Rob Hardies (he/him) has served as Lead Minister of First Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts, since August 2022. Rob is an experienced preacher, teacher, counselor and activist. From 2001 to 2020, he was Senior Minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian, in Washington, D.C., a large, dynamic multiracial congregation. During his ministry at All Souls, Rob helped found and lead award-winning justice organizations that advocated for marriage equality and for voting rights. Before entering the ministry Rob worked for Habitat for Humanity and served as a human rights worker with indigenous communities in Guatemala.

In addition to his ministry at First Parish, Rob leads walking pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago and to other destinations. He also facilitates workshops designed to foster personal spiritual resilience in the face of climate change. Rob divides his time between Cambridge and Washington, D.C., where he lives with his husband and 13-year-old son.

Sophia Doescher

Assistant Minister

Sophia Doescher (she/they) serves as Assistant Minister, where she loves accompanying people through life’s joys, struggles, and questions. She is also a part-time hospital chaplain at Boston Medical Center–Brighton, where she specializes in mental health chaplaincy. They received their Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and anticipates ordination in Spring 2025. Sophia is drawn to ministry that helps people feel a deep sense of belonging, connection, and hope. They delight in building community, creating spaces for honest reflection, and walking with others on their spiritual journeys.

When she’s not working, Sophia can often be found hiking a new trail, playing with her two cats, or going to live music with her spouse.

Valentin Frank

Ministerial Intern

Valentin Frank is thrilled to join First Parish in Cambridge as Ministerial Intern for two years, starting in fall 2025. Originally coming to the U.S. from Germany and currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, Valentin is passionate about building community through connection, the transformative power of music, and learning from a rich, plural history of faith traditions.

Religious Exploration Staff

Jennifer Goodman

Director of Ministries for Children and Families

Jen Goodman, M.Ed., is happy to serve First Parish Cambridge and loves connecting with the children and families. She grew up in the Unitarian Church and enjoys connecting with the warmhearted people at First Parish. She is an experienced educator and UU religious exploration teacher who enjoys working with children and youth, developing compelling programming and finding tangible ways to experience core values-based themes. Believing that children are philosophically curious and innately connected to their sense of spirituality, her approach is to engage children through questions, stories, art, natural rhythms, sharing, and games, with a strong sense of fun and community.

She has an Experienced Educators Master’s degree and is a certified Waldorf Collaborative Counselor, Social Inclusion Counselor, and Simplicity Parenting Coach. In addition to her work at First Parish Cambridge, she teaches Soul Styles classes on inner development and psychological stretching and strengthening, and she is a family counselor and parent coach. She loves being in nature and enjoying gardens, cooking with herbs and veggies fresh from the garden, spending time with her grown daughter, meditating and chanting, studying spiritual philosophy, hanging out with her friends, and spoiling her cats.

Lindsay Donnelly-Bullington

Youth Coordinator

Lindsay Donnelly-Bullington (she/her) is excited to join First Parish in Cambridge as the Youth Coordinator serving Middle School and High School young people! Lindsay is a lifelong UU from Memphis, Tenn., and in formation to become an ordained minister. She moved to Boston in 2021 to start seminary at Boston University School of Theology which she finished in May 2025 and just wrapped up a ministry internship with First Church in Boston. Lindsay has facilitated UU faith formation with folks from kindergarten to adults including middle/high school OWL, has worked with other values-based curricula with incarcerated teens, and has offered service-learning and reflection with college students. As a spiritual director and minister in formation, Lindsay is excited to build authentic and meaningful connections with and between youth and families at FPC through games, activities, discussions, worship, and community engagement. She's always looking for book recommendations and always has pictures of her cats to share!

Sam Camilli

Nursery Teacher

Sam is eager to join the First Parish Cambridge family! He is looking forward to the chance to try out some fun arts and crafts with the kiddos and have some awesome story times. A fun fact about him is that he has a black belt in Taekwondo. In fact, his first experience working with children was as a martial arts instructor in which he led classes and summer camp sessions.

Lisa McManus

Preschool/Kindergarten Teacher

Lisa McManus has taught for many years in different schools across the USA. Teaching arts and crafts in the Waldorf school in New Jersey was one of her favorite experiences, and at the same time, she also taught Sunday School at the UU church of Plainfield. In her role as preschool teacher at First Parish in Cambridge, she welcomes children (and their parents) into a warm, caring environment, with her signature smile and calm presence. She continues to strive to have the children experience a sense of wonder about life through stories, crafts and activities. She wants them to feel part of all humanity and that the Earth is a beautiful home and a wonderful place to live. She has enjoyed the last two years here with our 1- to 5-year-old group and their parents and looks forward to this coming year!

Nora Dybdal

Elementary Teacher

Nora Dybdal is a mom of two, currently living in Arlington. She grew up in Oregon going to the UU church with her mother and has fond memories of her time there. She is delighted to be a part of the fellowship here in Cambridge and to offer thoughtful and engaging activities for the children. Nora has a background in early childhood education, art, music, yoga, anthropology, natural sciences, and massage. She integrates all these life experiences to offer classes that are focused on cultivating community, awareness of the natural world and other cultures, and encouraging students to practice kindness and self-compassion. Her warm presence and thoughtful lessons are felt by all in her class.

Music Staff

Kenneth Griffith

Director of Music

Kenneth Griffith is the Music Director of First Parish in Cambridge, where he conducts the FPC Choir, oversees the music staff, and leads congregational singing. A versatile conductor, vocalist, pianist, arranger, and educator, Kenneth’s artistry spans early choral works to musical theatre, opera to pop, and folk traditions to orchestral music. He is deeply committed to the power of music as a force for community and social change. Through dynamic programming and a gift for uniting singers across differences, he has built an active career on stage, in schools, and within communities throughout New England, sharing songs and stories of underrepresented peoples.

His work has brought him to some of the world’s most renowned stages, having assisted in preparing ensembles for performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the American Repertory Theater, and the Verbier Music Festival in Switzerland. Recently, Kenneth prepared the chorus and ensemble for Anthony Davis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. This recording was later nominated for a GRAMMY Award in 2023.

In addition to his leadership at First Parish, Kenneth serves as Music Director of the Boston Children’s Chorus, where he curates the organization’s artistic programming and conducts its flagship ensemble, Premier Choir. Under his direction, BCC has toured across the US and Canada, and has performed at Boston’s most celebrated venues, including Symphony Hall, TD Garden, Calderwood Hall, and most recently, the Hatch Shell for the Boston Pops’ July 4th Fireworks Spectacular.

Kenneth is also on the Artist Faculty in Choral Conducting at the Osher School of Music at the University of Southern Maine. He is a frequent adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor for regional and state choral festivals. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Capital University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Bard College.

Linda Brown-San Martin

Gospel Choir Director

Linda Brown-San Martin has served in Music Ministry for more than five decades. Currently, she is the Music Coordinator at Unity Church in North Easton and directs gospel choirs at both First Parish Cambridge and Wellesley College, her alma mater.

Linda was a Mystic Chorale soloist with founder (and her mentor) Nick Page and directed three Mystic Gospel concerts with 200+ voices. She has led groups at multiple churches as well as gospel choirs at local colleges including Lesley, Regis, Gordon and Bentley. Linda toured Armenia as Director of “Good News!” and is the founder of Eastern Mass. Gospel Choir, a community ensemble with members of all ages.

Joseph Reid

Jazz Trio Director

Pianist Joe Reid enjoys a busy music career, playing 150+ gigs a year throughout New England. He can usually be heard performing jazz—from solo piano to big band—but also has worked with various classical, klezmer and R&B ensembles. Joe has worked as an accompanist for the Boston Conservatory, the Longy School of Music, and the New School of Music. He has also worked as a pianist for dance troupes (the Mark Morris Dance Company and the BU Dance program) and various theatre groups (New England Light Opera, Mass Theatrica, the Revels, Stoneham Theatre and others).

Joe has been a full-time pianist since 2000 but worked previously as a corporate attorney for several years. Joe has worked at First Parish since 2022.

Office and Administrative Staff

Carol Lewis

Director of Administration and Operations

Carol Lewis joined First Parish in Cambridge as Office Administrator in 2008, was promoted to Congregational Administrator in 2011, and since 2022 has served as Director of Administration and Operations and a member of the Executive Team. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day operations of First Parish, including supervision of administrative and operations staff, financial planning and oversight, budgeting, building rentals, and most HR activities. She also works closely with community partners and building tenants to support the shared life of the congregation and the wider community.

Carol brings broad experience in nonprofit settings to her work at First Parish. After several years in the banking industry, she left the corporate world to follow her calling to church work. She is grateful to be able to live her values through her vocation and has a particular passion for addressing homelessness and food insecurity. In recognition of her service, Carol was honored with the 2025 Harvard Square Business Association Public Service Award.

Mary Anne Carlson

Administrative Assistant

Mary Anne has been working in an administrative capacity for First Parish since 2017. Her outside interests include art, Italian language, and culture.

Kevin Newell

Food Service Ministries Coordinator

Kevin recently joined First Parish as our Food Service Ministries Coordinator. He previously served in our Tuesday Meals program from 2020 to 2022 and our Wednesday Meals program from 2024 to present. Kevin now coordinates Tuesday and Wednesday Meals and oversees the restocking of the Community Fridge.

Originally from the Whaling City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Kevin moved to Cambridge to attend Harvard Divinity School in 2017. He graduated in 2020, and began working at First Church Cambridge and First Church Shelter, where he continues to work in addition to First Parish in Cambridge.

His influences and inspirations are a motley crew of religious figures, philosophers, artists and loved ones. His day-to-day work and thought, including his approach to ministry and spirituality, is guided by the figures and voices of Simone Weil, Cornel West, A. N. Whitehead, and many others.

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