Faculty & Staff

Ms. Boyer Brown has been at ChiArts since its inception. She joined the school’s academic faculty in 2009, teaching English and advanced placement literature in the first few years. Since then, she has held numerous roles, serving most recently as ChiArts’ Artistic Director, responsible for leading the school’s five arts conservatories—creative writing, dance, music, theater, and visual arts. She played a leadership role in helping to establish the creative writing conservatory, and served as its first department head.

Ms. Boyer Brown is an accomplished poet, and has been published in POETRY Magazine,  Jet Fuel Review, RHINO,  Waxwing Magazine, and The Journal of Education, to name a few. She is also a lead teacher at the Summer Poetry Teachers’ Institute sponsored by the Poetry Foundation. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Queens University of Charlotte and a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University.

As Executive Director, Ms. Boyer Brown heads the school’s leadership team, oversees all programs and operations, and serves as the school’s chief spokesperson. She’s responsible for financial management, annual and strategic planning, board and community relations, and fostering collaboration across academic and arts programs. 

Néstor Corona is an experienced educator, school leader, and performing artist who brings over a
decade of leadership in multilingual education, student advocacy, and culturally responsive
instruction. He joins the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) with a deep passion for fostering
academic excellence, artistic expression, and equity in education.

Mr. Corona has served as Principal of Antonia Pantoja High School for six years, where he led
school-wide initiatives that improved student achievement, graduation rates, and overall climate
through data-informed, student-centered leadership. Most recently, he has served as Director of
Bilingual and Dual Language Education at ASPIRA of Illinois, where he has overseen the bilingual
program across multiple campuses and expanded language and cultural learning opportunities for
diverse student populations.

Beyond his career in education, Mr. Corona is an accomplished artist. As a Flamenco dancer with the
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and a lifelong Mexican folkloric dancer and musician, he
has performed internationally in Spain, China, Poland, Ireland, Mexico, and the United States. His
artistic journey has instilled in him a profound respect for the power of the arts to build confidence,
resilience, and global understanding.

Born in Mexico and shaped by his experience as an immigrant, Mr. Corona is committed to creating
inclusive and empowering learning environments where every student is seen, supported, and
inspired. He holds a Bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics, a Master’s in Education, and a Master’s in
Educational Leadership, along with ESL/Bilingual and Principal endorsements.

Mr. Corona is thrilled to bring his combined experience in education and the arts to ChiArts. He
looks forward to working alongside students, families, and staff to further the school’s mission of
preparing young artists through rigorous academics and transformative arts education.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Greer Reed successfully completed the Certificate and Merit
scholarship programs at The Ailey School and shortly after became a member of the outstanding Ailey II.
The bulk of Ms. Reed’s professional career took place with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company,
retiring after 10 years in 2002 with the “Josie” Award for Outstanding Female Artist.

Her dedication to young people is a driving force to enrich, empower and inspire. In the classroom, Ms.
Reed focuses dance curricula on academic quality, technique, and cultural experiences that
reveal the transparency of thoughtfulness, refinement, and holistic teaching. She is excited
and committed to developing the next generation of incredible adults who will redefine how the arts plays
an important role in their lives while honoring past traditions and creating a heritage that reflects their
voice.

Along with her busy schedule, Ms. Reed graduated Summa Cum Laude from LaRoche University in
Pittsburgh, PA. with the President’s Leadership and Scholarship Award, the highest honor La Roche
University can bestow on a graduate for exemplary academic and leadership skills who best exemplify the
values and characteristics of the college’s mission. Most recently in July 2021, she received her MFA
from Goddard College with high honors in Plainfield, VT. Currently, Ms. Reed’s journey continues
toward her Doctorate in Education.

Kenyatta Rogers is a Cave Canem Fellow and has been awarded scholarships from the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference. He has also been nominated multiple times for both Pushcart and Best of the Net prizes. His work has been previously published in Poetry Magazine, Jubilat, Vinyl, Bat City Review, The Volta, PANK, MAKE Magazine among others. Kenyatta is a Lead Teacher for the Poetry Foundations Teacher Institute and Chautauqua Institution’s Young Writer Institute.  He is a co-host of the Sunday Reading Series with Simone Muench and was promoted in 2022 to lead the Creative Writing Faculty at ChiArts.

Anthony Bruno has dedicated his life to music as a performer, educator, and creator. Born into a musical family, playing music has been a hallmark of his existence. He believes creativity and connection is the essence of music performance.

An in-demand saxophonist in Chicago, he has performed with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Larry Carlton (Steely Dan), Bobby Watson, Jeff Hamilton, Gerald Clayton, Bobby Broom, and Mary Wilson of The Supremes to name a few. Bruno has also performed at various music festivals such as the New York City Winter Jazz Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival. He has released numerous recordings that can be found on all streaming platforms including multiple releases chosen for Spotify Editorial Playlists. Anthony is also an endorsing artist for Selmer Paris Saxophones and D’Addario Woodwind Products. Bruno’s main musical influences are Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and R&B and considers them the foundational language to his approach to music performance.

