JAN K.

NIELSEN
MINISTRY
The Universalist Church of West Hartford, CT, Senior Minister,
2002-present. Lead preacher, head of staff, supervisor and mentor
for associate and intern ministers.
First Parish in Concord, MA, Summer Minister, 2001, featured
preacher of the summer. Full-time Intern Minister, September 2000June 2001.
Childrens Hospital, Boston, MA, Chaplain, 2000.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, On-call Chaplain,
1999-2002.
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Cambridge, MA, Legal
Advocacy Project Intern, 1998.
Other Worship Leadership and Preaching, Installation of the
Rev. Sarah K. Person, First Unitarian Universalist Society,
Middleboro, MA; Ordination of the Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner, First
Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, OH; Retirement of the Rev. Rhett
D. Baird, High Street Unitarian Universalist Church, Macon, GA;
Neighborhood Unitarian Church, Pasadena, CA; Unitarian Society of
New Haven, CT; Massachusetts Bay District of Unitarian
Universalist Churches Leadership Resources Council spring
workshop; Winchester Unitarian Society, Winchester, MA;
Westminster Unitarian Church, East Greenwich, RI; Unitarian
Universalist Church of Reading, MA; First Parish in Concord, MA;
First Parish in Dorchester, MA; Unitarian Congregation of Mendon
and Uxbridge, MA; First Universalist Church of Assinippi, MA;
Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford, MA; First Religious
Society, Carlisle, MA; Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater
Lynn, MA; All Souls Church, New London, CT; Massachusetts
General Hospital; and Harvard Divinity School.

EDUCATION
Degrees
Harvard Divinity School, Master of Divinity, 2002.
University of Arkansas School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1984; Deans
List, Arkansas Law Review.
Henderson State University, Bachelor of Arts, 1981; Top graduate,
Deans List, Intercollegiate Debate, Student Government.
Certificates
The Spiritual Life Center, West Hartford, CT, Certificate in
Supervision of Spiritual Directors and Certificate in Spiritual
Direction, 2014.
Amherst Writers & Artists, Advanced Certificate in Writing Group
Leadership and Certificate in Writing Group Leadership, 2011.

VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

The Spiritual Life Center, West Hartford, CT, volunteer spiritual
director, 2012-present.
West Hartford Interfaith Clergy Association, 2002-present.

Patriots Trail Girl Scout Council, 2000-2002.

Winchester Unitarian Society, 1997-2001; served on the Religious
Education Committee, with emphasis on revising the curriculum and
making it accessible to diverse learning styles; taught religious
education classes; served on the Intern Committee for the
Transylvanian Intern, 1998; Delegate to General Assembly, 1998,
2000.
Zonta Club of Fort Smith, 1985-present; part of an international
business and professional womens service organization,
implemented a career mentoring program for adolescent girls.
President, (1989-1991).

Leadership Fort Smith, Class of 1991, selected to participate in a

nine-month community leadership development program.
Fort Smith Fights AIDS, served on the board of directors, 19891991.
Sparks Regional Medical Center, Fort Smith, AR, served on the
Board of Advisory Trustees, 1991.
Westark Community College (now University of Arkansas at
Fort Smith), Fort Smith, AR, served on the Professional Womens
Advisory Board; instructor of paralegal studies, 1989.
Business and Professional Womens Club, Van Buren, AR,
winner of the Arkansas Young Careerist Award, a statewide public
speaking and group facilitation competition, 1992.
Lions Club, Van Buren, AR, active in fundraising for community
services, 1989-1991.
LEGAL AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Attorney, Private Practice of Law, concentrated in bankruptcy,
civil rights and family matters, trained as a mediator in family and
business disputes, 1984-1997.
Trustee, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern and Western
Districts of Arkansas, took testimony from debtors and creditors
and rendered decision about individual cases, collected and liquidated
assets, invested and administered estate funds, managed over 1000
estates, 1991-1996.
Pro bono attorney, provided free legal representation to clients in
bankruptcy, civil rights and family cases, 1984-1996.
Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly, 1984-1996.
Founder and Manager, The Mothers Helper, a home business;
counseled new mothers concerning breastfeeding and newborn care;
made available difficult-to-find breastfeeding aids and newborn care
products; 1993-1997.
River Valley Savings Bank, Ozark, AR, served on the Board of
Directors, 1992-1997.
Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, served on the Board of
Directors, 1991-1993.

REFERENCES
Hon. Ben T. Barry, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Fayetteville, AR,
479-582-9810.
Rev. Gail R. Geisenhainer, Senior Minister, First Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI, 734-665-7895.
Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich, Senior Minister, Unitarian Church of All
Souls, New York, NY, 212-535-5530.
Rev. Dr. Jim Nelson, Senior Minister, Neighborhood Unitarian
Universalist Church, Pasadena, CA, 626-818-1184.
Dr. Juanita D. Sandford, Retired Professor of Sociology, Henderson
State University, Arkadelphia, AR, 870-246-6503.
Rev. Gary E. Smith, Senior Minister Emeritus, First Parish in
Concord, MA, 978-369-9525.