Hunger Program Staff, Committee, and HAAs

Presbyterian Hunger Program Staff

Rebecca Barnes
Coordinator

In January 2017, Rev. Rebecca Barnes became the Coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger Program after serving for 5 years as the Associate for Environmental Ministries (within PHP). Rebecca coordinates and supports the PHP national, international, lifestyle simplicity, and environmental programs that work to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes—in the United States and around the world.

Rebecca is a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary where she earned a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Art in Religion in 2011, with a thesis titled: “A Fuller Experience of God’s Grace: How the Sacraments Invite Us to Relationship with, and Care for, the Earth.” While in seminary, she authored “50 Ways to Help Save the Earth: How You and Your Church Can Help Make a Difference,” which was reprinted for distribution to the Commissioners of the 2016 General Assembly of the PC(USA).

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Andrew Kang Bartlett
Associate for National Hunger Concerns

Prior to coming to the Hunger Program in 2001, Andrew Kang Bartlett worked with non-profit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area on human rights, environmental health, people-centered development and social justice issues. Kang Bartlett also lived in Japan and East Asia for five years, three of those as a Presbyterian missionary doing community organizing and civil rights work with Koreans in Japan.

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Jennifer Evans
Program Assistant for Partner Grants and Communications

Jennifer Evans joined the PHP staff in 2012 and works very closely with the National Office grant process as well as managing educational materials and communication needs for PHP. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and comes from a background of home mortgage financing. She loves to run in her spare time which helps her keep up with her ten year old daughter.

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Jessica Maudlin
Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care

Jessica Maudlin joined the PHP Staff in 2009. In her current work she resources Presbyterians as they address issues of faith, lifestyle choices and sustainability. She also manages the Earth Care Congregation and Hunger Action Advocate networks. She is a graduate of Hanover College where she focused in the study of Liberation Theology as well as international studies. Her background includes volunteer work in Zambia, Mozambique, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Haiti.

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Valéry Nodem
Associate for International Hunger Concerns

Formerly the coordinator of the Joining Hands RELUFA Network and a Cameroonian human rights lawyer, Valéry Nodem joined the PHP staff in 2011. He coordinates both the international development work of PHP and the global advocacy work of the Joining Hands Initiative. Valery is married and has two sons, Imaan  and Koffi.

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Jenny Oldham
Administrative Assistant

Formerly a teacher, Jenny has worked with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Worldwide Ministries, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and now the Hunger Program. She sees the call to feed Christ’s sheep as a call to meet practical needs and to teach the message of God’s love. Jenny offers administrative support and enjoys sharing stories from our grant partners with those who support the work of PHP. A few of her favorite things are her daughter, her yard, and game nights with friends.

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Eileen Schuhmann
Mission Specialist for International Hunger Concerns

Eileen Schuhmann has her BA in International Economics and French from the University of Kentucky and her MA in Sociology from the University of Louisville. She served 3 years in the U.S. Peace Corps in Senegal as a small enterprise development agent.

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PHP Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee members help guide the church’s response to hunger and its underlying causes by serving as advisors to staff. Members review funding applications and make decisions on grants; recommend PHP operating guidelines; promote OGHS and other initiatives to support the work of PHP; encourage others who are engaged in PHP’s work at the mid-governing body level; and suggest the development of programs and strategies for implementing the Common Affirmation on Global Hunger and other General Assembly policies related to hunger and poverty.

Currently serving on the PHP advisory Committee:

• Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo
• Frank Dew
• Eric Dillenbeck
• Rev. Dr. Sunny Kang, co-chair
• abby mohaupt, co-chair
• Alex Peterson
• Rev. Dr. Betty J. Tom

Hunger Action Advocates

Hunger Action Advocates (HAAs) serve presbyteries as educators, motivators, and facilitators of hunger action. They assist congregations and other groups to become engaged with issues of direct hunger relief, hunger-related development assistance, public policy advocacy, education and interpretation about hunger and lifestyle issues, including environmental justice.

HAAs receive a matching grant from PHP. They are accountable to the governing body which calls them. The governing body is expected to provide supervision and to conduct an annual evaluation, which is shared with the PHP Advisory Committee.