Paul A. Arbisi, Ph.D., ABPP, L.P., President
Dr. Arbisi is a board-certified clinical psychologist and professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He has been a staff psychologist at the Minneapolis VA for over 30 years and involved in direct patient care, training of interns and residents, as well as research.
Dr. Arbisi has been a member at Westminster Presbyterian Church for 31 years and has served four six-year terms on Session as an Elder. As a member of Westminster, he has served as stewardship co-chair and chair of the Personnel Committee for Staff and Ministers (PCSM).
In his spare time, Dr. Arbisi enjoys running, biking, and Nordic skiing and spending time with his family.
Dr. Arbisi is a board-certified clinical psychologist and professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He has been a staff psychologist at the Minneapolis VA for over 30 years and involved in direct patient care, training of interns and residents, as well as research.
Dr. Arbisi has been a member at Westminster Presbyterian Church for 31 years and has served four six-year terms on Session as an Elder. As a member of Westminster, he has served as stewardship co-chair and chair of the Personnel Committee for Staff and Ministers (PCSM).
In his spare time, Dr. Arbisi enjoys running, biking, and Nordic skiing and spending time with his family.
Paula Buckner, Treasurer
Paula has professional experience in finance, accounting, and corporate management. She has a background in budgeting, forecasting, analysis, financial reporting, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She has past experience serving on non-profit boards and currently serves as Treasurer of Loring Green West, the 144-condominium building in downtown Minneapolis where she lives.
Paula and her husband, Jan, began attending Westminster Presbyterian Church in 2021.
Paula has professional experience in finance, accounting, and corporate management. She has a background in budgeting, forecasting, analysis, financial reporting, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She has past experience serving on non-profit boards and currently serves as Treasurer of Loring Green West, the 144-condominium building in downtown Minneapolis where she lives.
Paula and her husband, Jan, began attending Westminster Presbyterian Church in 2021.
Dean Bachmeier, Assistant Treasurer
Dean Bachmeier spent his career in banking and finance, retiring as a principal from PCM Companies, a local private equity firm in 2016. He joined the non-profit Partners In Food Solutions as part-time CFO in 2017, transitioning to a Senior Financial Advisor role in 2021.
Dean serves as Treasurer of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis where he and his wife Carol Greenland have been members since 1991. He also serves as Treasurer of the Edina Community Foundation.
Dean has a B.A. in business/accounting from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the Carlson School of Business at the U of M.
Dean Bachmeier spent his career in banking and finance, retiring as a principal from PCM Companies, a local private equity firm in 2016. He joined the non-profit Partners In Food Solutions as part-time CFO in 2017, transitioning to a Senior Financial Advisor role in 2021.
Dean serves as Treasurer of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis where he and his wife Carol Greenland have been members since 1991. He also serves as Treasurer of the Edina Community Foundation.
Dean has a B.A. in business/accounting from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the Carlson School of Business at the U of M.
Jane Confer
Jane is a retired college administrator and currently serves as the Ombudsman at Gustavus Adolphus College. Jane has been a member of Westminster since 1997 and has served one term as Deacon and three terms as a Trustee. Recently, she co-chaired the Stewardship team for three years. Jane has also served on 12 various non-profit boards where her areas of concentration have been strategic planning, governance, and by-law review.
Jane is a retired college administrator and currently serves as the Ombudsman at Gustavus Adolphus College. Jane has been a member of Westminster since 1997 and has served one term as Deacon and three terms as a Trustee. Recently, she co-chaired the Stewardship team for three years. Jane has also served on 12 various non-profit boards where her areas of concentration have been strategic planning, governance, and by-law review.
Sarah Dutton
Sarah is a wellness advocate who has been working across the state of Minnesota educating and informing various organizations about mindful living strategies. She is a health coach, mindfulness instructor, and trauma-informed yoga instructor. She has taught yoga in the mental health units in hospitals, senior living facilities, faith-based organizations, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, Minneapolis Community Education, corporations, and one-to-one with individuals and small groups.
Sarah has worked at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis for seven years, offering workshops, presentations, and classes to the children and adults of the parish. Most recently she has been a part of the planning and implementation of a 10-month mental health calendar of events for their Mental Health Ministry, and has presented to the Saint vincent dePaul participants offering them mindfulness skill building and stress management resources.