As an educator, Bruno has taught at ChiArts since 2010 and has served as the Jazz Coordinator since 2013. In this position, he has taken the Jazz Combo to perform at four Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conferences in Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, and New Orleans. They have performed with numerous guest artists such as Antonio Hart, Bobby Watson, and Sean Jones. Additionally, he brought the Jazz Combo on a Peer to Peer tour with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz to San Antonio and Austin, Texas with guest artists Bobby Watson and Lisa Henry. Bruno also organized a tour for the Jazz Combo throughout Los Angeles in 2019 which included performances and clinics at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and the Thelonious Monk Institute at UCLA.

In addition to his teaching at ChiArts, he has served as adjunct faculty at DePaul University teaching the Saxophone Technique course from 2010 to 2015. An experienced guest artist, clinician and arranger, he has worked with such schools and organizations as Dartmouth College, Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage, and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Bruno also served as a guest director for the ILMEA District 1 Jazz Ensemble in 2018.

Anthony Bruno graduated Magna Cum Laude from DePaul University earning a BM in Music Education in 2007. He is a licensed Music Educator in the state of Illinois.

Chris Lin Dao-Heng is an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Chicago, working in media including videos, comics, graphic design, puppetry, music, and installation. A major part of his art practice is related to language learning, immigration, humor, and vulnerability. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, he earned his BFA with honor from the University of Victoria in 2005 and an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008. His visual art, short stories, and comic work have been published by the Chicago Architecture Center, Bailiwick, This Side of West, Fiction At Work, Shampoo, and Levitate. Mr. Lin has taught at ChiArts since 2012 in both the Visual Arts and Creative Writing Conservatories. When he is not creating art and teaching, you can find Mr. Lin building elaborate Lego houses with his son, cooking complicated meals, and rocking out to synth music. abalonemoney.com

Mr. Bracken is an accomplished theater artist living in Chicago, even though he has Jersey blood flowing in his veins. He has been at ChiArts for the past 6 years serving as the Director of Production. He has been involved with arts education for over a decade, working with various youth organizations across the country. In addition to his technical theater credits, Mr. Bracken has directed productions at ChiArts as well as theaters throughout the Chicagoland area. He has also performed regionally in New York, New Jersey, and is about to step back on stage here in Illinois. Before leaving New Jersey, he had the privilege of working on Broadway as a stage management production assistant for Tommy Kail. He has designed at The Artistic Home (where he is also an Associate Artist), Mercury Theatre, Nothing Without a Company and Three Brothers Theatre to name a few.

Jacque Lueken is a School Social Worker at Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), where she supports the well-being and growth of high school students through compassionate and holistic approaches. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre from Syracuse University and her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Loyola University Chicago. In addition to her work as a School Social Worker, Jacque has a rich background in the arts, having worked extensively in theatre as a Director and Teaching Artist, mainly with youth in the Chicagoland Area. Jacque’s dual passion for social work and the arts allows her to bring a creative, empathetic, and insightful perspective to her work, fostering both personal and artistic development among the students she works with.

Ms. Nieuwsma (News-ma) is a licensed professional counselor and holds a professional educator license endorsed for school counseling. She has over 14 years of experience working in public and private therapeutic school settings in addition to providing pediatric therapy. Ms. Nieuwsma has extensive experience working with diverse learners and neurodivergent populations focusing on social emotional development, academic achievement strategies, and developing the skills and tools they need to be their best selves.

Ms. Nieuwsma attended Michigan State University and is a huge Spartan  basketball fan! Her greatest inspiration was her grandmother Betty, an artist and art educator, who taught her to view the world through an artist’s perspective, spread kindness without hesitation, and listen intently to the needs of others. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends-laughing as much as possible and seeking joys in unexpected ways! Ms. Nieuwsma looks forward to addressing the students social emotional, academic, and post-secondary needs. She sees it as an honor and privilege to work along side the professional and student artists here at ChiArts. Let’s make some dreams happen!

Mike Przygoda is a founding staff member at The Chicago High School for the Arts. For the first 12 years, he worked in the dance department teaching as an accompanist for modern and ballet classes, as well as teaching Music For Dancers and serving as the Accompanist Liaison.  For the next two years, he served as the Associate Production Manager for the school.  In 2023 he transitioned to the role of Communications and Support Coordinator. Outside of ChiArts, Mr. Przygoda is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and music director. His work has been showcased at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Second City, and AileyCamp Chicago. He won a Jeff Award for Artistic Specialization in Percussion. He spends his free time writing songs and leading his band, The Przmatics.

Ursula McGregory came to ChiArts in 2010 and served in various capacities from Math Tutor to Programming Coordinator for four years. Upon returning in 2020, she assists our faculty with all technology needs. iShe marvels at the level of talent and brilliance of the ChiArts students. She is parent of two teen-aged boys, and loves cooking and hanging out with friends.

Meg Arbeiter is a National Board Certified English teacher and founding faculty member at The Chicago High School for the Arts. In 2007 she received Facing History and Ourselves’ Margot Stern Strom Award to travel to South Africa and again in 2012 to publish a book of essays written by ChiArts Scholar-Artists in her English I class. As an adjunct facilitator for Facing History and Ourselves and long-time member of their Chicago Teacher Leadership Team, she facilitates sessions at DePaul University and recently this past summer with Golden Apple Scholars. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Education from DePaul University, and a Master of Industrial Relations from Loyola University Chicago.

