REVEREND Terri Hubbard,

Lead Pastor

“Be Still and Know That I am God” Psalm 46:10


Growing up in Wisconsin, Rev Terri’s spiritual life can’t escape being grounded in creation: the trees, the water, the fruitful gardens. These are the places she most easily finds God. Living in the desert has challenged this grounding, but the roots to her spiritual life remain in the bountiful beauty of God’s offering to us.  

Rev Terri comes to UUMC refreshed and restored having stepped away from ministry for a season of healing. She has a passion for intentional wellness for all of God’s people and recognizes when the body of Christ is not well, it is difficult to serve God’s people. 


She has a passion for preaching, teaching, and playing with metaphors. She has experience in team building, collaboration, spirituality and church growth. Rev Terri welcomes you and hopes that you will become part of the UUMC community as we look toward listening, discerning, and unfolding God’s future in this place. She practices daily meditation and loves hats and cats. Home, hearth, and creation form the center of her spirituality and connection with God. Creating a community of abundant love, generosity, and joy is at the heart of her work.


Although they miss “everything green,” Rev Terri and her husband, Mike (also clergy), moved to the Las Vegas valley to be near family, especially her 2 beloved granddaughters.


Rev Terri Hubbard is an Elder in the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has served churches in Colorado and Utah and now resides in Henderson. She received her BS from University of Wisconsin at Madison and her MDIV from Iliff School of Theology and has studied spirituality at Wesley Theological Seminary. In addition to being a pastor, Terri is also a Spiritual Director and a Mind/Body Life and Weight loss Coach and a Reiki Master. 

Pastor Samara Jenkins,

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Pastor Samara was born in Nebraska, raised in Arizona, called to ministry in Ohio, and ready to come home to the West! She is the mom of 6 children and bonus mom to 6, making an even dozen. All but one of the kids are grown and scattered throughout Ohio, South Carolina and Arizona. She and her husband Antwone love making new friends, eating great food and learning about local culture and history. They will make their home in Las Vegas with their youngest son Elijah, who is 9 going on 30! Samara has been in ministry for 7 years and has lived her call in a variety of different settings, mainly in rural Ohio. Her joy comes from missions, teaching, and planting new ministry ideas. She is looking forward to building the "Kin"dom with UUMC! 

Dior DeSormeau,

Director of YOUTH MINISTRY

Dior DeSormeau is the Director of Youth Ministries at University UMC.

Dior comes to UUMC with two years of youth director experience. She has experience as a youth and youth leader in writing and teaching lessons, participating in and leading mission trips, serving on district and conference youth committees, and more.

Dior also engages in ministry at the conference level, serving as the chair of the Spiritual Formation Committee for the Desert Southwest Conference. She was honored to be asked by Bishop Hoshibata to preach at the closing worship of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference in 2018.

Dior is passionate about camping ministry and has been involved at Potosi Pines UMC camp as a camper, counselor, member of the kitchen staff, and a dean. Having been in the inaugural class of Counselors for Christ in 2009, Dior returned to C4C in its tenth anniversary year to teach youth leadership skills essential to counseling camp.

Dior is studying psychology at UNLV and after earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend seminary as the next step towards her call to pastoral ministry.


Faustino Solis, 

Traditional Choir Director

Faustino Solis (goes by NJ at church) has served as the Choir Director for Traditional Worship at University United Methodist Church since 2013. He holds distinctions from the American Directors Association and the National Opera Association as a conductor, and has participated in the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria (AIMS) and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Fairbanks, AK as both a conductor and operatic tenor. Local affiliations include the Henderson Symphony, UNLV Symphony Orchestra, UNLV Dance, UNLV Opera, Vegas City Opera (Sin City Opera), UNLV Choral Ensembles, Las Vegas Master Singers, Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, and the Battle Born Chorale. Opera Las Vegas, He holds music degrees from UNLV and is currently a candidate for Dalcroze Eurythmics Certification from Carnegie Mellon University. Further studies include the University of Alabama and the Eastman School of Music.

Faustino Solis also serves as the Choir Director for James Cashman Middle School. He also is Musical Director for Vegas Theatre Hub and ComedySportz Las Vegas. Faustino is native to Buffalo, NY.


