Meet the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Erik B. Kesting—Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director
ekesting @ uua.org (617) 948-4359
Erik Kesting joined the staff of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in 2001 and has served as Assistant to the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry, Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministry, and in other capacities. He remains a member at the Unitarian Universalist congregation of his youth, the North Parish of North Andover, MA. Erik holds a Bachelor of Science from Tufts University and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Erik’s vision for youth and young adult ministries is one where all youth and young adults develop and embrace a Unitarian Universalist faith identity that fulfills and affirms them and that empowers them to live out their dreams and to love and serve the world.
Erik oversees the development and delivery of resources and services by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and monitors the UUA’s commitment to youth and young adult ministry. Erik advocates for the ministerial needs of youth and young adults throughout our larger community as a liaison to other UUA staff groups, stakeholder groups, and Unitarian Universalist (UU) organizations.
Rev. Dr. Monica Cummings—Program Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color
mcummings @ uua.org (262) 705-5786
Monica Cummings joined the UUA in October 2008 after serving as the consulting minister for the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles and completing her Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Monica spent 26 months as an education and community development Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa. She also served as a mentor for the Five Claremont Colleges Campus Ministry group and as a chaplain for Senior High Camp at De Benneville Pines Camp.
Monica works with Associational, district, regional and congregational staff, Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), Allies for Racial Equity (ARE) and Multiracial and Multiethnic families programs.
Nancy DiGiovanni—Bridging and Campus Ministry and Associate
ndigiovanni @ uua.org (617) 948-4629
Nancy started her journey serving the UUA as a youth advisor in the Metro NY district in 2003. In her work, she draws on her experience having served as a congregational youth advisor in Princeton, NJ, as well as being a member to two congregational young adult groups for three years. During that time, she also held various volunteer positions for the Continental UU Young Adult Network from 2003-2006. In 2006 she was hired to join the staff in the Office of Young Adult and Campus Ministry and has continued to advocate for providing empowering and authentic, healthy ministry with and for youth and young adults in our congregations and in the larger community. This year, as Bridging and Campus Ministry Associate, she intends to make Campus Ministry more visible on campuses across the country as well as bring more attention to the needs of commuter students and those who have graduated high school (or equivalent) and are working full-time.
Nancy is a certified elementary school teacher from the College of New Jersey as well as a certified holistic health counselor from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC. She takes pride in her queer identity and works very hard at being an accountable white person in the UUA community.
Jeremie Giacoia—Leadership Development Associate
jgiacoia @ uua.org (617) 948-4352
Jeremie Giacoia first joined the staff in August 2008 as a Program Associate, a position he held until July 2009 when he became the Leadership Development Associate. He brings many years of experience in youth leadership organizations as both a participant and an advisor, having served on and mentored numerous leadership teams. Jeremie has also been actively involved in anti-oppression advocacy and holds a strong commitment to helping create and sustain welcoming religious communities. He holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School where he focused on gender and sexuality in religion and a BA in Theology with a minor in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure University.
View open positions in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Monday, November 2, 2009.
