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The Reverend Patricia (Patty) Phaneuf Alexander began her ministry as St. Dunstan’s fifth Rector in September 2019. A native of Massachusetts, Patty earned her BA (magna cum laude) in English Language and Literature from Yale University, where she also completed the Teacher Preparation Program. She began her professional career as a middle- and elementary-school teacher at the Greenwich Country Day School in Connecticut, during which time she earned her MA from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College.

It was while living in Greenwich that Patty first visited the Episcopal Church, at the invitation of a colleague who encouraged her to “come and see.” Raised Roman Catholic but having attended an Episcopal high school, she immediately felt at home in the liturgy and soon was received into the Episcopal Church. As Patty began to discern a call to the priesthood, she worked as Director of Christian Education at St. James’ Church in Manhattan before entering the Virginia Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master of Divinity (cum laude). During seminary, Patty was honored to serve for a year as Personal Research Assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace in London – which goes to show that God is full of surprises!

Ordained in 2001, Patty ministered for ten years as a parish priest in the Diocese of New York before coming to Washington to serve first as Head Chaplain at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac and now at St. Dunstan’s. Patty also is a member of the Commission on Ministry in the Diocese of Washington. Having served in parishes of varying sizes, Patty feels particularly called to pastor smaller congregations and feels blessed to be walking with the people of St. Dunstan’s at this time.

Patty is married to the Reverend J. Randolph (Randy) Alexander, Rector of Immanuel Church on-the-Hill in Alexandria, Virginia. Patty and Randy are the proud parents of three amazing sons and two incredibly spoiled rescue dogs. When not ministering to her family or parish, Patty enjoys pursuing her passion for Art History and traveling with her family.

Elisabeth is originally from Paris, France. In 2003, she joined her husband in the US. They now have 4 children from elementary school to college age. She is an artist (when time allows) and loves horses, gardening, and walking with friends. Qigong is part of her daily self-care routine, and she is happy to share it every week.

Elisabeth is humbled to be at the service of St. Dunstan Episcopal Church and is grateful for this very warm community and for the opportunities to make a difference.

Diane brings a wealth of musical experience to St. Dunstan’s, having sung as a professional soprano both in Europe and the USA. She has also taught voice as an Adjunct Professor at American University and worked as a Teaching Artist with the Children’s Chorus of Washington.

As a Church musician all her life, Diane started singing in the choir at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in her hometown of Sheffield, UK, and then as a student at St. Peter’s Parish Church in Huddersfield. Her graduate studies took her to London, where she sang as a member of the professional choir at St. Marylebone Church until moving to the United States in 2003, where she sang at Washington National Cathedral for 12 years.

The combination of all her musical experiences led her to St. Dunstan’s, where she is enjoying singing as Cantor and Directing the Children’s Community Chorus.

Jenna Monroe joins us from Southern Maryland, where her deep commitment to community and education took root. Growing up in the DMV area, she embraced her role as an educator, dedicating ten years to teaching Special Education. Her passion for nurturing youth extended beyond the classroom, as she and her wife, Cami, provided foster care, exemplifying their dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of children.
In 2016, Jenna and Cami celebrated their marriage at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waldorf, marking the beginning of their beautiful family journey. The arrival of their son, Elias, in Spring 2024 has brought even more joy and love into their lives, allowing their family to grow and thrive together.
Jenna's leadership within the church, particularly in children and youth programming, showcases her passion for fostering a sense of community and belonging. As Cami pursues her calling at Virginia Theological Seminary, the Monroe-Caudill family is making a significant transition to the VTS campus. They are excited to engage with the vibrant community at St. Dunstan’s, where their story of love, commitment, and a shared mission to uplift and support those around them will continue to unfold.

Melissa and her family come to St. Dunstan's from New Orleans in the Diocese of Louisiana. After growing up in Florida and receiving her BA in Religion and Economics at Furman University in Greenville, SC, Melissa moved to Chicago, IL. While in Chicago, Melissa received her MDiv from the Catholic Theological Union. She ministered as a Pastoral Associate in a Catholic parish before moving to New Orleans, where she became a hospital chaplain and...Episcopalian! After many years of hospital chaplaincy, Melissa is excited to pursue another aspect of her vocation, the call to priesthood. She is currently a VTS student doing an extra year of seminary called "Anglican Studies" for priesthood candidates who did not go to an Episcopal seminary. Melissa met her wife, Megan, in New Orleans, where Megan was a 3rd and 4th grade teacher. After getting married in 2022, they welcomed their daughter, Lina, in 2023. Walter and Sammy are their beloved dogs. In addition to being a church nerd, Melissa loves to read and write (especially poetry!) and has recently learned to crochet. She is grateful to God for the many Holy Spirit-filled connections that led her to St. Dunstan's for this year!