Meet Our Interns

Internships sponsored by Rivermont Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian, and individual donors.

Cierra Potter &
​Jeffrey Castellaw

Interns for Spirituality

Alondra Gomez

Intern for Hospitality & Student FundRaising

Austin O'Neil &
​Jackie Carter

​Interns for Hospitality

My name is Cierra Potter​, and I love working at Hope because I’m able to make other students feel welcome. It’s nice to know that remembering someone’s name, and then greeting them by name as they walk in, can make a student smile and feel known. As the "Intern of Sass," I can often be found on the couch with a caramel iced coffee, blanket, and good book. 

​Jeffrey Castellaw: I'm a senior at UTC studying English Education, so I can have the joy of going back to high school for the rest of my life!  Hope House is really important to me because it gives me an outlet to express my passion of music as well as provides opportunities to get to know and love people different than me.  I can be found at Hope sleeping, grading papers, reading or trying to persuade Tricia to get a pool in the backyard so I can go paddle boarding every day.  I love dancing to Beyoncé with Cierra, dancing alone to Taylor Swift, every breath that Lady Gaga takes, and going to concerts.  

¡Hola! My name is Alondra Maria Gomez and I work as the Intern for Hospitality and Fundraising at the Hope House. I love being a part of this wonderful community because it has given me the opportunity to meet new faces, make new friends, and call this place my home. I'm very excited to be a part of the team that makes the Hope House a great place to be for all students.​

Hi, my name is Austin O’Neil! I am a Senior Mechanical Engineering student. I love cooking, drinking coffee, and talking to people! You can usually find me in the kitchen with Terry or in the living room talking with students. I love the Hope House because it is a warm and welcoming home away from home. I can’t wait to see you there! 

Jackie Carter: I love working at the Hope House because of the morale this campus community provides to students of UTC.  As a political science and public service major, I appreciate how the Hope House is run in such a manner that political activism and substantive conversations are not only tolerated, but they are encouraged and nourished. As a comedian in the South, it’s rare to feel at home in a Christian setting, but I have found that sense of belonging at the Hope House. It’s a privilege to be a part of this​ team as my coworkers are not solely colleagues but friends who fill 808 Vine Street with a safe space for compassion and support.

Meet Our Team

The Hope House Staff have one thing in common... they love the mission! Okay, maybe two, they also love dessert.

Rev. Tricia Dillon Thomas

Director  

Tricia is the Director of the Hope House. She graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2006, and before moving to Chattanooga, was a pastor at a new church development in Florida where she worked with youth, young adults, and their families. Tricia was called as the Director to Hope in 2014. She also serves as the Stated Supply Pastor of Renaissance Presbyterian Church where students at Hope partner in ministry. She loves to participate in the reconciling work of Jesus Christ and for her that begins with building relationships. Tricia believes in Hope's mission of sharing God's love and hospitality to all God's children. Tricia loves to dive into the biblical text and encourages students to ask questions as well as listen to how the Holy Spirit is speaking through one another for our calling into the world . In her free time Tricia enjoys reading, eating, and laughing with her friends and family. You'll also find her standing around eating Terry's tasty meals and declaring each one her favorite.

Terry Paris 

director of hospitality

Terry is the Hope House’s Director of Hospitality. Since joining the ministry full ­time in 2013, Terry has always exceeded the expectations of the students and the ministry with her resourcefulness and go-­getter attitude. Some say that her meals surpass that of their mother’s. Terry has an opening disposition that allows her to be good listener to students. In her free time, Terry enjoys working with her hands in her garden, taking on home­ improvement tasks, or finding her next project on Pinterest. But most of all, Terry enjoys being a grandmother.

Josiah Vacheresse

Director of development

Josiah holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum Leadership from Tennessee Wesleyan University and a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. He joined the team as Director of Development and Marketing in November 2018 after spending a year in Southern Africa as a Salesian Lay Missioner. He has worked in leadership capacities with the Salesian Planning and Development Office of Southern Africa as well as locally with organizations such as CASA and Habitat for Humanity. Josiah was drawn to Hope House because of the mission, and his hope to support places that promote open dialogue and acceptance for all.