UUFR - Key Persons


Annie Wheliss

Job Titles:
  • Congregational Life Coordinator
Annie is usually available for appointments Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Responsibilities Annie's primary responsibilities including working with newcomers to long-time members to help them feel at home at UUFR, coordinating volunteers, coordinating UUFR's communications and social media presence, and updating our database.

Beth Nicholson

Job Titles:
  • OWL Coordinator

Dana Lundquist

Job Titles:
  • Family Ministry Director
Dana oversees UUFR's Family Ministry program which supports and nurtures children and youth from birth to 18 years old.

James Kubal-Komoto

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Lead Minister

Jean Marie Whaley

Job Titles:
  • Music Director
Responsiblities: Jean Marie directs our choir, sometimes singing herself, and prepares meaningful music for Sunday morning services and other events at UUFR.

Jessica Godreau

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Member at Large

Laura Dupre - President

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • President
I grew up in a small borough in New Jersey that was commuting distance to NYC. My family attended a Presbyterian church on 5th Ave in Manhattan for much of my life. Weekends were filled with helping set up homeless shelters at the various churches. Though I've been agnostic since young childhood, I've always enjoyed the social and community support the church encouraged and provided. It took me a while to find a religious home for myself and children after moving to Raleigh sixteen years ago as not all religious communities hold open arms to agnostics/atheists. Eventually I came across Unitarian Universalism while teaching a 6th grade social studies unit on world religions. The more I read up on UU, the more it sounded like it matched my personal beliefs. Shortly after that, Trump was elected. The following Sunday I came to visit UUFR. After hearing Sasha's sermon on the Book of Esther, I knew I had found my religious home. Because of my past experiences with church life, I believed the way to get the most fulfillment out of a religious home was by dedicating my time and energy back into it. We added Wednesday Night dinner to our weekly calendar, my oldest volunteered to be a teen assistant and signed up for trips to the Mountain, I joined the young adult group and started attending a covenant group (now chalice circle), and my husband and I joined board committees. I've loved watching how the fellowship has provided my children with opportunities to be active members in congregational life and invited them into a community of people they now see as extended family.

Lewis Copulsky - COO

Job Titles:
  • Operations Director
Lewis serves as a Member-at-large on the Board of Directors of the Association of Unitarian Universalist Administrators (AUUA). Lewis is usually available Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the UUFR office, as well as other times by appointment. Please, call, however, before stopping by. Responsibilities Lewis has primary responsibilities for administrative matters at UUFR, including finances, facilities and grounds, and communications.

Michelle Williamson

Job Titles:
  • Nursery Lead
Responsibilities: Michelle is our Childcare provider for babies and children 0-3.

Paul Groves

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Interim Treasurer

Rev. Sasha Ostrom

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Minister
Rev. Sasha is usually available for appointments Monday - Thursday. Responsibilities Rev. Sasha is responsible for pastoral care, justice ministry, and adult faith formation at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh. She is also the staff contact for all Fellowship social groups, regularly assists in worship on Sunday morning, and leads worship about once a month.

Sandy Pearce

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Board Member at Large

Sarah Ford

Job Titles:
  • President of the Board

Tetiana Zibrova

Job Titles:
  • Accompanist

Tom Karches

Job Titles:
  • Secretary of the Board