Good Officers

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Chapter	Headshot	First Name	Last Name	Email	Bio

2	Pacific Southwest		Alison	A.L.G. McLeod	AlisonALGMcLeod@lreda.org	Alison Aguilar Lopez Gutierrez McLeod has been serving as a Religious Educator to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito since March 2007. While earning her M.Ed. at Washington State University, Alison served as an elected official on the City Council of Pullman, Washington. She continued to serve the community on numerous boards for organizations that addressed issues faced by women of color, civil rights and social justice. She is currently serving her second term as Vice President of PSWD LREDA and is on the UUA Commission on Social Witness.
3	Canada		Angela	Klassen	angelaklassen@lreda.org	Angela Klassen (she/her) came to our tradition as a YA, raising her kids within the nurture of a family-size UU congregation. She has served Unitarian Universalism professionally in pastoral and program-size congregations as Director of Lifespan Religious Education at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto for 15 years, and as Program Director at First Unitarian Church of Hamilton for 4 years. With an educational background in Classics and Business Administration, she holds college certificates in "Volunteer Management", "Congregational Leadership & Conflict Management", and certification in Spiritual Care through the UU Leadership Institute. Angela's spirit is renewed on forest trails, at the shoreline, while making music, good food and with family and friends. As a Good Officer, she leans on a grounding in trauma awareness/ trauma stewardship, and the belief that each person can better access their own inner guidance system through the companionship of another’s deep and trustworthy listening.
4	New England		Sadie	Kahn-Greene	sadiekahngreene@lreda.org	Sadie is a credentialed Religious educator who has been in the field since 2003. She has served as the full-time Director of Faith Formation at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua since 2017. She previously worked as the DRE at First Parish Chelmsford, MA. Sadie has held many leadership roles within LREDA and UU communities over the year including serving as a RE Week co-coordinator at Ferry Beach, as a new DRE mentor, as a New England LREDA chapter Exec team member, and as a renaissance module leader for UU History, Worship for All ages and Teacher Development. She is ready now to support LREDA members as a new good officer! Sadie seeks to listen compassionately and work with you as you navigate challenges or wonderings that arise in your work as a religious educator.
5	Pacific Central		Rev. Dr. Gregory	Carrow-Boyd	gregoryboyd@lreda.org	Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Carrow-Boyd (he/him) is a Religious Educator Credentialed at the Leadership Level. He serves our UU congregation in Honolulu, HI as Executive Minister of Religious Education. He also serves our wider Association as a member of the General Assembly Advisory Council. Greg loves to dance and to spend time with the special young people in his life. In his free time, Greg conducts research about and writes religious education, racial justice, and sexuality education curricula.
6	Metro New York		Tracy	Breneman, M.A., M.S.	TracyBreneman@lreda.org	I have been a Unitarian Universalist religious educator since 2008 and currently serve the congregation in White Plains, NY. Growing up the daughter of a United Methodist Minister, I saw first-hand the effect conflict can have on a congregation and congregational staff teams. I also developed a deep appreciation for the unique potential faith communities have to transform destructive conflict and strengthen community. I hold a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, and have completed coursework and comprehensive exams toward a Ph.D. (ABD). I also have extensive experience teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses in conflict transformation, having been on faculty at George Mason University, Columbia University, and in the Dispute Resolution Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. It’s a joy to be able to share conflict transformation tools with my LREDA colleagues, and to learn with you strategies for managing the challenges we face as we serve our congregations. Contact information: Tracy Breneman, 914-434-7539, DRETracyB@gmail.com.
7	Southwest		Katy	Carpman	KatyCarpman@lreda.org	Katy Carpman (she/her) is a Credentialed religious educator. She has served congregations at small and medium congregations in Houston, Texas and has served LREDA as a past Board Member and credentialing mentor. Katy believes in lifelong learning, supporting families, and the power of story.
8	Metro New York		Rev. Dr. Natalie	Fenimore	NatalieFenimore@lreda.org	Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore is Minister for Lifespan Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY, the former President of the Liberal Religious Educators Association, and Vice President of Star King School for the Ministry's Board of Trustees and a member of the Board of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association. Natalie is a Credentialed Religious Educator, Master’s Level and Renaissance Module facilitator. Natalie is an author of UU Religious Education Curricula, Renaissance Modules, and Meditations.
9	Mountain Desert		DeAnna	Hoyle	DeAnnaHoyle@lreda.org	De Anna Hoyle (she, her) is an Associate Level Credentialed religious educator with nearly 15 years experience in varying-sized congregations. She is a trained Our Whole Lives facilitator in all age levels and is passionate about sharing the gospel of holistic sexuality education and believes covenantal relationship is key to healthy congregations. De Anna trained for interim work in 2014 and has served two congregations in that capacity. She serves the Guild of Interim Religious Educators (GIRE) as secretary and continues to hone her skills in transitional ministry, systems and conflict management as a consultant with the GIRE Consulting team. De Anna finds herself musing about how to bring more peace within and out into the world. You may find her on a bike trail, the dance floor or reading a book while lying in a hammock near her home in SW Colorado.
10	Joseph Priestley		Beth	Irikura	BethIrikura@lreda.org	Beth is a Credentialed Religious Educator who has been serving the River Road UU Congregation in Bethesda since 2007. She has a certificate in Lay Ministry with an emphasis in Youth Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary. Beth and her family attend the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, where she was a lead advisor for their youth program for three years. Beth serves as a Credentialing Mentor and a Good Officer for LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association.) She also serves on the board of UU Wellspring and leads several UU Wellspring groups. She is in training at the Haden Institute to become a spiritual director.
11	Pacific Northwest		Mary	Kroener-Ekstrand	MaryKroenerEkstrand@lreda.org	Mary Kroener-Ekstrand is Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, OR. She previously served as Lifespan Director of Religious Education at First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City. Mary holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and has pursued a variety of professional development opportunities in the field of religious education including coursework at Starr King School for the Ministry, district and regional trainings, and Renaissance Modules. She is passionate about lifelong learning and loves helping people of all ages to understand their own beliefs and to put those beliefs into action in their lives and communities. As a Good Officer, Mary hopes to help fellow religious educators maintain their integrity and honor their values as they navigate the complexities of our professional work in congregations.
12	Metro New York		Michelle	McKenzie-Creech	MichelleMcKenzieCreech@lreda.org
13	Southwest		Sarah	Osborne	SarahOsborne@lreda.org	Sarah has served as the Director of Religious Exploration for Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church in Cordova, TN since 2010. She has a passion for creating meaningful rites of passage, facilitating small group ministry, and collaboratively leading retreats and workshops. She loves the ocean, HGTV, and chanting. Sarah is deeply committed to the vision of an anti-racist, multi-cultural, multigenerational, transformational Unitarian Universalist faith. She lives in Bartlett, TN with her family and pup Mickey.
14	Metro New York		Tuli	Patel	tulipatel@lreda.org	Dr. Tuli Patel has been a religious educator in UU congregations for the past 17 years. She has a formal background in teaching and education. She brings a wealth of experience to the position of Treasurer. Tuli is currently the Executive Director of Beacon UU Congregation in Summit, holding portfolios of Lifespan and Financial management.
15	Southeast		Christina	Rivera	christinarivera@lreda.org	Christina is a religious educator and administrator serving Unitarian Universalism as part of the Lead Ministry Team of the Church of the Larger Fellowship. She was the first Latina and religious educator elected to the UUA Board of Trustees, serving as Trustee, Financial Secretary, and Secretary of the Association. In 2017 Chris co-founded the #UUWhiteSupremacyTeachIn with Aisha Hauser and Kenny Wiley. In 2018 she founded Called to Justice, a faith-based consulting group focused on impactful leadership and congregational development for Unitarian Universalists committed to justice ministries. Called to Justice’s mission is to develop lasting relationships with organizations and support them as they move deeper into understanding how white supremacy impacts all aspects of an organization. In 2020 Christina was selected as the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Angus MacLean Award recipient for Excellence in Religious Education. Chris has the faith and support of her husband and twin sons who, along with her ancestors, form the foundation for her calling to Unitarian Universalist ministry.
16	Ohio Meadville		Rich	Roberts	RichRoberts@lreda.org	Rich retired in 2019, having served for 23 years as the Director of Religious Education of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron. He has been an active member of the Ohio Meadville LREDA chapter, served on the staff of the Eastern Great Lakes Leadership School and as an officer in Toastmasters International. Rich is a musician and storyteller who loves creating experiential worship. Married, the father of two and a grandfather, Rich is an avid outdoorsman and lover of the arts. For many years he was active in the Ohio Meadville District Professional Unitarian Universalist Religious Leaders (OMDUUPRL), a group of regional ministers and religious educators. He is grateful to have worked alongside excellent ministerial colleagues and inspiring, creative religious educators throughout his career.
17	Seaway		Sheila	Schuh	SheilaSchuh@lreda.org	Sheila Schuh serves the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, and is credentialed at the Master Level. Her LREDA service has included mentoring, leading the Seaway Chapter, offering workshops, planning for Fall Con, co-leading Fall Con on Theme-Based Ministry, and providing input for the Commissioned Lay Leadership Program. She holds licensure as a Creative Arts Therapist and is a trained OWL and restorative practice facilitator. Her curriculum writings focus on parent spiritual development, just communication, family circle practice, and race & ethnicity identity development. She has served large, midsize and collaborated with small RE programs, as well as ran a home church for several years!
18	Southwest		Kathy	Smith	KathySmith@lreda.org	Kathy E. Smith, Credentialed Religious Educator, has been a religious educator since 2006. She has served churches in Texas and Louisiana, and currently serves our congregation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as Director of Family Ministries. She is past president of the SWUUC LREDA chapter, and has also worked with the Community Relations Team for LREDA, the Right Relations Team for General Assembly, the Music Leadership Certification Committee, and the Youth Caucus at General Assembly.
19	New England		Deborah	Weiner	DebWeiner@lreda.org	Deborah Weiner is a transitional religious education specialist and faith development consultant working with congregations on the ways in which they can embrace new vision, mission, and energy during a time of change. For over twenty years Deb was part of the staff of the Unitarian Universalist Association. She recently completed two terms as Moderator of the Association for UU Music Ministries and currently serves on the board of New England LREDA (professional standards and services portfolio). She has extensive experience working in crisis communication, conflict resolution, appreciative inquiry and other adaptive leadership areas. She is a co-founder of the Guild of Interim Religious Educators and resides in Lexington, MA.
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