REV. SHARI HALLIDAY-QUAN
Shari was loved into being by a large extended family in Los Angeles made up of white folks, Chinese immigrants who did not come here “the right way,” Latinx and multiracial cousins, civil servants, a stunt driver, workers in the gig economy before we called it that, and so many other multitudes. Shari has spent most of the last fifteen years in New York City and during that time received a BA in Economics at Fordham University and a Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary, studying in both places the imperfect science and art of how to do a lot with a little. Prior to beginning as senior minister of First Unitarian Church of Rochester in August of 2019, Shari trained at and served congregations, hospitals, and community settings in San Francisco, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Shari’s wife Elisabeth is an opera singer and founding member of Rhymes With Opera. They share their home in Rochester with a 17-pound cat named Hildegard, visiting family and friends, and never enough houseplants.
[email protected]
585-210-0310
REV. SHARI HALLIDAY-QUAN
LEAD MINISTER
REV. AJ VAN TINE
AJ van Tine is a lifelong UU who grew up at the UU Congregation of Fairfax, Virginia. His call to ministry developed as he participated in and led youth conferences, campus ministry, young adult conferences, and attended the annual General Assemblies of the Unitarian Universalist Association. AJ received a BA in philosophy and religious studies from Christopher Newport University and his Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and he completed a ministerial internship at the Boulder Valley UU Fellowship in Lafayette, CO. He then served two years as a minister at Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalists in Auburn, CA, but unfortunately found the already-changed climate detrimental to his and his family’s health, which prompted his move back East. AJ lives in Rochester with his wife Ada, who is a writer, and their little black dog, Mina.
[email protected]
585-210-0135
REV. AJ VAN TINE
ASSISTANT MINISTER
REV. VERDIS LEVAR ROBINSON
Rev. Verdis LeVar Robinson (he/they) is a newly fellowshipped Unitarian Universalist minister who holds degrees in History, African American Studies, and Music Performance from SUNY College at Brockport, SUNY University at Buffalo, and Boston University. He joins the staff as an Assistant Minister for Growth. Rev. Verdis completed a Master of Divinity degree in 2022 from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago specializing in Faith Formation Pedagogy. While at Meadville, he was the Lenora Montgomery Scholar of Excellence and Co-President of the Student Advisor Council. Rev. Verdis most recently served as the Ministerial Coordinator of Worship Arts Production and Adult Lifespan Spiritual Exploration for the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, Vermont, after serving the congregation as a Ministerial Intern under the guidance of the Rev. Joan Javier-Duval. Rev. Verdis also serves central Vermont as the Artistic Director of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir sharing the hope, joy, and inspiration of African American gospel music in Vermont and is also serving as the Acting President of National Issues Forums Institute.
REV. VERDIS LEVAR ROBINSON
MINISTER FOR GROWTH
FLORENCE JESSUP
She considers herself a UU institutionalist. Her focus is on the administrative and logistical support necessary to accomplish the vision and mission of our congregation and our faith. When not at work, Florence maintains a half an acre with a fruit orchard, berries, vegetables and lots of flowers. She also enjoys reading and is a member of several book groups.
[email protected]
585-271-9070 X105
FLORENCE JESSUP
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
AMANDA GRAFF
PABLO WILLEY-BUSTOS
MUSIC DIRECTOR
AMANDA GRAFF
As a child of the 80s, raised Unitarian Universalist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Amanda continues to feel an affinity for fanny packs, leg warmers, and power ballads. From Ann Arbor, Amanda traveled to the queer, hippy haven of the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. There she studied a range of topics including herbalism, identity politics, modern dance, and early childhood education. Upon graduation, Amanda moved to Boston, MA where she worked a variety of jobs, got her masters degree in teaching through the arts, and discovered a passion for circus acrobatics. Over the years, Amanda visited multiple UU churches in many different greater Boston neighborhoods, finally landing her first job as a religious educator at First Parish Dorchester. Since then she has enjoyed working as a religious educator, bringing together her passion for story-telling, youth empowerment, and community building for a better world. Since becoming a parent herself, Amanda has learned a love of working with parents to support children and families to thrive. Amanda moved to the Rochester area in 2022 and is thrilled to be back in Great Lakes country.
AMANDA GRAFF
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
