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 second 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.

Bec Cranford is a neurodivergent queer tri-racial Appalachian. She lives as a certified spiritual director. She also serves as the Director of Family Ministries at Midway United Methodist Church in Douglasville. Bec brings over twenty years of compassion, justice, and solidarity experience in nonprofits and ministry. Bec sits on the Georgia United Methodist council of homelessness and housing. Bec served as a Community Responder at Policing Alternatives and Diversions from 2023 until 2026. She’s enjoyed being present as a Con Ed supervisor at Candler School of Theology since 2015. 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 is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has worked in social justice movements across the world for over 20 years. Most recently, Allyn served as Co-Executive Director of the Highlander Research and Education Center from 2017-2026. He received a BA in History from Wofford College and an MDiv from Vanderbilt Divinity School.

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 the pastor of Azalea Park United Methodist Church as well as faculty at the University of Central Florida School of Social Work in Orlando, Florida. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and his Master of Social Work degree from the University of Chicago. He is an ordained minister with the Metropolitan Community Church.

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.

Rev. Donna Gunter recently accepted the position of Director of Chaplain Ministries at Campbell Stone Senior Living, where she provides spiritual care to residents, families, and staff while fostering a vibrant faith community. She also serves as an Associate Minister at Ray of Hope Christian Church (DOC) in Decatur, Georgia, on the Pastoral Care Team and is the lead facilitator of the church’s GriefShare Grief Support Ministry. Before joining Campbell Stone, Rev. Gunter served 15 years as a Hospice Chaplain with Amedisys Hospice until 2026 and 23 years with the Georgia DHR/DFCS, in the Economic Support Division. Her final position was as the TANF Unit Chief. Rev. Gunter earned a BA in Psychology from Duke University and a MDiv from the Interdenominational Theological Center. Rev. Gunter is committed to cultivating hope, nurturing faith, and equipping others for compassionate ministry.

Matt Babcock serves as the Vicar of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter. He began his ministry with Holy Comforter on August 11, 2025. Matt was raised in central Louisiana and graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2007, earning a BS in Agricultural Business. Following undergraduate studies, he moved to North Carolina, where he was introduced to the Episcopal Church. What began as volunteer service in a food pantry led to a rediscovery of the presence of God through the fruits of a community with a shared vision to live the Gospel. Serving alongside parishioners seeking to restore the dignity of God’s creation eventually led Matt to explore a desire to foster communities of love as he discerned his own call to ordained ministry. He graduated in 2019 from Yale Divinity School, having earned a Master of Divinity degree; he also earned a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School. Since seminary training, Matt has served in various positions in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, the Diocese of Chicago, and the Diocese of Atlanta. ​He is a Trinity Leadership Fellow and is currently pursuing a Doctor in Ministry at Candler School of Theology.

Susannah Davis was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1995 and served several congregations in the North Georgia Conference. In 2007, she received Privilege of Call in the United Church of Christ and became the founding pastor of Kirkwood UCC, where she served for 18 years. She recently moved to Clayton in the Northeast Georgia mountains, where she is now the founding pastor of Kindred Community UCC, a new church start. Susannah earned her bachelor’s degree from Emory and Henry College and her MDiv from Candler School of Theology. One of her greatest joys in ministry is serving as a Con-ed Teaching Supervisor, where she enjoys working with and learning from her students.

Rev. Dr. Ca Trice Glenn is a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained in the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. She earned her ThD in Pastoral Counseling from Candler. Dr. Glenn is the founder and director of Solace Counseling and Consulting LLC, a mental wellness practice. She also launched Church Mental Health Response Training to equip church leaders with theologically integrated best practices and mental health response skills training. Most importantly, Dr. Glenn wants her life to reflect the love that she has for God and God’s people, especially God’s children!

Rev. Dr. David Lower has served as Senior Pastor of Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Dunwoody, Georgia, since 2016. Previously, he served for eight years as Senior Pastor of Winnetka Presbyterian Church near Chicago. He earned his BA from Harvard University and his MDiv and DMin from Candler School of Theology. His doctoral work explored collaborative preaching as a practice of congregational leadership and formation. His ministry includes longstanding work cultivating relationships and partnerships across racial and religious differences. David especially values helping students reflect theologically on their experiences of ministry and grow into faithful, thoughtful, and collaborative leaders.