Filip Lewandowski was born in Krakow, Poland and immigrated to the U.S. to join his family when he was eight years old. After watching Bloodsport (starring Jean Claude Van Damme), he fell in love with martial arts and subsequently took up Tae Kwon Do, then transitioned to full contact Kyokushin Karate in his late teens. After graduating from Whitney Young High School, Filip double majored in English Literature and Communication at DePauw University. His previous teaching experience includes serving as an ESL instructor at a nonprofit, Polish American Association, as well as teaching English abroad in South Korea. He completed his M.Ed. in Secondary Education at Loyola Chicago in 2014 and student taught at ChiArts, where has been a full-time English teacher since. When he is not at school, Filip enjoys watching movies, occasionally bad ones, with his partner Jennifer, and walking around with his two dogs. Filip is honored to serve as a teacher for the wonderful students in his freshman English and upperclassmen AP classes.

A native of Western Kentucky, Dara Miller earned her B.A. in English Education at Murray State University. After completing a teaching internship in Corozal, Belize, she taught for two years in her home state, where she also worked as a Writing Fellow and Instructional Technology Teacher Leader for the Kentucky Writing Project. In 2011, she relocated from Kentucky to Chicago, Illinois and joined the ChiArts faculty for the first time and earned her MA in English Literature at DePaul University. In her first four years at ChiArts, she served as a Grade Level Team Leader and English Department lead teacher and worked to develop and pilot a collaborative project between Facing History & Ourselves and Harvard University’s Project Zero. She has been a member of Facing History’s Chicago Teacher Leadership team for the past six years, and has also worked as an educational consultant. In her spare time, she loves reading, exploring Chicago’s beautiful park spaces, and helping her four-year-old daughter practice violin. She is ecstatic to return to ChiArts this year as a member of the English Department and the 10th Grade Level Team Leader!

Megan Pietz is originally from Skokie, Illinois where she learned to love music and writing, playing percussion from a young age and as copy editor of her high school yearbook. She graduated from DePaul University as a part of the Golden Apple Scholars program with a B.A. in Secondary Education and English and worked as both a writing tutor and in various editorial roles for the campus literary magazine. She loves to read and has previously written book reviews for the Los Angeles Review of Books and Chicago Review of Books online. In her spare time, Megan also loves to bake and won third place in the 2020 Chicago Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest. She has previously taught 7th grade English and is excited to now be teaching 10th grade.

Mr. Van Herik is here because being part of a school trying to bring equity to the arts and streets of Chicago matters to him. He was raised by teachers and environmentalists who taught him to care about changing broken systems so every person can thrive. He believes skillful writing, reading, and speaking gives people the power to change their worlds for the better. He wants every 11th and 12th grader leaving his class to have the tools to care for themselves and their worlds. Also, he enjoys reading young adult literature and fantasy/sci-fi, watching comedy and drama on the TV, playing board games with friends, dismantling all forms of oppression, listening to rap, writing poetry, rooting out injustice in labor, and playing lots of video games.

Allison is originally from Elmwood Park, Illinois and graduated with a mathematics degree from the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign. After Allison received a teaching certificate from Northeastern Illinois University, she headed west to Bakersfield, California where Allison taught math and coached basketball for the last four years. Allison is excited to be back in Chicago and honored to be a part of ChiArts.

Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Marquette University. After spending several years working in logistics, Andrew decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in education. In 2018, he graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics. In his free time, Andrew enjoys playing video games, and training for triathlons.

A lifelong Illinois resident, Megan Riley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre at Northwestern University where she studied costume design and theatrical adaptation. She began work at the Museum of Science and Industry, where her passions for performance and education blended. A curiosity about classroom teaching led her to SAGA Education, where she worked as a full-time, in-class Math tutor at Sullivan High School, where she discovered her true calling: Math education. She next pursued teacher licensure, earning a Masters in Secondary Math Education at Northwestern University while working full-time as a substitute teacher all over Chicago. A highlight of her time as a substitute includes a few months teaching Visual Art for Kindergarten through 8th grade, where she drew from her own Arts training to design lessons while getting a chance to apply what she was learning in graduate school. She is passionate about breaking the barriers of math education and building students skills in discussing and collaborating in Mathematics. Megan feels a special connection with ChiArts students, as the Arts were a vital part of her education and remain an important part of her life. In her free time, Ms. Riley enjoys video games, birding, nail art, and sustainable fashion.

Mr. Paul Dorney graduated from Indiana University in 1992 with a BS in Science Education and a minor in Meteorology. He received his first masters degree from Nova Southeastern in 2005, and a second masters degree in Astronomy from Ball State University. Mr. Dorney currently works with NASA in its Astrobiology program and has been taking courses both in Hawaii and at Penn State. He is an avid soccer player since a young age when he played for FC Stuttgart and currently plays in CLASA. He also enjoys playing the piano and doing anything creative! This is Mr. Dorney’s 23rd year teaching, and his fourth year at ChiArts.

Jennifer Peppers graduated from Elon University with a BS, double-majoring in Biology alongside Environmental & Ecological Science. She is originally from the rural mountains of North Carolina and moved to Chicago in 2018. Her love of science and learning led her to become a teacher; now, she is in her eighth year teaching, and fifth year at ChiArts. She is the 23-24 Department Head of the Science Department, and has taught Biology, Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science at ChiArts thus far. She is a lover of learning, an eccentric plant collector, a proud cat mom, and an avid explorer!

