
STAFF AND BOARD
Who are the leaders of PYWA?
PYWA is currently led by a volunteer Board of Directors that consists of youth workers and pastors from across the country. The Board of Directors provides leadership to fulfill PYWA’s mission to connect, uphold, and inspire youth workers. If you’ve got questions for Board Members or just want to pick our brains, you can email us at [email protected] Or you can contact Rev. John Leedy or Shannon Guse, one of two board co-moderators if you’d like to speak with one of us directly and she will be happy to help you!
Current Board of Directors

Dr. Christy Williams
Organizational Administrator
Dr. Williams is a long tenured, highly respected youth worker and brings a wealth of experience with PYWA and youth ministry within the PC(USA). She is a graduate of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, and Columbia Theological Seminary. Dr. Williams has spent her career serving as a Director of Christian Education and as an Adjunct Staff person for the Montreat Youth Conferences. She currently serves as the Director of Dogwood Acres Camp and Retreat Center for the Presbytery of Florida.

John Leedy
Board Member and Co-Moderator
John Leedy is the Associate Pastor for Christian Formation at University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas and is a lifelong Presbyterian. John holds a B.A. in Youth & Family Ministry from Abilene Christian University, an MDiv. From Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and is a currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree. He lives in Austin with his wife and pastoral colleague, Krystal, along with their daughter Lorelai (yes, as in Gilmore Girls). John has a passion for exploring the connections between youth ministry and the liturgy, and enjoys playing the bagpipes and going on Christian pilgrim journeys around the world.

Rev. Pepa Paniagua
Board Member and Co-Moderator
Rev. Pepa Paniagua is a cradle Presbyterian, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves the ocean and mountains, she is a SF Giants Fan, and roots for the 49ers, even when they make it hard. She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wa- the town so nice, they named it twice!

Kiersten Hill
Board Member and Secretary of the Board
Kiersten Hill is the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado. She is originally from San Diego, CA. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is currently pursuing an mDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about authentic community and loves helping people discover life in the Spirit. She enjoys long walks and deep conversations, biking, skiing, and occasionally trying new baking projects. She is married to Josh, an almost-Colorado-native who works as a civil engineer in Denver.

Andrew Esqueda
Board Member
Andrew Esqueda is the Associate Pastor for Family Ministries at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. He is originally from San Diego, CA. He attended Whitworth University, and graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has a keen interest in the integration of theology and ministry and exploring what it looks like to do church in a post-Christian world. He enjoys coaching wrestling, playing music, eating good food, and considers himself a connoisseur of coffee and other fine beverages. He is married to Megan and they have a 6 year old son named Isaiah and an 8 month old son named Desmond.

Robert Hay
Board Member
In 1997, Robert retired from his position as the Associate Executive for Nurture from the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley; a position Robert held for 20 years. He and his wife moved to Peachtree City, GA, to be closer to family, particularly their grandchildren. Shortly after moving, Robert spent a year serving as Interim Campus Minister at First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, AL. He followed that with serving as their Interim Youth Director until March 2019. He keeps busy while also enjoying retired life, but he knows God’s not through with him yet and he is open to wherever God leads him, whether for pay or volunteer work.

Maggie Johnson
Board Member
Maggie is a Master’s of Divinity student at Columbia Theological Seminary and a seminary intern at Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas and a graduate of the University of Tulsa (OK), she has been raised in Church spaces and loves to encounter God through communities and connections. When not studying or spending time with the congregation of Shallowford, she is usually reading books from her Goodreads list, practicing yoga as an act of radical self-care, or sitting in the sun at her favorite coffee shop.

Jacob Kennedy
Board Member

Emily Powers
Board Member

Eileen VanGieson
Board Member
Eileen is the Associate Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church La Costa in Carlsbad California. She is a Colorado native and California local. Eileen attended the University of Southern California and earned a Master’s of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. She has been involved in Youth Ministry since 2003 in various capacities and continues to love working with Middle School and High School students. Whenever possible Eileen will jump on a plane to discover beauty and joy around the world seeing God in all places and people. Her goal of visiting every continent is nearly complete. At home she loves cooking, taking Henri (the coolest dog on the planet) for walks and fetching sessions, and watching sunsets with her best friend and husband Richard.

Tully Fletcher
Treasurer
Tully Fletcher is the Associate Pastor for Youth and Families in Rockdale County, serving three separate congregations about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. He likes to organize things via spreadsheet, invent games for youth to play, and the challenge of making boring things interesting (particularly with PYWA). His unique ministry model is embracing the adage “sharing is caring” by bringing together resources, staff and volunteers from three churches to do one ministry.