Our Team
With over 30 combined years of experience in congregational, campus, and consulting ministries, The Vinery team is committed to seeing the intersection of Church and University life thrive.
Rimes McElveen
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Executive Director
Rimes McElveen, Executive Director of Mere Christianity Forum, loves creating contexts for people to discover the love and leadership of God’s grace in their lives - primarily through rich conversations and authentic communities. Before directing MCF Rimes attended Furman, Duke Divinity School and Candler School of Theology, and worked for the YMCA, Bell South, churches from four different denominations, and a United Methodist mission agency. Rimes met his wife at Duke, Kathryn, who is the ED of the Center For Courage and Renewal. Together they love supporting one another’s working for the Common Good in the world while raising their four kids and taking National Park adventures every chance they get.
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Maggie Proshek
Program Director
Rev. Maggie Proshek lives in Texas with her husband, Will, and their son. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Developmental and Family Studies. She then attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and received her Master of Divinity in 2017. Maggie is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Her call has always been deeply rooted in walking alongside others as they grow in their faith and helping them discover who they are as God’s beloved. In her free time, Maggie always enjoys running around with her son, watching a good show with her husband, or decorating cookies.
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Cate Tedford
Operations Coordinator
Cate Tedford joined The Vinery team in June 2023. She graduated from Clemson University in the Spring of 2023 with degrees in Spanish and Philosophy. After working in food access, advocacy, and nonprofit development in Greenville, SC for a year and a half, Cate is now pursuing a Master of Divinity at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. She is passionate about people, justice, and common flourishing. When she's not working or studying, you can find Cate reading in a coffee shop, running outdoors, taking a yoga class, or trying a new dessert recipe.
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Our Contractors
Our diverse team of contractors brings a wealth of expertise, ranging from chaplaincy and human-centered design to art, design, denominational leadership, and entrepreneurship, enriching our cohort gatherings and annual in-person events.
Rev. Judy Howard Peterson
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Pastor-in-Residence
Rev. Judy Howard Peterson has been a treasured part of The Vinery’s story from the very beginning, bringing wisdom, grace, and a pastoral heart to our community. She has served as pastor to two congregations, as a university chaplain, and as an international speaker. Judy is also the founder of Haecceitas, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to helping people embrace the truth that every person is a once-in-eternity, irreplaceable act of God.
One of the most formative seasons of her life came when she spent a year walking across the United States, learning what it means to walk with God and with the people placed in her path. Judy continues to live into that calling, inviting others to discover God’s presence along the way.​
Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells
Facilitator
Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells is a visionary leader at the crossroads of faith, education, and social justice. He has served as a valuable asset and partner to The Vinery's mission and vision through his leadership and wisdom at our annual gatherings and virtual learning sessions. He currently serves as Executive Director of NECU, representing 27 ELCA colleges and universities, and as a UN Fellow with the United Nations Human Rights Council. He previously served as Program Director for ELCA Campus Ministry, where he guided a network of more than 240 inclusive campus ministries across the country.
A graduate of Morehouse College and the Interdenominational Theological Center, Lamont has also pursued advanced studies at Harvard Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Emory University. With certifications in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University, he brings both scholarship and lived wisdom to his work. Through dynamic preaching and transformative leadership, Lamont inspires communities to embody justice and hope.
Allison Yandell Ruiz
Facilitator
Allison Yandell Ruiz is the founder of Hatch Collab, a creative partner for mission-driven leaders and organizations. Through interactive workshops, tools, and hands-on design support, Hatch helps teams bring their ideas to life in ways that align with their values and goals. With 15 years of experience in product and program design, Allison has collaborated with nonprofits, churches, ministries, Fortune 500 companies, and entrepreneurs to build work that matters. She has specifically worked with The Vinery and our cohorts on areas of purposeful design and storytelling.
At the heart of Allison’s approach is a passion for human-centered design and a belief that creativity can unlock flourishing at the intersection of faith, vocation, and community. She lives in St. Louis with her husband, Albert, and enjoys serving and traveling across the U.S. as she helps others imagine and create purposeful futures.
Dea Jenkins
Artist-in-Residence
Dea Jenkins is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist whose work spans visual art, performance, and film and has served as The Vinery's Artist-in-Residence since 2024. Originally from Houston, Texas, she has exhibited both nationally and internationally and is currently developing several multimedia projects. A recipient of fellowships and artist grants, Dea integrates her creative practice with a deep love for research, holding dual master’s degrees in Theology and the Arts from Fuller Seminary. Beyond her individual practice, Dea is the founder and director of Inbreak, a community of artists working at the intersections of art, faith, and social healing. She is passionate about creating spaces where others can explore their own creativity and connect it with their journeys of faith and flourishing. Check her current project, Ethos of Care, here.