Mr. Cookman spent 10 years in elementary education before making the switch to high school, and he could not be more thrilled to have made that transition at ChiArts. He earned his Bachelor’s in social sciences from Hampshire College and a Master’s in Teaching from Northeastern Illinois University. Mr. C’s core educational philosophy is that students possess an innate love of learning that is to be cultivated by teachers in a welcoming classroom environment. A jazz pianist in his younger years and still an inveterate metalhead, Mr. C can easily relate to the “art kids,” having been one himself. These days, his artistic pursuits are of the martial and culinary variety. He is a boxer, student of Wing Chun Kung Fu, and a vegan chef of some notoriety (within his own kitchen).

I am completing my 6th year at ChiArts and my 11th year of teaching social science. I currently serve as senior psychology teacher and Social Science Department Chair. Previously, i spent most of my time in education teaching Juniors US history and frequently practicing for the SAT. During my free time, I can be found hanging out with my son, Niko or my dog Pierre. I love to travel and I love to read.

Since he was a kid, Mr. Wagner knew he wanted to be a teacher. As a member of the ChiArts staff since 2013, he has gotten to live that dream. He takes great joy in watching his students learn and become empowered to use their knowledge to benefit themselves and society. When not at school, Mr. Wagner enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. He earned both a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Education from Maryville University.

Bethany is from southern Illinois but has been living in Chicago for the past 9 years, the last 5 of which she has been teaching at ChiArts. She has bachelors degrees in both Business Administration and Historical Studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She loves spending time with her family (human and non-human) and friends (human and non-human), going for long, exploring walks around the city, practicing yoga and general chill-ness, reading history and listening to podcasts, looking at the lake in silence, practicing gentleness in an agitated world, doom-scrolling on Twitter, (people CAN do both), going for long-drives in pursuit of a specific food, thinking deeply about life and its complexities while trying to drown out the constant sound of the Sesame Street songs playing in the background of her life (she has a toddler), having the time and the mental space to appropriately prepare for her job, traveling when possible, and eating chilaquiles as frequently as possible. But she mostly tries to practice a life of balance and reflection. She believes that an education in the social sciences helps individuals reflect on their own identity and have a greater understanding of the shared human experience.

Originally from Torreón Coahuila, México. Mr. Guzmán completed his undergraduate studies at Swarthmore College where he majored in Spanish and double minored in Latin American Studies and Education. He then continued his graduate studies at Stanford University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Spanish and Portuguese. In 2016, Mr. Guzmán received his Illinois teacher certification for Spanish K-12. Prior to Chi Arts, Mr. Guzmán taught in schools in Philadelphia, Palo Alto and other Chicago schools at both the university and secondary level.

My name is Srta. Guadalupe León and I currently teach Spanish for Native Speakers as well as Spanish 3 Honors. This will be my 13th year teaching Spanish (at multiple levels) mostly in the South and West Sides of Chicago. I graduated from the University of Chicago and have a Masters degree in Education. I have traveled to multiple countries throughout my career and have given multiple student groups opportunities to experience and become more engaging global citizens. I hope to be able to constantly share my mutual knowledge and cultural experiences to the students that I teach in order for them to expand their own personal experiences.

Lee Ann Silva is the Bilingual Specialist and English Language Program Teacher at ChiArts. She holds her B.A. in Spanish and English education from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and her Masters Degree in higher education from Arizona State University. For seventeen years she balanced her passions of teaching and travel as co-founder of Hands-on Spanish Travel (HOST), an educational travel company focused on global citizenship, which led her to fall in love with the cultures and languages of the Americas. Today she channels that love into activism as a fierce advocate for her bilingual students and families of all backgrounds, with a primary focus on higher education access for marginalized communities. As a singer and dancer herself, she is elated to call ChiArts her academic home and thoroughly enjoys leading the Bilingual Parents Association and Gardening Club. She has three wonderful children with her husband and enjoys spending time with all of them playing cards, swimming in the lake and hiking in the woods.

Lee Ann Silva es especialista bilingüe y maestra del programa de inglés en ChiArts. Tiene su Bachillerato en la enseñanza de español e inglés de la Universidad de Wisconsin Eau Claire y su Maestría de la Universidad Estatal de Arizona en la educación postsecundaria. Durante diecisiete años uniό sus pasiones por enseñar y viajar como cofundadora de Hands-on Spanish Travel (HOST), una empresa de viajes educativos enfocada en la ciudadanía global, lo que la llevó a enamorarse de las culturas y los idiomas de las Américas. Hoy canaliza ese amor hacia el activismo trabajando como una feroz defensora de sus estudiantes bilingües y sus respectivas familias de todas partes del mundo, con el enfoque principal de abrir acceso a la educación superior a las comunidades marginadas. Como cantante y bailarina, está encantada de llamar ChiArts su hogar académico y disfruta mucho de liderar la asociación de familias bilingües y el club de jardinería. Tiene tres hijos maravillosos con su esposo y le gusta pasar tiempo con todos ellos jugando a las cartas, nadando en el lago y caminando por el bosque.

Mr. Muñoz is a 13th year teacher with a BSEd in Physical Education from Northern Illinois University, and a Masters degree in Learning & Technology from Western Governors University. He is certified in grades K-12. Staying very active in his free time doing anything that is challenging. He has completed two ironman triathlons and has competed in over 130 different races. He prioritizes health and fitness and tries to lead his students by example. Mr. Muñoz also has a Spanish bilingual endorsement and is a certified personal trainer. He loves the outdoors, photography, and any activity that provides an adrenaline rush.

