The Staff
Rev. Elizabeth Horton-Ware
Executive Director/Campus Pastor
Rev. Elizabeth Horton-Ware began as the Executive Director/Campus Pastor at the OU Wesley in June of 2022. Elizabeth has a deep sense of calling to serve in campus ministry and mentor and lead with college students. She comes to the OU Wesley with over a decade of campus ministry experience, including six years as Director of Religious Life at Oklahoma City University, where she oversaw The Wesley Center, United Methodist Campus Ministry. Before that, she served as Director of The Wesley Foundation at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, was in youth ministry, and served as an associate pastor in a local church.
Elizabeth is married to Eric Ware, a high school math teacher at Casady School in Oklahoma City. Eric is a 2003 graduate of The University of Oklahoma, where he studied Meteorology. (He also marched in the OU band!). Eric went on to earn a degree in Atmospheric Science from Cornell University. They have one daughter, Sadie Jane, a fourth-grader at Casady. A rescue dog named Mollie Bee (Mollie Bee Ware---please enjoy that joke) completes their family.
Elizabeth is a preacher’s kid and grew up in parsonages across Oklahoma, graduating high school from Miami. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Oklahoma City University in 2004. She went on to earn her Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2007. Rev. Horton-Ware is an elder in The United Methodist Church ordained in 2011.
Samantha Stoll
Associate Director
Samantha has been a traveler all her life, and one of her favorite parts of having lived in so many unique places is getting to know what makes each community unique. Born in New Jersey, she spent the early part of her life in Thailand with her missionary parents, which was formational for her understanding of the global church and the boundless love of Jesus. She finished growing up in Connecticut after her family left mission work before moving to Pennsylvania for her undergraduate degree in Youth & Family Studies, graduating in 2020. She continued her education at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, graduating in 2024 with her Master’s Degree and joining the Wesley in June of that year. Since moving to Oklahoma, Samantha has settled into life here, serving in 3 different roles within the Wesley and joining St. Stephen’s UMC in Norman as a member.
Samantha has a German Shepherd, Artemis, who joins us on Wednesdays to provide emotional support to the students. Artemis is a trained ESA, and has her Canine Good Citizen certificate from the American Kennel Club.
Ja’Lyn Betts
Ministry Administrator
Ja'Lyn Betts is a proud native of Anadarko, Oklahoma, whose life has been dedicated to faith, leadership, service, and empowering others. With more than 15 years of leadership and ministry within The United Methodist Church, she is passionate about developing confident leaders and creating spaces where people can thrive. A proud graduate of Cameron University, Ja'Lyn earned her Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Studies in 2016 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology while completing the process to become a licensed pastor in The United Methodist Church.
An entrepreneur and community leader, Ja'Lyn has over 20 years of experience in the pageant community as both a contestant and director, is the founder and owner of Divine Divas Dance Company, founder of Queen Eats Pop-Up Kitchen, and co-founder of the Arthur Lyons Scholarship Foundation. Through these organizations, she has created opportunities that empower youth, celebrate culture, invest in education, and strengthen communities across Oklahoma.
Above all, Ja'Lyn is the proud mother of three incredible boys, who are her greatest joy and daily inspiration. They motivate her to lead with faith, resilience, compassion, and integrity in every area of her life.
Melinda Miles
Administrative Assistant
Melinda is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. As a “preacher’s kid”, she grew up in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and then as an adult joined the Oklahoma Conference. Within both conferences she has served in various positions of the local, district, conference, jurisdictional and general levels of the church.
Melinda is the mother of four awesome daughters and eight grandkids. She also has two fun loving four-legged, tail wagging fur babies. She is an avid OU sports fan and also follows her grandkids and nephew wherever they play basketball!
The Board of Directors
Armand McCoy- Chair
John Johnson- Vice Chair
Carrie Jankowski- Secretary
Melanie Moulton - Treasurer
Leasa Stewart- Chancellor
Kristi Carlson- Chair of Hospitality and Mission
Matt Marks-Chair of International Ministry
Scott Meier
Rev. Ashley Green-Young
Teresa Capps
Sarah French
Rev. Jeff Hinton