Mitzi grew up in Morehead City, NC. Her passion for history guided her career in both teaching and ministry. She graduated with a BA in history from UNC-CH (1991) and taught as part of Teach for America. She then spent over a decade as a workplace learning professional, specializing in leadership development. As a graduate of Duke Divinity School (M.Div. 2014), she now breathes life into old, important stories in a different way. Her work has taken her to Houston, Lake Junaluska NC, and the Triangle area.
Mitzi’s lay and ordained ministry has led her to an array of congregations: rural, suburban, urban, and college town churches, as well as a seminary chapel, a “Hiking Church” Fresh Expression, and a UMC Conference Center. These diverse experiences have given her a deep appreciation for the treasured beliefs and practices that connect all United Methodists. She loves to discern and name the Christian missions that function as the unique heartbeat of the church, and then equip and encourage all the various parts of the body to keep those missions healthy and vibrant.
She lives with her Texan husband, Gordon. Their son is a student at UNC Wilmington. Their daughter works for Habitat for Humanity. Mitzi enjoys meeting new people, reading, gardening, and hiking with a goal of one day hiking the Mountains to Sea trail in its entirety.