Staff & Leadership

Jason began serving as our pastor in January 2021. Before arriving at APC, Jason served at High Bridge Presbyterian Church in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for eleven years. Prior to High Bridge, he pastored a church as a stated supply pastor outside Richmond, Virginia for two years.

Raised on Edisto Island, South Carolina, Jason graduated from Charleston Southern University with degrees in U.S. History and Religion. He later moved to Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Union Presbyterian Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity. While in Richmond, Jason met his future wife, Dilshani, who worked at Virginia Commonwealth University as an advisor to international students. While working at VCU, Dilshani served with a non-profit in Sri Lanka that provided micro loans to female dairy farmers. Jason’s and Dil’s passion for mission and ministry started a conversation around a dinner table that led to marriage. They are the proud parents of two elementary-aged children, Abby and Ben.

Jason is passionate about finding ways to nurture people’s faith in Jesus through worship, Christian education, and a conversation over a cup of coffee. His ministry goal comes from the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:13, “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

In his free time, Jason enjoys playing with family, hiking, gardening, reading, running, and travel.

jgrimes@ardmorepres.org

With over 40 years of experience in professional music leadership (24 at APC), Gary plays, conducts, and/or coordinates music for all worship services, and directs vocal and handbell choirs for adults, youth, and children. He also leads special events such as semi-annual cantatas, biennial choral festivals, and biennial children & youth musicals. During APC’s centennial year (2007), Gary led its Chancel Choir on a tour of Scotland and Northern England, and completed “My Top 100 Organ Pieces,” a 14-month series of concert-level preludes and postludes.

Gary grew up in Fayette County, PA, where he later directed programs for Trinity Presbyterian Church (Uniontown) and the Greater Uniontown Chorale. In the 1990s, he led a comprehensive music ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA. Gary earned music degrees at Oberlin College and Duquesne University, and is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists. He is also Artistic Director/Conductor of Chester County Choral Society, an 80-voice auditioned community chorus (www.chescochoral.org).

ggarletts@ardmorepres.org

Reverend Dr. Graham Robinson is the Program Director of the Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, and has overseen the expansion of the program since 2011. He brings exceptional educational, spiritual, and leadership skills, and twenty years of pastoral and teaching experience. Robinson has served as a guest lecturer and facilitator for Yale Divinity School, Hartford Seminary, and the Alban Institute. He has been invited to preach from Oregon to Puerto Rico, and from Washington state to Washington, D.C.

He received his Doctor of Ministry in 2012 from Columbia Theological Seminary, his Master of Theology in 1999, and his Master of Divinity in 1993, both from Princeton Theological Seminary. Identified upon graduation as a leader within the church, Robinson was awarded the David B. Watermulder Prize for Church Leadership from Princeton Theological Seminary.

gjmtk5@gmail.com

After her youngest child started attending Ardmore Presbyterian Weekday Preschool in 2014, Irena began helping as a substitute teacher, and has assisted in most of the classrooms since. Serving as our Interim Director, Irena is the main point of contact for preschool enrollment, and generally everything APWPS!

Upon completing her degree in Public Administration from the Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria, Irena arrived in the United States in 2003 for a year-long internship. The following year, she earned her Masters Degree in Central and Eastern European Studies from LaSalle University.

While rearing three children of her own, she has become a Cub Scouts of America Den Leader and is currently a Cub Scout Pack Chair Woman. Residing in Ardmore with her family, Irena very much enjoys being involved with her children’s schools and volunteering.

 ireynolds@ardmorepres.org

As Church Administrator, Emily runs the church office and serves as support to the work of the Session, committees, Pastor Jason, and the congregational life of the church. As Director of Communications, she is responsible for our weekly church e-newsletter, worship emails, and social media. She runs marketing campaigns, plans events, and generally manages communications both outside and within the immediate church community.

Emily Polhamus grew up in South Jersey, went to college in North Jersey, and now lives here in Ardmore. She has worked in communications, marketing, and fundraising roles for several Philadelphia area non-profits and museums including Please Touch Museum, Appel Farm Art and Music Center, and the National Constitution Center. Emily is a life-long Presbyterian, an ordained Elder, the daughter of a church music director, and and an alto in the APC Chancel Choir. She enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband, son Henry, and their dog Coco.

 epolhamus@ardmorepres.org

Kofi Owusu is serving as our pastoral intern while he studies for his master’s degree in Theology at Villanova University. This internship will provide him the opportunity to learn about church operations, and ministry within a pastoral context. He will assist Pastor Jason with sermon planning, pastoral care, and mission and outreach, and the rest of our staff on various projects. Kofi will also continue to serve his term as a Deacon and on our Mission Awareness Committee.

Kofi Owusu grew up in Accra, the capital of Ghana in West Africa. He completed studies at the University of Ghana with a degree in Political Science. Having a passion for evangelism and missions, he also engaged in itinerant preaching in Accra, and in student missions. He truly has a passion for preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Kofi, who loves to study, spent a year and a half in London, UK, while pursuing a Masters in International Law at the University of East London. He moved to the area in 2022 to attend Villanova University, and graduated with an MA in Political Science in May 2024. Currently, he is an MA Theology candidate at Villanova.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, cooking, and talking with his friends and family.

 knyarkoowusu@gmail.com

Kristy Cobb became the APC Finance Manager in June 2024.

Bio coming soon!

 kcobb@ardmorepres.org

As our Facilities Manager, Bill is responsible for keeping everything in the building and on our grounds looking good and working well! He meets with vendors and contractors, serves as a project manager on major improvements, and manages our building usage and rentals.

Bill grew up in Havertown and has now lived in Ardmore for close to a decade. After working for the Cradle of Liberty and Del-Mar-Va Boy Scout Councils for years in an odd variety of roles, he most recently worked in fundraising at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. He is very excited to once again be working with his hands and interacting with folks. He enjoys camping, hosting backyard gatherings, board games, and giving his dog all the attention in the world.

wwaters@ardmorepres.org