At the UUCF Annual Meeting on June 1, 2025, the congregation will vote on the following candidates to open positions on the Board of Directors and the Leadership and Nominating Committee (LNC). All terms of office will begin on July 1, 2025. Term lengths are included below.
Board of Directors Candidates – to serve 3-year terms
Gillian Backus
Gillian teaches biology and anatomy and physiology as a full-time professor at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Prior to college teaching, she worked for the US EPA as a toxicologist doing human health risk assessments. As a lifelong UU (Manchester NH, Devon, PA, Durham, NC) she has served as music committee chair, usher, Religious Exploration (RE) ambassador, and RE teacher for preschool, kindergarten, and 5th grade. Leadership experience includes serving on the technical education advisory board for Fairfax County Public Schools, being chair and then vice-chair of the 600+ member Full-Time Faculty Teaching Caucus at NOVA. These experiences have taught me to listen closely, to ask questions carefully, and to be kind to all different kinds of constituencies.
Matthew Reider
Around 2008, Matt and his wife, Lily, started coming to UUCF when expecting their first child, while looking for a spiritual home for the family. Their son Stephen (16) has grown up in this community, and the whole family has been involved once Stephen was old enough to get dropped off in the nursery. Both Matt and Lily have been involved as RE teachers and worship associates, and Matt has been a member of the Endowment Committee, chair of the Worship Team, and part-time choir member when Stephen’s sporting schedule allows. He is a proud husband, father, volunteer, coach, and team manager for the various things Lily and Stephen are involved in. After 20+ years of marriage and a driving teen, it’s time to step up at UUCF. Matthew hopes to bring his engineering mindset, leadership skills, dry humor, and experience to the board as we navigate these interesting times.
Paul Riddle
I joined UUCF in 1986, 4 years after meeting my (now) wife, Katherine, who introduced me to UUCF and UUism, and 2 years after we were married at UU Arlington because the “new” UUCF sanctuary was still under construction. Since signing the membership book, I’ve sung in the choir; played handbells; served on search committees for a senior minister, a music and arts director, and a summer minister; taught RE; volunteered at the hypothermia shelter; served on the nominating committee several times; and helped revise the UUCF bylaws, among other activities. We also raised our four daughters in this religious community. They have fond memories of youth choirs, family retreats at Big Meadows, and joining me at the pulpit during a Father’s Day service many years ago. In short, UUCF has been my spiritual home for most of my adult life, and I am honored to have been invited to serve on the Board.
I retired in January 2025 after 47 years in the General Counsel’s Office at the US Department of Education, where I served as a legislative attorney and supervisor for most of my career. I believe that the skills I brought to that work – listening to clients, helping them articulate and achieve their goals, and guiding them through conflicts – will serve me well on the Board.
Raju Tonapi (2-year term to complete a current 1-year Board-appointed term)
Anyone who’s met me knows that I’m more analytical than a ‘feeling’ person. My technical background led me into cybersecurity as a career. As a government contractor, I’ve met many diverse and capable individuals. Additionally, I studied business and have acted as a board member and treasurer at Washington Apple Pi for over a decade. These experiences and my other skills will help me contribute to making UUCF a better place.
We are all skeptics to some degree. What I’m finding is UU tends to unite the skeptics amongst us into a community. While at this UUCF community, I am pleased to have met many wonderful people. I joined or participated in a variety of groups over time: RE, Hypothermia, Covenant Groups aka Soul Circles, Ideas Forum, Soups On!, Auction events, Men’s Group, etc. Since last fall, I have filled a Board of Directors vacancy. Now, I am submitting my candidacy to fulfill a new, full term. Given your backing, I can represent skeptics and others(!) to help continue this congregation’s progress.
On the home front, my wife and I enjoy a variety of interests from musical events, theater, travel, plant-based cooking, foreign cinema (PBS Passport and Cinema Arts!) and keeping fit. Even though we’ve been in the area for ~20 years, we continue to explore the DMV and environs. We still find fun, new places and activities. We look forward to reinforcing existing friendships and build new ones across UUCF.
LNC Candidates – to serve 2-year terms
Alisha Lacey
Alisha has helped facilitate RE classes for the past four years and currently serves on the RE Committee. She spends her days working as a photographer, coaching youth on a local mountain bike team and connecting with nature in the woods or garden. Alisha has lived in the Oakton area for over twenty years with her husband and three children.
Matt Neuman
My wife Adriana and I, along with our sons, Emory and Nathan, live in Vienna. We have been members of UUCF since 2015. I was hesitant when Adriana suggested we start going to UUCF in 2014, as I didn’t see any benefit or reason. What I found was an inclusive community that matches my beliefs in what the world should look like. The Religious Exploration classes also offered a way to help create an ethical framework for Emory and Nathan. Over the years UUCF has become an important part of my life. I have taught RE classes and served as an usher and greeter. One of the best experiences I have had is when Nathan and I attended Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly together. Over the past year I have gotten more involved in leadership areas of UUCF. This year I have been on the Worship Committee and served as a Worship Associate. I am also an appointed member of the Leadership and Nominating Committee, which has given me experience in how we identify and support people who help lead our community at UUCF. I want to continue supporting UUCF as best I can in order to give back to the people and place that mean so much to me.
Rebecca Orban
Rebecca has attended UUCF since 2015, and rang the membership bell in 2023. She teaches RE, co-leads the family hikes, and plays in the Revolution Ringers handbell choir. Rebecca and spouse Brian had been members of UU Arlington in the past, and after the arrival of daughter Jocelyn (now 11) they looked to UUCF for a similar community of friends who share their values. Rebecca is continually grateful for the caring support she finds at UUCF, and is excited to have the opportunity to engage as an LNC member.