Hi everyone! My name is Olivia Starks-Ulrich, and I’m the new Communications Director at Glenn.
I’m no stranger to the UMC - my father has been a pastor in the Holston Conference for nearly 50 years! I grew up being the only kid who went to youth group without missing a Sunday, and I attended every choir tour in my tenure as one of the very few altos in our church youth choir. I am in fact so Methodist that I served on Holston’s Conference Youth Council, an organization where youth are elected to plan events and make changes across the conference, for four years.
For college, I moved to Nashville where I double-majored in Faith & Social Justice and Communication Studies at Belmont University. While at Belmont, my studies primarily examined the injustices in the prison industrial complex through a theological lens. I explored my call to ministry, but I didn't know what that would look like yet.
In 2021, I moved to Atlanta to explore my vocational calling at Candler School of Theology. Throughout my time at Candler, I worked at The Carter Center, Metro Regional Youth Detention Center, Candler’s Office of Communications, and Glenn, where I worked alongside Rev. Brent as the Young Adult Ministries intern.
Glenn was a large part of my formation while at Candler, and it was here that I formed a greater understanding of my ministerial calling to help people, churches, and non-profits tell their stories. Here, I discovered a passion for preaching and asking deeper theological questions.
To get to know a little about me outside of church and my education, here are a few fun facts:
1. On New Year's Eve, I married my now husband, Cooper. It was the best night, and all of our favorite people were there to celebrate our love and ring in 2025.
2. One of my favorite activities is going to concerts. I’ve been to 40 since the pandemic restrictions were lifted a few years ago! My favorites are a toss-up between seeing Hozier at Red Rocks or going to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour with my college friends.
3. I process the world by observing and writing, and as I've stated, my greatest joy is storytelling. My life’s goal is to someday write and publish a novel.
4. Tea > Coffee. Nothing beats a warm mug of Peppermint or Lemon Zinger tea.
5. I live in Reynoldstown, so there is a high chance that you’ll see me walking on the Beltline if the sun is out.
Now that you know a little bit about me, I want to know all about you. Please don’t be a stranger. Come by my office, email me to connect, or say hi if you see me at events. I’ll be the one holding the camera!
I'm passionate about helping tell the story of Glenn to both members and the outside community, and to do that, I want to get to know as many of you as possible. I'm excited to be back with all of you at Glenn, and I can't wait to meet (or reconnect with some of you) you soon.
Warmly,
Olivia Starks-Ulrich
ostarksulrich@glennumc.org