Meet our Co-Pastors
About Jarrett
About Meg
Program & Administrative Staff
About Dallin
Dallin Baldwin joined the UPC staff in July 2024. Dallin grew up in Northern Arizona in the small town of Joseph City. He is the second oldest of eight kids. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance and Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Brigham Young University and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Notre Dame. Dallin has worked in many church settings, including the Episcopal Church, Catholic Church, Methodist Church, and Lutheran Church. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), he loves working in different denominations and sharing the musical traditions that come from them. In his free time, Dallin likes to watch TV with his wife, Carlee, spend time with his dogs Gilmore and Norman, bake sweet treats, and knit.
About Ryan
Ryan Byrnes joined the UPC staff in May 2022. Born in St. Louis, MO, Ryan has a background in event and facility management through his operations work at convention centers (most recently the Durham Convention Center). He is married to Stephanie, and together they have four children. When not at work, Ryan is most likely to be playing with his kids, reading, teaching himself something new, or daydreaming about the places he hopes to travel one day.
About Johnny
Johnny Clay began working as the UPC Sexton in September 2021. Born in Thailand, Johnny moved to the United States in 2007. He has worked both for University Methodist Church and UNC Dining Services before coming to join the UPC staff. In his free time, Johnny enjoys spending time with his family, especially his four children (2 girls, 2 boys).
About Erin
Erin joined our staff in February 2021 as our Director of Communications and Development. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Erin earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. She is an ordained Baptist minister who has served in several congregations, most recently as an associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Lumberton, NC. At UPC, she enjoys serving in a new capacity through the ministry of communication and storytelling.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, catching up on shows on Netflix and Hulu, and spending time with her husband, their energetic daughter, and their extroverted dog.
About Peter
Peter Costa joined the UPC staff in September 2021. Peter is originally from Rhode Island, where he spent 22 years as the Finance Director at a Catholic School. Wanting both a warmer climate and to be close to their daughter, son-in-law, and new grandchild, he and his wife moved to Durham in 2019.
About Dennis
Dennis first joined the UPC staff in 1992. The son of a Methodist pastor, Dennis was born in San Diego. After graduating from San Diego State University, he moved to Oregon, and later lived in Alaska, California, and Florida. Before coming to work at UPC, he had experience working in hospitals and on the railroad. After 30 years as our full-time property manager, Dennis transitioned into part-time work.
Dennis is married to Becky, and together they enjoy visiting and spending time with their grandchildren.
About Berry
Berry joined the UPC staff in August 2020. A native of Lumberton, North Carolina, he attended the University of North Carolina, graduating in 2003 with degrees in both Economics and Recreation and Leisure Studies. But between freshman dorm move-in and donning a cap and gown, he found a home here at PCM.
After two years of camp and conference ministry and extensive international travel in Central America and Africa, Berry discerned a call to ministry and attended Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. From there, he has served as an associate pastor at both White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh as well as Black Mountain Presbyterian Church near Montreat. In 2017, Berry and Katie, their daughter Aubry and son Will embarked on a two-year journey sailing through the Caribbean and the North American Eastern Seaboard, visiting 12 Caribbean countries in their own 43’ sailboat from Grenada to Maine.
Berry loves the outdoors, hiking, camping, biking, gardening, and playing outside with his kids.
About Hadley
Hadley joined our staff in June 2021. A native of Laurinburg, NC, she is an ordained United Church of Christ minister and has most recently served as a pediatric chaplain for UNC Health Care. Hadley has a degree in English from UNC-Chapel Hill and completed the Master of Divinity degree at Duke University’s Divinity School, and is looking forward to living into her ordination in new ways by having the opportunity to serve, lead, care for, and love our congregation.
Hadley is married to Drew, and they are the proud parents of Hannan and Ruby.
About Nancy
Nancy began as the Staff Associate for Children’s Ministries in October 2014 and was ordained and installed as our Associate Pastor in November 2023. She grew up in west central Illinois and graduated in 2005 from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She continued on to get a Master of Arts degree in education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and a Master of Divnity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte. Before joining the staff at University Presbyterian Church, Nancy served congregations in Knoxville, TN, and Indianapolis, IN.
In her free time, you’ll find her reading, watching Michigan State sports, and doing just about any craft imaginable! She also enjoys traveling to visit her family.
About Ellen
Ellen Parker was hired as Director of University Presbyterian Preschool in August 2009.
About Sara
Sara Richard began as our Administrative Assistant in September 2021. Born in New Hampshire and raised in Apex, North Carolina, Sara graduated from William and Mary in 2020 with a degree in Film and Media Studies. During college, she was a member of the William and Mary Choir. From August 2020 through July 2021, she was a member of the Johnson Service Corps, through which she served at a partnering non-profit organization and lived in an intentional community in Durham with three other people. Sara lives in Durham with her rabbit, Oswald. In her free time she enjoys singing, listening to music, watching movies, and playing Stardew Valley.
About Tristan
Tristan joined the UPC staff in August 2023. A native of Asheville, NC, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he majored in Religious Studies with a minor in Spanish. Prior to coming to UPC, he was the Director of Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian in Charlotte and also spent a year in Alberquerque, NM, as part of the PCUSA Young Adult Volunteer Program.
In his free time, Tristan enjoys playing Disc Golf, exploring the outdoors, and listening to his favorite musical artists.
About Melani
Melani serves University Presbyterian Church as the part-time Financial Assistant. In this role, she assists with the day-to-day financial duties of the church and of University Presbyterian Preschool (UPPS). Melani grew up in Watkins Glen, NY and moved to NC in 1999. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2004 with degrees in Management and Society and Sociology. With her husband, Patrick, she has four daughters.