The Rev. Dr. Doug Baer is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has been a pastor in churches for 50 years.  He holds a B.S. degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, an M. Div degree and a M.A. degree in Pastoral Psychology from San Francisco Theological Seminary plus a D. Min degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.  Dr. Baer has served as an Adjunct Professor at San Francisco Seminary and at one time was a state-licensed Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor in California.  He is married to Lin Baer, a Presbyterian Elder, and is a parent to three grown up children from a previous marriage.  Between both Doug and Lin, they have six grown children and many grandchildren. They have been married 35 years.

During the 50 years of doing pastoral ministry, Dr. Baer has served large churches, medium-size churches, and small churches throughout the country—California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Arizona.  In seven of those churches, he served as an intentional Interim Minister while the congregations were going through a transitional time in their life cycles between pastors:  Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Presbyterian Church on the Hill, Ocean, New Jersey; McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; Santa Fe Presbyterian Church, Edmond, Oklahoma; Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, Arizona.; Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona; and most recently at John Calvin Presbyterian Church, Apache Junction, Arizona.  He is now serving as a short-term Interim Pastor at the University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, Arizona.

Doug was born in Watsonville, California, in 1936, and grew-up in Pittsburg and San Jose, California.  He attended Abraham Lincoln High School in San Jose before going off to college in Oregon.  He now lives in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife, Lin, and a wonderful miniature dachshund by the name of Maizy.  He continues to be active in the Presbytery of Grand Canyon where he serves on Council and chairs the Budget and Finance Committee.  He has also served as a commissioner to the Synod of the Southwest.

Dianna joined the UPC staff in June of 2002.  As the administrative assistant, her responsibilities include assisting church members, staff and visitors, maintain the church calendar, provide secretarial support to both pastors, committee chairs, committee members and do whatever it takes to see that the church runs smoothly.

Past work experience for Dianna includes working in a non-profit setting, which included working at the Tucson Botanical Gardens for three years.  In addition, Dianna has experience working in a law office, a brokerage firm and the recycling business. 

Dianna has an Associate of Arts degree in legal assistant studies from Pima Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Arts degree in organizational management also from the University of Phoenix.

As a native Phoenician, Dianna grew up in the area and graduated from McClintock High School (MHS).  At the time she attended MHS, the Dobson Ranch area was a working cattle ranch, Mill Avenue stopped at Southern and you  had to use Kyrene Road to get down to Baseline.  Dianna has a grown son, Justin, who currently attends college and works full time.  In her spare time, Dianna, enjoys the company of her two English bulldogs, Rufus and Max, and will gladly tell you all about them given the chance.

Carol grew up in Placentia, California where, as a high school student, she served the Placentia Presbyterian Church as church organist. She has served University Presbyterian Church as Worship Pianist since August of 2006. Carol works with the organist to lead the congregational singing, accompanies the choir and soloists as well as performs other special music.

Mrs. Rickel holds BM and MM Degrees in Piano performance from Arizona State University and the University of Southern California and has completed doctoral studies in piano at Arizona State University.

After receiving her Masters Degree, Carol joined the faculty of Chapman University in Orange California as an instructor in piano. Inbetween her work at Chapman University and her current position at Xavier College Preparatory High School in Phoenix (1995 to present) as Director of Choirs and Chair of the Music Department, Carol had an independent piano studio in her home.

She has served as President of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association and as the North Central Regional Choir Chair for the Arizona Music Educators Association. She performs with the Sonora Desert Chorale. As Director of Choirs at Xavier, Carol’s choirs have sung from coast to coast and won many honors.

Carol has accepted the position of Music Director of the UPC Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir upon the completion of the 2008-09 school year at Xavier College Prep.

It is her hope that retirement from Xavier will allow time for her to return to her hobbies of hiking, gardening and traveling.