Don grew up in Maryland and in La Jolla, California. He received a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego.  His keen interest in Soviet and then Russian society, particularly the interaction of religion and politics, was the impetus for Don's travels to the Soviet Union in the mid 1980's and his study of the Russian language. However, soon after the fall of communism, he decided to focus his academic interests more specifically on religion.

In 1993, Don entered the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley with a plan to pursue a PhD in Theology, but soon answered the call to ordained ministry. Don graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1997 with a Master of Divinity degree.  He is currently working towards a Doctor of Ministry degree at SFTS.  After serving as a chaplain at Stanford University Hospital for a summer, Don joined the staff at First Presbyterian Church in Oakland. He served as Associate Pastor there from 1998 until 2002. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of Piedmont Community Church.

Don and his wife, Margaret Ovenden, live with their son and daughter in Piedmont. Margaret is active in community work and environmental education.  Before moving to the Bay Area in 1993, Don and Margaret lived in Quito, Ecuador where Margaret was a Fulbright Scholar. In South America, they traveled extensively, studied Spanish and were active in church fellowship.   Don is an avid reader, enjoys traveling and loves all kinds of sports as spectator, participant and coach.  His growing family, however, is his greatest joy.

As a pastor, Don has a wealth of experience in pastoral leadership and parish care. He has also been an active member of the Presbytery of San Francisco. At the churches where he has served, he has made the area of mission a high priority, whether that outreach be locally or internationally focused. He also enjoys preaching, leading worship, teaching, organizing adult studies programs and retreats, leading programs for young families and seniors, providing pastoral care, and reaching out to potential new members, welcoming them into the church family.