CER Announces New Staff - Rev. Alia Shinbrough

By Central East Region of the UUA

headshot of a human wearing dark rimmed glasses and a brightly flowered shirt and a chalice necklace

The Central East Region is very pleased to announce the hiring of Rev. Alia Shinbrough (they/them) as a Congregational Life Staff person beginning January 8, 2024. Rev. Shinbrough will serve as the primary contact for congregations in the eastern half of New York State.

Rev. Alia Shinbrough is a Unitarian Universalist minister with deep roots in the Central East Region. They hold a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. They are a 2023 GROW Fellow, as well as a current member of TRUUsT, the UU Society for Community Ministries, and the UU Ministers Association.

Rev. Alia’s multi-contextual ministry and passions for community building have grown across their life-long commitment to Unitarian Universalism, including time spent…

  • Immersed in the magic of summer camps supporting youth and adults to build healthy, safe, and fun multigenerational community, most recently as the inaugural Camp Learning Minister with the Camp Ministry Development Program;
  • Offering spiritual care and leadership in intersectional, multifaith social justice contexts, including as Minister for Queer Liberation at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, and as a student organizer for the Students Against Sexual Violence collective at Sarah Lawrence College;
  • Navigating collaborative leadership in UU campus ministry spaces, as Co-President of the Harvard Divinity School Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Students (HUUMS), and Co-Founder of UUreka! a student spirituality group at Sarah Lawrence College.

Alia previously served as Summer Minister for the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and as Student Minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock. They value opportunities to work with leaders, communities, and teams to create greater possibilities for vibrant ministries across our far-reaching faith movement.

Alia continues to work towards embodying transformative ministry in a time of political and social crisis, and to empower others to build collective resilience and reverence for life from within the realities of living through this wounded world.

Outside of ministering in a variety of places and liminal spaces, Alia can often be found reading science fiction, practicing trans liberation with their partner, baking fresh bread, making collage and other art, rediscovering euphoric joy through play, and spending time in the great outdoors.

The Central East Regional team is excited to have Alia join us in our work. Please feel free to welcome them in January.