Sarah is a wellness advocate who has been working across the state of Minnesota educating and informing various organizations about mindful living strategies. She is a health coach, mindfulness instructor, and trauma-informed yoga instructor. She has taught yoga in the mental health units in hospitals, senior living facilities, faith-based organizations, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, Minneapolis Community Education, corporations, and one-to-one with individuals and small groups.
Sarah has worked at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis for seven years, offering workshops, presentations, and classes to the children and adults of the parish. Most recently she has been a part of the planning and implementation of a 10-month mental health calendar of events for their Mental Health Ministry, and has presented to the Saint vincent dePaul participants offering them mindfulness skill building and stress management resources.
Charlene Myklebust, Psy.D.
Charlene has degrees in regular and special education teaching and is a licensed school administrator, formerly serving as Executive Director of Mental Health and Partnerships for a consortium of Minneapolis area school districts. She holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Adler University in Chicago (Alumni of the Year Award, 2020) and completed her doctoral internship at Hazeldan Center for Youth and Families. Char specialists in the neurobiology and manifestation of traumatic experiences and is a certified Trauma and Resilience Trainer for STARR Commonwealth. She is also a certified ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) trainer. As President of EQ Learn, LLC, and Stone Arch Learning, LLC, she provides continuing education and consultation services to school districts and mental health agencies.
Dr. Myklebust received an "Educator of the Year" award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and was recognized for "Outstanding Contributions" by the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH). She was a contributing author of MindUP, an evidence-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum developed by the Goldie Hawn Foundation and published by Scholastic. Her current special projects involve mental health consultaiton for a State Covid Workforce Recovery Grant and administration of a Minnesota Department of Human Resources School-based Diversion Grant.
Char is also a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and was a participant in the 2023 partnership trip to Cuba.
Charlene has degrees in regular and special education teaching and is a licensed school administrator, formerly serving as Executive Director of Mental Health and Partnerships for a consortium of Minneapolis area school districts. She holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Adler University in Chicago (Alumni of the Year Award, 2020) and completed her doctoral internship at Hazeldan Center for Youth and Families. Char specialists in the neurobiology and manifestation of traumatic experiences and is a certified Trauma and Resilience Trainer for STARR Commonwealth. She is also a certified ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) trainer. As President of EQ Learn, LLC, and Stone Arch Learning, LLC, she provides continuing education and consultation services to school districts and mental health agencies.
Dr. Myklebust received an "Educator of the Year" award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and was recognized for "Outstanding Contributions" by the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH). She was a contributing author of MindUP, an evidence-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum developed by the Goldie Hawn Foundation and published by Scholastic. Her current special projects involve mental health consultaiton for a State Covid Workforce Recovery Grant and administration of a Minnesota Department of Human Resources School-based Diversion Grant.
Char is also a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and was a participant in the 2023 partnership trip to Cuba.
David Shinn
David was born in Taiwan and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 11. He holds a B.A. in
philosophy from Emory University, where he was the founder and leader of the Korean Christian Fellowship and Chinese Student Organization. He earned his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he founded the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Island student group.
David joined the staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in late 2015, and as Associate Pastor for Congregational Care, he works with trained lay leaders to meet the care needs of the entire church family. David is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at McCormick Theological Seminary and served for several years on the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) board. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2022.
David was born in Taiwan and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 11. He holds a B.A. in
philosophy from Emory University, where he was the founder and leader of the Korean Christian Fellowship and Chinese Student Organization. He earned his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he founded the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Island student group.
David joined the staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in late 2015, and as Associate Pastor for Congregational Care, he works with trained lay leaders to meet the care needs of the entire church family. David is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at McCormick Theological Seminary and served for several years on the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) board. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2022.
Nancy Thompson Ulvestad
Nancy is currently working as outreach and engagement manager for the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, and has over thirty five years experience in health care. Before joining the School of Nursing, Nancy worked at the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics. She currently serves on the Westminster Counseling Center Board, the Ecumen Board, and has previously served on the boards of the Children’s Hospitals, Colonial Church in Edina, Stevens Square Foundation, the Downtown Council to End Homelessness, and continues to volunteer in efforts to end homelessness, serve vulnerable populations and end of life initiatives. She is a member of Westminster church, and serves on several committees within the church.
