishing her Master’s in Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary. She has discerned a call to partnering with young people in their spiritual development and helping them to find fruitful community while …
Read More
embracing God’s call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
During her studies at Princeton Seminary, Brooke earned certificates in “Theology, Ecology, and Faith Formation” and “Theology, Women, and Gender.” She also had the opportunity to work with the Institute for Youth Ministry and develop a passion for working with youth in innovative, theologically informed, and justice-oriented ways. In 2018, she earned her B.A. from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, where she studied English, Missional Entrepreneurship, and Biblical Greek, and worked for the Missions Department.
In her role at CFJ, Brooke develops program content and curriculum and serves as a liaison between CFJ, parishes, parents, and participants.

Joe Dignam
Manager, Finance & Operations
Joe has over 15 years of experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial organizations in various marketing and sales positions. He also was a small business owner for over 5 years. He holds a BS in Economics & Finance from the University of…
Read More
Scranton, an MBA in Marketing from Seton Hall University and Lean Six Sigma certification from Villanova University.
As a lifelong volunteer and practicing Catholic, Joe has participated in Children’s Faith Formation, Eucharistic Ministry, Catholic Charities, the Interfaith Hospitality Network and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Joe resides in Somerville with his wife and is the proud father of two children who participated in JusticeworX.
In his role, Joe will manage program and organizational event logistics, accounts payable, accounts receivable, finance communication with outside firms and vendor management. Additionally, he will oversee the organization’s customer relationship management platform.

Martha Dudich
Soup & Psalms Coordinator
Martha has been privileged to minister within a variety of faith communities — parishes, diocesan agencies, retreat centers, retirement communities and now the Center for FaithJustice — for more than thirty years.
Read More
The last decade included working as a Pastoral Associate for Worship at St. Charles Borromeo in Skillman, NJ and Program Associate for the Vincentian Renewal Center of St Joseph’s Seminary in Princeton, NJ. A passionate student, Martha has pursued advanced degrees in spirituality and fine arts and is currently writing her dissertation for a Doctor of Letters. There are a number of Divine imperatives that resonate with the work to which Martha has been called: feed, welcome, unite, bless, pray, listen, rest, rejoice, wash, eat, drink. At the heart of this role is its communal dynamic. No part can be achieved alone. The clearest, loudest part of any call Martha has heard with regard to her work is that it accompanies others. That work which has brought the greatest joy has connected her to faithful women and men asking, seeking, knocking (lamenting, cajoling, wondering, wandering, thanking, doubting, crying, dying) as together they find their way. From moment to moment they are, any one, shepherd and sheep, pardoner and pardoned, giver and gift. This is the good, important work in which Martha continues to be engaged.

Gabriela Rodriguez
Student Intern
Gabriela, a new intern, recently began working with us January 2023. She is currently a student pursuing her Bachelors in Sociology and Criminology at The College of New Jersey. Gabriela will be graduating this August and hopes to begin a…
Read More
a career in social work. She has strong interest working in court rooms with the purpose of handling cases of domestic violence against women and children.