My Story

I have been oriented towards ministry my entire life. I was raised by a Protestant Lutheran family, and, despite taking an interest in Wicca at age 12, I learned about church structures, worship, and youth group by attending with my family. I became better acquainted with Unitarian Universalism through interfaith involvement in high school and college, and solidified the relationship in seminary and as a Director of Religious Education in 2008.

My sisters and I on the way to
another sister's wedding, Oct. 2008.

I studied Religion and Classics at Bryn Mawr College and was a student leader in interfaith and liberal ministries. After college and seminary (Pacific School of Religion, 2008), I sought positions in campus or youth ministry and discovered that the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill was hiring a Director of Religious Education. The church in Cherry Hill, although my family were not members, is the Unitarian Universalist church I was familiar with growing up. I enjoyed two and a half years as Acting Director of Religious Education.

I left the congregation on very good terms in order to pursue a Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley. During my last year, I assisted Reverend Manish Mishra and RE Committee in re-visioning the RE position into a Consulting Minister of Religious Education and Pastoral Care, filled currently by Rev. Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn.

As I began my Ph.D. program at the GTU, I also began as part-time Director of Religious Education in Stockton, California, a position I have held for a year and a half. I have recently decided to bring to close my time in Stockton and seek a position in a larger and more age-diverse congregation where my skills could be utilized to a higher degree.

I am working on a Ph.D. and have interests in academic teaching. However, I learned about part-time and adjunct teaching opportunities at Starr King School for the Ministry from Rebecca Parker at a recent Emerging Scholars gathering of Unitarian Universalist scholar-ministers and graduate students.

My partner and I hope to stay in Berkeley.
We have a great home. He works as a
Contracting Officer for the EPA in SF.

I realized immediately that I would be satisfied doing occasional adjunct teaching at Starr King and Cherry Hill Seminary while working full-time as a family minister. I am getting a head start by teaching NeoPagan Liturgy: Earth Ritual at Starr King School for the Ministry in the fall and at volunteer Chairing Pagan Studies Salon.

Because of my academic and adult education background (I have taught masters students at Cherry Hill Seminary), I have for a while now felt that a LIFESPAN religious education or family ministry position would be a better and more fulfilling fit for me.

My ministry celebrates transitions... growing up, coming of age, coming out, Our Whole Lives and emotional development, handfastings and weddings, and also supporting people through separations and deaths.
Read about my academic and work history.