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 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, 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 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, 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.
Ruth Deckenbach
Ruth is the Coordinator of Ministries: Access/Disability, Mental Health, Prisoners or Patients at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. She has a JD and MSW from the University of St. Thomas. She is a licensed social worker with a passion for social justice and uplifting others. She was drawn to the Basilica because of the similar values and community work that Ruth is passionate about. When not at The Basilica, Ruth works as a therapist at Ellie Mental Health. Outside of her work, she enjoys watching and playing soccer, as well as pretending she is a professional chef.
Ruth is the Coordinator of Ministries: Access/Disability, Mental Health, Prisoners or Patients at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. She has a JD and MSW from the University of St. Thomas. She is a licensed social worker with a passion for social justice and uplifting others. She was drawn to the Basilica because of the similar values and community work that Ruth is passionate about. When not at The Basilica, Ruth works as a therapist at Ellie Mental Health. Outside of her work, she enjoys watching and playing soccer, as well as pretending she is a professional chef.
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 has over forty-five years’ experience in health care. Before joining the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Nancy worked at the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics.
Nancy has degree in Nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College, and a master’s degree in religion and theology from United Theological Seminary. She has served on the Westminster Counseling Center Board since 2010, serves on the Ecumen Board, and has previously served on the boards of the Children’s Hospitals, the Colonial Church in Edina, the 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 over forty-five years’ experience in health care. Before joining the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Nancy worked at the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics.
Nancy has degree in Nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College, and a master’s degree in religion and theology from United Theological Seminary. She has served on the Westminster Counseling Center Board since 2010, serves on the Ecumen Board, and has previously served on the boards of the Children’s Hospitals, the Colonial Church in Edina, the 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.
Pat Stankovich
Pat is a licensed psychologist currently in private practice in Edina, MN. She began her career serving as a human resources manager for three organizations. After 20 years, Pat embarked on an educational journey to become a psychologist, at which point her work ceased to be a “job” and became a life passion.
From 2007-2019 Pat served as Director of Psychological Services at the University of St. Thomas’s Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services - a multidisciplinary clinic providing law, psychology, and social work services to underserved populations in the Twin Cities. There she trained and supervised practicum students, doctoral interns, and post-doctoral fellows.
Pat has been a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 11 years. In addition to currently serving as a Deacon, Pat participates in a variety of ministry teams and church committees.
Pat is a licensed psychologist currently in private practice in Edina, MN. She began her career serving as a human resources manager for three organizations. After 20 years, Pat embarked on an educational journey to become a psychologist, at which point her work ceased to be a “job” and became a life passion.
From 2007-2019 Pat served as Director of Psychological Services at the University of St. Thomas’s Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services - a multidisciplinary clinic providing law, psychology, and social work services to underserved populations in the Twin Cities. There she trained and supervised practicum students, doctoral interns, and post-doctoral fellows.
Pat has been a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 11 years. In addition to currently serving as a Deacon, Pat participates in a variety of ministry teams and church committees.
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.
Westminster Counseling Center
1200 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone - (612) 332-7743
1200 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone - (612) 332-7743
An affiliate of Westminster Presbyterian Church