The Rev. Dana Lightsey, Contract Minister

Dana describes her theology as Eco-Spirituality. “With a focus on science, deep concern about climate change, and working with and studying indigenous cultures, I feel an urgency to work toward healing our White Supremacy Culture, and a colonial mentality by connecting deeply with the earth and experiencing the sacredness of being alive.”

RevDana@namaquauu.org
(970) 590-6978

Director of Religious Education: Janen Wright

Janen is thrilled to be working with our kids and youth at NUUC!  She is a mother of five kids herself, and the wife of a physician. She has a bachelors degree in Communications and Organizational Management. She became a Unitarian Universalist in the spring of 2008 and served as the Director of Religious Education at the UU Church of Boulder, CO for four and half years. She was raised as a minority in Laie, Hawaii and loves the ocean almost as much as the mountains!  She also love reading, writing, cooking and camping.

Office Administrator: Chantel Sisk

Chantel brings many years of experience in business administration, technology, and customer service, most notably working for Apple as a support technician.

Chantel attended school online through Arizona State University and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, focusing on mass communication and marketing. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, she previously held a California Real Estate License and maintains her certification as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.

As a Holistic Nutritionist with hopes of becoming a doula one day, Chantel strives to advocate for pregnant and birthing people’s right to bodily autonomy and self-determination.

Most prominently, she is a mother to a sweet, charming boy who brings joy and childlike wonder to her life.

Chantel enjoys reading, loves comfort food, finds peace in being physically active, and appreciates philosophical and moral conversations. If you see her around, please don’t hesitate to say hello! (She’s quite approachable!) You can reach her at admin@namaquauu.org

Director of Music: Ryan Marvel

Ryan joined our team in November 2021 as Music Director.  He also currently serves as Collaborative Pianist for Zion Lutheran Church in Loveland and Accompanist for the Colorado Women of Song in Fort Collins.  He served as Director of Music and Choirs at Foothills Unitarian Church 2006-2017. Prior to moving to the Front Range, he worked as the collaborative pianist and arranger in Chandler, AZ at Valley Unitarian Universalist Church from 1999-2005.  

Ryan was classically trained through high school and college, attending Northern Arizona University for Piano Performance.

He maintains a full private piano studio in his home and frequently concertizes in homes and churches locally and nationally, and is in demand as a guest pianist and conductor. Ryan has recorded and released eight solo piano albums.  He recently published and recorded a set of cello and piano miniatures for Off the Hook Arts’ Winterfest in Fort Collins.  He has scored for three documentary projects, most recently “The Outlaw Ocean Music Project”, bringing together journalism and music to illuminate the lawlessness across our oceans.  Ryan holds the goal to one day compose for feature films. 

He believes in the transcendent power of music, and is known for bringing great emotion and personal touch to each musical sharing, connecting with congregations and audiences through vulnerability and storytelling.   

In his spare time, he loves to be outdoors at the ocean, or in the mountains biking, skiing and camping. Passions include family, wolves, nature, red wine, really good coffee and sleeping until 11:00.  Ryan’s light and inspiration is daughter Elena Rose, now 16, affectionately called “Lanie”. 

Housekeeper: Kristine Abbey

I was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, where I grew up in a non-denominational Bible church. I later joined the Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and was a “regular irregular” there for years. I also enjoyed a brief interlude as an Episcopalian. I’m happy to return to the UU “fold” and I am excited about getting more involved in NUUC.

I’ve had a varied career, including serving in the Army as a broadcast

journalist and working as a reporter in Amarillo. More recently, I worked for the National Park Service at Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. I recently moved to northern Colorado to work as a library technician for the National Forest Service Library in Fort Collins.

I have two adult sons, Eben and Elliott, both of whom still live in Amarillo. My local “immediate family” includes three dogs, who are overjoyed with the wonderful local walking trails and parks.

Now that I’m here, I hope to get out and do some camping and hiking, learn orienteering, and explore life as a beginning birder. My other interests are live music, local libraries and book clubs, movies on the big screen, vegetarian/vegan restaurants, and farmer’s markets. I’d like to build friendships and a social support network, so anyone who’d like to get together for a hike, coffee, or a movie, etc. is welcome to contact me at krisaworks@gmail.com