Staff
Grace Year is collectively served by a team of staff members. We are proud to say that Grace Year's staff team has always been a partnership of both clergy and lay people who offer a wide range of perspectives and skills.
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Alison Quin is the Director of Grace Year as well as the Director of Spiritual Formation for Grace Church. Alison was ordained as an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Washington, D.C. in 2001. After serving several parishes there, she accepted a call to serve as rector of Christ the King in Stone Ridge, New York-- across the river from Millbrook in Ulster County. She retired from there in November 2019 after 12 years and moved to Rhinebeck, along with her husband of 37 years, Tim Sharpe. Prior to her life as a parish priest, she was a legal aid lawyer and represented poor people in civil cases such as domestic violence, landlord-tenant and consumer law. She also taught law as an adjunct professor at George Washington Law School, among others. Alison completed a two year program called the Clergy Leadership Project offered by Trinity Wall Street in 2012, as well as a yearlong spiritual director training program at Linwood Spiritual Center in Rhinebeck in 2018.
Alison can be reached at revalisonquin@gmail.com |
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Nick Augustine is the Assistant Director of Grace Year. After graduating from the program in August 2020, he was invited to serve in this new role. Originally from Oyster Bay on Long Island, Nick graduated from Hunter College in New York with a degree in journalism and political science. After stints at ABC 7 NY, a public relations in New York, and a marine education non-profit based on Long Island, Nick joined Grace Year as a member of its second cohort. While in Grace Year he served at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies on the communications team. He is excited to help Grace Year grow into a bigger program, and extend its reach to colleges accross the U.S.
Nick can be reached at fellowship@graceyear.org |
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The Rev. Dr. Matthew Calkins is the current Rector of Grace Church. He holds degrees from Middlebury College (B.A.), Union Theological Seminary (M.Div. and Hartford Seminary (D.Min.). Fr Matt was called as a priest to Grace in September 2014, but his involvement with Grace began when he built a house in Lagrangeville, south of Millbrook (Matt was a carpenter and general contractor at the time), and began attending Grace with his wife Mary and infant son Elias back in 1990. Matt became involved in various ministries of Grace under the guidance of then Rector Ken Swanson and with his blessing and the support of the parish he pursued a call to ordained ministry, graduating from Union Theological Seminary in 1998. After serving in parishes in Connecticut for 16 years Matt has returned to Grace. Building on the strong cornerstones of spiritual formation and social justice established by his predecessors, and the continuing legacy of strong lay leadership and mutual care in the parish, Matt hopes that his work will help grow Grace spiritually, numerically and in regional mission impact.
Matt can be reached at calkins@gracemillbrook.org |
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Kirsten Laursen Muth is the Education and Leadership Advisor for Grace Year. Kirsten brings over thirty years of experience in international development and programming, including the prevention of violence against women and girls, strengthening faith-based initiatives, poverty reduction, economic empowerment, asset-based community development, and public health. As a trainer specializing in adult education, behavioral and organizational change, and gender equity, Kirsten has created or supported the development of curriculum and learning methodologies around the world. Kirsten's previous positions include Senior Director of International Programs at Episcopal Relief & Development, Deputy Director of Programs at Church World Service, and Director of Community Education and Training at Helen Keller International. Kirsten earned a Master's in Education and Social Anthropology from Teachers College at Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Kirsten loves crazy ideas and the people that think of them.
Kirsten can be reached at kirstenlaursenmuth@gmail.com. |
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Abby Nathanson is the founder of Grace Year, Director of Program Development at Grace Church, and develops partnership ministries at Christ Church in Rye, New York. She is also the founder and director for Engaging People in Change (EPIC), a bilingual, youth-directed leadership program for rural and immigrant teens. Abby graduated with a degree in Sociology and Africana Studies from Vassar College, earned a certificate in Justice Ministry Education from Auburn Theological Seminary in Manhattan, and is a yoga teacher and lifelong student of the Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga traditions. No one thought that Abby would end up both working in the church and loving it, and so she now delights in shifting people's perspectives about non-Christians in church ministry. Abby's work is guided by her favorite aphorisms: "Advocate For Yourself" and "Casual Not Sloppy."
Abby can be reached at abby@gracemillbrook.org |
