Board of Trustees

Ann Verdine-Jones - Chair

Term: 2023-26

I have been a member of ERUUF since 2019. My wife, Lisa Jones, and I moved to Durham from Savannah, GA, and, while I was uncertain how to name or define my spirituality, we desired a welcoming environment that supported free thinking. acknowledged varied spiritual journeys, and championed causes and initiatives with the mission of making the world a better place. We have found all of our ideals and more at ERUUF. Since joining, I have been a member of the Multicultural team, Adult Programs, Theory of Change Committee and am currently the co-lead for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color group.

I am a human resources consultant with a varied background in all facets of HR. Most recently, I have been consulting with organizations nationwide about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging from understanding the key concepts to introducing sustainable programming to promote healthy work environments. I have an MBA and am currently a doctoral candidate.

Outside of work and with limited leisure time as a student, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling both near and far, cuddling with my fur babies CoCo and Nala, and being in any space where my wife, Lisa, and I are together.

Mel Downey-Piper - Secretary

Term: 2022-2025

When I was in first grade, my grandparents gave me a children’s Bible and I became enamored with the stories.  As I acted out each story with the book’s paper finger puppets, my parents realized that they wanted me to be raised in a more liberal tradition and began seeking a spiritual community.  That is how I ended up as a lifelong UU from Milwaukee, WI.  

As I aged out of religious education, I found my people in the UU ministry at UW-Madison and spent many weekends at retreats and protests at Fort Benning, GA with my college peers. I paused while in graduate school at UNC, but found my spiritual home at ERUUF once I had children and have been here for 13 years. I began to feel connected to this congregation by participating in smaller groups and taking on leadership roles. Over the years, I joined Rev. Brett's Student Ministry Lay Committee, taught RE and adult OWL, sang in the Beloved Community Chorus, organized Parent Group camping trips, and selected organizations to fund through the Generosity Committee.

Professionally, I am a Community Health Consultant with the American Heart Association. In this role, I help set the national strategy for health priorities using an equity lens with a focus on policy, system, and environmental changes. Before this, I stayed connected to the local community in my role as the Health Education Director at the Durham County Department of Public Health and as a Board member of TreesDurham. 

I was married by Rev. Jacqueline to my wife, Sophie McMillian, in May 2023. We have two children, Logan (13) and Dylan (11), and a Basenji pooch, Mrs. Boozle. I love being outdoors and try to squeeze in as much stand-up paddleboarding, camping, hiking, running, cycling, disc golfing, and pickleballing as possible. ERUUF is my spiritual home and has provided a place to reflect, connect and embody the values of being a UU through direct action.

Crystal Burroughs - Trustee

Term: 2024-27

My wife Rose and I started attending ERUUF in November of 2016 and joined as members in 2017. Most have known me during this tenure as Don Burroughs. In March of 2023 I came out to family and friends as transgender and started my transition in December of 2023. At ERUUF my volunteer activity has included co-leading the Food Delivery program bringing donated food from grocery stores to the IFC shelter and food pantry. I work in healthcare design and my wife is a nurse so we did not lock down during COVID and with the help of Elizabeth Livingston (a physician) the three of us were able to continue this service through the epidemic. I am a vocalist and guitar player and have participated in several café ERUUF events. More recently I have started serving on the AV team running the sound for services and events. I am an Architectural Engineer with specialization in the design of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for hospitals. I was raised in a progressive Christian church (United Church of Christ) but have always had a deep interest in other spiritual practices. This, along with the support of gender diversity, makes ERUUF a good place for me. I love this fellowship and all of you. I live just outside of Chapel Hill with Rose and our two Labradoodles Cash and Harley. Rose and I celebrate our 33rd Anniversary this month. I have two grown sons and two amazing daughter inlaws. In June we will be welcoming our first grandchild.

Dom Grimes-Medlin - Trustee

Term: 2023-26

Dominique 'Dom' Grimes-Medlin joined ERUUF in 2017. Since he joined, he has been a very active member, participating in poetry readings at services, Pride Plus, the BIPOC committee, and Nominating Committee. Dom was married by our beloved Rev. Jacqueline in 2018 to his husband, John Grimes-Medlin. Dom comes from a strong operations management and HR background. Today, he's an HR/DEIB consultant, a Board member for TSHRM (Triangle Society of Human Resource Management), and a Board member of StepUp Durham.

