Rev. Alexandra “Alex” Thomas (she/her) has joyfully served alongside the people of Concord-St. Andrew’s UMC since July 1, 2024. She previously served as Olivet UMC’s pastor in charming Lusby, MD for three years. Pastor Alex was raised in Columbia, MD as a cradle United Methodist at Glen Mar UMC. Her participation in VBS, youth group, and many mission trips led her to a 2-week theology program for youth at Duke Divinity School, where she began to discern a calling to ministry. Pastor Alex went to college at Seattle University in Seattle, WA, majoring in History and Comparative Religion. She studied abroad in Ireland and Ghana, worked as a Writing Consultant in the Writing Center, and served as the Student Campus Minister for Retreats. After graduating in 2016, she completed a year of service in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) in Los Angeles, CA, living in an intentional community and working with people experiencing homelessness. Pastor Alex was blessed to end up back at Duke Divinity School and earned a Master’s of Divinity in 2020. A field education experience in Pretoria, South Africa shepherded her into the pulpit, and she has adored the art of preaching ever since. Pastor Alex is a passionate cinephile and enjoys spending time hiking, reading, fussing over aesthetics, and trying to understand her cat, Momo. |
Dotson Hsing graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with dual degrees in Computer Science and Piano Performance. He began studying piano at the age of four and has trained under esteemed instructors, including Tzi-Ming Yang, Kwan Yi, Mikhail Volchok, and Mayron Tsong. A passionate performer, Dotson frequently appears in the DMV metropolitan area and has earned top prizes in competitions such as the Bethesda Steinway Chopin Competition, the Baltimore International Piano Festival Competition, the Levine School of Music Concerto Competition, and the Maryland State Music Teachers Association Competitions. In addition to performing, Dotson has been teaching piano for over eight years, sharing his expertise and passion with students.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Dotson works as a software engineer at NASA, leveraging its vast Earth science data to support research scientists, application scientists, users, and students. Outside of work, you can often find him attending live concerts or staying active with volleyball and pickleball.