Staff Members of Desert Skies United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Brooke Wilkerson

Senior Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Brooke Wilkerson is an ordained elder in the Desert Southwest Conference (DSC) of the United Methodist Church, happily serving as Senior Pastor at Desert Skies. Brooke grew up in Arizona, graduating from Flagstaff High School before attending Westmont College (BA, Religious Studies), Duke Divinity School (M.Div), and the University of KwaZulu Natal (Ph.D, Theology). Brooke lived in Uganda for five years, teaching at Uganda Christian University. She also spent a semester leading a study abroad program in Oman for American students to learn about Islam and engage in Muslim / Christian relations. While serving as Campus Chaplain at Andrew College, the South Georgia Conference certified her candidacy for ordained ministry. She transferred her candidacy to the Desert Southwest Conference, where she has served in the local church ever since. Pastor Brooke has been involved in leadership at the district and conference level, including serving as interim Chair of the DSC Commission on Religion Race, and as Chair of the DSC Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. She enjoys good conversations, finding enjoyable ways to be active, being outside (when it’s not too hot!), and time with family and friends. Brooke is married to Michael, who is also a United Methodist pastor, and has a son, Landon, who is in high school.

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Ryan Philips

Director of Music Ministries

Ryan Phillips is the part-time Director of Music Ministries at DSUMC. Ryan comes to us with impressive credentials and experience. He grew up in Tucson and graduated from University High School. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the U of A and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from NAU. He has taught music theory, music history, voice and guitar in high school, middle school and private instruction as well as conducted hand-bell choirs, high school choirs and guitar ensembles. He is currently the Music Director of The Arizona Repertory Singers.

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Alison Davis

Vail Worship Leader

Alison is an Arizona native, who began singing with her family at church at a young age. She continued to pursue music, graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s in Music Education, also with emphasis in classical and jazz vocal performance. She has experience performing all genres of singing and piano.

After having her beautiful son, life directed her to pursue a career in the Behavioral Healthcare Field. Alison has had the opportunity to teach others and demonstrate leadership in this field for the past three years. She is currently a student at Grand Canyon University, where she is finishing her prerequisites for a nursing degree. Although currently a Behavioral Health Clinician, she looks forward to becoming an RN.

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Derek Davis

Vail Outreach Director

Derek is an Arizona native born in Tucson, AZ, who has lived throughout Tucson, most recently moving to Vail April of 2022. He is very talented musically, including singing and playing multiple instruments. Derek began singing in school at the age of 5, sang in church choir with his family until he was 18 years old, and performed and toured with the Tucson AZ Boys Chorus from 1992-1999, graduating top in seniority and receiving a “copper letter” from the Mayor of Tucson. He plays drums and piano and is self-taught on the guitar. He attended Tucson High Magnet School for the Fine Arts and Engineering and Technology magnet programs, where he learned many technological tools that he uses to this day. He attended the University of Arizona where he studied Vocal Performance, Music Theory, and Composition.

Derek has participated in numerous ensembles, has performed in a number of musicals, operas, and a variety of shows, and is now using his experience to produce shows and music, as well as his photography skills to create content. Derek started D Rock Studios in 2017 and has taught music lessons, hosts karaoke shows, owns a home recording studio, and is working on producing his first album. Derek enjoys gardening and believes he will someday soon grow all the food for him and his family. He is the proud father of 2 daughters, 1 son, a husky, and a Lapponian herder. He is a man of great faith and thanks God for all his blessings.

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Raymond Ryder

Organist/Director of Handbell Choirs

Dr. Raymond T. Ryder, Organist and Handbell Director at Desert Skies, is also on the faculty at Pima Community College where he teaches piano, class piano and music fundamentals. Raymond is a performing member of the Sonoran Bells, and active in the Southern Arizona American Guild of Organists. He is a Past President and the Honored Teacher 2014 of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association. Dr. Ryder holds degrees from the University of Colorado, the Florida State University, and the University of Arizona where he studied piano with Rex Woods and organ with Roy Johnson. Prior to moving to Tucson, Raymond was on the faculty of Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.

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Steve Ellison

Media Tech-Houghton Campus

Steve attended Fairleigh Dickenson University in Madison, New Jersey studying Electronic Filmmaking with a focus on Digital Design. Steve has close to 20 years of design experience with web design, offset printing, and digital video. His experience ranges from Fortune 500 companies to countless boutique agencies. He was one of the founders of a marketing company.

Steve was born in 1981 in Bend, Oregon where he spent his very first few years of life before moving to Phoenix. But his time in Arizona was brief until moving to Seattle, Washington until he graduated high school in 1999. He was accepted to Fairleigh and moved to New Jersey. Bouncing around the country until landing (hopefully for good!) in Tucson. His hobbies include running his own YouTube Channel (Steve Solves MS) and taking care of his dog Nico.

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Tammy Concienne

Administrative Assistant

Tammy Concienne was born and raised in Tucson and graduated from Palo Verde High School. Tammy relocated to Kansas City Missouri in 2002, and worked for Harrah’s NKC Hotel and Casino. Upon her return to Tucson, in March of 2006, she has been employed at Desert Skies for the last 15 years as our Administrative Assistant.

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Teresa Patterson

Custodian

Teresa Patterson is our custodian here at Desert Skies UMC. Teresa grew up in Tucson, graduated from Sahuaro High School and has attended Desert Skies UMC for many years. Teresa fondly remembers her time as a member of the South East Circle and taking Disciple classes. Her most significant spiritual experience was being baptized by Rev. Dan Hurlbert at Desert Skies, and her favorite events at church have been the Messy Church services in Vail. Teresa has a long history of cleaning experience. For the last 20 years, she has worked as a maid in such diverse places as TMC, Banner UMC, Oro Valley Urgent Care, business, hotels, and private homes. She runs a small house cleaning business on the side. She is especially pleased to be part of a team helping to make our worship time the best it can be. Teresa is married to Tom Patterson, a retired Army medic and a two-time Iraqi vet, who works for Walmart. Tom’s car is a big hit at our annual “Trunk or Treat” event. Teresa and Tom live in Rita Ranch.

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Mystique’a Miller-Naatz

Nursery Attendant Houghton Campus

Mystique’a has been attending Desert Skies since 2018. She will be studying Applied Behavioral Analysis with an emphasis in Autism, in an online program from Ball State University in Indiana. Mystique’a previously supported Desert Skies Children’s Ministries as a volunteer for approximately three years, worked with infants through 5-year-olds at an early learning center, and is currently working at the Autism Academy.

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Rev. Dr. Brooke Wilkerson

Ryan Philips

Alison Davis

Derek Davis

Raymond Ryder

Steve Ellison

Tammy Concienne

Teresa Patterson

Mystique’a Miller-Naatz

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