Rev. Justine Sullivan
Lead Minister - joined the staff in 2022
Ordained in 2017 by her home congregation of Northborough, MA, Rev. Justine served our UU faith for several years before entering seminary as a leader in her congregation and a congregational consultant and facilitator across New England and beyond. Prior to ministry, Rev. Justine worked for 20 years as a social worker and psychotherapist and as a technical writer and manager in high technology. Her ministerial record speaks to her passion for transitional ministry: mentoring, leadership development, preaching, pastoral care, and leading congregations through major transitions of growth and service. She served as president of the Clara Barton district board in New England from 2012 to 2015 and president of the District Presidents’ Association from 2014 to 2015. She was recently nominated to run for the UUA Board of Trustees and, if elected, will begin her 3-year term in July of 2022. Rev. Justine believes strongly that times of major transition in the life of a congregation are not just something to get through but offer great possibility for healing, discernment, and transformation. She has served congregations in Massachusetts, Maine, and Virginia as an interim minister. She looks forward to joining us for her 4-year commitment as our developmental minister. Her top goal for First UU is to help our members gain clarity and renewed enthusiasm for our mission. She will also be helping to guide us through the board's developmental goals, including governance and staffing needs, rebuilding trust and engaging conflict in healthy ways, and deciding whether to stay in Hillcrest or find a new location. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
Ordained in 2017 by her home congregation of Northborough, MA, Rev. Justine served our UU faith for several years before entering seminary as a leader in her congregation and a congregational consultant and facilitator across New England and beyond. Prior to ministry, Rev. Justine worked for 20 years as a social worker and psychotherapist and as a technical writer and manager in high technology. Her ministerial record speaks to her passion for transitional ministry: mentoring, leadership development, preaching, pastoral care, and leading congregations through major transitions of growth and service. She served as president of the Clara Barton district board in New England from 2012 to 2015 and president of the District Presidents’ Association from 2014 to 2015. She was recently nominated to run for the UUA Board of Trustees and, if elected, will begin her 3-year term in July of 2022. Rev. Justine believes strongly that times of major transition in the life of a congregation are not just something to get through but offer great possibility for healing, discernment, and transformation. She has served congregations in Massachusetts, Maine, and Virginia as an interim minister. She looks forward to joining us for her 4-year commitment as our developmental minister. Her top goal for First UU is to help our members gain clarity and renewed enthusiasm for our mission. She will also be helping to guide us through the board's developmental goals, including governance and staffing needs, rebuilding trust and engaging conflict in healthy ways, and deciding whether to stay in Hillcrest or find a new location. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
Rev. Kristen Kuriga
Assistant Minister - joined the staff in 2023
Rev. Kristen Kuriga (she/her/hers) is an ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister in Full Fellowship and is delighted to be serving as the Assistant Minister of the First UU Church of San Diego. She previously served for five years as the called Minister of Saltwater UU Church in Des Moines, WA, completed a Chaplain Residency at Sharp Memorial Hospital, and served for 7 years as a UU program staff member. She received a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry, a Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of the Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. Her call to ministry is at the intersection of spiritual practice, social justice and art. Rev. Kristen lives in University Heights with her husband Joshua, son Lucas (5), and cat Joon. She loves to wander in nature, go whale watching, dance, garden, write poetry, go on adventures with Lucas and Josh, read stories, and connect meaningfully with others. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
Rev. Kristen Kuriga (she/her/hers) is an ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister in Full Fellowship and is delighted to be serving as the Assistant Minister of the First UU Church of San Diego. She previously served for five years as the called Minister of Saltwater UU Church in Des Moines, WA, completed a Chaplain Residency at Sharp Memorial Hospital, and served for 7 years as a UU program staff member. She received a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry, a Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of the Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. Her call to ministry is at the intersection of spiritual practice, social justice and art. Rev. Kristen lives in University Heights with her husband Joshua, son Lucas (5), and cat Joon. She loves to wander in nature, go whale watching, dance, garden, write poetry, go on adventures with Lucas and Josh, read stories, and connect meaningfully with others. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
Rev. Julie Forest
Affiliate Community Minister
I began my ministry on Bainbridge Island and have served churches in Washington, Wisconsin and most recently in the Rancho Mirage / Palm Springs area of the Southern California dessert. Ministry is my second career after being an on air radio programmer, DJ, and music director. I have been married to my wife since we got illegally married at First UU San Francisco. In addition, I am a mom of a young adult.