Steve Hall - Trustee

Term: 2024-27

Steve Hall joined ERUUF in 2013, shortly after he and his wife, Susan Green, relocated from Charlotte. Steve had a long career in public education, which began with teaching 5 years in a high poverty school in Brooklyn, NY. He soon realized that addressing the profound moral and educational inequities in the schools where he worked was his passion and his professional mission. Toward that end, he earned his MS in curriculum design and pursued training and licensure in school administration. Steve went on to serve many years as a special services coordinator and eventually found his ultimate calling as a principal, working over 20 years turning around underperforming schools in Charlotte, NC. Years of successful impact in that role led him to be offered a position training urban school principals for a national organization.

Steve is a life-long spiritual seeker and has studied with a number of spiritual teachers. He has enjoyed using the opportunity of retirement to become a certified executive coach, volunteering to serve non-profit leaders throughout the Triangle. At ERUUF he has served on the Adult Programs Team, Leadership Development Team, and currently, the Committee for the Evaluation of Ministry. He has been in and led chalice circles and designed and co-coordinated the 2023 congregational read of the book “Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry.”

Christy Ihlo - Trustee

Term: 2024-27

Christy Ihlo joined ERUUF in 2023 after returning to the Triangle. She grew up UU in a congregation outside of Atlanta. After not having participated in a fellowship for years, she was immediately interested in ERUUF’s many avenues to support the broader community. She currently serves as the Budget Coordinator for the Justice Ministry Council, actively participates in Earth Justice and Shelter-Homeless Action Group activities, and is a member of a Chalice Circle. Christy has worn a lot of hats in the world of non-profit work and is currently the Deputy Director of the UNC Environmental Finance Center. She loves living in Carrboro and is engaged in local, state, and national election work. She enjoys sustainable crafting and a good jigsaw puzzle in her spare time.

Trisha Lester - Trustee

Term: 2022-2025

I came to ERUUF in 2018 looking for a spiritual home. I became a member in Spring 2019 and since then have been involved in a Chalice Circle, racial justice offerings and WAG, the Generosity Sunday Committee, the Refugee and Immigrant Action Group, and UU the Vote. I’m currently in my final year of service on the Board of Trustees and through it, the Committee on the Evaluation of Ministry.

I’ve lived in Chapel Hill for 30+ years -- most of that time with my late husband Jerry Oster until he passed away in 2020. I was born in Washington, DC but grew up living abroad, mostly in Latin America because my father worked with USAID.

I graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in modern dance and danced semi-professionally before moving to New York to study at the Erick Hawkins studio. My career was in the nonprofit sector and during the 26 years I worked in NC I was proud to be part of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. I served as Acting President when our longtime founder and CEO retired, and the board was hiring her successor. I left as Senior Vice President in 2018 because of chronic health issues. I am now retired and loving it!

Barbara Welanetz - Trustee

Term: 2023-26

I joined ERUUF in 2015, just after retiring. I quickly joined Eno River Singers and the Chalice Circle/Covenant Group program, for which I have long been a group leader and coordinating team member. I have also served ERUUF as a signage system designer, greeter, gardener and volunteer for many special events, most recently the 2500 Hours of Love project and Rev. Brett's installation. I bring to the board my long-range planning and project management experience as a facility planner for Mass. General Hospital and UNC, and my communications skills honed as a marketing consultant for design organizations. I live in Old West Durham with my spouse, Peter Welanetz.

Nicholas Yates - Trustee

Term: 2022-2025

My wife Nicky and I moved to the area in 2006. After multiple unsuccessful searches to find our spiritual home, we came across ERUUF in 2017, and we have been attending ever since. As a family, we felt instantly welcomed and enjoyed all the opportunities to get involved in the fellowship. I started my service in this fellowship as a member of the Religious Education Team.

Currently, I served as the Co-Chair of the Membership Team and enjoyed facilitating ERUUF’s Inquirer’s Classes. I am honored to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. Our children have benefitted from the programs ERUUF has to offer. Violet (15) our oldest daughter and our youngest daughter Genevieve (11) have had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the ERUUF Our Whole Life’s (OWL) class and have been regulars in Religious Education (RE) classes.

Professionally I have been a licensed North Carolina attorney since 2003 and am currently the Deputy Town Attorney for Cary. My legal career has primarily been in public service. Public service extends into my personal life. I’ve coached both my daughter’s recreational soccer teams for years, served as the Treasurer for my daughter’s elementary school PTA for two years, and am currently the Business Alliance Officer, and serve as President of my neighborhood’s HOA. With such growth in the Triangle, I look forward to watching ERUUF’s message reach a larger audience, and the excitement of the future members and families finding a HOME at ERUUF.

Rev. Jacqueline Brett, Lead Minister

Role: Ex-officio Member