Staff
Wendy Goldberg – Interim Executive Director wgoldberg@trifaith.org
Wendy Goldberg is a fourth generation Omahan and a founding member of the Tri-Faith Initiative. She served on the Board of Trustees of Temple Israel for 10 years, including a two-year term as President of the congregation and was on the Temple Israel staff for seven years as Program Director. Wendy played a key role in communications, volunteer engagement, and the capital campaign during Temple Israel’s transition to the Tri-Faith Commons in 2013.
Wendy has served as Tri-Faith Communication Chair for a decade helping to develop communication policy, procedure, and plans for traditional and social media materials. She lead communication task force initiatives to set brand guidelines, create a speakers bureau, and create video stories archives.
Uroosa Jawed – Communications Director ujawed@trifaith.org
Uroosa Jawed joined the Tri-Faith Initiative in October of 2018. A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, she earned her bachelor’s of science degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in May 2002. Uroosa has worked in philanthropy over the past ten years, and began her career as Planned Giving Coordinator for the Islamic Society of North America. She has been instrumental in raising funds for both local and national non-profit organizations through capital campaigns and corporate sponsorships. Uroosa is passionate about serving her community through volunteer work and advocacy. She proudly serves on the board of directors of Omaha Girls Rock.
A first generation immigrant, Uroosa moved to Indiana from Karachi, Pakistan at the age of five years old with her parents. A lifetime Hoosier, she now finds herself thriving in the Dundee community of Omaha with her daughter Laila and her son Oliver. A writer by avocation, she has served on the board of the Indiana Writers Center since 2013. Her poetry has been published in Hoosier Lit magazine and she is currently working on her first manuscript.
Carla Patton-Ochsner – Development Director cpatton@trifaith.org
Carla is the consummate development director. In her career, spanning 30+ years in the Greater Omaha market, she has served in lead roles and behind-the-scenes rolls that have led to raising millions of dollars and heightened awareness for important causes in our community. Carla has a passion for our community and social justice issues. She is grateful to be on the Tri-Faith team as she wants to help move the needle when it comes to fostering empathy and understanding locally, regionally, nationally and throughout the world. She believes that if it can happen anywhere, it can happen in Omaha.
For the past five years, Carla has worked as a development consultant for Completely KIDS and the Business Ethics Alliance. She started her career in development working for United Way of the Midlands as a campaign director. From there, she served as the director of development for American Diabetes Association, Nebraska Kidney Foundation, Buford Foundation and Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.
Carla is committed to community development and continues to serve in leadership positions for several nonprofits organizations. Currently serving as a board member for Benson Theatre, Heartland Family Service Guild and Lauritzen Gardens Guild where she served as president. She is a Business Ethics Alliance Ambassador, serves on Salute to Families Selections Committee, and is on the advisory council for iHeart Radio.
She and her husband Tod were both raised in Grand Island, Nebraska, but feel that Omaha is their home. They enjoy travel, dinner with friends and time with their family. Carla enjoys yoga, skiing and hiking in the mountains of Colorado.
Amanda Ryan – Program Director alryan@trifaith.org
Amanda Ryan joined the Tri-Faith Initiative in January 2019, serving as a Program Associate. In 2009, Amanda moved to Omaha from Minden, Nebraska. Originally a business major at the University of Nebraska – Omaha (UNO), she quickly changed her major to Religious Studies after discovering her passion for learning about and engaging with different religions. While obtaining her degree, she interned with a local interfaith nonprofit, Project Interfaith, which sparked her passion for interfaith work. She graduated with her B.A. in Religious Studies in 2013 and is currently a Sociology MA Candidate at UNO, completing her degree in 2019. Her research interests include religion in public life and politics, human rights, race and religion, and social change. Presently, she is working on a research project about Latino Jewish identity and code switching, as well as writing podcast reviews for the Religious Studies Project.
In 2018, Amanda was selected to be a Jew v’Nation Fellow for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). The fellowship brought together 16 non-white Jewish professionals to grow community, engage in professional development, and create change for the larger Reform community. As a result, Amanda and three other fellows are creating professional development trainings for URJ-affiliated synagogues centered on the importance of culturally-responsive curriculum and teaching within synagogues. Amanda has given presentations on religious diversity acceptance in Omaha, participated on panels about young professional spirituality, and has provided research assistance to local UU congregations.
Amanda is a member of the American Academy of Religions, chair of Young Jewish Omaha, and serves on the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education. She is excited to continue working in the interfaith world. A millennial to her core, Amanda enjoys avocado toast, coffee, and hanging out with her cat, Piper.
Jeremy Fricke – Program Associate jfricke@trifaith.org
Jeremy Fricke joined the Tri-Faith Initiative in February 2019, serving as a Programs Intern. A Fremont, Nebraska native, Jeremy went to Wayne State College for Business Administration/Human Resources, and the University of Iowa for his Master’s of Arts in Religious Studies – receiving his diploma in 2018. A passionate advocate of the practical applications of religious studies, he started Interfaith Action Group in Wayne, Nebraska and promoted religious literacy at the University of Iowa by teaching and assisting in courses such as Modern Religion and Culture, the Bible and Film, and the Bible and the Holocaust.
Jeremy has received awards and fellowships from his leadership and social advocacy, including the Ron Holt Civic Engagement Award, the Newman Civic Fellowship, and multiple Future Business Leader of America Scholarships. His research interests focus on new religious movements, religion and political life, religion and economics, religion and popular culture, and Norse paganism. Jeremy’s Master’s thesis focused on reforming racist Norse pagans through inclusive interpretations of Norse pagan lore. Jeremy and his spouse love their dogs, coffee, and the humanities.
Lauren Zimmerman – Program Associate lzimmerman@trifaith.org
Lauren Zimmerman began working with the Tri-Faith Initiative in September 2018. She plans to finish her bachelor’s degree in international studies in May 2019 from the University of Nebraska Omaha, focusing on the areas of Islamic studies and international affairs.