• 2021-Now Affiliated Community Minister, UU Congregation of Columbia, Columbia, SC

• 2019-2021 Senior Minister, Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• 2017-2019 Ministerial Intern, UU Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA

• 2021-Now Executive Director and Co-Founder, South Carolina Unitarian Universalist Justice Alliance, South Carolina

• 2019-2019 Minister of the Week, Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Community (community meets once per year), DeSales University Campus, Center Valley, PA

• 2014-2015 Community Ministry Intern, The Family Shelter, Inc., Columbia, SC

• 2015-2015 Student Chaplain, UU Congregation of Columbia, Columbia, SC

• Assistant Professor (2011-2015), College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

• Empowerment Evaluator and Social Change Consultant (2008-Present), independent contractor with various clients in the areas of domestic and sexual violence, parenting practices, and human trafficking.

• Acting Statewide Prevention Coordinator (2008-2009), DELTA Project, Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Tallahassee, FL

• Graduate Research Assistant (substance use and relationship violence prevention, 2005-2010), College of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

• Project Manager (2007), Engaging Families Project, College of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

• Researcher, Domestic Violence Homicides (2006-2007), Domestic Violence Program Office, Florida Department of Children and Families, Tallahassee, FL

• India Field Researcher (2004-2005), Child trafficking in northern India, Free the Slaves, Washington D.C. (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India)

• Community Organizer (2005), Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Immokalee, FL

• Counselor Intern (2003-2004), Nimms Middle School and Capital City Youth Services, Tallahassee, FL

• Graduate Research Assistant (human trafficking prevention, substance use prevention, 2002-2004), School of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

• Community Homes Supervisor (2002), Assisted living and advocacy for people with disabilities, Achieva, Pittsburgh, PA

• Research Assistant (socially responsible AI, 2001-2002), Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

• Computer Scientist (2000-2001), Naval Research Laboratory and Scientific Software Applications Group, Stennis Space Center, MS

Degrees

• MDiv (2019), Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago, IL

• PhD (2010), Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

• MSW (2004), Social Policy & Administration, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

• BS (2000), Major: Computer Science, Minors: Music and Math, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

Certificates

• Fundraising in Difficult Times (nonprofit fundraising intensive course, 2022), online

• Congregation-Based Group Spiritual Direction (2016), Center for Congregational Spirituality, Richmond, VA

• Clinical Pastoral Education, Level 1 (2015), Palmetto Health Richland Hospital, Columbia, SC

• PREPARE/ENRICH Couple Care (2015), PREPARE/ENRICH, LLC, Roseville, MN

• SafeTALK Suicide Prevention (2015), South Carolina National Guard Suicide Prevention Program, Columbia, SC

• Mentor (2021-Present) for ministerial candidate in the Ministerial Formation Network

• White Caucus Facilitator (2021-Present), Allies for Racial Equity

• Member (2021-Present), Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, Community Ministry Chapter Retreat Planning Team

• Co-chair (2019-Present), UUA Commission on Social Witness

• Secretary (2018), Student Advisory Council, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago, IL

• Founder/Facilitator (2017 – 2021), Living By Heart: a small group spiritual direction program for UU ministers, Washington, D.C. area

• Member (2017), Third Service Task Force, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA

• Member (2016-2022), Board of Directors, Transgender Education Association of Greater Washington, Fairfax, VA

• Founder and Co-facilitator (2016-2021), play and support group for transgender and gender expansive children and their families, Fairfax, VA

• Member (2016-2019), Racial Justice Steering Committee, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA

• Chair (2015), Children and Youth Religious Education Committee, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, Columbia, SC

• Service Associate (2009-2010), Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, FL

• Member (2008), Music Program Review Committee, Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, FL

• Conversations for Liberation (2019-2020). Conducted multiple small group listening sessions, and trained co-facilitators, to support congregants in sharing more deeply their challenges and concerns regarding anti-oppression efforts in the denomination and wider society. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Challenging Chapters (2019-2020), developed discussion group curriculum and ran program to support congregants in deepening understanding and capacity to engage with one another on topics some find challenging, including perspectives and experiences of historically marginalized individuals and groups. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Soul Matters Covenant Groups Leaders Circle (2019-2021), Trained, supported, and formed mutual support group for covenant group leaders, including Soul Matters (TM) Starting Points and Covenant Group leaders. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Reflection and Renewal (2019-2020), Drop in deep discussion on soul matters theme, reflecting on meaning of theme and renewing commitments. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Reflection and Renewal (2017-2019), Young Adult Fellowship, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA: Monthly deep discussion on soul matters theme, reflecting on meaning of theme and renewing commitments.

• Our Story of Race at UUCF (2018), Coming of Age, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA. Developed one session for 9:15 and 11:15 coming of age sessions.

• UU History Movie Night: Find Your Connection to History (February-April 2017), Adult Programs, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA.

