Our Staff

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Rev. Brigitta Vieyra, MDiv

Rev. Brigitta joined Northlake in August of 2024. Brigitta has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology from Westminster College and received a MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University in 2013. She graduated with Masters in Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in May 2023. She has served as a lay leader at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lafayette, Colorado, completed a chaplaincy internship at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission hospital and was a faith-organizing intern for Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). She was the ministerial intern for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix. She then continued work there as a spiritual wellness chaplain. Learn more about Rev. Brigitta.

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Margaret Rogers – Director of Lifespan Religious Education

Margaret Rogers is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, originally from Arlington, Virginia. She has attended Northlake UU Church since September 2012 with her two children. Margaret has a Master in Teaching degree from the University of Washington. She taught middle school mathematics, and she has extensive experience working with children of all ages.

Margaret’s vision for Northlake’s Children’s Religious Education program is to create a space where children and youth feel comfortable, safe, and valued, and where they can develop the relationships that will support them as they grow in their personal and spiritual identity. Margaret also coordinates educational opportunities for adults.

Email Margaret.

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Kathryn Smith Derksen – Music Director

Kathryn is a musician and director who’s worked with a range of choirs, most recently a community choir in South Africa, where her family lived as peace workers.
She is a member of nearby Evergreen Mennonite Church who loves good music and embraces non-violence as a way of life. She specializes in early music and international music.

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Stephanie Chia – Northlake Church Administrator

Stephanie Chia grew up in Montana where she earned Bachelor’s Degree in Human Communication Theory. She has lived on both coasts, farmed, run her own business, coordinated engineers, managed offices and has lived on Whidbey Island with her husband and two children for the last 16 years.
Email Stephanie.

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Bug Bee – Onsite Coordinator

They have lived in Seattle for over 7 years now and they really enjoy the landscape. Outside of church involvement, Bug loves to paint and play board games with friends.

Email Bug at  [email protected]

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Maria Khavin – Pianist

Maria joined Northlake in 2010. It is her foremost and ultimate goal that the entire congregation feels enriched, uplifted and inspired by the music she performs or accompanies!

Maria grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, in a musical family, and started piano lessons at the age of 6. She studied with several wonderful teachers and subsequently graduated from State Music College in 1992, just before moving to the United States. In the Seattle area, she is an active member of the music community and has been in demand as a music teacher, recitalist and collaborative pianist. She has performed with NOISE for kids, Mahler Festival, Sacred Music Foundation, Ladies Musical Club, Public Opera, KING 98.1, Lyric Opera NW, among many other professional organizations. Maria holds a Master of Music degree from University of Washington, where she studied with Professor Craig Sheppard, and is a certified music teacher in the state of Washington.