Nominations for Election at General Assembly 2025

The Nominating Committee submitted the following slate of nominees to the Board of Trustees. The election for these positions will take place at General Assembly (GA) 2025.

Board of Trustees

Mary Heafy, white woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white and black diamond-pattern sweater, and smiling at the camera.

  • Mary Heafy — position #7 (3-year term ending at GA 2028) Mary Heafy (pronounced HAY-fee) uses she/her pronouns and is a person with a disability. She grew up in an Irish Catholic family and attended 12 years of Catholic school. In her senior year of high school, she studied religions of the world — in alphabetical order — so in the spring of 1972 she learned about Unitarian Universalism. The faith resonated deeply with her. Fast forward another 17 years, when her then 5-year-old child announced she was going to the UU church and, since she could not cross the street alone, her parents would have to come. We joined First Parish in Waltham, MA in 1988.
    In 2004, Mary moved to Jaffrey, NH and joined the Keene (NH) UU congregation where she is currently a member. Mary served a religious exploration teacher, sang in the choir, and as congregational president at both First Parish in Waltham and at KUUC. Mary began serving the larger association as chair of the Northern New England District (NNED) leadership development team, and as a district board member and district board president. Mary has served as a member of the District Presidents Association and the National Advisory Council. Currently, she is a peer facilitation in the New England Region co-creating board retreats with New England congregations. She is co-chairing KUUC’s Welcoming Congregation Renewal Team, and leading lay-led services.
    Professionally, Mary is the President and CEO of The Arc of Opportunity, a non-profit in Central Massachusetts supporting people with disabilities and their families. The organization is deeply committed to DEIB and shared leadership. Mary is a lifetime Girl Scout and goes to Star Island each summer. Mary’s family includes her husband, two amazing adult kids along with their delightful spouses, and the most wonderful 2 ½ year old granddaughter.

    Mary is humbled and honored to be nominated for election to the Board of Trustees.

Vanessa Rush Southern, a white woman with long auburn hair, wearing a navy and white flowered top with a gold necklace, smiling.
  • Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern — position #9 (3-year term ending at GA 2028) Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern is the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco and has served congregations in Boston, MA; Washington, D.C.; and Summit, NJ. She is the author of three books, Little Did I Know, This Piece of Eden, and Miles of Dream, all published by Skinner House books, and other writing has been published in the Dallas Morning News, Scroll India, and Woman’s Day Magazine. She is outgoing president of the San Francisco Interfaith Council, an organization with 800 houses of worship, and religiously affiliated universities, nonprofits, and organizations in San Francisco. She served on the 50th Anniversary Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Association, as Chair of the Continuing Education, Network, Training, Enrichment and Renewal (C.E.N.T.E.R.) committee for the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, and preached the Service of the Living Tradition in 2013. She is married to Rohit Menezes, who serves on the Board of the UUSC, and is mother to Leila Menezes who attends Reed College (founded with the help of Unitarian minister Thomas Lamb Eliot). She believes we live on by the lives we loved and shaped and the institutions who will speak for and serve our values long after we are gone.
  • Adam Robersmith, a white person with short dark gray hair, a white beard, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, a gold septum ring, and a blue shirt, smiling.
    Rev. Adam Robersmith, DMin, PhD — position #10 (3-year term ending at GA 2028) The Rev. Dr. Adam Robersmith is a Unitarian Universalist minister, spiritual director, and storyteller. Educated at Cornell University, Starr King School for the Ministry, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Fielding Graduate University, he has studied science, theology, history, human development, and the arts. He serves the Universalist Church of West Hartford as their senior minister and is an adjunct professor at Meadville Lombard Theological School. He is also a gardener, fiber artist, weightlifter, and cook who lives in the woods of Connecticut with his partner of nearly 30 years.
Justine Sullivan, white woman with short brown and grey hair, wearing a blue shirt and rainbow bowtie and glasses, standing at a wood pulpit with a rainbow flab in front of it, speaking into a microphone.
  • Rev. Justine Sullivan — position #11 (3-year term ending at GA 2028) Rev. Justine Sullivan has served on our UUA board since June of 2022. Justine found Unitarian Universalism as an adult after many years of being unchurched. She has worked as a manager in high technology and as a social worker and psychotherapist, and in 2013 she entered seminary and was ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister in June of 2017.
    Before entering seminary, Justine joined the Clara Barton District Board, serving as District President and then as president of the District Presidents’ Association. Justine’s call to ministry includes serving congregations in transition, and she has served congregations in Massachusetts, Maine, Virginia, and is now serving as Developmental Lead Minister of the First UU Church of San Diego, where she lives with her wife Dale and their dog Callie.

