Rev. Dr. James Kubal-Komoto, Minister

The Rev. Dr. James Kubal-Komoto has served as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook since August 1, 2026.

“For me, ministry is all about helping people learn to live more fully and helping make the world a better place,” Rev. James says.

He previously served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Raleigh, North Carolina, for seven years and in the Seattle suburbs in Washington State for 16 years. He also worked on the staff of the Unitarian Universalist Association for three years.

He is the author of A Liberal Religious Path: A Short, Personal Introduction to Unitarian Universalism.

He was very involved in community organizing during his past ministries and helped organize multi-racial, multicultural, multi-faith coalitions that successfully advocated for issues such as immigration reform, providing support to homeless individuals, and creating more affordable housing.

“I’m looking forward to exploring how the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook might partner with others in the community to address the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Before discerning a call to ministry, he worked as a journalist and a teacher. He spent four of those years living in Tokyo, Japan.

He holds a doctor of ministry degree from Meadville/Lombard Theological School, one of the two Unitarian Universalist seminaries in the United States, and an undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

A native of the Chicago suburbs, he now lives in Port Jefferson Station with his wife Hiromi, their dog Yakumo, and their cat, Alice. His young adult son is a student at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

To contact Rev. James, email him at james@uufsb.org or call him at 631-751-8336 .

To schedule an appointment with him, visit here.

Susan Buckley and Michele Maggio, Co-Directors of Religious Education

Susan Buckley and Michele Maggio serve as UUFSB’s part-time co-directors of relgious education and are responsible for programming for children and youth from birth through high school.

Both Susan and Michele are long-time members of UUFSB and spent years volunteering as teachers before joining UUFB’s staff.

A recently retired preschool teacher,  Susan enjoys participating in UUFSB labyrinth
walks and can also be found helping in the kitchen after Sunday services. Outside of UUFSB, she enjoys long neighborhood
walks, Zumba classes, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. She is also a long-time volunteer at the Long Island Feline Adoption Center in Smithtown and enjoys spending time with her own two furry friends.

Before retiring in 2023, Michele worked as a specch-language pathologist both in private practice as well as in elementary schools. She enjoys cycling, yoga, and playing pickleball. Michele and her husband Greg are most grateful for the time they spend with their three sons and partners, grandson, and one cut little granddog!

To contact Susan or Michele about any of our programming for children and youth, email them at dre@uufsb.org . 

Sharena Sacher, Congregational Administrator