Staff
Rev. Jacqueline Brett, Lead Minister
Rev. Jacqueline Brett (she/they) serves as Lead Minister of the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. She is responsible for guiding the congregation in creating beloved community and in the personal and collective search for truth and meaning among its members and friends. Equally responsible for the organizational and programmatic health of the congregation, as Head of Staff, Rev. Jacqueline leads a team of ministers, religious, and administrative professionals in partnering with the congregation to realize its Mission, Vision, and strategic plans.
Rev. Daniel Trollinger, Executive Minister
Daniel (he/him) serves on the worship team, Coordinating Team, and is staff partner to several ERUUF groups (WAG, Stewardship, Legacy Giving, Board Finance Advisory Committee). He manages several broad areas within congregation life: finance and accounting, stewardship and annual pledge drive, information technology, communications (including website and E-news), as well as large facilities projects. Along with the other ERUUF ministers, he facilitates classes and retreats, and provides pastoral care to members. He previously has served ERUUF for over 12 years as Director of administration.
Rev. Jim Lewis, Minister of Lifespan Faith Development & Pastoral Care
Rev. Jim Lewis (he/they) is the Minister of Lifespan Faith Development and Pastoral Care at ERUUF. In his role, he oversees opportunities for growth and deepening at ERUUF. This includes Religious Exploration for children and youth, Adult Programs, and Covenant Groups/Chalice Circles. They also coordinate Pastoral Care for the congregation, including the ways we can support one another both through presence and practical needs.
Read more: Rev. Jim Lewis, Minister of Lifespan Faith Development & Pastoral Care
Rev. Deborah Cayer, Minister Emerita
Rev. Deborah Cayer is a graduate of Smith College and Harvard Divinity School. She holds certificates from the Duke Center for Nonprofit Leadership and the Haden Institute. She served the Unitarian Church in Sharon Massachusetts before coming to ERUUF in 2008. She served here as a consulting minister before the congregation called her to be their Lead Minister in 2010. Rev. Cayer served as worship faculty with the New England Leadership School, as a member of the UUA's Northeast Regional Subcommittee on (Ministerial) Candidacy, and as a mentor to ministers in preliminary fellowship. She is a spiritual director who enjoys meeting fellow seekers in creative endeavors.
Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Minister Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube is a graduate of the University of Chicago Divinity School and Meadville Lombard Theological School. He served as Lead Minister at ERUUF for 21 years from 1983 to 2004 and then as Lead Minister at First UU Church of San Diego until his retirement in 2014. Since retirement, he has devoted himself to teaching and to a ministry of spiritual direction. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Duke Divinity School and Starr King School for the Ministry. ERUUF voted to call Dr. Straube as its Minister Emeritus in 2014.
Shawn Trimble, Office Administrator
After more than 10 years of serving this beloved community in various capacities, Shawn Marie Trimble (she/her) is the Office Administrator at ERUUF. A member of the senior staff, she is responsible for keeping the office and facilities running smoothly, working with meeting planners, and managing their contractual agreements as renters. Shawn is also the worship producer who manages the tech team.
Born in New Orleans she received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from North Carolina Central University. Shawn is a published writer who loves sage and promoting spiritually enriching workshops, and global movements- including The With Love Movement, world day of healing through letter writing.
Wendy Looker, Music Director
Wendy Looker (she/her) is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she has chaired the Music Department and more recently, the Division of Fine Arts. In addition to directing the College Choir and LUMINA treble ensemble, Dr. Looker teaches early music history and culture, vocal performance and aural skills. Guilford College Choirs have toured Ireland, Prague, Austria, and up and down the East coast. As a choral artist and teacher, Looker is deeply committed to inclusive programming and champions works by underrepresented and historically marginalized composers. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of choral music to serve as a vehicle for social change and justice.
Michael Gilbert-Singletary, Director of Membership Development
Michael Gilbert-Singletary (they/them) is ERUUF’s Director of Membership Development. They are responsible for the pathways to membership, as well as the visitor and membership experience itself. Michael hopes that they – or a member of our amazing Visitor Host team – will be the first friendly face that you get to see when arriving for a Sunday service. Michael comes from a decades-long career in museum public programming and operations, and currently lives in Durham with their husband, Morgan and their sons, TJ and Emmanaul.
Kaleb Graves, Justice Coordinator
Kaleb Graves (He/They) is a North Carolina native who is passionate about local, national, and international justice. He is a graduate of Duke Divinity School, where he earned his MDiv in 2023.
