Director of Christian Education

Risë Straight Hanifan is the Director of Christian Education. Risë graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1998, from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, and she received a Master of Arts in Christian Education with a specialization in youth ministry in 2007 from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She has previously served as a campus minister with students at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio at Summit on 16th – A United Methodist Congregation. From there she served as Director of Youth Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Clarksburg, WV. Risë came to Chapel Hill in November of 2009, although she has been in this congregation since birth. She is married to Shawn Hanifan, and they have one son Callan and 2 dogs, Tonks and Finn. Risë also serves as the Executive Director for Buckhannon Community Theatre and as the President for the Upshur Convention and Visitors Bureau.