Term: July 2023 - June 2026

Katharine uses they / them pronouns

Katharine is a UU Religious Educator, storyteller, and curriculum writer. They serve Unitarian Universalism on the traditional territory of the Kanien’keha:ka people as the Director of Religious Explorations at the Unitarian Church of Montreal in Montreal, QC. They are a former chair of CUURE (Canadian UU Religious Educators), and the former continental conference planning chair for LREDA. A graduate of Montreal’s Concordia University Theatre program, Katharine is an accomplished storyteller and writer of social justice fairy tales. Their stories have been shared and told in over a dozen UU congregations internationally.

An enthusiastic cyclist, amateur singer, and all-around lovable weirdo, Katharine annually churns out a half dozen pairs of hand knit socks in meetings and conferences, a tally that has only increased since all their work went online.

Term: July 2025 - June 2029

Mandy uses she / her  pronouns

Mandy is a seasoned Unitarian Universalist Religious Educator with over 20 years of leadership experience in faith development, worship, and community transformation. Known for her warm presence and strategic vision, Mandy specializes in program development across the lifespan, volunteer engagement, and justice-centered ministry.

Throughout her career, Mandy has nurtured faith formation programs for congregations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, developed national curricula, and led immersive youth leadership experiences. Her published works include With Justice and Compassion: Immigration Sessions for Children’s Religious Education and Worship Weaving, a middle school worship curriculum. Mandy most recently served as the Interim Director of Religious Education at First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI. There, she has guided children, youth, families, and volunteers through a vibrant Spiritual Pathways program, while supporting healthy congregational transitions and reimagining what spiritual exploration can look like in changing times.

Mandy has served the denomination through ongoing board leadership in national organizations, growing a passion for building collective liberation through not only inner spiritual work, but also systemic analysis of governance, operations, and budgeting to align our actions with Unitarian Universalist values. She served as the president of the New England chapter of LREDA during the pandemic, supporting religious educators through a shifting landscape of faith exploration as programs expanded their virtual offerings and reimagined the purpose and delivery of multigenerational programs and faith exploration. 

Mandy was clerk of the Unitarian Sunday School Society, where they explored the origins of their endowment and worked with Edgar Villanueva’s Decolonizing Wealth framework to gather a summit of Unitarian Universalist funding organizations. Mandy facilitates anti-oppression learning cohorts through the UUA’s Mosaic program and currently serves on the Board of the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

An alumna of Kenyon College with a dual degree in Drama and Biology, Mandy holds certifications in Adaptive Leadership, Spiritual Direction, and multiple levels of the Our Whole Lives sexuality education curriculum. When she is not leading creative workshops or multigenerational worship, she can be found painting or foraging in the local woods.

Term: July 2024 - June 2027

Kathy uses she / her pronouns

Term: July 2023 - June 2026

Mary uses she / her pronouns

Mary Kroener-Ekstrand, PhD has been a UU religious educator since 2009. She currently serves as Director of Religious Education at the UU Congregation at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, OR. Her work history also includes stints as a middle school Social Studies and English teacher, a service learning coordinator, a university teacher educator, and a museum educator. Mary 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 UU faith development and feels called to the work of helping people of all ages to understand, articulate, and act on their beliefs in order to transform lives and communities.

Term: July 2025 - June 2028

Kiersten uses she / her pronouns

Kiersten is the Director of Lifespan Faith Development at the Vancouver Unitarians, BC, Canada, and has served there as Religious Educator since 2016.

She grew up through the youth group at First Universalist, Minneapolis, in the 90’s, and this faith has been a central part of their identity ever since.

Kiersten’s work as a theatre artist, doula, and religious educator has focused on creative collaboration, lifelong learning, the importance of community connections and belonging. Her professional growth has focused on antiracism, effective communication, storytelling, trauma-informed care, and empowering radically inclusive communities.

Apparently, she also likes governance because after six years on the Board of the Canadian Unitarian Council, she’s looking forward to serving LREDA as Board Secretary.

Term: July 2025 - June 2028

Nicci uses she / her pronouns

Nicci currently serves as the Director of Lifespan Religious Education at Westside UU Church in Fort Worth, TX since 2019. Nicci has served as an officer in SWLREDA and is certified SACReD Facilitator as well as OWL Facilitator and participated in Sparks Modules.

Nicci has also served as a church educator for over 20 years and as the director of a social service organization and is currently part of the InterFaith Core Team for Raise Your Hand Texas (an organization whose sole purpose is to support public education immediately and long-term).

Outside of her professional role, she is often called Nini, adventuring around Fort Worth which involves giggles, creating, hiking, and supporting nieces and nephews. She is often seen supporting young people at events around the community, including games, concerts, recitals, school events, and coffee conversations.

Nicci is particularly passionate about creating opportunities for those who share time and talents to engage in meaningful ways during conferences and events to support, equip, and engage.

Term: July 2024 - June 2027

Amanda uses she / her pronouns

Amanda brings over 20 years of dedicated experience as a Unitarian Universalist to her role as a Religious Educator, beginning her professional journey in 2017. Currently, she holds the position of Director of Religious Education at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Prior to her work in religious education, Amanda contributed her talents to the field of education as both a teacher and administrator in public schools.

Deeply engaged in her professional community, Amanda has played an active role within MDD LREDA, having recently served on their board. Her commitment to continuous growth is evident through her participation in various training opportunities facilitated by LREDA and Renaissance modules, reflecting her passion for ongoing professional development.

A staunch advocate for Unitarian Universalism, Amanda firmly believes in the transformative power of faith development in people's lives. Beyond her professional commitments, Amanda finds joy and fulfillment in diverse creative pursuits, including gardening, artistry, storytelling, and music. She resides in Salt Lake City with her husband, two children, and three beloved canine companions.

Term: July 2022 - June 2023

Lauren uses she / her pronouns

Lauren serves as the religious educator at the UU First Parish of Framingham. Before that she served for 11 years at the First Parish in Watertown. She first discovered her love of UU Religious Education as a youth advisor, RE teacher, and children’s choir director at the First Parish in Framingham, where she volunteered for many years before answering the call to serve the UU faith as a DRE.

Lauren’s previous job experience was in education. She taught in high schools for the Deaf, in residential treatment programs, and at a Reggio Emilio-inspired preschool. For most of her time in education she was a sex ed and English teacher. She is fluent in American Sign Language, is a creator and crafter, and brings all her prior experience to her Religious Education work. From handcrafted Spirit Play boxes containing needle-felted and knitted creatures to original stories and creative lesson plans, Lauren finds a lot of joy in weaving all her skills into one calling.

Lauren believes that the Unitarian Universalist faith is what the world needs. The loving, expansive theology of Unitarian Universalism beckons us all to sit at the table and learn deeply from one another, and Lauren is a little humbled by being a small part of the system that allows it to get to the people who need it.

 She is committed with all her heart to ensuring that Unitarian Universalism lives up to its theology in welcoming ALL people, and pushing UUs forward in the path of admitting our shortcomings in welcoming and serving BIPOC, Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer folk, people with disabilities, and others holding oppressed minority identities. Her work begins first and foremost right in her own heart and soul.