Pastoral and Program Staff
Available at (734) 662-4466 (Extensions listed below)
Pastoral Emergency: Call (734) 662-4466, extension 390
Reverend Dr. Fairfax F. Fair, Pastor/Head of Staff, Extension 340
Born in Warren, Arkansas, Fairfax was raised a lifelong Presbyterian. Widowed young, she has a son and daughter-in-law and is a grandmother. Fairfax earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. She most recently was the Pastor/Head of Staff at Highland Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Previously she served as Pastor/Head of Staff at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas and as Associate Pastor at churches in Texas and Tennessee. She enjoys dark chocolate, good coffee, and sharing fellowship with wonderful friends. She may be reached at ffair@firstpresbyterian.org.
Reverend Melissa Anne Rogers, Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Congregational Life, Extension 390
Melissa Anne, who rejoined our staff in the summer of 2005, brings both pastoral and clinical training to her work in pastoral care. In addition to her experience in ministry to small congregations in Oregon, Alabama, and Pennsylvania, she brings clinical training as a marital and family therapist, having worked as a family grief and crisis counselor for Hospice of Lansing, and as a therapist at Michigan State's Family and Child Clinic. She earned her Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from Michigan State University in 2002. Melissa Anne previously served First Presbyterian as Interim Campus Minister, and was Associate Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian in Ann Arbor from 1995 to 1998. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Melissa is stepparent to her husband Jim's children, Jeff and Kate, step-grandmother to Samantha, and together they have two boys, Charlie and Luke. She enjoys cross-country skiing, running, reading, hiking, and spending time with her family. She can be reached at mrogers@firstpresbyterian.org.
Tom Granum, Director of Music Ministries, Extension 347
Tom Granum joined First Pres as Director of Music Ministries July 29, 2012. Tom came to us from First Presbyterian Church in Athens, Georgia, where he has been the Director of Music and Organist since 1984. He has degrees from the University of Georgia and teaching certification from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. A Colleague of the American Guild of Organists, Tom completed certification from Choristers Guild, an organization for youth and children's church music directors, in their inaugural three-year program. A major influence on Tom's musical life was his singing under the late Robert Shaw with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus, as well as other chamber ensembles with Mr. Shaw. Tom is married to Doris, and they are the parents of Meg and Mary Winn, both young adults. He can be reached at tgranum@firstpresbyterian.org.
Carol Muehlig, Associate Music Director/Organist, Extension 351
Carol joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor in the summer of 1996. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, she served for 30 years as associate organist/choirmaster and director of handbell choirs at Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. In addition, she has taught organ and piano and directed bell choirs at Concordia College, and is accompanist for the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale. She also is the accompanist and assistant director of the American Chorale of Sacred Music. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, she is a member of one of our city's founding families and has for many years served as organist for the Muehlig Funeral Chapel here. She can be e-mailed at cmuehlig@firstpresbyterian.org.
Deborah MacVey, Director of Children's Education and Family Ministries, Extension 342
Deborah was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but grew up in Freeport, Illinois. She has been a lifelong Presbyterian. Deborah received her bachelors degree from Monmouth College in Illinois, and has done graduate work at Eastern Michigan University. She has been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor since 1980 and joined the staff as Director of Children's Education and Family Ministries in 1991. She and her husband, Wayne, have one son, Matthew. She can be e-mailed at dmacvey@firstpresbyterian.org.
Sandy Talbott, RNC/NP, Parish Nurse, Extension 350
Sandy has been a nurse practitioner for over 30 years and brings an abundant blend of nursing skills, knowledge, and experience to the position. Women’s Health, College Health, clinical studies, private practice and clinical informatics are some of the areas she’s served. As a member of First Presbyterian Church, she has worked in youth and campus ministry programs, traveled to Haiti with our mission team, and served as co-moderator of the deacons. Sandy married childhood friend, Mark Lindley, in 1997, and joined First Pres later that year. The blended family of four (Bryan, Katie, Alexa, and Clare) are now grown and scattered across the nation. She enjoys puzzles, cooking, travel and reading – especially when any include her family. She can be reached at stalbott@firstpresbyterian.org
Reverend Dr. Jim Monnett, Director of Youth Ministry, Extension 376
Jim is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hope College. He received his Master of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and his Doctor of Ministry Degree at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has been a solo pastor in a small church as well as an associate in medium and large congregation. Before joining our staff, he served for four years as interim associate pastor at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, where he led the children, youth and adult Christian Education programs. Jim is married and has one child. His wife, Karin, is a graduate of the UM School of Social Work. He can be reached at jmonnett@firstpresbyterian.org.