Although I retired at the General Assembly last year in Spokane Washington, I still maintain a private practice of spiritual direction as well as clergy coaching. I also do some community ministry for the LGBT center.
I am grateful to the board and the other ministers at First SD for welcoming me as an affiliate minister. I preach for this congregation occasionally and also do some teaching and some group facilitation. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
I began my ministry on Bainbridge Island and have served churches in Washington, Wisconsin and most recently in the Rancho Mirage / Palm Springs area of the Southern California dessert. Ministry is my second career after being an on air radio programmer, DJ, and music director. I have been married to my wife since we got illegally married at First UU San Francisco. In addition, I am a mom of a young adult.
Although I retired at the General Assembly last year in Spokane Washington, I still maintain a private practice of spiritual direction as well as clergy coaching. I also do some community ministry for the LGBT center.
I am grateful to the board and the other ministers at First SD for welcoming me as an affiliate minister. I preach for this congregation occasionally and also do some teaching and some group facilitation. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
Rev. Dr. Everett Howe (he/him)
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Affiliate Community Minister
My wife Isabella Furth and I joined First UU San Diego in 2005, and we have both served in many roles in the congregation. During my time on the Board of Trustees (2009–2012) I felt an initial call to ministry, and a few years later I enrolled part-time at Starr King School for the Ministry. I graduated in 2019, and was ordained by First UU in May 2020, in what was the second online UU ordination of the pandemic. I have preached in many UU pulpits in southern California, and from July 2020 until August 2022 I was the half-time interim minister at our neighbor congregation, Summit UU Fellowship. I am currently working on projects for the Unitarian Universalist Association and the local chapter of the UU Ministers Association, occasionally preaching, and helping the local UU parish ministers by being available to preside at weddings and celebrations of life. I also sing with the JUUL Tones, and provide a pastoral presence for the group's "singing visits" to people's homes. I continue to be active in research mathematician, my first profession. |
Rev. Katy Kroll Swanson, BCC
Affiliate Community Minister
I am an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and I serve as a Hospital Chaplain at Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego. I was ordained in 2018 by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, the church I grew up attending. I am Board Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
At Rady Children's Hospital, I provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families experiencing significant change and/or loss, and to the staff caring for them. I enjoy getting to know families from many different backgrounds, hearing their stories, and helping them make meaning from and find hope in challenging experiences. I feel especially called to walking with families in moments of crisis. I work with my colleagues to confront racial and economic healthcare inequity.
My husband, Steve, and I are members tof First UU Church and we have a young daughter. I have preached at our South Bay campus, sung in the JUUL Tones choir, and serve as a co-facilitator of the Caregivers & Allies Support Group at First UU.
I love working in healthcare, where I learn something new every day. I co-facilitate a Facebook group for UU Chaplain Colleagues which I worked to establish in 2017. It is an engaged, active group of approximately 80 UU chaplains working in healthcare and other community settings who support each other personally and professionally.
In my free time I enjoy swimming in the ocean or pool with my master's swim team, running, or taking my daughter to one of our local playgrounds. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
I am an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and I serve as a Hospital Chaplain at Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego. I was ordained in 2018 by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, the church I grew up attending. I am Board Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
At Rady Children's Hospital, I provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families experiencing significant change and/or loss, and to the staff caring for them. I enjoy getting to know families from many different backgrounds, hearing their stories, and helping them make meaning from and find hope in challenging experiences. I feel especially called to walking with families in moments of crisis. I work with my colleagues to confront racial and economic healthcare inequity.
My husband, Steve, and I are members tof First UU Church and we have a young daughter. I have preached at our South Bay campus, sung in the JUUL Tones choir, and serve as a co-facilitator of the Caregivers & Allies Support Group at First UU.
I love working in healthcare, where I learn something new every day. I co-facilitate a Facebook group for UU Chaplain Colleagues which I worked to establish in 2017. It is an engaged, active group of approximately 80 UU chaplains working in healthcare and other community settings who support each other personally and professionally.
In my free time I enjoy swimming in the ocean or pool with my master's swim team, running, or taking my daughter to one of our local playgrounds. For contact info, see our Ministers and Staff page.
