Meet Our Team - Ethical Society of St. Louis

Meet Our Staff & Board

Meet our Amazing Staff

Claire Alexander

Executive Director of Community Experience

Claire Alexander (she/her) helps dream up and grow programs that bring people together, spark curiosity, and inspire action. She thrives on collaboration, new ideas, and creating spaces where folks from all walks of life feel comfortable showing up exactly as they are. Claire helps guide Sunday events (platform/forum), visitor experience, membership growth, and music programs.

Claire’s style is shaped by her background as an educator, performer, and nonprofit leader, all centered around building lively, welcoming communities. She loves celebrating shared values while helping people discover new ways to learn and connect. Her current doctoral dissertation explores progressive, intergenerational humanist curriculum design (yes, she’s that dedicated!). Outside of ESSL, Claire enjoys making music, gardening, reading poetry, and relaxing on a patio with a cocktail alongside her husband, Jared. She is a secular humanist who finds joy in noticing everyday moments of beauty.

Rachel Jones

Executive Director of Finance & Operations

Rachel Jones (she/her) keeps the gears of ESSL running smoothly while making sure people remain at the heart of everything. She brings years of nonprofit administration, volunteer leadership, collaborative management experience, and a graduate degree in education to her work. Rachel oversees staff support (hiring and HR), building and grounds operations, facility rentals, and the financial side of ESSL’s day-to-day life.

When she is not juggling budgets and logistics, Rachel is likely singing with an ensemble or exploring St. Louis. She also loves hiking and is currently training for her first marathon in November 2025 (yes, voluntarily!). Rachel is energized by working alongside ESSL staff and members to strengthen this space and help the community grow into its best possible version of itself.

Louise Jett

Creative Director

Curious, thoughtful, and fueled by creativity, Louise Jett (she/her) wears many hats including Ethical Humanist, media specialist, graphic designer, writer, artist, educator, and storyteller. She approaches challenges with optimism, heart, and a steady belief that good communication can build stronger communities. As an American Ethical Union certified Leader, Louise is inspired by people who dedicate themselves to caring for and uplifting others. She also facilitates conversations and Restorative Justice Community Circles.

Louise genuinely loves connecting with people and believes meaningful work should also include a little fun along the way. When she is not designing, organizing, or storytelling, she enjoys deep conversations, reading, gaming, and spending time with her family.

Scott Reese

Building & Grounds Manager

Scott Reese (he/him) brings a roll-up-your-sleeves, let’s-figure-it-out mindset to keeping ESSL running smoothly. Known for his friendly personality and willingness to tackle just about any challenge, Scott focuses on helping others and making the space work better for everyone. His background in retail and facility maintenance has built strong patience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills that serve him well in his role.

A former collegiate baseball player, Scott feels right at home working as part of a team and brings strong leadership energy to his work. Outside of ESSL, he is a devoted St. Louis Blues fan who enjoys talking sports and spending time outdoors with his wife and two kids in South City.

Michael Engelhardt

Music Director

Michael Engelhardt is a songwriter, composer, producer, and vocal director who believes music can change how people feel and connect. His work has appeared on ABC, NBC, PBS, and NPR, as well as on the stage at Carnegie Hall and major national music conferences including ACDA, NAfME, and JEN. His choral music is published by Walton Music (GIA), Alfred, Hinshaw Music, Kerry Marsh Vocal Jazz, and through his own catalog. In the pop music world, he has arranged or performed backing vocals for artists including O.A.R., Ben Folds, Take 6, Kansas, Patti Austin, and produced vocals for Michael McDonald.

Mike credits several mentors for shaping his musical path and ongoing inspiration. Alongside his role at ESSL, he works as a freelance artist and teaches at Webster University, where he instructs songwriting students and directs the Jazz Singers. Mike, his wife Meg, and their two children, Leo and Lucie, are excited to be part of the ESSL community.

Bear Wade

A/V Support

Meet Bear (he/him). He may give off strong Grizzly vibes at first glance, but he is much closer to a giant Teddy Bear once you meet him. Over the past twenty years, Bear has built a career as an award-winning filmmaker, author, and marketing agency owner, blending storytelling and technology to help ideas come alive. He especially loves helping others shine, which makes supporting the Ethical Society’s message and mission a natural fit.

