Meet the Con Ed Team

Dr. Campbell coordinates students’ placements in social service or clinical settings during the first year of the Contextual Education Program. She has a background as a journalist and has served in congregational, campus ministry, academic, and non-profit settings. She received her MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and earned her PhD in Christian Ethics from Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Dr. Elliott facilitates students’ placements in their second year ecclesial settings for the Contextual Education Program. He is able to build effective partnerships with area churches given his knowledge and experience as an elder in the North Georgia Conference.

Carmen oversees all Contextual Education programs (Contextual Education I, Contextual Education II, Teaching Parish, CPE, and Internships) and is the point person for any questions regarding them. Students, faculty and supervisors should reach out to her with any questions or concerns.

Amanda (they/them) provides administrative support, oversees plenary logistics, and facilitates office communications. They come to Candler with a background in marketing, management, and event planning. Amanda most recently served as a mission advocate with The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Global Ministries, working closely with young adults from over 20 countries and teaching them about justice, power, biases, and cross-cultural engagement.

Gabriela (she/her) is a first year Master of Divinity student at Candler. With experience in asylum law and accompaniment, ESOL teaching, and summer camp directing, she brings a big picture approach to her work with the Contextual Education Office.

Betty Brewer-Calvert is the Director of Chaplain Ministries at Campbell-Stone Christian Centers. She is ordained in the Disciples of Christ tradition. She earned her BA in Political Science from NC State and her MDiv from Union Theological Seminary.

Bec currently serves as a Community Responder at Policing Alternatives and Diversions and has served as a Con Ed supervisor at Candler School of Theology since 2015, with a break in 2022. Bec planted Church of the Misfits, the first dually affiliated Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ LGBTQ-affirming church in West Georgia in 2011. She served as the founder and lead pastor from 2011-2015. Bec served at Gateway Center, Atlanta’s largest homeless service agency, for over 10 years as a Coordinator and then Director of Community Engagement. Bec served as a Coordinator and then as the Director of Community for Wildgoose Festival from 2017 until 2020.

Lisa Heilig is the Executive Director of Toco Hills Community Alliance. She belongs to the Metropolitan Community Churches tradition. She earned her BA in English Education and Religion from Florida Southern College, her MDiv from Candler, and her DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary. Her favorite part of ministry is “creating and nurturing inclusive spiritual community.” Her favorite part of being a CE1 supervisor is “helping students find, claim, and use their gifts as spiritual leaders.”

Emily Kelly is a chaplain for Georgia’s Department of Juvenile Justice. She began her journey at DJJ in 2015 as a Contextual Education I Intern at Metro RYDC. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in Sociology and BS in Psychology and then earned her MDiv from Candler. She is currently a Provisional Deacon in The United Methodist Church.

Allyn Maxfield-Steele has been Co-Executive Director of the Highlander Research and Education Center since 2017. Allyn received a BA in History from Wofford College and an MDiv from Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Maressa Pendermon is an ordained pastor in the Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) currently serving as pastor of Unity Fellowship of Christ Church, Greater Atlanta. She is also a trained spiritual care provider, experienced chaplain, social justice activist, organizational and community strategist, and trained facilitator. Rev. Maressa is passionate about social justice ministry and works with traditionally marginalized and low wealth individuals and communities from a human rights perspective and through a womanist theological lens.

Winston Persaud is the Lead Teacher with New American Pathways, where he works with refugee and immigrant adolescents in the Clarkston, GA area. He earned his BA from Carleton College, his MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and his PhD from Emory. Dr. Persaud’s favorite part of ministry is, “being able to help shape, and be shaped by, both adults and young people including educated, adult seminary students, and adolescent refugees new to the United States, as we engage in the journey of discipleship into the triune God.”

Stanley Ramos is a faculty member at the University of Central Florida School of Social Work. He received his Master of Social Work from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago, and his Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is an ordained minister with the Metropolitan Community Church and presently is the founding pastor for Alabanza MCC.

Derrick is the Theological Education & Training Coordinator for Creation Justice Ministries. He received his B.A. in film studies from the University of Pittsburgh and his Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He also has a certification in health ministry from Wesleyan Theological Seminary and was a part of the Re-Generate fellowship on food, faith, and ecology through Wake Forest Divinity School.

Amy is the Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator with The Ministry Collaborative. She was the Executive Director of Global Mission Connections at The General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC and the Visiting Associate Professor of Religious Education and Mission Innovation at Candler. She received her Doctor of Philosophy from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary specializing in the intersection of psychology, sociology and theology.