James Salazar is a 13th year teacher out of Lombard, IL. James grew up in Chicago and attended Waters Elementary through 7th grade before moving to Villa Park, IL. He graduated in December 2009 from Northern Illinois University with a BSEd in Physical Education, certified grades K-12, and a minor in secondary Health Education. He will be teaching Health Education and 1 section of Physical Education this year, as well as supporting his 4th group of advisees. Mr. Salazar enjoys staying active, spending time with his two children, and working on his long list of hobbies.

Mr. Steger graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Physical Education. He received his Driver Education and Safety endorsement from Northern Illinois University. This will be his fifth year of teaching. Mr. Steger previously taught two years at Downers Grove South High School and one year at York High School.

Sunni Ali is a founding Chicago High School for the Arts teacher and has been a faculty member since 2009. He started as a social science educator and has taught in the Diverse Learner Department since 2010. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Administration from Roosevelt University and holds a Type 75 Principal’s Certificate, Type 9 Social Science Certificate, and LBS1 Special Education Certificate Endorsement. Sunni Ali is also an Associate Professor at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) Education Inquiry Curriculum Studies Department.

Professor Ali has 25 years of high school teaching experience as a social science and special education instructor and two years as a district administrator.

Meg Arbeiter is a National Board Certified English teacher and founding faculty member at The Chicago High School for the Arts. In 2007 she received Facing History and Ourselves’ Margot Stern Strom Award to travel to South Africa and again in 2012 to publish a book of essays written by ChiArts Scholar-Artists in her English I class. As an adjunct facilitator for Facing History and Ourselves and long-time member of their Chicago Teacher Leadership Team, she facilitates sessions at DePaul University and recently this past summer with Golden Apple Scholars. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Education from DePaul University, and a Master of Industrial Relations from Loyola University Chicago.

With over seven years of teaching experience, I bring a deep commitment to inclusive education and student growth as a Diverse Learner teacher at ChiArts. My academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I developed a strong foundation in creativity and artistic expression—skills I now integrate into my educational practice.

I hold a Master’s degree in Special Education and an Education Specialist (Ed.S) degree in Educational Leadership, which have equipped me to support diverse learning needs while fostering equitable and student-centered environments. At ChiArts, I am passionate about helping students thrive both artistically and academically, ensuring every learner has the tools and support they need to succeed.

Journalism teacher Lisa Farver is a field editor who has covered Chicago’s western suburbs for
Patch Media for nearly a decade. She holds an BA in English Writing from Purdue University.
She is a graduate of Second City’s Improv Conservatory, Music Improv Conservatory and
Writing programs. Her spoken word poetry and storytelling has been featured by You’re Being
Ridiculous, the Uptown Poetry Slam, The Stoop, That’s Poetic!, Rebellious Magazine for
Women, the Written on a Napkin Series, and more. Lisa is the founder of Everyone’s Type
Poetry & Performance, which connects seeming strangers through the magic of improvised,
impromptu art.

Avery Ferin is a creative writing teacher and fiction writer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She attended Depaul University where she graduated with her BA in English and MFA in Writing & Publishing and served as the Editor in Chief of its art & literature magazine Crook & Folly from 2018-2021. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Kitchen Table Quarterly, Motley Magazine, and The Grand Rapids Press. She is the recipient of the 2022 Story Studio Master’s Award and the 2024 AWP Scholarship. Her short story “Summer on Lloyd’s Bayou” was nominated for a 2023 Pushcart prize.

Cecilia Pinto has been a teaching artist in the city of Chicago for over twenty years and has worked in a variety of settings and with all age groups. Her novella, Imagine the Dog, winner of the Clay Reynolds Prize, was published in 2021. Her writing has appeared in publications including Esquire, Fence, Diagram, TriQuarterly and elsewhere. In addition to her creative writing classes at ChiArts it has been her pleasure to serve as coach for the competitive spoken word team and as dramaturg for the school’s theater productions. She received her undergraduate degree from Knox College and an M.F.A. in writing from The School of the Art Institute.

Kenyatta Rogers is a Cave Canem Fellow and has been awarded scholarships from the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference. His work has been previously published in Poetry Magazine, Jubilat, Vinyl, Bat City Review, The Volta, PANK, MAKE Magazine among others. Kenyatta is a Lead Teacher for the Poetry Foundations Teacher Institute and Chautauqua Institution’s Young Writer Institute. He is as a co-host of the Sunday Reading Series with Simone Muench and is the Creative Writing Department Head at The Chicago High School for the Arts.

Maan Nabong received her dance training from Sherry Moray, Homer Bryant, Wes Chapman, and Roger Van Fleteran. In 2000 and 2001, Maan placed 1st in the Junior Classical division at Youth America Grand Prix. From 2002-2004, she danced with the Alabama Ballet where she performed Arabian in George Balanchine’s Nutcracker and various roles in Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, and Swan Lake. Maan was a scholarship student at Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago and at Alonzo Kings Ballet in San Francisco. In 2006-2007, Maan performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, working with choreographer, Daniel Pelzig in Die Fledermaus. Maan is a Stott-trained Pilates instructor and is also currently on faculty at the Joffrey Academy of Dance.

