The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is pleased to announce that the association has named Natalie Aguila Briscoe as the UUA’s next Director of Congregational Life. Briscoe will assume the role full-time on January 1st, replacing Jessica York, who is retiring at the end of the year. Beginning in November, she will spend half her time shadowing Jessica York and “learning the ropes” of the director role.

“Natalie will bring creative, grounded, values-driven leadership and deep experience in Unitarian Universalist congregations to this very important role within the UUA,” said Rev. Ashley Horan, the UUA’s Vice President for Programs & Ministries.“She is widely respected by lay leaders and religious professionals across the faith, and embodies both a deep knowledge of and love for the work that Congregational Life staff have long done, and a compelling imagination for what the next phase of that work should be to meet this particular moment, with all its many challenges and opportunities both for the UUA and our congregations.”

Briscoe has deep ties to Unitarian Universalism, with more than a decade of experience as a Religious Educator, serving congregations in the Southern and Pacific Western Regions. In 2013, she joined the UUA’s Congregational Life staff. She became co-lead of the Southern Region in 2018, and transitioned to the sole Lead of the Region in 2021. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000 and her Master’s Degree in counseling and human development from the University of North Texas in 2002. Briscoe lives in Austin, Texas with her partner, two children, and one Lionhead rabbit.

“My ministry is to help congregations become the best institutional incarnation of Unitarian Universalism that they can be,” said Briscoe. “I am looking forward to working with UUA staff and our congregations to help build community and a foundation for the next century of our faith.”