Rev. Vilius Rudra Dundzila

Consulting Minister

Rev. Dr. Vilius Rudra Dundzila uses his middle name “Rudra” as his given name. He taught as Professor of Humanities and Comparative Literature at Harry S. Truman College (City Colleges of Chicago) for 19 years until early retirement. He has served as the Seniūnas (elder, i.e., minister) of the Kaunas, Lithuania and Chicago congregations of Romuva (Lithuanian Ethnic Religion). He has served a series of Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ congregations in and around greater Chicago.
He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and German with an emphasis on religious-mythological literature, and a D.Min. in spirituality. He has authored various articles on Baltic mythology and religion.
He likes to sail, kayak, bike, camp, lift weights, and walk his and his partner’s Mikie’s dogs. He loves baking whole-grain breads, cooking soups/stews and fermenting mead, esp. during the fall and winter months. Meditation a.k.a. Contemplation is his core spiritual practice.

Jeanne Voltz

Administrator

Jeanne Voltz graduated from Cleary University with a Bachelor Degree in Business with a major in Accounting. She has worked mostly for nonprofit organizations. She worked for United Way, The Salvation Army, LACASA, the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Intermediate School District.strator

Emily Arnold

Spiritual Exploration Coordinator

Emily is the Spiritual Exploration Coordinator (Children’s Program Director) where she is passionate about fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love of lifelong learning.
She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University in 2021 and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi and the National Society of Leadership and Success.
As a mom and teacher — including two years of Montessori experience — she brings a thoughtful, child-centered approach to spiritual exploration. Emily believes that spiritual exploration is an opportunity to learn, grow, and try new things in a welcoming and supportive community. Emily loves to tell stories, especially ones with lifelong lessons to learn. Outside of CUUB, she enjoys reading, being creative in the kitchen with her son Andrew, and spending time on the water and in nature with her son and their dog Missy.

Yoshiko Barrera

Pianist

Yoshiko began playing the piano at the age of four and continued her musical studies through the age of 21, training at Yamaha Music School as well as in private lessons with Yukiko Uno. She is currently continuing her studies with pianist Yuta Sugano.

​In addition to her performance work, Yoshiko has an extensive background in education. She served as a homeroom teacher for ten years at a Japanese preschool in Livonia. She currently teaches music at a Montessori Japanese preschool and also provides music instruction for first and second grade students at the Detroit Japanese School.

Yoshiko is also an active piano instructor, currently teaching 46 students in her private studio.

She enjoys sharing the joy of music with students of all ages and creating meaningful musical experiences for her community.