MLC-NA Leadership Council
José Julián Matos-Auffant
Chair
José Julián is originally from Puerto Rico. An alumnus from Colegio San José - Marianist College Preparatory, he taught there also, and worked with Juventud Marianista, the Summer Mission at the former Marianist Parish, and Marianist LIFE (Living In Faith Experiences) for over a decade. Being formed in the Marianist charism through education, religious life, work in apostolic institutions and lay community life, José Julián is an advocate of ongoing formation opportunities to put our faith in action. José Julián currently serves as the executive director of the Marianist’s Tecaboca Camp and Retreat Center in Mountain Home, TX.
LeeAnn Meyer
Head of Spirituality
LeeAnn felt called to become a Lay Marianist while a student at the University of Dayton. She now works in the Office for Mission and Rector at UD, helping to coordinate the lay formation program, as well as other Marianist programs for students. She lives in North Dayton with her husband, Brandon, their three young kids, and Siberian Husky. LeeAnn and Brandon, who works at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School, are members of a lay community composed of staff and alumni from CJ and UD.
Paul Combest
Head of Temporalities
Paul Combest is the Director of Operations at Central Catholic High School. Paul has completed the Marianist Lay Formation Institute (MLFI), and currently serves on the Marianist Sisters Vocation Fund committee. Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University (1988), and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from the Oblate School of Theology (1996).
Marcela Yerena
Head of Education
Marcela has been connected to the Marianist Family since 1999 when she became a student at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Later, she became a Marianist Affiliate in the middle of the pandemic and also became part of the Marianist Family of California (MFCA) Leadership Team. Marcela has taught theology at Chaminade College Preparatory and other Catholic schools for the last 15 years and been in professional ministry for nearly 20 years. Marcela says that being a Marianist reminds me to always say “Yes” to God’s call to serve and be a voice of justice in a world filled with the opposite.
Matt Dunn
IO-MLC Reponsible
Matt Dunn is a member of the Micah Theotokos MLC and the Visitation Marianist State Community. He has served in various roles on the MLC-NA Leadership Council since 2010 and has also served on the MSJC Steering Committee. Matt has represented Marianist laity by serving on the Marianist Family Council of North America and as a delegate to international Marianist assemblies in Lima, Peru and Seoul, South Korea. Professionally, Matt serves as the Manager of Community Programs for the Montgomery County Department of Human Services Planning & Development.
Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI
Spiritual Advisor
Sr. Nicole is a native of Orange, Texas, is a member of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianists) and has served the Marianist Family as a member of the provincial leadership team, vocations director, and campus minister at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School. Recently, Sr. Nicole completed her doctorate in education at Gonzaga University on equity and inclusion of students of color in mixed-race Catholic schools. She has a passion for faith formation and leadership development, especially of young people. This passion is equally matched by her dedication to seeking justice.
MLC-NA Personnel
Rob Brodrick
National Director
Rob Brodrick is the first National Director for MLC-NA. He is a founding member and chair of the board of the Mission of Mary Cooperative in Dayton, OH. He has served as a delegate to the International Lay Assembly in Peru, on the national leadership team of the Adele Social Justice Project, and as the editor of the IO-MLC Newsletter, La Madeleine. Prior to joining MLC-NA, Rob worked with HUD’s National HMIS Data Lab at The Partnership Center to provide data-driven solutions to preventing and ending homelessness. Rob holds a BS and MA from the University of Dayton, and a PhD from Boston College.
Luke Horner
Treasurer
Luke was first introduced to the Marianists by his father and learned more about the charism while earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Dayton. While there, he studied Economics, Finance, and Accounting, and he was actively a part of a Marianist Student Community and the Ephphatha lay community. Now working as an accountant for Reading Rock Inc in Cincinnati, Luke is excited to volunteer for MLC-NA as Treasurer.
Matty Spicer
Formation Coordinator
Matty a recent graduate of the University of Dayton where she majored in Graphic Design. She has participated in a year of service with Marianist PULSE, where she worked with the Mission of Mary Cooperative, a non-profit urban farm in Dayton, Ohio. Matty became a Lay Marianist during the fall semester of her junior year and is part of the Morning Star Lay Marianist Community.
Kateri Dillon
Community Engagement Coordinator
Kateri Dillon is a graduate student at the University of Dayton, focusing on English language learning. She has never been far from the Marianist charism, as some of her earliest memories include Marianist brothers, sisters, and laity gathered around her own family's table. She was inspired by L.I.F.E. week in high school and leading Marianist Family Vacation retreats throughout summers in college. Kateri was a member of Marianist PULSE's inaugural community and volunteered with the program for two years. Kateri also serves on the Dayton Marianist Family Council and co-leads a Marianist Urban Solidarity Initiative seeking to engage with the Five Oaks neighborhood in Dayton.