Our Board

Celeste Brown is first and foremost a follower of Jesus. From a young age she has felt a calling to serve Jesus. As a young professional, she came to understand this calling to use her gifts and talents to serve the Lord and join Him in His work. This took shape in international development, where she worked for 18 years, serving at a local church and now in the affordable housing space. Serving the most vulnerable and driving transformative change remains her passion and focus. Celeste holds a BA in International Culture and Economy and an MBA in International Development. She lives with her husband, Joel, and their vivacious son in Charlottesville.

Jim Anderson is a Midwesterner, born in Michigan, raised in the Chicago area, and has lived his adult life in Colorado, Nebraska, and now Virginia. Jim holds graduate degrees in theology and is currently studying at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin. Jim and his wife, Cindy, have three children and seven grandchildren. Jim is an elder emeritus at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, VA, and now attends Hope Presbyterian Church in Crozet, VA. Jim was a part of the original board for New City Counseling and continues to be an avid supporter of its mission and ongoing work in Charlottesville and beyond. He feels privileged to be a part of the latest chapter of NCC’s story.

Carey is originally from New England but has lived in Charlottesville since 1982, and has been a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church since that time. She met her husband at UVA while finishing grad school in Pediatric Nursing. They have been married 39 years and have four children who are all living independently. She recently retired from the UVA Cancer Center Palliative clinic. Now that she’s retired, she is looking forward to finally having a good garden, and doing a little traveling!

Carey has been affiliated with New City Counseling through their advisory board since 2018. What drew her to NCC was the realization from her past work in community health nursing that effective counseling is sorely needed and often not accessible to many who need it most—those who have grown up with exposure to trauma, addictions, food or housing insecurity, or unpredictable parenting. Processing one’s story with professional help can be essential for changing that trajectory and becoming a happier, more productive adult who can provide a better environment for their own children. Carey envisions NCC as being part of that work and as a result, playing a key role in the health of our whole community.

Robert E. “Bob” Byrne, Jr. is a husband to Lauren and a dad to Eveley, Caleb, Ryan, Jack, and Olivia. Originally from upstate New York, Bob moved to Virginia in 1999 to attend law school at Regent University School of Law. It was there that Bob met Lauren and, after their second year of marriage, they settled in Charlottesville. Bob now works as a catastrophic injury lawyer and as the managing shareholder of the law firm MartinWren, P.C. In his work as a civil trial lawyer, Bob regularly works with terribly injured people who are suffering from a variety of physical, emotional, and spiritual injuries. He has seen firsthand how counseling—especially from a biblical worldview—can improve the lives of those who have lived through tragedy, and he is honored to share that viewpoint and his experiences as a board member of New City Counseling. Bob is an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church where he serves as an elder.

Corban Klug came to Charlottesville more than 20 years ago to attend law school at the University of Virginia. He met his wife, Marcy, while they were students, and, after graduation, stayed in the city to raise a family. Corban practiced law for a number of years at a local firm before turning his passion for advocacy and love of storytelling toward global human rights.

In the last decade, he has published numerous books—both fiction and nonfiction—addressing everything from human trafficking and the underside of the fashion industry to the Somali civil war and the exploitation of rural Black communities by the industry that produces America’s favorite breakfast food—bacon. Along with bringing stories of consequence to life on the page, he has had the privilege of speaking about these issues to audiences across the country and overseas.

Corban's writing and advocacy are anchored in his faith in a purposeful universe, in the beauty and dignity of all people, and in a God who cares deeply for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed, and who calls us to contend against injustice and to devote ourselves to the mission of healing and redeeming the brokenness in our world.

Maria McDonald received her PhD in nursing from the University of Virginia in 2023 and has served as a nurse practitioner in psychiatry for the last three years in Staunton, VA. She is passionate about supporting mental health and well-being and has collaborated with psychiatrists and counselors across the region to expand mental health care services. In addition to her research and clinical practice, she has worked with several national healthcare organizations to improve health care access through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Maria’s work in research and clinical practice is deeply rooted in her faith as a believer in Jesus Christ and the value and worth of all people. She believes it is her privilege and duty to serve others in a way that displays the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. She fully believes in the mission and vision of New City Counseling and is excited to be part of the organization as a board member. When provided the opportunity to join New City, she was thrilled to work alongside others committed to providing excellent and effective mental health care with a biblical perspective.

Louis Nelson and his wife, Kristine, have lived in Charlottesville for more than 20 years. Their three children all went through the city schools and they all call Charlottesville home, even as they now live in different cities. Louis is a professor at UVA and Kristine has the honor of supporting students as a member of the University staff. Although he has no professional experience in counseling, he is an enthusiastic advocate for the mission and staff of New City Counseling.

As a scholar of the history of architecture and landscapes, Louis has spent his career deeply invested in the study of places and communities, especially the ways that a place’s pasts shape its present. Although his early research focused on sacred spaces in colonial America, his more recent research has examined the architecture associated with slavery in the Americas and the West African slave trade, with books and articles on Virginia, Jamaica, and West Africa. He also has the honor of serving as the Vice Provost for Academic Outreach, where he works to support and expand programs that foster positive impact on communities through public service and community engagement.

Louis is a member of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Charlottesville.

Hilary Swinson is a lifelong Charlottesville resident. She retired in 2023 from a 19-year career as communications coordinator at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Prior to that, she was editor of Virginia Gardening Guide and Albemarle magazine. She has also edited, proofread, or indexed more than 150 nonfiction and fiction books. Hilary is thrilled to be serving on the board of New City Counseling, as she has benefited greatly from New City in the past. In her spare time, she is pursuing art classes, her granddaughter, and clutter. She thinks a day without chocolate is a pretty sad day.

Lauren Thompson is passionate about the healing, transformative power of story and faithful presence. As a wife, mother of four, daughter, sister, and friend, she understands the importance of nurturing strong and healthy relationships with oneself and others. Additionally, as the founder and owner of Bloom Floral Design, she is committed to spreading joy and wonder at the beauty of the created world.

Mary Wilson Wunderlich currently lives in Bridgewater, Virginia, with her husband after living in the Charlottesville area since 1975. She has three children and six grandchildren. Mary retired in 2021 after working for nonprofits in finances and HR for the last several years. She loves spending her time with family and friends as well as mentoring, riding her bike, and going to live concerts.