FPCU: Staff

	Rev. Dr. Katherine L. Kussmaul, Pastor kkussmaul@firstpresurbana.org Katherine came to First Presbyterian Church of Urbana in August, 2010. She moved here from Cary, North Carolina where she served for nine years as Associate Pastor at Cary Presbyterian Church. Before serving in Cary, she served for two years as the Family and Outreach Minister at West Park United Reformed Church in Leeds, England. She loves preaching, teaching, pastoral care and enjoys opportunities to nurture spiritual development through question-asking, quiet conversation and reflection. Katherine is a graduate of The Aquinas Institute of Theology (Doctor of Ministry in Preaching), Duke Divinity School (Master of Divinity) and The College of Wooster (Bachelor of Music Education).

	Melinda (Mindy) Watts-Ellis, Family Program Coordinator mwattsellis@firstpresurbana.org Melinda Watts-Ellis has a bachelor's degree in Art Education from the University of Illinois and is certified in the State of Illinois to teach grades K-12. Before accepting the position of Children's Christian Education Coordinator in 2006, she held positions with the Urbana Park District, Brighton Community Adult Education School in Brighton, Michigan, and the Ann Arbor Art Center of Ann Arbor, MI. Melinda is a member and elder at First Presbyterian Church who has served on Session as well as many committees. Melinda is the mother of two young children, Autumn (10) and Isaac (8).

	Maureen Murchie, Director of Music Maureen Murchie was born in Newark, New Jersey but was raised in Sendai, Japan, where she attended Japanese elementary and secondary schools. While growing up in Japan, the Murchie family “band,” the Peacemakers, traveled around Japan performing concerts at churches and schools, averaging about 40-50 concerts per year. Maureen attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in violin performance. She holds a doctorate in violin performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied violin with Peter Schaffer and wrote her dissertation on the history of the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. Maureen performs widely as an orchestral, chamber, and solo player on violin, viola, and baroque violin. She has held violin/viola teaching positions at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, and most recently, Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois.

	Wade Meranda, Financial Administrator wmeranda@firstpresurbana.org Wade serves half-time as our Financial Administrator. Wade is also an ordained pastor, and he and his wife, Rev. Ann Schwartz, serve as Co-Pastors of First Presbyterian Church in Hoopeston. Before entering the pastoral ministry, Wade worked as a design and manufacturing engineer at IBM and Ford for fifteen years. Wade is a Certified Church Administrator (CCA) with the National Association of Church Business Administrators. He is also certified (PCCA) by the Presbyterian Church Business Administrators' Association and serves on its board as the certification director.

	Steve Johnson, Sexton Steve grew up in Monticello IL, where he spent most of his childhood fishing and enjoying the outdoors. Most of his family still lives near Monticello. Steve currently lives in Farmer City.

	Tracy Budden, Office Manager office@firstpresurbana.org Tracy grew up in Mahomet. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington with a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy. She currently lives in Champaign.

	Alex Nelson, Youth Leader Alex is a sophomore at the University of Illinois. He is currently in General Studies but is hoping to transfer into economics. He comes from a suburb of Chicago called Lemont and his home church is All Saints Lutheran Church in Orland Park, IL. Alex is extremely into sports and enjoys being around diverse groups of people.

	Jennifer Immke, Children's Choir and HandBell Director Jennifer Immke grew up in Pontiac, Illinois and went on to get her bachelor of music education at Millikin University. There she was involved in many vocal experiences, one of which includes studying and traveling in Italy. After college Jennifer moved to Champaign with her husband Eric and shortly after, accepted the position for directing the Joyful Sound children’s choir and the Junior Handbell choir at the FPCU. During the week Jennifer teaches elementary music in Clinton, Illinois. In addition to teaching she also loves to keep an active singing schedule for herself by singing with several groups in the Champaign-Urbana area.

	Catherine M. Elliott, Organist Catherine M. Elliott, a native of Macon, Georgia, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organ performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining the organ studio of Dr. Dana Robinson, she received her bachelor of music degree from Indiana University, where she studied with Dr. Janette Fishell. This semester, along with her organ studies, Catherine is pursuing additional training in choral conducting. She serves as one of the student conductors for the Oratorio Society at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a university ensemble comprised of both community members and university students. Before accepting her current position as organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, Catherine held church music positions in Georgia, North Carolina, and Indiana.

	Chris Beyt, Guitarist Chris Beyt was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When he was nine, he began playing trombone, and at fourteen he began to learn guitar. In 1999, he received multiple scholarships to Loyola University in New Orleans where he studied with John Eubanks and earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies. During that time and for two years afterwards, he performed in New Orleans at various venues on both guitar and electric bass. In 2005, he moved to Denton, TX where he studied guitar with Fred Hamilton and began his studies on upright bass, on which he has since been performing in addition to guitar. Chris earned his master’s degree in jazz performance from the University of North Texas in 2008. Immediately following, he moved to Champaign, Illinois where he is now in the late stages of earning his doctorate of musical arts in jazz studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he has studied with Larry Gray, Chip Stephens, and Chip McNeill. He is currently teaching undergraduate guitarists and directing the Jazz Guitar Ensemble as the department’s jazz guitar teaching assistant, in addition to being the Music Program Coordinator for Unit One at Allen Hall.

	Dan Pierson, Pianist Dan Pierson is a pianist who is in his last year of completing his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Before moving to the U of I to start his studies, Dan performed frequently in Chicago. He has appeared at venues such as the Jazz Showcase, The Jay Pritzker Pavillion at Millenium Park, Fazioli Piano Salon, and The Harris Theatre. Most recently, Dan went on tour in China with Erhu virtuoso, Yang Ying. In addition to performing, Dan has a passion for teaching and has been an active teacher for ten years. He has served on the faculty of the Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp as well as maintained a small private studio of piano students throughout the duration of his studies at the University of Illinois. Dan’s teachers have included Emilio del Rosario, Chip Stephens, William Heiles, Joan Hickey, and Alan Swain among others. He is a recipient of a merit and The John Garvey Scholarship in Jazz at the University of Illinois. After graduation, Dan plans to pursue an active career as a performer and teacher.

	Yaritza Zayas, Soprano Section Leader Yaritza Zayas, born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, is district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Puerto Rico (2011), the Fernando Caso and the Margarita Castro Alberty awards. Yaritza has performed roles such as Gilda in Rigoletto, Pamina and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Miles in The Turn of the Screw and Mademoiselle Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor. She received her BM in vocal performance at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico under the guidance of Ilca Lopez. At the present, Yaritza is pursuing her MM in voice performance at the University of Illinois under the tutelage of Cynthia Haymon-Coleman.

	Mikael Templeton, Audio/Visual Technician

	Madhu Pradhan, Toddler/Preschool Caregiver