Minister and Staff
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation has a staff of professionals that includes a full-time settled minister, a full-time director of lifespan religious education and faith development, two community ministers, full-time congregational and communications administrator, bookkeeper, music director, choir director, choir accompanist, children's music educator, and a nursery teacher.
Minister
Rev. Meredith Garmon
A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Garmon holds Masters degrees in communication studies and philosophy, and a PhD in government from the University of Virginia. He completed his theological studies at the Meadville-Lombard Theological Seminary in 2003 and was ordained a UU minister in 2004. From 2006 to 2013 he served as minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Gainsville, Florida. On Sunday, August 4, 2013, Rev. Garmon conducted his first service at CUUC, and by all accounts fulfilled the congregation's expectations of a dynamic and inspiring spiritual presence.You may contact Rev. Garmon at 914-946-1660 x3, minister@cucwp.org (which forwards a copy to the administrator, who helps make sure he doesn't miss it), or mgarmon@uuma.org (which affords a greater chance of privacy, though no email can ever be truly confidential).
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
Tracy Breneman, M.A., M.S.
Tracy Breneman joined the CUUC community in July 2019 as our Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development. Faith community holds a central place in Tracy’s life. As the daughter of a United Methodist minister, she grew up witnessing the work of nurturing intentional community and appreciating the richness of relationships that bloom as a result. She has been a UU Religious Educator for over ten years, serving all five Westchester County UU congregations and twice serving two congregations simultaneously. Tracy embraces the call to live into the shared values of our faith and lean in to ongoing learning. Her spiritual practice is grounded in justice making, especially related to racial equity and LGBTQ+ rights. Ongoing professional development and service to our denomination keep Tracy up to date with evolving approaches and resources for RE. She has held several leadership roles through the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Metro NY Chapter as well as Continental LREDA, the Fahs Collaborative Laboratory for Innovations in Faith Formation at the Meadville Lombard Theological School, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and among Westchester UUs. Tracy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Universidade de Brasília, Brasil, and a Master’s degree (Ph.D. candidate) in Conflict Analysis & Resolution from George Mason University. She has over twenty-five years of experience as an educator that includes teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in conflict transformation at George Mason University, Columbia University, and in the Dispute Resolution Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. She has also designed and led numerous conflict transformation workshops. She brings these tools and skills into the service of her colleagues as a Good Officer for Continental LREDA and they are often useful in congregational life. Tracy lives in Westchester County with her teenage sons and dog.Community Ministers
Rev. Deb Morra
The Rev. Deb Morra is affiliated with our congregation as an ordained minister whose calling is to work in the wider world rather than in the parish. She makes her living as a therapist and social worker, and this congregation provides her the context in which she can view that work as ministry. She preaches at CUUC twice a year and provides other leadership.Rev. LoraKim Joyner
Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, DVM, is a veterinarian specializing in wildlife avian medicine. Since 2001, she has also been a Unitarian Universalist minister (MDiv, Vanderbilt University, 2000). She served as a parish minister for 10 years--most of them as co-minister with spouse, Rev. Meredith Garmon--before switching to Community Ministry. Her ministry encompasses two areas: multispecies ministry (deepening understanding and appreciation between human and nonhuman species) and nonviolent communication (she's a certified NVC trainer).Congregational and Communications Administrator
Pamela Parker
Pam Parker joined CUUC as our administrator in the spring of 2016. She reports to the minister and works closely with other staff and the congregation. She also creates our weekly email newsletter, the e-Communitarian.Nursery Care Teacher
Diane Keller
Diane has been the head teacher at CUUC since 1990. She has enjoyed welcoming the youngest members of the congregation and their families. It has been a joy watching the children grow through the years and then return with their own children. Diane taught first grade and kindergarten in Mount Vernon for thirty years. She holds a Master's Degree in Special Education and continues her teaching as a reading consultant for BOCES with homeless children at the Coachman Family Center in White Plains. She has a grown daughter and two grown sons and eight grandchildren. She resides in Mount Vernon with her husband.
Congregation Bookkeeper
Diane Pearson
Diane joined CUUC in January 2017. She is a part-time employee who reports to the minister and works closely with the administrator and the Board treasurer. You may contact Diane at 914-946-1660 x5, or cuucwpbookkeeper@gmail.com.
Music Director
Adam Kent
Adam Kent has been the Music Director at Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation since 1990. Recently appointed to the music faculty of State University of New York at Oneonta, Adam has performed piano in recital, as soloist with orchestra, and in chamber music throughout the United States, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Latin America. A winner of the American Pianists Association Fellowship and Simone Belsky Music Awards, Dr. Kent also received top prizes in the Thomas Richner, the Juilliard Concerto, and the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competitions, and is a recipient of the Arthur Rubinstein Prize and the Harold Bauer Award. To learn more about, please visit our Musicians page, as well as www.adamkentmusic.com.You may contact Dr. Kent at 212-595-7280, or music@cucwp.org.
Choir Director
Lisa N. Meyer
Lisa N. Meyer has been our Choir Director at CUUC since 2001. She assisted in the creation of the annual Music at CUUC Concert Series, which features several concerts per season including two performances by the CUUC Choir. Ms. Meyer has been an active professional musician in the Metropolitan Area as a soloist, conductor, choral singer, and teacher for many years, and is Production Coordinator for the Department of Music at the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University, as well as an adjunct professor in Arts Management there. To learn more, please visit our Musicians page.You may contact Lisa at musiciansings@yahoo.com.
Choir Accompanist
Georgianna Pappas
Born and raised in the NY Metro area, Georgianna has been playing piano since the age of 5, and gave her first solo recital at 14. She was educated at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division and Hunter College in NYC, graduating with a BA in Music. Georgianna has worked and performed in opera rehearsals, chamber music and art song concerts, improvisational concerts, and has accompanied singers in cabaret settings. She wrote and performed songs for an original musical theater piece Hot Flashes. To learn more, visit our Musicians page.You may contact Georgianna at georgianna.pappas@gmail.com.
Children's Music Director and Educator
Lyra Harada
Lyra Harada has been working with the CUUC Religious Education program since 2017. She creates and directs children's musical activities to enhance our curriculum and worship services. Lyra reports to the Director of Religious Education.
You may contact Lyra at musicalyra13@gmail.com.