Levizadik Buckins began his dance education at the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, Connecticut. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, under the direction of Ethan Stiefel. During his time at UNCSA, he worked with choreographers such as Brenda Daniels, Trish Casey, and Diego Schoch. He has also had the chance to work with well-known choreographers Maurya Kerr, Larry Keigwin, Scott Rink, and Trish Lent. He has performed professionally with the Winston-Salem Festival of Ballet under the direction of Gary Taylor in North Carolina, and River North Dance Chicago under the direction of Frank Chaves. While at River North Dance Chicago he worked with Adam Barruch, Kevin Iega Jeff, Ashley Roland, and Ivan Perez. Levizadik is currently a dance instructor at the Chicago High School of the Arts.

A former dancer, Zineb Chraibi has performed with the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Deeply Rooted Productions, Winifred Haun and Dancers as well as with various independent choreographers. She holds a BA in Dance from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pa. Ms. Chraibi grew up in Casablanca, Morocco where she first started training. She later returned to her native city of Paris to study ballet, modern, and jazz. She has also trained at Les ballets Jazz De Montreal, Ruth Page Dance Center and Lou Conte Dance Studios. She is currently on the faculty at the Dance Center of Columbia College, the Joffrey Ballet and guest teaches in the U.S. and abroad. She has also served on the faculty of the Conservatory of Dance at Barat College, The Chicago Academy for The Arts, The Joel Hall Dance Center, and taught at the Lou Conte dance Studio. In addition to teaching dance, Zineb is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor who teaches in the U.S and abroad.

Robin Gayle is a professional dancer, an established ballet teacher, and a certified Pilates instructor. She performed for nine seasons as a Soloist with the Columbia City Ballet, apprenticed with the Colorado Ballet, and has been a frequent guest artist around the country. Robin trained privately under Sherry Moray and Alla Osipenko and attended the Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo, the Ruth Page School of Dance, and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Her summer intensives include the schools of American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. Robin was a top finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix competition and chosen to perform at YAGP Galas in 2000 and 2001. Robin’s reviews include Dance Magazine’s late Ann Barzel, who praised Robin as a “uniquely talented dancer,” and the Chicago Sun-Times’ Hedy Weiss, who characterized Robin’s dancing as “brilliant.” Additional credits include appearing in the movie “Save the Last Dance,” the TV show “Sabado Gigante,” and modeling for Capezio and Leo’s Dancewear. Robin has had the pleasure of working with the dancers at ChiArts since 2017.

Born and raised in Chicago, Greer Hutchison studied the majority of her pre-highschool years at Dance and Music Academy under the mentorship and teachings of Krissie Odegard-Geye. In 2011, Greer attended the Chicago High School for the Performing Arts, where she trained and performed works by former director Sarah Ford Thompson, Lizzie MacKenzie, Reginald Harris, and Brian McGinnis; along with guests from Gus Giordano and Hubbard Street. Greer studied summers at Peridance Capezio Center and the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago intensive, with a full tuition scholarship provided by the Anthony Quinn Foundation. Greer graduated with her BFA from UNC School of the Arts in 2019 where she had also served as Student Body President during her senior year. There she had worked with faculty members such as Brenda Daniels, Sean Sullivan, Abigail Yager, Ming Lung-Yang, and Kira Blazek-Ziaii. There she also studied the repertoire of Natalie Desche, Charles Zarney, Martha Graham, Kelly Maxner and Aszure Barton. Greer has had the honor of performing professionally with UNCSA at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in NYC as well as with Mandala South Asian Performing Arts in Chicago. Post University, she has worked as a teacher and choreographer for Greensboro Performing Arts as well as UNCSA’s Acting Out program in North Carolina. This season, Greer is excited to join her second season with Trifecta Dance Collective as a Principal Dancer and choreographer as well as return to perform and choreograph with Mandala South Asian Arts. Greer is also honored to be teaching at Dance and Music Academy and The Chicago High School for the Arts.

Nicole Scatchell holds a bachelor’s degree in Dance and a minor in Business Management, her teaching license to teach Dance K-12 in public schools and is currently pursuing a master’s in Counseling Psychology. Nicole has been a dedicated dance educator in CPS, domestically, and internationally for over 16 years. She is the Artistic Director of Chicago Dance Institute, on faculty at Chicago High School for the Arts, Harold Washington College, Joffrey Academy, and Dance Director of All City Performing Arts. Her choreography for ChiArt’s mainstage musical was nominated for Best Choreography through National High School Musical Theatre Awards. In partnership with WorldWide Orphans, Nicole has led and directed international programming in Haiti teaching local children and training local teachers in pedagogy. Nicole has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Legere. She has performed with the International Ballet Ensemble and companies including BONEdanse, Zephyr Dance, David Dorfman, Dropshift Dance and has worked with choreographers such as Peter Carpenter, Reggie Wilson, Jan Bartosek, Tammy Thomas, Sean France, among others. She has performed for audiences across the U.S, Scotland, Italy, France, and Germany. She continues to perform professionally and is earning credentials to pursue her dream of integrating arts education, mental health, and community intervention.

