Staff
LeeAnne Beres
Executive Director
LeeAnne joined the Earth Ministry staff in 2005, and with the addition of WAIPL in 2008, now serves as the Executive Director of Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light. LeeAnne has over 20 years experience in the Seattle environmental community. Prior to coming to Earth Ministry/WAIPL, she served as the Associate Director for Save Our Wild Salmon, Outreach Director of the NW Energy Coalition, and in organizing positions with the Marine Fish Conservation Network, Greenpeace and various campaigns. She also survived two years working as a fisheries biologist on commercial fishing boats in the Bering Sea. Past board service includes the Washington Environmental Council (VP for Membership), the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited, and the NW Energy Coalition.
LeeAnne is active in her church, Fauntleroy United Church of Christ, where she has served on the Church Council, Outreach Ministry Board, and Green Committee. LeeAnne has a Master’s degree in Marine Fisheries Management from the University of Washington, a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Whitman College, and a Certificate in Management Skills from UW.
Email: leeanne at earthministry.org
Jessie Dye
Program & Outreach Director
Jessie started at Earth Ministry in March, 2007, and now also serves as the lead program staff for Washington Interfaith Power & Light. Jessie comes to us with a law degree and a long career as a mediator and manager, including 20 years with the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. Prior experience includes work with the Seattle Human Rights Department, Washington Arbitration and Mediation Services, and Catholic Community Services. Jessie has a long-standing passion for environmental protection and social justice, and has volunteered for a variety of organizations including EarthCorps and the Washington State Catholic Conference.
She is the mother of two children, home-stay mother of several young adult internationals working locally in environmental restoration, and provides a foster home for golden retrievers through Seattle Pure Bred Dog Rescue. Her home church is St. Mary's Parish in central Seattle.
Email: jessie at earthministry.org
Chris Olson
Operations Manager
Chris grew up in northwestern Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After college, he moved to Seattle in 2008 to work as the Outreach Coordinator for Earth Ministry/WAIPL as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. He has since spent time working to restore Seattle’s forested park land with the Washington Conservation Corps and as a cheesemonger for Beecher’s Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market. Chris recently returned to EM/WAIPL as our part-time Operations Manager, while also serving as the Camp Erin Coordinator for Providence Hospice of Seattle, a weekend-long camp for children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one. When not volunteering around Seattle or checking out the many amazing happy hours in town, he has a great time getting his hands dirty in his new p-patch plot and has copious amounts of spinach and beets to prove it!
Email: chris at earthministry.org
Earth Letter Editorial Staff
Jim Mulligan
Editor Emeritus of Earth Letter
Jim was a co-founder (with his wife, Ruth Mulligan, and Rev. Carla [Berkedal] Pryne) of Earth Ministry in 1992 and served as Executive Director until 2003. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, and for twenty-three years was a pastoral counselor, supervisor, and teacher at the Presbyterian Counseling Service in Seattle. He has a B.S. in Biology from Hampden-Sydney College and a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, which he earned in 1967. Jim continues his work with Earth Ministry as Editor Emeritus of Earth Letter, our award-winning quarterly journal. When not at work, Jim enjoys hiking, canoeing, bird watching, cooking, music, reading, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Email: jmulligan at earthministry.org
Deanna Matzen
Editor of Earth Letter
Deanna served on the Earth Ministry board from 2005-2006 and on the Earth Ministry staff as Operations Manager from 2007-2010. In April of 2011, she was welcomed back as the Editor of Earth Letter. Deanna has a B.S. in oceanography and a M.S. in environmental engineering, both from the University of Washington, and over ten years of experience in the environmental field spanning non-profit, technical science, field work, writing, database development, teaching, and research.
Deanna and her husband Bill live in North Seattle. She is a member of Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church where she is involved in a variety of ministries including helping lead worship and healing prayer. In Deanna’s spare time, she tends her vegetable garden, crochets, sews, makes music, takes photographs, and goes on long prayer walks.
Email: deanna at earthministry.org
Clare Brauer-Rieke
Assistant Editor of Earth Letter
Clare originally joined the staff of Earth Ministry/WAIPL in 2009 as part of a year-long placement with Lutheran Volunteer Corps, and continued on as Operations Manager until 2012. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and Religion from Pacific Lutheran University, where she authored her senior thesis on interdenominational dialogue and ecological theology.
Clare will graduate in 2013 from Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling. She is currently interning as a therapist with the Lutheran Counseling Network in Everett and Seattle. Clare is also a candidate for diaconal ministry with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and active member of Ballard First Lutheran Church in Seattle. She is pleased to remain involved with Earth Ministry as assistant editor of Earth Letter.