Commission on Appraisal

Tracie Barrett, and white woman with curly gray and dark brown Hari, wearing purple glasses and a dark pink shirt.
  • Rev. Dr. Tracie Barrett (6-year term ending at GA 2031) Rev. Dr. Tracie Barrett lives in Orlando, FL, with her husband and three cats. She considers herself a UU Evangelist, sharing the good news about our liberal and liberating faith. Rev. Tracie is the Minister of Ritual and Liturgy for The Soul.Fire Project, a collective dedicated to creating transformative experiences rooted in a holistic, expansive, and theologically dynamic Unitarian Universalism. She graduated with her M.Div. from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2017 and was ordained into ministry that same year. She received her Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH, in 2024, and her thesis, Why Relationship Matters: Covenant, Discipleship, and Congregational Accountability in Unitarian Universalism, was published that same year.
woman with light brown skin, purple curly hair, half-rimmed glasses, wearing a rainbow-colored tank top, in front of grass
  • Rachel A. Feltner (6-year term ending at GA 2031) Rachel was born in Dayton, Ohio, and has spent most of her life in southwestern Ohio. She currently lives in Cincinnati with her boyfriend, Demis, and pet chinchilla, Chili. Even so, Rachel spends much of her time in Dayton. For work, Rachel is a community organizer for Leaders for Equality and Action in Dayton where she is developing a parent leadership and advocacy initiative. Rachel has been a member of Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Dayton for nine years. She came to Unitarian Universalism in her early twenties while searching for a supportive community. Throughout her years at the Fellowship, Rachel has served in many leadership roles including President of the Board of Trustees, Social Action Representative to Program Council, member of the Ministerial Search Committee, and member of the Healing and Repair Taskforce. She also enjoys working on worship services, facilitating small groups, and organizing events for the church. As a humanist, Rachel finds her spiritual inspiration through our faith’s work for justice and the challenging work of living into covenant.
Matthew Johnson, a white man with gray hair and a gray bear, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a green sweater, smiling.
  • Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson (6-year term ending at GA 2031) The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson is a preacher, coach, pastor, strategist, and writer. He has served as the Senior Minister of The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL since 2008. A third-generation UU, he has served in lay and ministerial leadership at the local, regional, and national level for 35 years, including as Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee, as a member of the UUMA Guidelines Committee, and as a member of the UUA’s Moderator Search Committee and Election Campaign Practices Committee. He is the author of Newborn Bards: A Theology of Preaching for Unitarian Universalists, the father of two UU children, a runner, traveller, reader, and lover of life.
Rodney Lemery, man with light brown hair and glasses, wearing a brown stole and purple top, smiling.
  • Rev. Dr. Rodney Lemery (6-year term ending at GA 2031) The Rev. Dr. Rodney Lemery currently serves as the Associate Minister for the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church of Walnut Creek, CA (5 yrs). He comes to that position from the Worthy Now Prison Network at the Church of the Larger Fellowship (1 yr), as well as a volunteer chaplain at the Solano County Jail (2 yrs).
    He lives in Concord, CA with his husband of 24 years, and their fur-baby Basil. Rodney and his husband have been long-time members (18 yrs) of the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek, CA.

Nominating Committee

Debra Boyd, a white woman with long brown hair, pulled back from her face, smiling with an open mouth, and wearing a brightly multicolored scarf.
  • Debra Gray Boyd (3-year term ending at GA 2028) Debra Gray Boyd is a member of the First UU Church of Columbus OH. She has served as a lay leader at all levels of our faith, including Treasurer, Board, Stewardship, and Breakfast cooker at her congregation. Debra was Secretary of the Ohio Meadville District Board. And, on the national level, she served as a Volunteer Compensation Consultant and as a member of the General Assembly Planning Committee for a full decade. Debra is completing her first term on the UUA Nominating Committee as Co-Chair and is seeking a second term. When not volunteering for our faith, Debra helps small businesses and not-for-profits reimagine and implement processes and systems that support their mission and increase their effectiveness.
Kathy Charles, a white woman with blonde hair and glasses, wearing a black t-shirt, smiling as she holds her two smalls dogs, one in each arm.
  • Kathy Charles (3-year term ending at GA 2028) Kathy Charles has been a UU since 1988 when she discovered that there is a place that she could belong and be supported in her spiritual journey.
    Kathy lives in Houston, Texas and is a member of Bay Area UU Church. She has served many committees at BAUUC and in the former Southwest District and Southern Region. Kathy served on the General Assembly Planning Committee and as a volunteer for several years at General Assembly in the volunteer office.
    Kathy was a member of the UUA Southern Region Staff for 12 years, serving as the Southern Region Events Coordinator and participating in arranging events for the MidAmerica Region.
    After many happy years serving as UUA Staff, it was time to retire and see the country in an RV with her fellow four-legged travelers. Kathy felt the call to volunteer work once again, and is very happy to be a part of the UUA Nominating Committee. After fulfilling a partial term, Kathy is honored to be running for a full term to serve the members and congregations of the UUA.
Courtney McKenny, white woman with brown hair and red glasses, wearing a pink shirt and a chalice necklace.
  • Courtney McKenny (3-year term ending at GA 2028) Courtney is a lifelong UU, who grew up attending the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield, MO. She graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelors of Art in History. She serves the UU Church of Birmingham & Tuscaloosa, AL as their Director of Lifespan Faith Development, and has been a religious educator for over 18 years.
    Courtney has served as a member of the UUA Nominating Committee and is currently a member at large on the UU Women’s Federation (UUWF) Board. She has served on the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Board, having held the portfolio of Continental Events. Previously, she has served on the UUA Appointments Committee, the Mid South District Religious Education Committee, as well as the Southeast Chapter of LREDA as vice president and then president. She is also an Our Whole Lives Facilitator Junior and Senior High.

The Election Campaign Practices Committee carries out the UUA’s election campaign policies.