Our Minister and Staff

Rev. Jen Raffensperger

Rev. Jen Raffensperger,
Minister

Office: (540) 342-8888 | Mobile: (443) 626-4688
Email: revjen@uuroanoke.org

Rev. Jen (she/her) received her Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2021. Her lifelong passion has been the stories that humans tell about ourselves, about each other, and about our world. After a career in tech and project management, she has embraced her call to ministry and to serve our audacious and exciting living faith tradition! She lives in Roanoke with her two cats, Desmond and Peggy.

Kirk Balin

Rev. Kirk Ballin,
Minister Emeritus

Office: (540) 342-8888 | Mobile: (540) 793-0752
Email: uurevkirk@aol.com

Rev. Kirk (he/him) received his Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 1983. He served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville, PA, from 1983-1987. Kirk was the full-time minister at UUCR from 1987-1999, and part-time minister at First Unitarian Church in Lynchburg, VA, from 2000-2003. He has been Minister Emeritus at UUCR since 2017.

Susan Cousins

Susan Cousins,
Office Administrator & Facilities Coordinator

Office: (540) 342-8888
Email: admin@uuroanoke.org

Susan (she/her) is in the office Monday-Friday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm.  She is the single-point-of-contact regarding facilities rental. Susan completed the Diocese of Richmond Theology program and has studied religion at nearby churches and colleges.  Her favorite book is “Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim” by Edward Hays. One of her favorite hobbies is genealogy as her family has been in this area for many years.

Jessie McKeon

Jessie McKeon,
Director of Religious Education

Office: (540) 342-8888 | Mobile: (540) 358-1588
Email: jmckeon@uuroanoke.org

Jessie (they/them) began their adventure as UUCR’s Director of Religious Education in 2020. Jessie strongly believes in creative, brace, experiential religious education. Originally from Texas, Jessie holds a BA in Visual and Performing Arts; an MEd in Instructional Design and Technology; and a DDiv with a focus in religious education and social justice. They believe that lifelong learning and spiritual growth can be just as fun as it is deep. Jessie loves living in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with their cat, Endymion.

Bonnie Evans

Bonnie Evans,
Religious Education Coordinator

Office: (540) 342-8888
Email: bevans@uuroanoke.org
Bonnie is available by appointment

Bonnie (she/her) is a Roanoke native, who has been married 51 years to her husband Richard. Their two grown children and granddaughter live out of state. She loves working with children and youth, and she enjoys watching movies, reading, and laughing.

Scott Williamson

Scott Williamson,
Music Director

Office: (540) 342-8888
Email: swilliamson@uuroanoke.org

Scott (any pronoun) is a native of Chesapeake, VA, and has lived in Roanoke since 2010. A former artistic director with Opera Roanoke and Virginia Chorale, he co-created and expanded their respective young artist programs, and extended their collaborative initiatives. Scott’s passions are centered in creativity and art’s power to move the creators, the participants, and entire communities. 

A Fulbright Teaching Scholar in Romania, Scott has been privileged to share music around the world. More than any of the above, Scott loves singing, directing, and creating here at home. He is also Guest Curator in Music at the Taubman Museum, and Associate Director of the Rockbridge Choral Society. Scotty lives in Old Southwest with his partner, Ash and their blended family of cats and dogs. Having first worked with UUCR in 1998, Scotty is thrilled to help lead this vibrant musical community.