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.

Rev. Cassie Rapko is the Pastor in Charge of St. Paul UMC in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theological Studies and Mathematics from the University of Evansville and an MDiv from Candler School of Theology. Cassie has a passion for community engagement and connecting the local church to the community and she especially loves helping her congregation discover and use the gifts they have for ministry.

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.

Va’ Nechia M. Rayford has served as the Director of Spiritual Health at Emory University Hospital, Emory University Orthopedics & Spine Hospital, and Emory Wesley Woods Hospital since September 2021. Previously, she managed the ACPE accredited Clinical Pastoral Education programs at The Bay Area Center for CPE in San Francisco, CA, as well as Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, CA.  Va’ Nechia’s educational achievements include a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Film from California State University, Long Beach, the Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and the Juris Master from Emory University School of Law.

Va’ Nechia is an ACPE Certified Educator and Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains. She also serves in various ACPE leadership capacities: Accreditation Commissioner, theory paper consultant, as well as National Faculty for candidates in the ACPE certification process.  Va’ Nechia received her ordination in the Methodist tradition and has served as a pastoral care instructor, bereavement support group facilitator, and pastoral care administrator in various religious and congregational contexts.

Va’ Nechia’s greatest passion in ministry is co-journeying alongside others in their vocational discernment process as they discover their divine calling and purpose as compassionate, competent, and equipped spiritual care clinicians, educators, and leaders.

Nathan Attwood is Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze 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 Regional Developer for the South West District of the North Georgia Annual Conference, working with churches “to build healthy, vital, new, and existing expressions of church.” She earned her BA in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, and her MDiv from Gammon Theological Seminary. She is an ordained Elder in the North Georgia Conference, having served as Senior Pastor of congregations in Mableton and Gainesville, GA. 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 a retired United Methodist Pastor. Previously she served as 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.

The Rev. Dr. Lahronda Welch Little is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scholar with expertise in soteriology through the lens of public health and religion. A graduate of Candler School of Theology and Emory University’s Graduate Division of Religion, her research interests include womanist and feminist discourse, Wesleyan theology, Africana religious studies, spirituality, and interreligious and intercultural encounters. She is an Associate Pastor at Marietta First United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia. Little previously served as pastor-in-charge at Ebennezer UMC in Conyers, Georgia and pastor of religious practice and health at Stone Mountain First UMC in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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.

Brian Smith is the Senior Pastor of Waleska United Methodist Church and Campus Chaplain at Reinhardt University. He earned his BA in Religion from Birmingham-Southern College and his Master of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School. He is an ordained Elder in the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church. Brian especially values helping individuals discover the grace of God, discern God’s call, and grow into faithful and effective ministry leaders.

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.

Scott A. Taylor serves as pastor of Irving Park United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Before entering parish ministry, he enjoyed a career as a professional musician, performing and teaching in academic, liturgical, and concert settings. His musical experiences in the mountains of North Carolina sparked a lasting passion for Appalachian and other folk traditions—a passion that occasionally finds its way into worship when he picks up a banjo in the middle of a sermon. Scott holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, a Master of Music from the University of Colorado, and a Bachelor of Music from Furman University. His ministry is especially shaped by a passion for innovative worship, congregational formation, and developing healthy, effective structures for local church leadership. Outside the church, Scott enjoys hiking, golfing, cooking, and, most of all, spending time with his wife, Lauren, and their daughter, Ava.

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.

Andrew Chappell is a metro-Atlanta native and a fourth-generation Methodist pastor. He first heard his call to ministry while a student at the University of Georgia, where he studied Religion and Journalism, and followed that call to Candler School of Theology, earning his Master of Divinity in 2015. Andrew has served the church through youth ministry, contemporary worship, preaching, pastoral care, and congregational leadership. Today, he serves as the senior pastor of Newnan First United Methodist Church, an almost 200-year-old congregation in the heart of Newnan, Georgia, with a strong ecumenical spirit and a deep commitment to the Wesleyan way of “doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God.” Andrew and his wife, Adair, are the parents of Ben (2) and Annie (11 mos).