Emma Barnum, Congregational Administrator

Hi, I’m Emma (she/her)!

I joined the UUS staff in the fall of 2012, back in the old building in downtown Iowa City. My role here has changed a lot as UUS has grown and evolved! As Congregational Administrator, my major responsibilities include office management and congregational support, finance and accounting, communications, human resources, and overseeing facilities usage, maintenance, and management. I supervise the Communications Coordinator, Facilities Coordinator,

and volunteer Rental Coordinator. I also oversee the AV Team, and am the staff liaison for the various administrative, historical, income, and facilities/grounds teams. I came to the UUS staff team with a degree in Cinema and Comparative Literature and a JD in law (both from the UofI!), and have experience in nonprofit and business management, mediation, and bookkeeping.

I live on the Northside of Iowa City with my husband Sam, our two children, Dean and Henry, and two cats, Ace and Pumpkin. I love reading, binging TV, and playing board games and am an amatuer baker, gardener, hiker, and crafter. Fun fact: Sam and I (mostly Sam these days) own and operate a local, small-batch coffee roasting company out of our garage (Brass Ring Coffee) that is served and sold throughout Iowa City!

My working hours:

• Sunday-Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm (I am not always in the office or available for walk-in meetings, please make an appointment)
• Evening or weekend availability by scheduled appointment