Reverend Dr. Tracy Sprowls, Interim-Minister
Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls has served our Unitarian Universalist congregations for 30 years as an ordained minister, religious educator, and as a volunteer. She comes to us with extensive experience in all areas of congregational life having served five other congregations, most recently as the Assistant Minister for Lifespan Faith Formation at The Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City.
She is a life-long learner. In the past year and a half, she took workshops online such as Transforming Hearts (trans inclusion in our congregations), Beloved Conversations (anti-racism and white supremacy), the Adult Faith Formation Renaissance Module, the Renaissance Module Facilitator Training, and the new six-week Family Ministry workshop. She has also been studying about trauma and grief on her own.
She is a published writer with an article in a mental health journal and one in a book called From Social Knitting to Social Justice. She was also a religion blog writer for MyCentralJersey.com from 2014 to 2019. Currently she is working on a children’s book called Dogs at the Beach. She has about four novels floating around in her head.
She has served our denomination in many capacities over the years. Currently she is a first responder with the UU Trauma Response Ministry, and the immediate past president of the LREDA Metro New York chapter. In the past, she served as president of the UUFaithAction (legislative ministry) in New Jersey, President of the Ministerial Sisterhood, and Chaplain at the UU@UN Spring Seminar. She considers herself an activist and has proudly been arrested twice.
Tracy currently lives in Asbury Park, New Jersey, a lifelong dream of hers, with her husband, two dogs, and a cat. She would have more animals around, but her spouse has “drawn the line” against more fur companions. She loves live music, the beach, riding her bike, knitting, and college football (well, okay, she loves her husband who loves college football). Her husband, David, is an IT managing director at Bellevue Hospital in NYC. She has one son, Izaac, who lives in Albany and two step-daughters who live in Montgomery, Alabama. Tracy and David will be grandparents in August. In addition, Tracy and David are foster parents. Two children lived with them a few months during the pandemic, but fostering has been put on hold.
Tracy is fun and loving and has a tremendous appreciation and commitment to Unitarian Universalists and Unitarian Universalism. She likes to say she has two superpowers. One is parallel parking and the other is remembering names.
To contact Rev. Sprowls, call our office at (814) 237-7605 ext. 100 or email revsprowls@uufcc.com.
Ashley Hamlin, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Ashley came on board as our full time Director of Lifespan Religious Education in September 2018. She moved from eastern Washington and has a background in education including Montessori and classical philosophies. She earned a MA in Theological Studies in seminary and has directed high school youth ministry. Ashley has traveled to various continents working with refugees, orphans, and studied theology abroad. She loves theater, opera, and live music performances. Ashley’s hobbies include reading, meditating in nature, bike riding, engaging in deep philosophical discussions and spending time with her family. She is excited to be serving the UUFCC congregation as their religious educator.
To contact Ashley, call our office at (814) 237-7605, ext. 102 or email ahamlin@uufcc.com.
Colleen Kennedy, Music Director
A native of Los Angeles, Colleen has over 25 years of experience as a choral musician. Colleen attended UCLA, where she received a B.A. in Music, with an emphasis in Music Education, and a Master’s degree in Education. Over the course of her career, she has worked with singers of all ages, in church settings, schools, and community groups.
In addition to serving at UUFCC, Colleen sings with the State College Choral Society, where she is also the organization’s Chorus Manager. When she’s not making music, Colleen can be found in the accounting department of a local manufacturing company
Martha Jordan, Piano Accompanist
Martha joined the UUFCC in 1999 and has enjoyed being the piano accompanist for the adult choir since 2003 and more recently our Youth Choir. Being a part of the music ministry at the Fellowship and providing music that follows the themes of our services throughout the year brings Martha personal and spiritual satisfaction. She appreciates and supports the wide acceptance of various musical genres used during our services and programs as a way to promote inclusiveness.
Martha’s musical background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Penn State and a variety of previous experiences as church organist and piano accompanist.
David Morris, Jazz Band Leader
David started trumpet studies privately in 1966. He participated in orchestra and concert band programs starting in junior high and continued his music studies at Allegheny Community College. While in college he was drafted, so he auditioned for the Air Force Field Bands and was accepted. After six years as a featured soloist with various Air Force bands, David was discharged from the service in California and went to study commercial music at the famous Dick Grove Music Workshops in Studio City, Ca.
Locally, David has volunteered to play lead in numerous school pit orchestras for musical productions. He currently teaches trumpet at Robert M. Sides Family Music Store where he started The Central PA Youth Jazz Experience for like-minded students who enjoy big band music. His students have gone on to music programs at Ithaca College, Brigham Young University, and Gettysburg College to name a few. Currently David’s experience in everything from Polish and Mexican Polkas, nightclub acts, big bands, Dixieland and pit orchestras is being utilized in his work as the Jazz Band Leader for the UUFCC.
Joe Kowalski, Financial Secretary
Joe joined the UUFCC staff in January of 2016. He is semi-retired after a wide-ranging business career that began in accounting and auditing, and then advanced to positions in business growth and, most significantly for him, customer care. Joe identifies with one of the Fellowship’s primary focal points—social awareness and involvement, because it connects well with one of his post-career enthusiasms—volunteering. Since transitioning into semi-retirement, Joe has become a very active volunteer with Mount Nittany Medical Center, Clearwater Conservancy, Centre County Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Centre County PAWS, the “KidTech” solar-car program (founded and headed by UUFCC member Toby Short), and several other programs. The common thread is interacting with people, sharing, learning, and giving back.
Joe and his wife Lori have lived in State College for 10 years. His family includes four pooches, two of which adopted Lori and him from PAWS. Joe and Lori were both born and raised in Pennsylvania but have enjoyed moving around with their careers. One of the most remarkable and memorable periods for them was living and working in Germany for three years.