Leadership

David Frerichs is Director of Young Adult Ministries and Fourth Fellows at Fourth Presbyterian. David was raised in Nebraska before attending the University of Pennsylvania, where he received undergraduate degrees in business and bioengineering, and a master’s degree in biotechnology. He then participated in the design, development and manufacturing of novel biopharmaceutical products, first for a global medical device firm and then for a biotechnology startup. In 2008, David moved to Romania, where he continued to bring ideas from concept to reality, but shifted the focus of his work from biopharmaceutical product development to Christian ministry. As a result, Eclesia International Church was born. In 2017 David returned to the U.S. and to Fourth Presbyterian. He and his wife, Erin, met at Fourth in 2000. They have five children and live in Bethesda.

Tanya came to Fourth Presbyterian Church in 2017. Originally from California, she attended U.C. Santa Barbara as an undergraduate, and later completed her M.A. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She served as a teacher in Thailand, Indonesia, and Germany with the Network of International Christian and Community Schools from 2000 to 2005. After returning to the States, she served as a teacher and principal at Dominion Christian School in Northern Virginia from 2005 to 2020. Tanya currently serves on the fellows admissions committee. She and her husband Michael have also hosted a Fourth Fellow at their home in Kensington, MD. She enjoys long walks, cycling with her husband, traveling, and reading, and she is currently training to be a spiritual director.

Originally from the D.C. area, Isabel first came to Fourth in the Summer of 2025 as a Summer Staffer. She recently completed the Capital Fellows Program. Isabel is excited to serve as the coordinator for the Fourth Fellows Program, and looks forward to welcoming the incoming Fellows as they acclimate to life at Fourth Pres and the D.C. area. She is a 2025 graduate of Grove City College, where she received her bachelors in Exercise Science. Her time in the medical world nourished her desire to serve and engage with others. She also served in event planning and PR roles in various organizations, growing a love for coordination and communication. Isabel is eager to bring these skills to the Fellows team as she coordinates the day-to-day aspects and logistics of the program.

Akin Harrison is Senior Vice President of TEGNA, where he serves as General Counsel and Secretary. TEGNA is a broadcast, digital media, and marketing company that holds nearly 70 TV stations, and was formerly a part of Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in the US. Akin attended the University of Virginia and graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, after which he received a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Akin and his wife, Allison, have three children, and have been active in many ministries at Fourth Presbyterian for over 20 years. Allison currently serves as the Administrator for the Women’s Council at Fourth and has practiced law for many years.

Chris Thatch is a partner and trial lawyer at the law firm McGuireWoods. His practice focuses primarily on construction, antitrust litigation, mass torts, and contract disputes in a variety of industries. Chris received a BA in Journalism from the University of Maryland and a JD from the American University Washington College of Law. He has been active in several ministries since first coming to Fourth Presbyterian more than 30 years ago. Chris and his wife Sarah have twin daughters and a son. They live in Bethesda.

Doug Gilbert is a partner at DFW Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing behind strong management teams in high growth businesses in the healthcare, business, and industrial services industries. Doug received a B.A. in Political Economy from Williams College, and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. As a long time member of Fourth Presbyterian, Doug serves on the Session, chairs the Personnel and Investment Committees, and volunteers in the Youth Ministry. Doug and his wife, Kato, have four sons and one daughter-in-law, and have enjoyed housing 4th Youth summer staff, missionaries, and RTS students for many years.

Nat Malkus is a Resident Scholar and the Deputy Director of Education Policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Nat has a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.A. in Historical Studies from Covenant College. He met his wife, Paige, at Covenant College, and they have three children. Paige is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Fourth Presbyterian.

Susan Fuller graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance and German and earned her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from University of Michigan. Her first professional appointment was as Assistant Professor of Music at Southeastern University. She later served as Chair of the Suzuki Strings Department at Levine School of Music. Susan is the founder of Fuller Sound Strings and Capitol Sound Strings in Washington, DC, and served as Co-Director of the Rocklands String Festival for four summers. She currently serves as Director of Fourth Strings at Fourth Presbyterian Church. A dedicated performer and educator, she has spent her career fostering excellence in string education and community music-making. She is a member of Fourth Presbyterian Church and lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Joel Fuller, a professional violinist. Together they are the proud parents of four children: Jonah, Noelle, Wyatt, and Nathan.

Todd was installed as Fourth’s eighth Senior Pastor on October 18, 2015. Raised in New Jersey, Todd first felt called to ministry at age 11. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy and English at Dickinson College, and while serving in youth ministry after graduation, he met and married his wife, Jennifer. In 2001, Todd graduated with an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and joined Fourth’s ministry team as the College and Singles Pastor, then becoming Pastor of Adult Ministries. While on staff, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Todd and Jennifer have three children.