Reverend David Prentice-Hyers, Director of Campus Ministries, Extension 341
David, who joined our staff in August 2011, brings expertise and experience as a camp director, counselor, campus minister, young adult and youth minister, and preacher. Born in North Carolina, and raised in the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina in a multigenerational household, he is the son of a Presbyterian minister and a Special Education teacher. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina with a B.A. in Psychology. He received an M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. His work experience includes internships in campus ministry at Troon Old Parish Church in Ayshire, Scotland, and East Tennessee State University. Most recently, he served as the Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Waco, Texas, working with youth, young adults, outreach, and college students. Passionate about the critical intersection of campus and congregation, he looks forward to the challenges and blessings of long-term campus ministry. Dave enjoys good music, bad jokes, cheap movies, and cooking with his wife Mary Elizabeth. Email Dave at dprentice-hyers@firstpresbyterian.org
2011-13 Lilly Ministers in Residence
Reverend Evans Ledbetter McGowan, Resident Minister, Extension 354
Born in Austin, Texas, Evans moved to Wilmington, Delaware for high school where his parents still reside. (Evans' mother is an Associate Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilmington.) He graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina with a B.A. in Political Science before volunteering in Kenya for a year with the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. Evans recently earned a Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. He most recently lived in Oakland for two years while working with 20s and 30s at First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley. Evans and his wife Emily have been married for three years. Evans enjoys the outdoors -- particularly canoeing, mountain biking, and trail running. He hopes to learn some new winter survival skills while in Ann Arbor! He also loves to watch and play sports, including basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. He is an avid fan of movies, the iPad, and writing. He can be reached at emcgowan@firstpresbyterian.org.
Reverend Brennan Pearson, Resident Minister, ext. 353
Born in Baton Rouge, LA, Brennan soon moved to Livonia, Michigan, where he was nurtured as an active member of Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church. Brennan graduated from the University of Michigan - Dearborn in spring of 2008, earning his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Music. Later that fall, Brennan began his studies at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. During his time at seminary, he enjoyed internships in campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, parish ministry, and international missions in Mexico. Brennan graduated with his Master of Divinity in the spring 2011 and has spent the past summer directing the Summer Resident Camp at the Howell Nature Center. He is excited to be back in his home state and cheering on his home teams. Brennan enjoys nature, travel, sports, and all things music. He hopes to bring his love of learning and penchant for joy wherever God's call may lead. Brennan can be reached at bpearson@firstpresbyterian.org.
Reverend Mary Elizabeth Prentice-Hyers, ext. 355
Born in Midland, Texas, Mary Elizabeth Prentice-Hyers, or "Mel," is a cradle Presbyterian. Both sides of her family have deep Presbyterian roots. In fact, her great grandfather was a Presbyterian minister in Adrian, Michigan. Mel spent 18 years in Midland, Texas, where her mother still lives, before she went to Texas A &M University in College Station, Texas. Mel has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She served as a Youth Adult Volunteer through the PC(USA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was in this year of service and living in community that Mel began to discover her call to ministry. After doing grassroots-level peace and reconciliation work, she enrolled at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. During her time there, she had the privilege of traveling to Turkey, Egypt, and Israel/Palestine. These trips reignited her interest in ecumenical dialogue and peace and reconciliation work. Mel and her husband David enjoy spending time with Molly, their golden retriever, traveling, sailing, and doing anything else outdoors. Mel can be reached at mprentice-hyers@firstpresbyterian.org.
