PASTOR

Pastor Susan Graceson began serving at Rockville Presbyterian Church in June of 2022. She has served a number of other churches in the area as pastor, associate pastor, worship coordinator, and educator. Her life in ministry has included leading mission trips, advocating for social justice, facilitating workshops on healthy boundaries, nurturing congregations in transition, and supporting addiction recovery programs. She has served in a variety of capacities for National Capital Presbytery, and currently serves on the Congregation Transition Commission and the Examinations Committee. She loves God and she loves church! Susan spent her early years in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Her father was a coal miner who moved the family to Northern Virginia when Susan was 13 so that he could work in mining health and safety with the federal government. Susan earned her Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary. Before attending seminary, she worked for 15 years as a magazine writer and editor for the National Endowment for the Humanities. In her free time she enjoys travel, arts and crafts, walks with her dog Stevie Nicks (Jack Russell/Corgi mix), and frequent visits with her two young adult sons and their friends.

MINISTER OF MUSIC

Huai-En received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in 2012, and his experience includes extended stints as a Church Musician, Church Musical Director, Professor of Music and Principal Trombonist. With more than 300 solo and ensemble concert performances during and after his studies were completed, Huai-En’s talents range from chamber recitals to jazz band and combo, while teaching master classes along the way. He has taught music at the pre-school, elementary and secondary school levels, and in various community adult settings. He was the Director of Children’s Ministry at Chesterbrook Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Falls Church, Virginia for nine years, and then coordinated their Music Ministry until moving to our area with his wife, Dr. Shu-Ting Yao. Huai-En maintains close ties to the Taiwanese community and recently served as the volunteer Chapter President of the Taiwanese Association of America Greater Washington. He is currently the Music Director of the Taiwanese Cultural Center of Greater Washington, in Derwood, where he organizes concerts and cultural events.

OFFICE MANAGER

Diane grew up in California where she was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister in Northern California, who subsequently earned a Ph.D. and pursued a career as a professor. Diane majored in Sociology at Cal State-Long Beach where she was the President of the Korean-American Students Association. She then earned a Law Degree at the University of San Diego in California. After moving with her own family to Boston, she was in private practice specializing in property management, and then finished her career as a lawyer with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, directing diversity and disability initiatives for the Department of Children and Families. Retirement two years ago brought Diane to the Fallsgrove neighborhood of Rockville, to be closer to her family and especially, her grandchildren. She’s an avid dog walker of her Corgi, Wendell. The opportunity to serve at Rockville Presbyterian Church affords her the chance to combine a good collaboration with our team and congregation, and still enjoy her family and personal time.

TREASURER

Yolanda joined Rockville Presbyterian staff in 2022 and brings a rare combination of skills as a seasoned accounting professional for multiple clients, along with decades of experience in ministry -- initially in the Worship, Music, and Arts areas and most recently, as an ordained Baptist Minister! Yolanda’s experience in church financial management has been pivotal in transitioning Rockville Presbyterian’s systems and operating procedures to facilitate reporting and oversight.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Patti Sorini is a long time member of this church and the Rockville, Maryland community. She believes that building and enhancing connections with our community through mission, worship and outreach enriches all. She is blessed with a loving husband, four grown children, excellent friends, an elderly cat, one temporary grand cat, and a (mostly) blooming garden.