Unitarian Universalist Association
Mary Kroener-Ekstrand has a diverse work experience in the field of education. Mary has served as the Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls since August 2016. Additionally, they have worked as a Substitute Teacher at Portland Public Schools since December 2021, providing positive learning experiences for K-12 students in the absence of their regular teachers.
Prior to their current roles, Mary was the Director of Religious Education at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City from September 2009 to May 2015. Mary also worked as the Teacher Services Manager at youTHink, Zimmer Children's Museum, where they designed and implemented teacher professional development activities and presented youth programs on social issues and civic action through art.
Mary has a strong background in academia as well. Mary served as the Secondary Social Studies Program Coordinator in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater from August 2000 to June 2002. Before that, they were a Teaching Assistant in the same department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where they designed and taught social studies methods courses and supervised student teaching seminars and placements. Mary began their teaching career as a Teacher at Palo Alto Unified School District from June 1993 to June 1996.
Mary Kroener-Ekstrand has an extensive education history. Mary started their academic journey in 1987 at Stanford University, where they pursued an AB degree in History and Public Policy (Education). Mary continued their education at Stanford University and obtained an AM degree in History in 1992. Later, in 1992-1993, Mary attended Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, CA, and earned a 6-12 CA Teaching Credential with a focus on Social Studies and a Supplementary Authorization in English. Finally, Mary Kroener-Ekstrand pursued a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1996 to 2001.
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Unitarian Universalist Association
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a religious organization that combines two traditions: the Universalists, who organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, who organized in 1825. They consolidated into the UUA in 1961. Both groups trace their roots in North America to the early Massachusetts settlers and to the founders of the Republic. Overseas, their heritages reach back centuries to pioneers in England, Poland, and Transylvania. Each of the 1,000+ congregations in the United States, Canada, and overseas are democratic in polity and operation; they govern themselves. They unite in the Association to provide services that individual congregations cannot provide for themselves. Each congregation is associated with one of the UUA’s 19 districts. Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion with Jewish-Christian roots. It has no creed. It affirms the worth of human beings, advocates freedom of belief and the search for advancing truth, and tries to provide a warm, open, supportive community for people who believe that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion.