Meet The Team
Executive Director
Priscilla McKinney
Priscilla has worked in parish ministry since her separation from the US Navy in 2008. She received her Master's in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas and began one of the first Fidelis Chapters in 2012. Priscilla became Executive Director of Fidelis in 2018 and serves in her local parish in Knoxville, TN with her husband and six children.
For general inquiries or to start a new chapter contact priscilla@fidelisonline.org
Program Director
Destiny Campa Meza
Raised in an Assemblies of God faith background, Destiny attended Sunday school and youth group each week and came to know the Lord at a young age. Now a passionate Catholic convert, Destiny enjoys reading about the saints and meditating on the Holy Rosary.
Destiny attended Colorado State University-Pueblo where she studied a B.A. and M.A. in English, professional writing, and education. After graduation, Destiny served as the communications coordinator for the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and went on to teach English in grades 6-11 before answering the call to ministry.
Destiny and her husband, Jose, have two beautiful little boys and are parishioners of the Shrine of Saint Therese Catholic Church in Pueblo, Colorado, their hometown.
For program or content questions contact program@fidelisonline.org
Director of Operations and Finance
Nikki Jaent
Nikki is currently living in Grand Rapids, Michigan near family where she was born and raised. Before she returned to Michigan, Nikki spent 15 years in the Nashville, Tennessee area and 12 years before that in Tampa, Florida where she attended the University of South Florida. She was raised in a Catholic household where she found her love of devoting her time to the Church from her grandmother.
She has been involved with religious education, youth groups, the Women's Group, and anything else she felt called to help with including making mac and cheese for the Lenten Fish Fry's. Nikki is a mother of two girls, Sydney and Martha, who are her pride and joy!
She enjoys doing anything and everything outside from ice skating, laying on the beach, to hiking with her two dogs, Sadie and Toby.
For accounting or registration questions contact accounting@fidelisonline.org
Mentorship Director
Betsy Hoyt
Betsy, daughter of the King, wife to Craig, and mom to Curtis and Henry, joins us from Huntersville, NC. Betsy has been a part of the Fidelis Sisterhood since 2016. Betsy has been a Lead Lady, a Lady Mentor, a Ceremonies P.A.L. and Communications P.A.L. in her local chapter, before joining the National Team in October 2020.
When she's not training mentors or helping chapters with Bosco events, Betsy coaches women in living the integrated life through ordered wellness practices and currently leads Instructor Training for Pietra Fitness, where she trains instructors from all over the world. You can find her coaching website here: https://www.integratedcatholicwoman.com/
For mentorship help or to plan a Bosco event contact mentorship@fidelisonline.org
Media Associate
Shea Nowicki
Shea Nowicki is a senior at Benedictine College, where she studies Theology, Education and Psychology. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Shea's heart was sparked to a love of women's ministry during her four years at an all-girls Catholic high school. She loves the idea of a Church of fully alive women, deeply convicted of their belovedness!
When she's not posting on Fidelis' Instagram account, Shea enjoys reading poetry, drinking iced lattes at the on-campus coffee shop, and going on long "heart to heart" chat walks with friends.
Contact Shea at media@fidelisonline.org.
Inspire Coordinator
Mary Paul Forsyth
Mary Paul Forsyth, a retired mother and grandmother, lives in Charlotte, NC. She joined the St. Mark Fidelis chapter in 2019. Mary Paul graduated from the University of Tennessee and spent most of her professional life in the banking industry in various roles. After the birth of her youngest child, she began a new career as the event manager for MiraVia, a residential maternity and outreach organization. She has been actively volunteering in her diocese for more than 20 years.
For Inspire questions, contact inspire@fidelisonline.org.
Inspire NW Coordinator
Ruth Rivaldi
Ruth Rivaldi is a wife and mother of one boy and two daughters. Ruth has been a lead lady and
a mentor at the Fidelis chapter at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bremerton, Washington since
2019. Ruth graduated from Tulane University and was a CPA and audit manager for ten years.
Ruth currently volunteers extensively in her parish and children’s Catholic schools. She has led
both the school parents’ group and organized the annual school fundraising gala. She enjoys
watching her kids play soccer and high school volleyball and feels blessed to be able to help
young women grow in their Catholic faith.
For Inspire NW questions emails inspireNW@fidelisonline.org.
Development Associate
Jess Evitt
Jessica is a wife and mother of two young boys in Upstate South Carolina. She works from home for our brother organization Fraternus, as well as Fidelis. She enjoys the simple pleasures in life: family, food, and God’s beautiful creation, and her awesome church family. She counts it a true blessing to work for organizations like, Fraternus and Fidelis, that are seeking to glorify and honor God.
For donation questions contact development@fidelisonline.org
Board of Directors
Ashley Jones
Patti Deffendall
Patti graduated from Vanderbilt University. She completed a Master's in Linguistics from LSU and a Master's in Moral Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in 2020. She initiated both the Fraternus Chapter and the Fidelis Chapter at her parish, Our Lady of the Lake in Hendersonville, TN. She is a mother of 2 and has been married to Mark since 1983. She is an original member of the Fidelis National Board.
Ashley Jones
Dianne Rider
Dianne and her husband Tom are members of St. Mark in Huntersville, NC. They have been involved in youth ministry since the inception of the parish. Dianne helped establish the St. Mark Fidelis chapter in 2015 and served as the first Lead Lady. Fidelis is at the very heart of her current service to her parish and community. She stepped out in faith and has never looked back.
Don Francis
Kaitlyn Sisson
Kaitlyn is an accounting analyst in Charlotte, NC. She grew up in the Lake Norman area attending and participating in the LifeTeen program at St. Mark Catholic Church, where she is now a Fidelis Lady. Kaitlyn got her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she met her now-husband, Justin.
Alexa Young
Mary Paul Forsyth
Mary Paul Forsyth, a retired mother and grandmother, lives in Charlotte, NC. She joined the St. Mark Fidelis chapter in 2019. Mary Paul graduated from the University of Tennessee and spent most of her professional life in the banking industry in various roles. After the birth of her youngest child, she began a new career as the event manager for MiraVia, a residential maternity and outreach organization. She has been actively volunteering in her diocese for more than 20 years.
Robert Rose
Nicole Rizkallah
Nicole is passionate about the formation of young women and worked in classical high schools for nearly decade as an assistant headmaster and guidance counselor. She is currently a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, and also works as nonprofit business consultant in talent development and fundraising. She lives in downtown Phoenix.
Guest Writers
Ashley Jones
Jessamyn Anderson Frain
Ashley Jones
Lucy Fernandes
Don Francis
Miriam Barry
Alexa Young
Laurie Barclay
Robert Rose
Mary Margaret Lewis
Robert Rose
Carolina DuPont
Robert Rose
Michaela Ziegler
Robert Rose
Julianne Kos
Robert Rose
Olivia Shingledecker
Robert Rose
Michaela Reyes
Robert Rose
Katie Kirstein
Our Chaplain
Fr. Joshua Johnson
Father Joshua Johnson is priest of the Ordinariate Chair of St. Peter. He serves as the Parish Priest at St. Edmund Campion Catholic Church in Flat Rock, NC. Previous to becoming Catholic, he was a United Methodist Minister. Married with six children, he received special permission from the the Vatican to be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood as a married man. Before entering priestly formation, Fr. Joshua Johnson worked for Fraternus, assisted in the founding of Fidelis and worked in Catholic parishes.