Nancy has a B.S. in Nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College, and an M.A.R.T from United Theological Seminary.
Nancy is currently working as outreach and engagement manager for the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, and has over thirty five years experience in health care. Before joining the School of Nursing, Nancy worked at the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics. She currently serves on the Westminster Counseling Center Board, the Ecumen Board, and has previously served on the boards of the Children’s Hospitals, Colonial Church in Edina, Stevens Square Foundation, the Downtown Council to End Homelessness, and continues to volunteer in efforts to end homelessness, serve vulnerable populations and end of life initiatives. She is a member of Westminster church, and serves on several committees within the church.
Nancy has a B.S. in Nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College, and an M.A.R.T from United Theological Seminary.
Diane Waarvik
Diane is currently the director of congregational care at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Twin Cities. Currently the ministry has developed Mental Health Connect, a community based ministry that helps individuals and families navigate mental health services, including housing and employment. From 2004-2008, she was director of the Wellness Connection, a program that employed community health workers to help refugees and immigrants navigate living in Minneapolis. She is on the board of Total Health Africa, a non - profit providing health and education in Bukoba, Tanzania. She has traveled four times to Tanzania and is leading the efforts to educate community health workers to provide care in the villages around Bukoba.
Diane lives in Minneapolis with her husband. She delights in spending time with her grandsons especially skiing and traveling.
Diane is currently the director of congregational care at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Twin Cities. Currently the ministry has developed Mental Health Connect, a community based ministry that helps individuals and families navigate mental health services, including housing and employment. From 2004-2008, she was director of the Wellness Connection, a program that employed community health workers to help refugees and immigrants navigate living in Minneapolis. She is on the board of Total Health Africa, a non - profit providing health and education in Bukoba, Tanzania. She has traveled four times to Tanzania and is leading the efforts to educate community health workers to provide care in the villages around Bukoba.
Diane lives in Minneapolis with her husband. She delights in spending time with her grandsons especially skiing and traveling.
Elaine Wilson
Elaine is a long-time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and has served as both a Deacon and Elder over the years. In her working life, Elaine has focused on business operations and process improvement for several large companies of the Twin Cities, retiring from Optum in 2020. She lives in southwest Minneapolis with her husband and two cats, and enjoys hiking and delivering meals for Open Arms of Minnesota.
Elaine is a long-time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and has served as both a Deacon and Elder over the years. In her working life, Elaine has focused on business operations and process improvement for several large companies of the Twin Cities, retiring from Optum in 2020. She lives in southwest Minneapolis with her husband and two cats, and enjoys hiking and delivering meals for Open Arms of Minnesota.
Elisabeth Bennett – Board Emeriti
Elisabeth is a retired Physician and Medical Director. She received her MD degree in 1969 at the University of Zuerich, Switzerland and completed her postgraduate education at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the University of Minnesota. She practiced Internal Medicine at the St. Louis Park Medical Center/Park Nicollet Medical Center and became a VP Medical Director for Reliastar/ING in 1995. As a Deacon at Westminster Presbytarian Church, Elisabeth was a lay counselor and chaired the Counseling Committee from 1984-1987. She was instrumental in the foundation of the Westminster Counseling Center in 1987 and served as Vice–Chair of the Counseling Center Board from 1991-1994. She joined the WCC Board of Directors again from 2008-2014 as liaison while serving on Westminster’s Board of Trustees. Other Non-profit Board experiences include terms with the Park Nicollet Medical Foundation and the School of Nursing Foundation at the U of M.
Elisabeth is a retired Physician and Medical Director. She received her MD degree in 1969 at the University of Zuerich, Switzerland and completed her postgraduate education at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the University of Minnesota. She practiced Internal Medicine at the St. Louis Park Medical Center/Park Nicollet Medical Center and became a VP Medical Director for Reliastar/ING in 1995. As a Deacon at Westminster Presbytarian Church, Elisabeth was a lay counselor and chaired the Counseling Committee from 1984-1987. She was instrumental in the foundation of the Westminster Counseling Center in 1987 and served as Vice–Chair of the Counseling Center Board from 1991-1994. She joined the WCC Board of Directors again from 2008-2014 as liaison while serving on Westminster’s Board of Trustees. Other Non-profit Board experiences include terms with the Park Nicollet Medical Foundation and the School of Nursing Foundation at the U of M.