Kate Colussy-Estes is a Minister of Word and Sacrament Teaching Elder in the PCUSA. She currently serves as the Interim Associate Pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Susannah Davis is the Pastor of Kirkwood UCC in Atlanta. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Emory and Henry College and her MDiv from Candler.

Rev. Dr. Glenn is the Youth Pastor at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her ThD in Pastoral Counseling from Candler.

Richard has a passion for making disciples, preaching the word and raising up future leaders for the church. While serving at a church in north Atlanta, he led the congregation in the birthing of two churches from within their growing church body. This model is now being used across the United Methodist Church to promote new church development. His love of teaching and mentoring future church leaders is demonstrated in his successful tenure as Director of New Church Development for the North Alabama & North Georgia Annual Conferences of the Methodist Church, with the International Leadership Institute, the Large Church Initiative, the Academy for the Practice of Christian Ministry, and teaching courses at Candler Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary. He has been married to Meri since October, 1984. They have two children and two grandchildren

Brady Radford is a Licensed Professional Counselor at the Lovewell Collective and the Senior Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church Decatur. He earned his BS in Architectural Design and Architectural Engineering from Tennessee State University, his MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University, and his MDiv from Interdenominational Theological Center.

Dalton Rushing is the Senior Pastor of Decatur First UMC. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Birmingham Southern College and his MDiv from Candler. On his favorite part of ministry, he writes, “I didn’t grow up in church, so I am regularly surprised at the capacity for goodness that people have! I love working with a congregation to vision the ways in which God is calling them to love God, love their neighbors, and love one another.” He greatly enjoys working with CE2 students as they help him keep his skills fresh and give him hope.

Beth Jackson-Jordan retired in 2024 as the Director of Spiritual Educator at Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital and Emory Long-term Acute Care Hospital. Prior to her service with Emory, Beth served as a chaplain leader and educator in North Carolina and Washington, DC for over 35 years. Beth’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Music Education, a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Beth is ordained for ministry and endorsed to Chaplaincy by the Alliance of Baptists. She is a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and an ACPE Certified Educator.

Nathan Attwood is Senior Pastor of Marianna United Methodist Church in Florida. He has a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and an undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University.  He is an ordained Elder in the Alabama West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving as a pastor, associate pastor, denominational staffer, and youth pastor since 1997.

Keya Hillman is the Pastor-in-charge at St. Paul UMC Summit Street in Gainesville, GA. She earned her BA in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, and her MDiv from Gammon Theological Seminary. Her life Scripture is Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Beth LaRocca-Pitts is the Senior Pastor at Oak Grove UMC in Atlanta’s Oak Grove neighborhood. She earned her BA in Religion from Duke University, her MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and her PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. Dr. LaRocca-Pitts’ favorite aspect of ministry is “teaching the Bible and helping people connect the word to their daily lives.” As a CE2 supervisor she enjoys hearing about the varying ministry settings that students serve in.

Rev. Dr. G. Thomas Martin has been an Elder in the United Methodist Church since 2008. He has served Peachtree Road UMC, Sandy Springs UMC, Fayetteville First UMC and currently at LaGrange First UMC. He obtained an MDiv from Duke Divinity School in 2008. He obtained a DMin from Candler School of Theology in 2018.

Mandy McDow is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. After hearing her call to ministry while working on staff at Camp Wesley Woods, Mandy attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, which, ironically, had no religion department. Regardless, Mandy was admitted to Princeton Theological Seminary, from which she received her master of divinity. Mandy has served rural churches in New Jersey, urban churches in Atlanta, and oceanside churches in California. Today, she is the senior minister of Los Angeles First United Methodist Church, the church with land and no building that worships in a parking lot. In solidarity with their houseless neighbors, LA First UMC has pledged to remain unhoused until they can create housing for those who need it the most. She is a 2023 graduate of Candler’s DMin program.

Khalif Smith is Senior Pastor of Zion United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born and raised in New York City, the son of a United Methodist pastor. He has an undergraduate degree from DeVry University, and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Khalif is an ordained Elder in the Desert Southwest Conference. He recently served as the conference Director of Connectional Ministries and has a strong sense of purpose and passion for spreading the Gospel, as well as a deep dedication to God, family, and community.

Jordan Thrasher is the Pastor of Embry Hills UMC in metro Atlanta. He earned his BA in History from Wofford College and his MDiv and DMin from Candler. His favorite aspect of ministry is all that goes into preaching: exegesis, writing and proclamation. He values the mutual learning that occurs between Teaching Parish students and mentors.

Robin Wilson is a pastor in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. She earned her BS from Vanderbilt University and her MDiv from Duke Divinity School.