When he is not producing, filming, or experimenting with new creative tools, Bear can usually be found cooking, cheering on sports teams, watching movies, or spending time with his wife, two boys, and their energetic new puppy.

Carl Bellers

Building Host

I am Carl Bellers, the Sunday morning hospitality host. I have been here for over a year and enjoy serving great coffee to the amazing community at the St. Louis Ethical Society. The people here love their coffee and I am happy to serve them. I previously worked at Children’s Hospital as part of their “Visitor Management” team. I was able to provide concierge services for children and their families during their hospital stays.

India Bailey

Assistant Director of Youth Education

Ursa Gnosis

Youth Group Advisor

(he/they) is a whimsically grounded World Builder and self identified Pleasure Worker. Just a month shy of 24 years old, he has almost a decade of experience in community organizing. They have always understood what it feels like to be a kid who knows they deserve a better place, and they have never stopped fighting for it. His vocation is to usher waves of reality to a world that sustains its own oppression from ignorance and defiance of embodiment. Some of his experience comes from his certification as a Comprehensive Sexual Educator, but most come from being incredibly involved in the real world he experiences around him.

He uses skills learned from participating in direct action, attending & facilitating Transformative Justice practices, conducting somatic healing rituals, and working as a harm reductionist to anchor dreams of safety, plentiful resources, and healing joy into our connected living systems. When not on the clock he loves to brew medicine as a budding herbalist, spend time at rest in a cozy container, or be at play with any medium available: currently digging wire-wrapping, learning wood-burning, and slowly figuring out all of the rules of Dungeons and Dragons.

He is fantabulously delighted to pour his love, care, and the spirit of adventure into the Ethical Society’s Youth Group.

Miller

Coming of Age Mentor

(he/him) has been a passionate educator for over 7 years and brings his diverse academic and educational background to Essl along with a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and motivation to help the next generations of students achieve their goals and feel confident in themselves entering the world.

Miller has taught for Junior Achievement, at-risk middle and high school students, 22+ adults and has substituted for grades k-4 through various education programs in the areas of English language arts, creative writing, and social studies/science. They have big aspirations to teach at the collegiate level. Outside of school,

Miller is a huge nerd who loves traveling, reading, guitar, gardening and conservation, fishing and being outdoors, their dog and family.

Jill Babka

Elementary Teacher

Tamira Davis

Coming of Age Mentor

(she/her) is a certified teacher with the Ferguson-Florissant School District. I am currently seeking a Mathematics Specialist Educational Specialist degree. I have worked with young people what seems like my whole life. Children are our future. If we want a better world we should be mindful and intentional with what we are directly and indirectly teaching them. Lead by example.

I live each day hoping that I have shown others that there are genuinely good and kind people in this world. In my free time, I spend a lot of time with my family, chasing around my “dog-son”, Blazington, cooking, and playing my XBox. Music is often my alternative silence, and, if you ever need a smile, I have one you can always borrow! 🫶🏾

Carmi Dudash

Nursery Teacher

Hi, I’m Carmi Dudash. My husband and I have been married since 1992, and we have two wonderful children — our daughter, Alyssa, whom I have the joy of working with, and our son, Andrew.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and have spent the past 40 years working in early learning. I currently oversee 10 early learning centers throughout the St. Louis area, and I truly love the work I do.

One of the most meaningful parts of my week is serving in the nursery on Sundays. I really believe in what the Ethical Society stands for, and it’s such a joy to care for the children and watch them grow each week. I feel very grateful to be part of such a warm and welcoming community. 💛

Alyssa Dudash

Nursery Teacher

I am an early childhood professional holding an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a certificate in Special Education from STLCC, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (Birth – 3rd Grade) from Mizzou! I am passionate about working with children and my full time job is managing a preschool and their staff training and curriculum, as well community, family and staff engagement activities. In my free time, I enjoy running my small businesses, The Craft Boutique STL and Parked Pretty Mobile Market, spending time with my friends and family and traveling. Ethical Society has been an awesome addition to my week, where I can relax a bit more and just enjoy the fun in loving kiddos and helping shape them into being good humans without all the pressure of school structure. I am so grateful to be here and look forward to helping this become your family’s Sunday happy place!