Our Staff

Ref. Bridget Laflin, Minister

Rev. Bridget Laflin brings to ministry a passion for creating welcoming, multigenerational communities where people can deepen their connections to one another, explore life’s big questions, and put their values into action.

Rev. Bridget earned her Master of Divinity from Seattle University and has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Washington, Texas, and Iowa in religious education, pastoral care, and ministry. Her ministry has also included work with incarcerated Unitarian Universalists at Newton Correctional Facility in Iowa, an experience that continues to shape her understanding of belonging, justice, and the transformative power of community.

Before entering ministry, Bridget worked in aviation insurance and spent more than twenty years teaching and performing improvisational theater (an unexpectedly useful preparation for ministry!) She brings curiosity, humor, creativity, and a collaborative spirit to her work.

Outside of church, Bridget enjoys swimming, creating mosaic art with LEGO bricks, Star Trek, and spending time with her family and their three cats. She is delighted to be making a home in Cincinnati and getting to know both First Unitarian and the wider community.

Rev. Mary Tarbell-Green, Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care

Rev. Mary Tarbell-Green is an ordained interfaith minister and a retired adult and pediatric hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator, most recently at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She currently serves as a celebrant at Spring Grove Funeral Homes and Arlington Memorial Gardens. Mary says, “I truly cherish my role as funeral Celebrant, as I have the privilege of working with families to help co-create a personal and meaningful service."

Mary loves First Unitarian Church because it has been warm, welcoming, and supportive. In her role as Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care, she has navigated challenges, celebrated weddings, and welcomed babies! Mary feels privileged to meet with congregants to help, support, and reassure. She also feels fortunate to have found a spiritual home at First Unitarian Church and she enjoys helping others to share her sense of belonging.

Barry Green and Mary together have three married adult sons and three super grandchildren. Additionally, they have three furballs: Scooby, a 10-year-old rescue dog, and two beautiful Siamese cats, Tai and Chi. They live on the river "with amazing views, boats, barges, and magnificent sunrises!”

Rev. Sharon K. Dittmar, Minister Emerita

Rev. Sharon Dittmar graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1997 and served 18 years as the settled minister at First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati (1998 to 2016). Since 2016, she has worked as a congregational life field consultant with the MidAmerica Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association, where she specializes in stewardship, staff supervision, lay leadership development, conflict transformation, and program size congregational needs. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, and in her free time she enjoys gardening, reading, writing, cooking, time spent with family and friends, and traveling.

Sarah Marsh, Operations Manager

Sarah Marsh has previous experience with finance and human resources. Her numerous responsibilities include managing building maintenance and rentals, payroll and employee benefits, and the Breeze calendar. In addition, Sarah oversees paying bills, depositing donations and other income, supervising custodial and lawn care services, and also kitchen set-up for Sunday mornings and other events. A northern Ohio native, Sarah now lives in the West Chester area with her husband and their two children. Her hobbies include tending her indoor plants, exploring SW Ohio with her family and snuggling her dogs.

Jera Cox, Director of Music

Jera Cox has served as music director and keyboardist for First Unitarian Church since 2010. Prior to serving this church, she was the music director at Hartzell United Methodist Church for 32 years, where she directed the handbell and singing choirs and provided keyboard music for all services. Jera earned a B.A. in piano performance and a master’s degree in secondary education from Xavier University. She is currently the band director for Reading Community City Schools, and is responsible for resurrecting the band program after several years of elimination.

Jera provides keyboard music for services, directs the First Unitarian Singers and Ringers, plays with the House Band, and arranges music when necessary. She is grateful for the myriad of talent in the church and feels privileged to have the support of the congregation.

Jennifer Hurrell, Administrative Assistant

Jennifer Hurrell produces our monthly newsletter, as well as our weekly Sunday service materials, including the Order of Service and the Youtube livestream. She is also responsible for updating our website. Jennifer grew up across the river in Ft. Thomas, KY, and now lives in Cincinnati with her family. She holds an AA in Commercial Art and a BFA in Theatre from NKU. Jennifer’s past lives include art direction, serving as the Resources Coordinator for Film Cincinnati, and working as a local print model and commercial and stage actress, but her favorite role to date has been raising her son and daughter. When not at work, Jennifer enjoys theatre, traveling, hiking with her family and two dogs, and advocating for PANDAS, a little-known neuroimmune disorder that has greatly impacted her family.

Dr. Amy Bottomley, Acting Director of Children's Religious Education

Dr. Amy Bottomley is an advocate for high quality, skills based, social justice oriented education for K-12 students. She specializes in designing curriculum and materials that enhance critical thinking by applying knowledge, skills, and understandings to real world problems.

Most recently, Amy was the Director of Education at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She has also taught teacher preparation courses at the University of Cincinnati, served as Reading Department Chair at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, and taught social studies and reading courses at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio.

Amy earned an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati, a M.Ed. in Reading Education K-12 from Bowling Green State University, and a B.S. in Secondary Education: Integrated Social Studies from Bowling Green State University. She is also certified in bilingual education by George Washington University.

Amy's favorite pastime is traveling with her husband and two children. She loves good books, game nights, and dogs (she has three). Amy has been a member of First Unitarian Church since 2016.

Ms. Destiny, Infant & Toddler Teacher

Destiny brings over a decade of childcare experience to the Infant and Toddler room! Before joining our community, she spent years spreading magic as a princess entertainer for children’s birthday parties and Make-A-Wish events. Today, she brings that same sense of wonder, warmth, and care to our youngest members. Destiny loves being deeply involved in community spaces and is a proud mom to her daughter. At home, she has two pets; a Boston Terrier named Drogo Darko and a cat named Maverick. In her free time, you can find her painting, playing video games, exploring, or watching classic Godzilla movies!

Ms. Lizzy, Pre-K/Kindergarten Teacher

Elisabeth/Lizzy is an enthusiastic autism educator originally from the beaches of Pensacola, Florida, now turned Cincy Girl. She now lives with her partner, two dogs, three cats, six snakes (and counting), three geckos, two spiders, and their four-foot lizard. Lizzy has volunteered in nonprofit animal rescue for many years and continues to be an activist for both human and animal rights. As well as working with animals and children, Lizzy loves gardening, hosting weekly game nights for friends, reading/collecting books, and spending time outside. “I am beyond excited to be here and I look forward to all the wonderful things to come as a part of this community!”

Ms. Mykayla, Grades 1-3 Teacher

Mykayla enjoys working with kids and has been since about 2020. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and master’s degree in early childhood education. She is currently a 4th/5th grade teacher, and tutors students from K-3rd grade. Mykayla's classroom philosophy is as follows: It’s important to create an environment where students feel safe, heard, cared for, and included. Mykayla likes teaching at First Unitarian because it allows her to continue working with kids, and teaches them important life principles that will make them better human beings. When she's not at work, Mykayla likes to watch movies, go to museums, and walk trails.

Ms. Beth, Grades 4–6 Teacher

Beth joined the staff of First Unitarian Church in 2025 as the 4th-6th grade classroom teacher. She is a recent transplant to Ohio and lives with her partner, Joe, and her high-school daughter. She also has an adult son who is away at college in Missouri, and who doesn’t visit often enough. Beth has an embarrassing houseplant addiction, enjoys photographing her cats (she may have recently been told she “needs a hobby”) and as a cheese lover, is considering getting way too into fondue during her forties.