Jennifer Hughes
Interim Director of Campus Ministry at University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology
Jennifer Hughes holds degrees in Psychology and Art (B.S. from St. Thomas Aquinas College), Art Therapy (M.P.S. from School of Visual Arts), and Theology (M.A. from St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry), reflecting her passion for the connections between creativity, healing, and faith. Jen has worked in ministry in the Diocese of Rochester for over 10 years. She has served in Faith Formation and Youth Ministry at the parish level, accompanying young people as they explored and deepened their relationship with God, and in August 2025 joined the URochester Catholic Newman Community as Campus Minister. In 2024, Jen completed a 490-mile pilgrimage on the French Route of the Camino de Santiago. This pilgrimage provided opportunities to listen deeply to others, to find God in the unexpected, refresh her own personal relationship with God, and reaffirmed her desire to continue accompanying others on their spiritual journeys. She is passionate about creating spaces where students feel safe to ask questions, wrestle with doubt, celebrate joy, and grow in faith wherever they may be on their path. When she is not working Jen enjoys creating art with soft pastels, reading, and having meaningful conversations over coffee or while taking a walk.
While mainly at Catholic Newman Community at RIT, Kristen is also a part of the URochester team. Kristen has 9 years of professional ministry experience. She has been the youth minister and/or religious education coordinator for three parishes in the Rochester area and involved as a diocesan volunteer. She is newly married to her husband, Don, and loves her time with students and the RIT community. In her free time, you might find her kayaking or walking the zoo.
Darlene Giardina
Office Manager, Catholic Newman Community URochester and RIT
Retired controller of our own professional baseball cl ub, the Rochester Red Wings, Darlene comes with 25 years of knowledge working in accounting where she oversaw the club finances and day to day operations. In 2012, Darlene was awarded the Rawlings Women Executive of the Year Award in Minor League Baseball for her dedication to her work. We are pleased Darlene has joined our team and are confident she will bring further success in helping us navigate our future growth through added compliance with University and Diocesan policies and good business practices. Darlene and her husband, Michael, have three sons and seven grandchildren and enjoy family time, boating, and travel.
Laurie Martin
Regional Finance Director
Laurie has served as a Finance Director at the Diocese of Rochester since 2014. In addition to directing the finances for the Catholic Newman Community at the University of Rochester, she also provides services to the Church of the Assumption, the Church of the Resurrection, the RIT Newman Catholic Community, St. Louis Church, and St. John of Rochester Catholic Church. She studied Business Administration (Accounting and Finance) at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
