Tamara Payne-Alex

Tamara, a third-generation Unitarian Universalist, has over 20 years of experience as a lay leader.  She has served ten years as an At Large Trustee on the Board of the Unitarian Universalist Association.  During that time she chaired the UUA Board’s Anti-Racism Assessment and Monitoring Team, served as liaison to the Panel on Theological Education, and convened the Association Working Group.  Prior to her tenure on the UUA Board, she served six years on the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and four years on the Black Concerns Working Group.

In her work outside of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Tamara is an Area Manager for Knowledge Learning Corporation, the largest for profit educational company in the nation.  She oversees 8 preschool- and schoo-age programs in the Bay Area, managing over 25 employees and a budget of more than 1.5 million dollars. 

Tamara was an active lay-leader both as a youth and adult in UU churches on the East coast and has been attending the First Unitarian Church of San Jose for fifteen years.  She has served as a Worship Associate and taught in the religious education program.  Most recently she served on the Program and Operations Council in the area of Lifespan Religious Education Ministry.

Her children are active youth in the church and her husband also serves the church in a variety of volunteer roles.