Our Pastoral Staff
Ta-ree-suh
Senior Pastor
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Rev. Teresa Welborn
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Associate Pastor
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Rev. Earl Kim
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Rev. Teresa Welborn is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and was appointed Senior Pastor of University UMC in July 2021. Teresa is married to music educator Paul Harper; together they are the proud parents of Freddie, who attends high school at The Liberal Arts and Science Academy. Teresa is a board member of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women for The UMC and serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Rio Texas Conference. Prior to her appointment at UUMC, Teresa served as District Superintendent of the Capital District UMC (July 2014-June 2021) and Director of Clergy Development for the Rio Texas Conference (July 2011-June 2014). Her previous appointments in the local church include Buda UMC, Lakehills UMC, Manchaca UMC (associate pastor), and Smiley UMC. Teresa is a graduate of Southwestern University and Candler School of Theology. Her experience in the Two Year Academy for Spiritual Formation encourages her to find ways to stay in love with God in the midst of a busy life, and she is a student in the Master of Arts in Spiritual Direction program at Seminary of the Southwest. Teresa enjoys time with family and friends and serving with the wonderful people of University UMC.
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Rev. Earl Kim is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church with a passion for multicultural ministry, social justice, and faith formation. He earned his B.A. in Theology from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, and after completing his military service, immigrated to the United States to begin his ministerial journey in Boston while pursuing an M.Div. at Boston University School of Theology. Following his time in Boston, Earl served First United Methodist Church of Montclair and Verona UMC in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theological and Philosophical Studies in Religion at Drew University, where his research explores the theology of creation and the intersections of Eastern and Western ontologies through comparative and process theological perspectives. In 2021, Earl relocated to Austin, Texas, when his wife, Rev. Dr. Jeehei Park, joined the faculty of the Seminary of the Southwest as Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies. Jeehei is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church. Together, they are proud parents of their daughter, Saige. Outside of ministry and academic work, Earl enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and improving his culinary skills.
Children & Youth Ministries
Natasha Ulack
nuh-tash-uh
Director of Youth Ministries
She/Her
Jillian Moore
Jih-lee-uhn
Director of Children Ministry
She/Her
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Jillian Moore, originally from San Angelo, TX, has been with UUMC since 2016 – when she started as a childcare employee while she attended the University of Texas. She then served as Childcare Director and taught 2nd grade before becoming Director of Children’s Ministries. Jillian believes in noticing the fun and adventure in small moments, finding rest in our communities, being stewards of our Earth and the people we encounter (friends and strangers alike) and, most importantly, teaching our children how to do the same. She loves creating fun and inviting environments for kiddos and parents! In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking and spending time outside with her friends and family. You can usually find her chatting about dinosaurs, babies or Pirate’s Booty!
Email | ext. 221
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Natasha has been part of the UUMC family for 14 years. She and her husband, Chris, have 3 children. In her free time, she enjoys upholstering, reading and playing board games.
Email | ext. 221
Our Music Team
Dr. Eun Joo Fierro
oon-joo
Organist & Pianist
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AV Villarreal
Ay Vee (pronounced like the letters)
Music Director
They/Them
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AV is a maker of joyful noise in Austin, TX. They create and facilitate music making opportunities for all ages that help folks feel empowered, essential, and worthy.
AV has led choirs in the Austin area for over a decade. They serve as the Music Director at University United Methodist Church (UUMC) in Austin, where they direct a Sanctuary Choir of college through retirement aged singers of all experience levels. They are the director of Pano Youth Choir, a vibrant and affirming choral community for 2nd-12th graders, and enjoy serving as the alto section leader for many Panoramic Voices projects. AV also delights in planning Queer Fellowship events in conjunction with UUMC’s Queer Council.
In their free time, AV loves salsa dancing, reading fantasy novels, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. They live in North East Austin with their fabulous flautist spouse Kenzie, and small speedy dog Florence.
Email | ext. 220
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Born in Seoul, Korea, Eun Joo Fierro began playing piano at the age of six. When she was 15 years old she emigrated to the United States with her family. She earned her Bachelors of Music, Masters of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied with Dr. Frank Speller.
She is an award recipient of the Se-Kwang Piano Competition and the William Hall Organ Competition. Among her many performance credits is a live broadcast of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony under the direction of Maestro Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared as guest organist with the University of Texas choirs and orchestras, UT Early Music Ensemble, and numerous school and church organizations.
Our Admin Team
Renee Moreno
ren-ay
Office Manager
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Cindy Reeves
Sin-dee
Director of Finance
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Chad Jones
ch-ah-d
Director of Operations
He/Him
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Chad Jones helps handle all things communications. He is married and has two wonderful children, Olivia and Huckleberry. In his spare time you’ll find him working in his wood shop.
Email | ext. 212
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Originally from Houston, Renee Moreno spent her formative years in Austin. She graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Journalism. Renee joined our team in 2021. When she’s not at work, helping to keep the office running, you can find her curled up with a good book, cheering on her favorite sports teams, or playing board games with her friends and family.
Email | ext. 210
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UUMC member Cindy Reeves joined the staff in August of 2010, and has also been our Wedding Coordinator since her own wedding here in 2008. She is responsible for all things financial for both the church and the Early Childhood Center (ECC), as well as everything related to the church campus itself.
Cindy enjoys volunteering with various organizations, planning weddings and events and attending UT football games.
Email | ext. 224
Lisa Allen
Lee-sah
Custodian
She/Her
Hugo Gonzalez
hoo-goh
Head Custodian
He/Him
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Originally from Guatemala, Hugo Gonzalez has been on staff at UUMC for more than 25 years. He says his work background is “a little bit of everything,” including construction work, preparing food at Bob’s Barbeque in Round Rock and even washing dishes. His homemade chicken soup is, quite simply, the best we’ve ever tasted. Hugo enjoys working in the church environment. His philosophy: “I like to be happy all the time. I take pride in everything I do, even cleaning restrooms. I still have to do it anyway, so I might as well enjoy it.”
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Lisa Allen helps make the church shine! She keeps the facility clean and welcoming, and she prepares rooms and meeting spaces for guests and members. Her work is a key part of the hospitality that University UMC offers to all.
Wesley Nurse
Erika Castillo
Eh-rick-uh
Wesley Nurse
She/Her
Growing up in Lubbock, Erika aspired to work in the medical field and to help people. She graduated from Texas Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Health. She then worked as a Maternal & Child Health Educator–doing community outreach and health and wellness promotion targeting low-income pregnant women and children. In 2006, Erika completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating with honors from Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing in Dallas. Her nursing background and experience includes liver transplant coordination, emergency department, perioperative, and heart failure.
Her husband’s work brought her family to Austin in 2021 during the pandemic. For fun, she explores Austin, tries new restaurants, goes to concerts, and practices Yin Yoga. She has two daughters in high school, both are active in sports and extracurricular activities and two dogs, Pepper and Yuki-they are both shameless when it comes to treats and belly rubs.
Email | ext. 320