Rachel Delgado, Contemporary Music Director

Rachel grew up in New Jersey and studied piano, orchestra, choir and musical theater. A graduate from the University of the Philippines College of Music, majoring in Composition, she has over 20 years of experience as a performer, specializing in pop/rock, jazz, r&b, and Latin music on keys & vocals. In 2010, Rachel, together with her husband EJ Delgado (Blue Man Group), formed the indie rock band, Earth Rising. All songs are composed, arranged, recorded and produced by both Rachel and EJ and features Rachel on vocals, wurlizter and accordion, with EJ on guitar and bass. Their critically-acclaimed EP's and single releases have made waves in the music scene, and their music has been showcased on radio stations around the world. Their self-titled debut album includes new songs highlighted by several Blue Man Group drummers. Released on August 4, 2017, the highly anticipated album is produced and mixed by Thaddeus Corea, and mastered by Grammy Award-winning master engineer Dave Cooley of Elysian Masters. Rachel is currently Music Director at University United Methodist Church (Contemporary Music) and performs regularly in Las Vegas on vocals, piano & accordion as a solo act and with various artists and bands.

Ken Wilson,

Organist & Pianist

Ken Wilson has served as organist at University Church since 2012. He holds degrees in Music Education  and Organ Performance, as well as computer science and Masters in Management. While pursuing a full-time career in information technology, he also maintained organist positions in various churches.  Ken began his work as an organist at the age of 11 and has performed on many of the world’s most famous instruments.

Chelsie Shurtleff,

Director of Child Development Center

Originally from Boston, MA, Chelsie moved to Las Vegas in 2007. She joined the UUMCDC family in 2010 and discovered her passion for educating young children. She attended both CSN and UNLV to study early childhood education. Chelsie became the director of the child development center in December of 2016, and completed her Bachelor's degree in December of 2017. Chelsie is a mom to a seven year old daughter and enjoys reading, traveling and dancing in her free time. She believes the earliest years of a child's life and education are the most important and strives to provide a program of caring, nurturing and respect to all the children and families that the center serves.

Laura Marsalla,

Business Administrator

Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.                                                               Ephesians 4:2-3


Laura is a Las Vegas native who splits her time between her home in Melbourne, Florida and here in Las Vegas. She married her husband Randy in 1997 and they  officially became empty nesters in 2018.

She joined University UMC’s team in 2005 and currently serves as Treasurer and Business Administrator. Her primary responsibilities are church finances, computer systems and property management which she finds equally challenging and rewarding. 


Laura has found mission and outreach to be her passion;  wanting people to begin to see the unconditional love of God by showing them genuine kindness.


In her free time Laura enjoys reading, traveling, kayaking and her 3 little dogs Cooper, Maggie, and Zoey. 

Ann Heardt,

Office Manager

Ann moved to Las Vegas from Colorado in 1986 and has had multiple jobs over the years. She feels as though God led her to University Church and she has worked here since November of 2006.

She creates the weekly worship bulletins, PowerPoint presentations and e-news letter, as well as coordinates events, and manages the office's everyday needs. 

Ann feels truly blessed working at the church and continues to grow spiritually as she interacts with many different people everyday.  Her favorite quote is the saying "Your Attitude is Contagious, Do others want to catch it?"

She has been married to her husband Tom, for 30 years and has two wonderful adult daughters, April and Holly. April and her husband, Jon recently had a baby girl, Sofia, blessing her with her first grandchild. She loves to travel to new places with her daughter, Holly, who still lives in Las Vegas, and occasionally convinces her husband Tom to join them.

Takudzwa Chiwambutsa,

Custodial & Maintenance

Tiki is originally from Harare, Zimbabwe. He immigrated to the United States in 2014 and has made Las Vegas his home. 

He started attending University Church as soon as he came to Las Vegas and has been working here since 2016. His favorite part of working for the church is interacting with people and making new friends. In addition to his custodial and maintenance duties, he also plays the drums for our Contemporary Worship Service and is the Special Event Host. 

In his free time, Tiki loves to dance, sing, and hang out with his friends. He hopes in the near future to complete the citizenship process and travel internationally.

Pamela Greutman,

Handbell DIRECTOR

“Music is my testimony; my way to share what is in my heart with everyone.” 

Pamela has been the director of UUMC Handbells since 2007. She has been a life-long student of music, beginning at age five taking piano lessons. Along the way she has expanded her musical attributes to include singing, playing the flute, and becoming an accomplished handbell performer. Pamela has studied Music Education with a Major in Piano Performance and Minor in Voice at Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, in Indiana. She is also a charter member and section leader of Harmony Handbells, a local community handbell ensemble established in 2000.

Pamela joined UUMC in 1999 and has enjoyed many years as a member of UUMC Chancel Choir and UUMC Handbells as well.