Ted Seymour was born in Dallas, Texas where he trained at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. He moved to Chicago to study with Dan Duell and Patricia Blair as a member of the Ballet Chicago Studio Company. Ted later attended The School of American Ballet where he choreographed two ballets for the school and was invited by Peter Martins to create a new ballet for the New York Choreographic Institute. After leaving SAB, he joined Cedar Lake Contemporary dance Company. Ted joined Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2007 where he has danced featured roles in Balanchine’s Episodes, La Valse, and the Act II pas de deux from A Midsummer Night’s Dream among others.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Carl Aagesen has lived and worked in Chicago since 2004. He is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology. A Professional Piano Technician and lifelong student of music, Carl began teaching privately in 2010. In addition to working as a piano instructor, Carl keeps ChiArts’ fleet of pianos in tune. A frequent guest behind the scenes at innumerable venues, churches, performance halls and recording studios throughout the Chicagoland area, he is daily engaged in the process of finding exactly the sounds to suit the individual needs of each exciting pianist he encounters. Carl is an active member of Chicago ensembles Les Metalliques, Names Divine, Boatist, and the Colm Lennon Band. In his spare time, he rewards his discerning ears by composing, arranging and recording his own music. Evening Airs (2020), Moonbean Champion (2021), and Facades (2022) can be heard on streaming platforms or purchased from Bandcamp.

Melissa Arning (she/her) grew up in the Detroit suburbs, went to college at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and now continues her tour of the Midwest at her home in Chicago. She credits her Midwestern roots with fostering her love of cars, Vernors, and Jello. A busy performer of both opera and oratorio, Ms. Arning’s roles include Ruth in Dark Sisters, Meg in Falstaff, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Cendrillon in Cendrillon, Muse/Nicklausse in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Mercedes in Carmen. For her work with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Ms. Arning also has two Grammy awards. In her spare time, she is a beekeeper.

Anthony Bruno has dedicated his life to music as a performer, educator, and creator. Born into a musical family, playing music has been a hallmark of his existence. He believes creativity and connection is the essence of music performance.

An in-demand saxophonist in Chicago, he has performed with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Larry Carlton (Steely Dan), Bobby Watson, Jeff Hamilton, Gerald Clayton, Bobby Broom, and Mary Wilson of The Supremes to name a few. Bruno has also performed at various music festivals such as the New York City Winter Jazz Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival. He has released numerous recordings that can be found on all streaming platforms including multiple releases chosen for Spotify Editorial Playlists. Anthony is also an endorsing artist for Selmer Paris Saxophones and D’Addario Woodwind Products. Bruno’s main musical influences are Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and R&B and considers them the foundational language to his approach to music performance.

As an educator, Bruno has taught at ChiArts since 2010 and has served as the Jazz Coordinator since 2013. In this position, he has taken the Jazz Combo to perform at four Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conferences in Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, and New Orleans. They have performed with numerous guest artists such as Antonio Hart, Bobby Watson, and Sean Jones. Additionally, he brought the Jazz Combo on a Peer to Peer tour with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz to San Antonio and Austin, Texas with guest artists Bobby Watson and Lisa Henry. Bruno also organized a tour for the Jazz Combo throughout Los Angeles in 2019 which included performances and clinics at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and the Thelonious Monk Institute at UCLA.

In addition to his teaching at ChiArts, he has served as adjunct faculty at DePaul University teaching the Saxophone Technique course from 2010 to 2015. An experienced guest artist, clinician and arranger, he has worked with such schools and organizations as Dartmouth College, Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage, and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Bruno also served as a guest director for the ILMEA District 1 Jazz Ensemble in 2018.

Anthony Bruno graduated Magna Cum Laude from DePaul University earning a BM in Music Education in 2007. He is a licensed Music Educator in the state of Illinois.

Thomas Clippert savors the wide variety of music available for the guitar, from the early Renaissance to the present day; his performing career regularly takes from solo guitar, to chamber music, to the vast world of improvised music. Tom is a graduate of the Yale School of Music where he studied with Benjamin Verdery and was awarded the Eliot Fisk Guitar Prize. Additional studies include Phillip de Fremery at the Mount Holyoke Guitar Master Class and Patrick Roux at the Domaine Forget Music and Dance Academy in Quebec. In addition to being a founding faculty member at ChiArts, Tom teaches at Oakton Community College. Tom is a regular featured artist at the Interlochen Fingerstyle Guitar Workshop.

From playing classical music at Orchestra Hall to rock music on Warped Tour, Rebecca is a violinist, songwriter, producer, and educator who has used her classical music training to focus on innovating and blend genre lines. The genre-bending efforts began in undergrad at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, when she founded the rock band, The Lifeline. She used her training to give the band a unique performance quality, utilizing live looping techniques, as well as sequencing and sampling to enhance the presence of her violin. As a result she has graced the stages of many of the city’s finest venues such as Metro, House of Blues, Aragon Ballroom, Lincoln Hall, Beat Kitchen, Bottom Lounge, Double Door, Soldier Field, Subterranean, Cubby Bear and Goose Island Wrigleyville. In addition, she’s also been a part of many festivals and tours, such as SXSW, CMJ, Taste of Chicago, Taste of Chaos Tour, Warped Tour, Milwaukee Summerfest, and Q101 Block Party which further expand her influence. Rebecca Faber has worked with some of the best engineers and producers in the country. Names like Steve Albini (Nirvana), Chris Shepard (Chicago Recording Company), Sean O’Keefe (Plain White T’s), and Johnny Rioux (The Bruisers, Social Distortion, Street Dogs) are just a few of the diverse individuals that have helped Rebecca hone her craft and continue to innovate. As a result of work in the recording industry, she has become a voting member of The Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences, voting for the Grammys in both the musician categories and the Producers and Engineering Wing. She is also an ASCAP member and recipient of the ASCAP Plus Award in two consecutive years. In the spirit of giving back and inspiring others to use music as an outlet, Rebecca has taught in various settings, including privately, through the Ravinia Festival, at the Chicago High School for the Arts, and through online content on Reverb.com. Growing up in Chicago, Rebecca studied pre-college at the Merit School of Music, Midwest Young Artists’ Program, and studying privately under Laura Miller (Lyric Opera of Chicago). She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, studying violin performance under Peter Schaffer (Concertmaster, San Francisco Symphony). Continuing studies/additional training include playing master classes and lessons with David Kim (Concertmaster, Philadelphia Orchestra), Nathan Cole (Assistant Concertmaster, LA Philharmonic), Lisa-Beth Lambert (National Symphony), Cornelius Chiu (Chicago Symphony), Christopher Wu (Pittsburgh Symphony), and studied chamber music under the Avalon String Quartet.

