Meet Our Team

Our Staff

  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Rev. Dr. Laurie Lyter Bright (she/her) is an organizer, pastor, and a partner-scholar with the Shiloh Project of Sheffield University, UK. She completed her PhD in education, equity, and transformation through Colorado State University in 2021, with a dissertation focusing on the intersection of religion and rape culture while examining the pedagogical practices of mainline Christian denominations. Her first book, Vagabonding: In Defense and Praise of Millennial Faith, came out in 2018, and her second, Digital Prophets: Me Too and Black Lives Matter, will come out fall 2024.

    Her current research explores the concepts of justice, evangelism, and philanthropy that comprise understandings of “mission” in mainline churches. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband, two mildly feral children, and their dog, Angus MacDonald, Boy Detective.

  • MINISTER OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION


    Rev. Margery Rossi (she/her) is a dedicated advocate for peace and justice, bringing a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to fostering meaningful change for the common good. She currently serves as a pastor in the Hudson Valley of New York, where she lives with her husband, two young adult sons, and their cats.

    Margery holds a BS in Linguistics and English Literature from Northeastern University and an MA in Religion & Religious Education from Fordham University, with a focus on Social Justice and Youth & Young Adult Ministry. She is an ordained Interfaith Minister through the New Seminary in New York City and a commissioned pastor following additional studies at Dubuque Theological Seminary.

    With over a decade of experience in gun violence prevention, Margery moderated the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship’s Gun Violence Prevention Working Group for six years and served on the Executive Committee for four years. She has played a crucial role in shaping and implementing the PC(USA) policy on gun violence prevention and intervention.

    Margery’s passion for inspiring faithful engagement and driving systemic change makes her a vital part of PPF’s mission. She can be reached at margery@presbypeacefellowship.org.

  • ACCOMPANIMENT STRATEGIST

    Mudit Suri (he/him) serves as PPF’s Accompaniment Strategist. Originally from India, he now resides in Illinois with his wife, their two-year-old daughter, and two dogs.

    Before joining PPF, Mudit worked at the United Nations Regional Center for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC). There, he managed multilateral programs focused on armed violence prevention, including initiatives to prevent gun violence in schools, conduct gender-based violence prevention training, and support Member States in fulfilling their obligations under international disarmament treaties.

    Mudit also served with the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, where he played a key role in advancing the implementation of the Final Peace Accord between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP). In this capacity, he managed a remote field office, led a team of international experts, and provided operational support to multiple field offices from the Mission’s headquarters in Bogotá.

    Fluent in Spanish and Hindi, Mudit enjoys spending his free time hiking with his family and honing his cooking skills.

  • MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL ORGANIZING


    Dezi Primous-Gillon (they/them) brings a wealth of experience and expertise to their role as Manager of Communications and Digital Organizing. They hold an MDiv in Social and Sexual Ethics from Union Theological Seminary and a BA in Sociology from Augustana College.

    With a rich background in movement and organizing work, Dezi has a particular focus on restorative and transformational justice. They have been deeply involved with organizations like the Midwest Access Coalition and the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to supporting individuals and communities.

    In addition to their experience in Christian peacemaking and social justice efforts, Dezi excels in managing both internal and external communications. They are also a talented visual artist and storyteller, bringing creativity and a deep sense of joy to their work with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.

    Based in Chicago, Dezi joined PPF in January and is excited to contribute to its mission while continuing to engage in meaningful work across other justice-focused spaces. They can be reached at dezi@presbypeacefellowship.org.

  • FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT


    Christa Galvin (she/her) has been on staff with PPF since 2017 and involved in the organization most of her life. As a child of two parents actively involved in the church and passionate about social justice issues, advocating for peace has always been a part of her life. Christa attended Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC and Marshall University in Huntington, WV and holds a BA in sociology. She lives in South Jersey with her husband and four children. In her free time she enjoys visiting amusement parks, riding roller coasters, and going down the shore.

Our Residents

  • Chijioke Elekwa Agbaeze

    PPF Resident supporting the Lost & Found Project

    Chijioke Elekwa Agbaeze (he/him/his) is a theologian, pastor, and ecologist dedicated to community-centered ministry and inspiring care for our common home. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Theology and Ecology at Princeton Theological Seminary, Chijioke explores the intersection of faith and ecological advocacy, aiming to foster resilient, faith-driven responses to social and environmental challenges. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, he brings valuable experience in worship leadership and technology to his role as a PPF Resident supporting the Lost & Found Project.

  • Marissa Gutierrez-Vicario

    Artist in Residence for 2024-2025

    Marissa (she/her) is a human rights and peace-building activist, artist, educator, and advocate for youth. Recently, she was an Artist-in-Residence at the Initiative for a Just Society at the Center for Contemporary Critical Thought at Columbia University. Marissa also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the City College of New York in the Art Education department.

    Marissa holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California, an M.P.A. from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is currently a Doctoral Fellow and Lecturer in the Art and Art Education department at Teachers College, Columbia University.