MEET OUR TEAM
Dr. Lee was born in South Korea in 1964, and raised in a Christian home through the faith of his mother and grandmother. After graduating from Yonsei University, one of the schools established by Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries in 1885, he served three years in the Army as an officer. In 1990, he came to the States to further his theological education. He completed his M.Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary, and Ph.D., from Vanderbilt University Graduate School. He was ordained in the Tennessee Annual Conference as an elder in 1999, and transferred to the Virginia Conference in 2000. He previously served churches in Arlington, Danville, Winchester, and Alexandria districts. While serving a local church in Winchester, he also taught biblical studies at Shenandoah University. He has served on the District Committee of Ordained Ministries, Conference Board of Ordained Ministries, CEMCA, and Asian American Ministers’ Associations. Rev. Lee and his wife, Kay, who is a registered nurse, have two children, Joshua and Sophia living in the Washington D.C. area.
MaryKaye Cochran began serving as the Executive Administrator for the Richmond District in 2020. Prior to joining the Richmond District staff, she served as the Administrative Assistant in the Center for Congregational Excellence, working with new faith community development and church revitalization. Before joining the Conference staff in 2018, MaryKaye served as the Director of Discipleship at Woodlake UMC for 12 years, served as a Christian Educator at Duncan Memorial UMC and Farmville UMC. Before her church positions, MaryKaye worked at Longwood College (now University) for 12 years. She has degrees from The College of William and Mary and Bowling Green State University. MaryKaye is married to Rev. Larry Cochran, the Senior Pastor at Belmont UMC in the Richmond District. They have three adult children, Jason, Samuel and Lauren. MaryKaye enjoys singing, camping, and reading.
Maria Maxwell began working for the Richmond District in January 2017 as the Richmond District Coordinator for Church Revitalization and Leadership Development. Before joining Richmond District, Maria taught Pre-K for 12 years and served as the Virginia Conference Imagine No Malaria Field Coordinator during the United Methodist Conference wide initiative from 2014-2015. While her husband attended Seminary, she worked for Asbury Seminary as the Conference Coordinator for the Beeson Institute and the Manager of the Rosa Beeson Manor. Maria is a Richmond native. She graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Psychology , a minor in Criminal Justice and an emphasis in Religion. Maria and her husband Mike have 2 teenage children, Ben and Zoe. Maria enjoys singing with her church Worship Team, spending time with family and catching up on the latest Hallmark movie.