Mindy received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1996 with a concentration in art education. She continued certification to teach in elementary and secondary schools, and was the Family Program Coordinator for First Presbyterian Church in Urbana for ten years before joining the staff at First Presbyterian Champaign. Mindy, her husband, and their two children live in Urbana.

Samantha is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She graduated from Missouri State University in 2015 with a degree in religious studies and from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2019 with a Master of Divinity. While in Chicago, Samantha worked as a community organizer. In addition to her role as Sunday School Coordinator, Samantha also serves as a chaplain at Carle Hospital. Samantha and her husband, Tyler, live in Urbana with their two dogs, Flynn and Abilene.

Patty has been a member of this congregation since 1978 and has served as Director of Nursery and Childcare and is currently serving as Receptionist. Her formal training is in early child development and elementary education. She and her husband Bruce are certified parent educators and have been teaching parenting classes for many years in our church and community. Patty and Bruce have four grown children and nine grandchildren.

Ann joined First Pres in 2015, having previously worked as a bookkeeper for an engineering firm in Urbana. She holds an Associates Degree in accounting from Parkland College and a Bachelors Degree in General Studies from Eastern Illinois University. Ann and her husband, Greg, have four grown children and seven grandchildren.

Ritchie grew up in Robinson, Illinois and moved to Champaign in 2000. He joined the staff at First Pres in 2011. This is where he met his wife who is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

George works full-time in Facilities at First Pres. Previously he has served as sexton at the Chapel of St. John the Divine and as a custodian at Parkland College. George majored in Business Administration at Parkland College and is a 2004 graduate of the Safe House.

Robert comes to First Pres from the University of Illinois, having retired following 25 years of service managing the IT infrastructure at Grainger Engineering Library. He holds three Masters Degrees: Computer Science from the University of Illinois, Information Science from Columbia University, and Education Technology from San Francisco State University. Robert is our staff’s newlywed. He and his bride, Patricia, who came all the way from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to marry Robert, were wed in July, 2020.

Jeanette has worked with people from all over the world since she was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois. She holds a Masters Degree in teaching ESL and taught for two years at the Intensive English Institute prior to becoming ESL Director at First Pres. She and her family live in Champaign. 

Rachel is our part-time Mission Coordinator, assisting our Mission Team, World Mission and Community Mission Deacons, as well as other groups in the church, to live out our call to serve others.

When not working Rachel enjoys walking, gardening, reading and going to movies with her husband, Matt.

Joe has been Adult Choir Director at First Presbyterian Church since August 1996. Joe has a Doctorate in Education and recently retired as a faculty member at the University of Illinois School of Music. He and his wife Becky have three children: two daughters, Kelly and Erin, and a son Joe. Recreational interests include tennis and golf.

Brendan Barker has served as organist and conductor at churches in Pittsburgh, Ireland and Elhart, Indiana. He holds degrees from Duquesne University and Notre Dame and is currently working on a DMA in Choral Music and Conducting at the University of Illinois.

Jason has been leading the Gathering, our Contemporary Service, since 2018.Originally from St. Louis, Jason has been an educator and school administrator in Kansas City, Decatur, and Champaign for more than a decade. Currently he is the Principal of Bottenfield Elementary School. He also is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois.