Minister, Staff and Board Members
Rev. Victoria Loveland-Coen, Senior Minister
The author of 3 books and a frequent guest on Unity Online Radio, Rev. Victoria Loveland-Coen shares her passion to help others experience their spiritual magnificence, while permanently eliminating self-sabotaging blocks, so they can live their true life’s purpose.
Rev. Victoria has been a student of New Thought/Ancient Wisdom for over 35 years. She was initiated into Transcendental Meditation at the age of 16 and has continued the practice through her life.
She attended the Religious Science Practitioner Program at Agape International Center of Truth under Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, and became a licensed Practitioner in 1997. Then, in 2010 she attended One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City and was ordained as an Interfaith/Interspiritual Minister in July of 2012. After continued study with Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, she was ordained as a Unity Minister in December 2017.
Chris Egle, Vice President
Having studied with shamans and healers in North and Central America, Chris has a very deep connection and appreciation for that which goes unseen in most people’s lives. The natural abundance of the world continuously amazes him. A joyier at heart, Chris seeks to brighten his life as well as any who cross paths with him through listening, insight, humor, and artistic expression.
Chris has leadership experience and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Bowen EHS Online Learning System. Chris has served on the UCP Board of Trustees for many years as both President and Treasurer and offers expertise in organizational management, finance and building and grounds skills.
Marea Kavanagh, Board President
Marea comes to UCP with a wide variety of career and family experiences that center around health, wellness and creating unique and memorable experiences. After receiving her Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Guelph, Ontario in Hotel & Food Management, she spent 10 years opening and operating unique restaurant concepts in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston.
While living in the UK, Marea pursued her passion for Homeopathy and received her Bachelor of Science of Homeopathy in 2015 at the Centre for Homeopathic Education at Middlesex University. She now operates her own practice in Chapel Hill, working with individuals and families locally and nationwide via telehealth, helping to optimize their well being through Homeopathy.
Marea has been a member of UCP since 2015 along with her husband Brad, son Joshua (20) and daughter Olivia (16). They have enjoyed many years of gratifying personal and spiritual growth as part of this community. Marea is active on the Sacred Activism team, the Prosperity team, and the Wisdom Council. She has also served on the Board of Trustees since 2018 and is currently serving as Board President. One of the great joys in her life is the opportunity to serve and contribute to the vibrant growth of our Unity Center Peace community.
Debbie Hall, Administrative Manager
Debbie has been an active UCP member since 2005. Her first volunteer experience was Sound Technician for Sunday Service and has since served as Sunday Greeter, Host, Building and Grounds, and has served on both the Board of Trustees and Leadership Council. Most recently, in 2020, Debbie was hired to be our new Office Manager which has turned into a broader job that includes office management, services and events assistant, building and grounds management, IT and website management, Marketing and PR and Bookkeeping.
In addition to Debbie's wealth of knowledge and experience with UCP, she worked in corporate for 17 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC in many different departments including, Leadership and Organizational Development, Training, and IT. Her corporoate skills make her a great fit for the many tasks she lovingly and consistently handles for UCP. In addition to working for UCP, Debbie has been a dedicated pet sitter since 2007 (now part-time) and currently does part-time caregiving for elders. She lives in Carrboro with her cats, Amber and Precious and jack russel terrior, Gracie, and enjoys nature, hiking, health and nutrition studies, yoga and learning Vedic Astrology.
Kris Whitenack, Music Director
Kris was born in Seattle Washington and lived in Enumclaw Washington until he was 16. Kris was frequently cast as Scrooge, and gave his first “sermon“ at the age of 12 in the Presbyterian Church. At 16 he moved to Edina Minnesota, then at 17 to LaCrossse Wisconsin where he finished high school and his first year of college. He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota and moved to Chapel Hill where he taught music at Carolina Friends School for 15 years. For the last 20 years Kris has been performing as a soloist and ensemble player in the world of popular music.
Kris is our UCP Music Director and continues to teach and perform music in the Southeast region. He hopes to finish writing his first book, and write and record another album next year. He lives in Durham with his wife Cathy and his beloved cats Sultan and Murphy, and regal hound Greta.
Mel Caron, Sunday Assistant
Mel has been with Unity Center of Peace since 2016. Mel received her Director in Spiritual Direction degree from Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institude in 2023. She has a keen awareness to how Spirit works through all aspects of life and shares a calm and accepting nature with everyone she meets. Mel is availabe for spiritual counseling and coaching by emailing her at
Mel serves on the UCP Prayer Team and is our Sunday Assistant. She lives in Durham with her wife Jude and they are devoted dog moms. Mel currently works as an HR Headhunter by profession.
When you are here on Sunday for our Celebration Service be sure to pop into the office to say hi to Mel. She will greet you with a warm smile and kind and nurturing heart.
Shannon Preto, YED (Youth and Family Ministry)
My name is Shannon Preto, and I am the new YFM teacher and director. I’d like to introduce myself, give you a little bit of my background and what I am bringing to this role as the YFM teacher. Currently, I work as a pediatric occupational therapist with Emerge Pediatric Therapy in Carrboro, NC. I’ve been in this job since August 1, 2023 when I moved from San Francisco, California. I lived in the San Francisco Bay area for 21 years, and after a couple of big life ‘transitions’, decided to move out of San Francisco and into the Triangle. I moved here primarily because my best friend lives here, and what better way to begin building a community than with, and ‘through’, someone who’s been here for more than 25 years. It’s taken me about six months to adjust to a different pace of life and type of weather, but I’m enjoying the multitude of opportunities here, e.g. cultural, gustatory, and natural.
Carla Glass, Treasurer
Carla Glass has been on a path of finding that next thing that resonates with her as spiritual truth for about 50 years. During this time, in addition to simply listening to the guidance of her Higher Self, she has read books by, and listened to presentations by, a wide variety of spiritual thinkers and leaders. More closely related to UCP, she attended Unity in Atlanta (long ago) and in Dallas. In Dallas, she later regularly attended the Dallas Center for Spiritual Living (CSL) and, before moving away, took most of the courses to become a spiritual coach and provide what they call Spiritual Mind Treatment, similar to what Unity calls Affirmative Prayer. When she first moved to North Carolina in late 2023, she visited UCP and felt an instant belonging.
Stefanie Pollard, Secretary
Born and raised in Boston, I attended Tulane University in New Orleans, majoring in philosophy. After “philosophising” for a few years I launched a marketing company -- then life brought me a new husband and a move to Houston. Three years and two sons later I decided to start a new career path in real estate. I spent the next thirty years as a realtor with 25 of those as Managing Partner of a boutique agency. During this period I was introduced to the Unity principles and started my spiritual path as I studied and absorbed the knowledge of those around me.
Covid and family illness changed my life completely and the draw of my children and new grandchildren in Chapel Hill was too strong to ignore. I closed down my life in Texas in exchange for a new beginning in Pittsboro. Though this is a relatively recent change, this area is now home and UCP is my heart. It is because of the warmth and welcoming of the people at UCP that I feel I have been here forever. I am active on the We've Got Your Back Team, Sacred Cafe and Women's Circle. I am hoping to bring my diverse background to the Board of UCP and play a small part in the growth of this dynamic community of people as I continue to grow alongside you.