Kaleb has worked and volunteered in diverse contexts including National Farm Worker Ministry, Binkley Baptist Church, and Elaine Turning Point Civil Rights Park. He also has very personal experience with navigating unjust systems. He has previously pursued fair housing with the Durham Housing Authority and resisted punitive ordinances targeting people experiencing poverty in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Kaleb has been married to their partner Hanna for 5 years, and they have four cats together.
For UU Justice NC and UU the Vote inquiries, please email Kaleb at
Michele Sager, Executive Assistant
Michele (she/her) came to ERUUF in 2011 and immediately felt like she was "home." As soon as a job opportunity opened up, Michele applied for it and became an Office Assistant in 2012. She left ERUUF for a few years and returned as Program Assistant in 2019. As the need arose to have an assistant for the ministers, Michele drew on her administrative executive assistant background and is now the Executive Assistant to Rev. Jacqueline and Rev. Daniel. As many of us here wear different hats, Michele is also on the tech team. She uses her graphic design background to create graphics for the fellowship. She loves this beloved community and is happy to be an employee as well as a member.
Sheng Yang, Bookkeeper
Ms. Yang easily keeps our accounting and financial systems running smoothly and efficiently. We are glad to have her as part of our team.
Melissa Smith, R.E. Coordinator
Melissa Smith (she/her) joined the ERUUF team in 2021 as the Religious Education (R.E.) Assistant. The Smith family relocated to the Durham area in 2019 and was happy to find community at ERUUF. After witnessing her own children’s growth within the R.E. program, she was excited to partner with the fellowship as a staff member to help others similarly engage. For nearly a decade, Melissa has been a homeschool educator for her own three children and within co-learning communities, working with children with a variety of personalities and preferences while planning and executing fun and educational activities. Additionally, she volunteers as a Girl Scout Leader and in voter engagement. Melissa is a perpetual learner who loves books, podcasts, good conversation, cooking new recipes, and allyship in the social and racial justice movements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mary Washington University in Political Science and is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine.
Kinsey Moritz, Youth Specialist
Kinsey Moritz (he/they) joined the team in 2024 as the Youth Specialist working with our youth in 6th-12th grades. Before coming to ERUUF, he worked as a middle school English and social studies teacher for Wake County Public Schools. Although he has called many places home over the years—Ohio, New Hampshire, Guam, Marion NC, and Washington NC—his family roots run deep in North Carolina. He has been settled in Durham since 2016. In his free time, you can find him hiking with his dog, winning a card game, reading a book, or learning how to repair something. Moritz holds a Bachelor of Science in English and Social Studies Education for grades 6-9 from North Carolina State University.
John Felheim, Office Assistant
John is a recent resident to the Durham/Triangle area after moving from Columbia, South Carolina. Eager to plant roots, he joined the UU Fellowship team for the inclusion and strong community. When he isn’t occupied being the New Guy, John is busy playing video games, practicing 3D digital animation, enhancing his Japanese proficiency, or thinking about his two cats. If you see him walking around, approach with caution - he tends to be too friendly.
Steve Bader, Office Tech Assistant
Steve (he/him) was called to a life of justice after watching the ENTIRE 4 hours of The Ten Commandments at 5 years old. He moved from NJ to NC to attend Duke where he won a Senior Leadership Award for fighting patriarchy, white supremacy, homophobia and the exploitation of workers. He was the 1st man to earn a Duke Women’s Studies Certificate. He helped found/organize the historic NC Public Service Workers Union (the “UNC Housekeepers and Durham Sanitation Workers” Union). Steve has two wonderful adult children who are both social workers. He seeks to become spiritually and psychologically healthier through support groups.
Harry Gaul, Facilities Assistant
Harry Gaul who began contracting with us in the summer is our part-time Facilities Assistant. He helps to maintain the campus facilities and provides support to the maintenance, operations and rental activities of the Fellowship’s buildings and grounds. Harry is multi-faceted with experience in management, sales, customer service, contracts, mechanical, manufacturing, process, engineering, electronics, repairs and remodeling projects. Since 2017, Harry has also been the small business owner of Quick Turn Remodeling in Raleigh, NC.
Outside the office, you can find Harry playing the guitar, doing landscaping paintings, going to see live local bands playing, and finding local parks and lakes to go to. Member of several Meetup Groups.