• Articulating Your UU Faith (2017), Adult Programs, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA.

• Religious exploration volunteer (2016), preschool program, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA.

• Small Group Spiritual Direction (2016, April-June). Developed and led small group spiritual direction based on Doherty model; program developed future small group spiritual direction leaders. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, Columbia, SC.

• UU Vision Parenting. (2014, January-March). Developed curriculum and facilitated five-session parenting group focused on integrating Unitarian Universalist principles and parenting vision into practices. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, Columbia, SC.

• When We Part Ways (2020-2021). Support group for individuals going through separation and divorce. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Congregational calling tree (2020). Developed system and supported congregational engagement (including the pastoral care team) in reaching out to the congregation during the pandemic. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Pastoral care database (2019-2021). Facilitated development and use of an online secure pastoral care database to coordinate congregational caring. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Grief and loss rituals/services (2019-2021). Lead development, hosted events, and encouraged pastoral care leaders to grow and flourish in their capacity to lead pastoral services. Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA

• Grief Group (2018). Co-facilitated a grief and loss support group for bereaved individuals and those grieving divorce. UU Congregation of Fairfax, VA

• Pastoral Care Associates Program (2015). Co-led pastoral care training and recruitment and development of a pastoral care associates team. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, Columbia, SC.

Here I list only those events I helped to organize, coordinate, or contributed substantially to.

• Phone and text bank, including social media campaign, to educate and encourage South Carolina constituents to contact legislators regarding several dangerous bills (2022).

• House and Senate Committee testimony on censorship in education (anti-CRT and "Don't Say Gay") bills. Co-wrote and organized around 180 UU signatures from across the state on a letter presented to South Carolina House and Senate education committees (2022).

• Keynote Address: "I Can’t Be The Change On My Own.” For the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice Annual Social Justice Leaders Gathering, November, 2021;

• Senate Committee testimony on anti-transgender high school sports bill, spoke to the South Carolina senate and coordinated participation of UU Congregation of Columbia social action committee members (2021).

• Spring and Fall Social Witness Convenings (2020-2022). Social witness convenings of the Commission on Social Witness, a new program of the Commission, designed to promote connection, inspiration, and action among UUs across the country engaging in critical social witness issues of the UUA;

• Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), coordinated participation of Accotink UU Church, Burke, VA members (2019-2021);

• White Supremacy Teach-in (2020), co-lead and supported the racial justice team in Accotink UU Church's White Supremacy Teach-in;

• Stop Family Separations! DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network/LA RED Faith in Action witness event at the Russell Senate Office Building, D.C., June 21, 2018. Supported child engagement/participation from UU Congregation of Fairfax.

• National Interfaith Clergy Witness at the National Rifle Association Headquarters, December 14, 2017. Was in charge of road permitting and coordinating accessibility and interfaith needs

• Voter registration drive in front of the National Rifle Association headquarters on 10/14. Assisted in crowd control and witness

• March for Racial Justice, Sep. 30, 2017, Washington, D.C. Coordinated young adults to attend from UU Congregation of Fairfax and surrounding area

• 1000 Ministers March, Aug. 28. 2017, Washington, D.C. Coordinated young adults to attend from UU Congregation of Fairfax and surrounding area

• Trans Leadership Summit, Richmond, VA, Feb. 7 – Jun 3, 2017. Represented the Transgender Education Association participation portion.

• Take Down the Flag Rally, Columbia, SC, Jun. 20, 2015. **I did not help organize this event. I mention this here because it was the first social justice action I brought my kids to (then 2, 4, and 7 years old). I can relate to the many challenges parents face in choosing what to bring their kids to, and this event sparked my interest in supporting multigenerational involvement (in diverse accessible ways!) in social justice action.

• Whitaker, M.P.; A.A.L.G. McLeod; M. Garmon; J.S. Rockers; J. Christos-Rogers (2021). Undoing Systemic White Supremacy: A Call to Prophetic Action, 2021 Statement of Conscience of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

• Whitaker, M. P. (2018). Was the American Unitarian Association Responsive to New Fellowships? Journal of Unitarian Universalist History, vol. 41. The article identifies key challenges in the fellowship movement that inform our movement today, in particular in religious exploration and intergenerational life, the communion of congregations, and responsivity to the needs of those who are marginalized.

• Whitaker, M.P. (2018). Did the Early Christian Church Evict Women? Working paper presented to the Science, Reason, and Religion forum, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA. This paper explores how women catalyzed the Jesus Movement and early Christian church, yet were later excommunicated from leadership due to patriarchy and fear on the part of male church leaders. The results are instructive to building anti-oppressive congregations today.

• Whitaker, M. P. (2016, October). Was the American Unitarian Association Responsive to New Fellowships? Paper presented to the 2016 joint Convocation of the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society and the Unitarian Universalist Collegium, Twin Cities, MN.