I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I earned my Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Grand Valley State University, and a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan.

My heroes are folk like Greta Thunberg and Saint Oscar Romero, advocates for God’s creation and the marginalized of society respectively. While I love playing and singing music, the melody of a body of believers singing ministry together is what makes my heart soar. That is the very reason why I strive for full inclusion in Church for all God’s created wonders. I hope for a sacred space safe enough to ask tough questions and comfortable enough to answer with “I don’t know.”

As an Intentional Interim Pastor, my role here at Salem is to help the congregation successfully move from one settled pastor to another, acting as a ministerial consultant of sorts, helping the congregation while in transition. Work as an Ordained Pastor in the United Church of Christ has been deeply meaningful and the relationships I’ve made have been at the heart of my passion for ministry. I also hope this passion for ministry leads me to meet you, too.