The Mission Team
Our dynamic staff work together to implement the vision and direction of the Synod Assembly and the Mission and Ministry Commission. We are located in diverse geographic areas of the Synod, while maintaining an office in East Syracuse, NY.
The Rev. Dr. Sandawna Gaulman Ashley
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley leads the church with skills in denominational executive leadership. For the last 23 years, she has worked serving on all four denomination levels: pastor, associate for gender and racial justice, denominational associate for leadership development, assistant stated clerk, manager for call process support and teaching elder's ministries, as executive presbyter, and presently the Transitional Leader for the Synod of the Northeast. She is a change management specialist skilled in leading organizational change. As faculty for the Presbytery Leader Formation Program, she assists new mid council leaders in serving as middle judicatories. She is a culturally proficient leader skilled in working in cross-cultural ministry settings.A member on key denominational boards, the Presbyterian Mission Agency, ACorp PC(U.S.A.), and the President of the Association of Mid Council Leaders. She holds degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry), Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and Georgia State University (Bachelor of Social Work).
The Rev. Nancy Talbot
Nancy is currently serving as the Synod’s Stated Clerk. After a full secular career managing nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies, she answered a call to ministry. She was ordained as a Teaching Elder while developing a new spirituality program for people of all backgrounds, races, and ethnicities at Bellevue Hospital Center. Previously serving as Interim Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of New York City, she remains a member of this presbytery. Nancy holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Boston University School of Social Work, and Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. She is a board member of The SpiritHouse Project and her passions include travel and music.
Fran Klaiber
Fran is the Manager of Finance. Fran has a degree in Accounting A.A.S. and a degree in Office Administration A.A.S. She handles the books for her husbands landscaping business. She enjoys time with her husband and two grown sons along with gardening.
Stacy Galloway
Stacy is the Synod’s part-time Finance Clerk/ Administrative Support. Stacy is Native American and an enrolled member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. She is a member of the North American Indian Women’s Association and regularly assists with fundraising events.
Rev. Dr. Nichol Burris
Nichol is currently serving as the Synod’s Administrative Coordinator. She is a mission and goal oriented, strategic leader with over 20 yrs of experience in ministry, volunteer management, and training development & facilitation. Before working for the Synod of the NE, she was a Pastoral Counselor for Hartford Healthcare at Home for 14 yrs. In addition to her spiritual and ministerial talents, she is an author and Board-Certified Professional Coach and affectionately known as “The Heart Coach.” Nichol earned her Master’s and Doctor of Theology from International Christian University (VA).