6400 W Del Rio St, Chandler, AZ 85226
(480) 899-4249
admin@vuu.org

Meet the Leadership Development Committee 

Love is our Doctrine. Service is our prayer. Justice is our calling.

Daniel Schulte – Co-Chair    

As a VUU Member since 2005 Dan says: Like a lot of others in the congregation, I found UU as a place that provided an alternative to my Catholic upbringing that was defined by reasonableness and inclusivity. My spouse and I were married by a UU minister in Omaha, and since moving to Arizona and joining VUU it has become the religious “home” for our family.

I am interested in the LDC essentially because I want to support our congregational community. I think the LDC is the ideal venue to do this, as the focus of our group is primarily engagement and connection. If elected, I think I could contribute, both by applying my past experience of leadership development in other organizations, and building on my experience in this committee in my initial 2 year term, during which I learned a good deal about the unique challenges of leadership development at VUU.

Rosaland Hawkins – Co-Chair    

My name is Rosaland Hawkins. For many years, I felt that there was no place for me in organized religion and I was fully comfortable in visiting many churches, but never joined. “Religion” was much too divisive. That changed when I became involved in VUU over 15 years ago. My husband, John Myers, had attended VUU as a “friend” of the congregation since the late 1990’s and when we married in 2004, I started to come to services with him periodically. By 2007, when I moved to Phoenix from Prescott, we were attending together every Sunday. Shortly after Rev. Andy Burnett was installed as our settled minister, he recruited me to join the Worship Associate Team where I served until eary in 2023. I have also been privileged to serve as a Lay Pastoral Care Associate for several years. Currently I am an elected member of the Leadership Development Committee and I am also a member of the newly formed Committee on Shared Ministry (CSM).

I have a Bachelor of Science in Communication. Professionally, I worked in banking for over 18 years then spent the last 12 years of my career in Human Resources and Training. As much as possible, I have shared my education and experience with this congregation.

It has been a gift to be a part of this liberal faith and I am fully committed to the tenets of Unitarian Universalism.

Joel Sannes —

Joel has been a member of VUU for over 20 years. He has been a member of the congregation’s Board of Trustees, including a term as President, He has been on the finance committee and served three terms on the congregation’s endowment fund committee. He is especially proud of being an OWL facilitator for more than 10 years. His three children, all adults now, were raised in VUU’s lifespan religious education programs, including OWL and Coming of Age. Joel’s wife, Melisa, is also a member of VUU.

Mikaela Foote —

My name is Mikaela Foote, and I’ve been attending VUU since the summer of 2020 and a member since April 2021. My appreciation for VUU (and organized community more generally) has grown so much since I began my journey here. I believe that VUU is a spiritual and social hub for people to connect with like-minded individuals and find ways to create fulfillment. I am interested in the Leadership Development Committee because I enjoy organizing people and helping others find their niche. (I’m an office manager so this is my jam!)

Valerie Miller —

Valerie Miller and her twins have been members of the VUU community since 2010, demonstrating a deep commitment to family, nurturing, and educating others. She has served as a Teacher’s Assistant in Faith Formation. Additionally, Valerie volunteers with VUU’s Partners In Education (P.I.E.), where her empathy and ability to connect with diverse families have made a significant impact.

Outside of her work with VUU, Valerie is a dedicated and holistic conscious parent to two brilliant college scholars, embodying the values of education, personal growth, and gratitude within her own family. She is fluent in Haitian Creole, which enhances her ability to connect with and support diverse communities.

Valerie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration and is a certified ESL instructor. Her academic achievements, combined with her volunteerism, empathy, and professionalism, demonstrate her unwavering commitment to lifelong learning and her passion for empowering others through education.

Jessica Blonde—

Jessica Blonde has been a member of VUU since 2018. A longtime volunteer in the Faith Formation program, she was elected to VUU’s Leadership Development Committee in 2024. Jessica was born and raised in Iowa, then spent 13 years as a freelance dancer in NYC before relocating to Arizona with her husband, Casey, and their two children, Simon and Noa. She currently teaches ballet technique to young dancers and is a dance humanities professor at Glendale Community College. Jessica is incredibly grateful to have found a spiritual home in VUU, and is eager to serve this community in a new role.

Pamela Spence—

I have been a member of VUU for 12 years. I joined VUU because it is a church that walks their talk and a very loving congregation where I feel accepted. The Unitarian Universalist principle that I relate to is “Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation” . 

Prior to joining VUU, I lived for twenty years in Ecuador where I worked as an Anthropologist, program evaluator and trainer with international organizations, such as, US AID, the World Bank and the US Peace Corps. I have been back in the United States for 20 years where I have worked as a trainer /consultant for various companies, universities and at present an adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix. I enjoy traveling and interacting with people from different cultures.

I am presently living in Phoenix, Arizona, with my two cats. I have two children and four grandchildren, who I enjoy immensely. In my spare time, I like to read, hike and socialize with friends. I look forward to meeting and interacting with all of you.