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Our Staff
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
Synod Leader
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley is an experienced denominational executive leader with more than 26 years of service across all four councils of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Her ministry is grounded in transformational leadership, justice, and strengthening church vitality in a changing world. She has served in a wide range of leadership roles, including pastor; associate for gender and racial justice; denominational associate for leadership development; assistant stated clerk; executive presbyter; and currently, Leader of the Synod of the Northeast. Her work has strengthened governance, supported organizational change, and equipped mid councils and congregations to address complex adaptive challenges. Rev. Dr. Ashley is a skilled change-management leader and serves as faculty for the Presbytery Leader Formation Program, mentoring and equipping mid-council leaders. She has also served on national denominational boards, including the Presbyterian Mission Agency and the A Corporation of the PC(USA), and previously served as President of the Association of Mid Council Leaders. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Georgia State University.
Rev. TJ DeMarco
Acting Stated Clerk
Frances Klaiber
Manager of Finance
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
Office Administrative Clerk
Stacy is the Synod’s Office Administrative Clerk. 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.
Finance Clerk
Nichol Burris
Administrative Coordinator
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).
Michael Yeoman
Grant Coordinator
