TVUUC’s New Director of Finance and Operations: Gillian Denham Jones

We have a new DFO!

Please welcome Ms. Gillian Denham Jones. Her name may be familiar to those of us who frequented the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in the past, where sheserved as Youth Programs Director and Assistant Chef from 2003-2010. More recently, Gillian was the Operations Director for the Knoxville Montessori School. She has over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, and operational management including financial oversight, managing budgets, and sustainability. Ms. Denham Jones has a master’s degree from National University in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Nonprofit Management.

Gillian wrote in her letter to the search committee, “… I bring a deep commitment to values-based governance and community-centered stewardship—ready to support TVUUC’s mission of spiritual growth, social justice, and inclusive community. [I am] familiar with the Unitarian Universalist tradition and its transformative impact on communities. I bring a deep appreciation for faith-based social justice work and its role in fostering equity, compassion, and collective liberation. [And], I am adept at working with boards and leadership teams to translate vision into actionable strategies, while fostering accountability and ethical decision-making.”

The search committee, Ryan McBee, Kathy Greenberg, Nick Potter, and Terry Uselton, received 27 applications for this position. After completing interviews, they unanimously nominated Ms. Denham Jones for an interview by the Management Team (Chris Buice, Catherine Loya, and David Asbury). In accord with our bylaws, Senior Minister, Chris Buice, made the final decision that was then submitted to a vote by the Board. The Personnel Co-Chair, Ryan McBee, negotiated a Letter of Agreement with Ms. Denham Jones as well as completed a formal background check.

Ms. Denham Jones will begin a part-time transition process this week. That allows her to complete some prior work commitments.

We invite you to join us on Sunday, October 5 as we introduce Gillian Denham Jones to the congregation during the service. She will begin full-time employment at TVUUC on October 8.