The Rev. Kyle Otterbein has served as St. Andrew's associate pastor since 1999. He has a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Virginia and is a proud graduate of the University of Washington. When he is not cheering on the Huskies or the Seattle Mariners, he loves gathering with St. Andrew's small group ministries and finding new ways to tell the story of the gospel. He is also a Gottman Institute 7 Principles Program Educator.

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Matt Moore has served as St. Andrew's interim director of Student Ministries since August 2022. He grew up in Iowa City and was called into student ministry after college. He has worked previously as a student pastor in Wisconsin and Colorado, He enjoys good food, the outdoors, fishing, board games, and basketball. Matt received his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Northern Iowa. He lives in Iowa City with his wife Marissa (pictured here) and their dog, Arya. 

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Thomas Hartley heard God's call, to serve the congregation that he has called home since attending the University of Iowa. Growing up in Fort Dodge, Thomas came to university and found his calling in education, as well as a passion for children's ministry. He has served St. Andrew as a Sunday School teacher, SPARK leader, and elder. Thomas teaches Kindergarten in the Highland Community School District and coaches baseball at Iowa City West. In his free time he and his puppy Cooper do everything together!

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In August 2022, Nichole Hoffman joined the team of interim directors for St. Andrew's Children's and Family Ministries. As a social worker and military spouse, she’s had the chance to wear many hats in healthcare including: long-term care coordinator, hospice social worker, Alzheimer’s/dementia Unit Director and as hospital social worker/discharge planner. In addition to serving in health care, Nichole has worked as a para professional working with children in schools both in Sacramento and in Iowa City. She’s excited to be part of this interim trio by carrying on its traditions and perhaps creating a few new ones, too.  

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In August 2022, Sara Penn was fortunate to have been asked to serve on the Interim Children and Family Ministry Directors Team, alongside Thomas and Nichole. At Saint Andrew, she has also served as an elder since August of 2021, been a Sunday School teacher in the “Lambs” classroom, and been a part of a few handbell groups. She lives in Iowa City with her husband and two children. She enjoys watching movies, writing, painting, learning more ASL, bicycling, and, most of all, spending time at home with her family.  

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Austen Wilson has been director of Music Ministries since August 2022, where he directs the Logos Adult Choir, Children's Choirs, and works with Student musicians. In addition, he collaborates with the Organist/Accompanist, Assistant Director of Instrumental Ministries, and Assistant Director of Handbell Ministries. Previously, Austen served churches in Colorado, New Jersey, Florida. He received a B.A. in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Austen is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, Handbell Musicians of America, and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Apart from church, Austen enjoys walking in various parks in Iowa City, exploring coffee shops and breweries, reading, listening to podcasts and books on Audible, and writing blog posts twice a month for Choralnet, a professional choral website.

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Yu-Hsiang Abby Chen is an award-winning organist and a passionate accompanist who regularly can be heard ministering through the historic Krapf Organ for St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. Currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa, under the direction of Dr. Gregory Hand, Abby also serves as a teaching assistant, offering organ lessons to non-majors and undergraduate secondary students.

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This is Laura Kastens' second stint as a staff member, the first time around serving as assistant director of vocal ministries (2002-2012). Laura received a BS in music education from the University of Illinois and has spent more than 30 years directing children's, youth, and adult vocal and handbell church choirs. Recently retired from the University of Iowa Departments of American Studies and Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies, she directs three handbell ensembles at St. Andrew (Resound!, Matins, and Campana), plays handbells with the RiverBend Bronze auditioned ensemble out of the Quad Cities, clarinet in the New Horizons Band, has taken up pickleball and bridge. Add in ushering at Hancher, Englert, and CCPA and she understands why people say they're busier in retirement than they were when employed! She has 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren. 

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Pat Penn has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky. Her primary focus was flute, with a secondary on piano. She taught public school music, including band and vocal for 25 years. After retirement she taught handbells and band at Sioux Falls Christian school. She has been a member of the Charleston, West Virginia, symphony orchestra; Sioux Falls Municipal Band; Dakota Wind Ensemble; and currently plays in the the Iowa City Flute Choir.

Wes Habley has been a member of St. Andrew since 1987 and has been an active participant in the Logos Choir and several instrumental groups since about 1995. After 28 years in public affairs at ACT, Wes’ retirement gig has been music. He plays in 5 bands and serves as a pit musician or music director for productions at Iowa City Community Theatre and the City Circle Acting Company. 

After more than two decades working as a journalist in the Eastern Iowa area, Jeff Charis-Carlson signed on as Communications Consultant for St. Andrew in November 2019 and officially joined the staff in June 2021. He and his wife Christina, a local physician, have three children who often can be found creating either art or music.

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After retiring in 2017 as a senior vice president of Hills Bank and Trust, John Benson found a new ministry as St. Andrew's finance administrator. Both he and his wife, Patti, are active in St. Andrew's choir and have three children.

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Tim Patrick joined the church staff in August 2023. He is a St. Andrew member, husband to Katherine, and father to James and Grace. Most recently he has worked in information technology and will bring many attributes to the coordinator position, including his problem-solving engineer skill set, his handiness, and his confident and welcoming nature. 

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Amy Schmidt-Rundell is a lifelong member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She joined the church staff in early 2023.

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