Patrick currently free-lances in the Chicagoland area, teaching and gigging. He is a full time member of the Rockford Symphony and has performed with the Grant Park Music Festival, Southern Illinois Music Festival, Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Elgin, Kalamazoo, Illinois, Elmhurst, South Bend, Quad City Symphonies as well as the Illinois and Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Highland Park Strings. Other groups include OperaModa, Chicago Opera Vanguard, and the Downers Grove Choral Society. Patrick has also performed with the Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Paramount, Drury Lane, Timeline, Porchlight, Marriott, Writer’s, Royal George and Court Theatre Companies, as well as the American Girl Revue. Other performances include soloing at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Cultural Center’s Sunday Salon Series, and playing on WFMT. Aside from performing, He was a clarinet play-tester/technician at the Conn-Selmer factory in Kenosha, WI. Currently, Patrick is an Artist Clinician for D’Addario Woodwinds and provides free educational classes to schools in the Chicagoland area. As a teacher, he holds studios at Concordia University, Moraine Valley Community College, The Chicago High School for the Arts, and the First Conservatory of LaGrange. Patrick received his Masters from Northwestern University and Bachelors from Middle Tennessee State University.

Currently, Dr. Brooks Truly is a full-time percussion instructor and music department administrator at ChiArts. He also serves on the percussion faculty at Roosevelt University, performs regularly with the world fusion group Callaloo and the Chicago Summer Opera, and is a freelance percussionist/timpanist in the Chicago area. Dr. Truly has taught percussion at several universities and secondary schools, and has performed with dozens of orchestras and chamber groups as a section or principal percussionist/timpanist and as a featured soloist, as well as hundreds of drum set, world music, and theater performances throughout the Gulf Coast, South Florida, and Midwest areas. During this time, he has shared the stage with such artists as Lil Greenwood, Bobby Shew, Louie Bellson, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Jim Walker, Yo-Yo Ma, Michel Camilo, Andrea Bocelli, Ramsey Lewis, Paul Potts, Faith Hill, Elvis Costello, Evanescence, Lindsey Stirling, Hanson, Celtic Thunder, Il Volo and Il Divo to name a few, and has worked with such conductors/composers as Scott Speck, Aaron Jay Kernis, Susie Seiter, James Judd, Helmuth Rilling, Sir Andrew Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Philippe Entremont, Russell Peck, Placido Domingo, and Phillip Glass, among others, and was a percussionist in the world premiere of Mason Bates’ Music for Percussion and Orchestra. Recently, he was invited to present his doctoral essay, The Afro-Cuban Abakuá as a performance/demonstration at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Dr. Truly holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, a Master of Music degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Alabama, all in the field of Percussion Performance. He is an endorsed performing artist with Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and is a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educators Network. Former teachers include Ney Rosauro, Shannon Wood, Ted Atkatz, Richie Bravo, Ed Harrison, Vadim Karpinos, Paul Wertico, Ruben Alvarez, and John Papastefan.

An Artistic Associate of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and A Crew Of Patches Theatre Company, David Blixt has designed violence for Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Writer’s Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington D.C., First Folio Shakespeare, Artistic Home, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Rivendell, and Lifeline, among many others. Twice nominated for Joseph Jefferson Awards for Fight Direction, David is the resident Stage Combat Instructor at the Chicago High School For The Arts. The author of a dozen novels, David lives in Evanston and describes himself as “Actor, author, father, husband—in reverse order.”

Christian Helem is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist whose belief is that if it doesn’t scare him a little it isn’t worth doing. The imaginative, musical and complex calls to him. As a playwright he has written: “tofu chitlin’ burrito supreme” (Stage Left Theater), apostles (UIC), and he is currently working on his new play “chronic”. His directing credits include: “The Little Things” (Pegasus Theater) “The Project(s)” (Stage Left Theater), “Marcus; or the Secret of the Sweet” (Pride Arts), 21 Chump Street: The Musical (Counter Collective), a queer version of The Glass Menagerie, and assistant directing for “Middle Passage” and “A View From the Bridge”. His acting credits include: Mr Franklin in Passing Strange, Matthias of Galilee in Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Doaker in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. He is the Competition Director of the Chicago August Wilson Monologue Competition, Associate Board Chair at Jackalope Theater, and a 500 hour registered Yoga Teacher.

Risha Hill is a 2003 graduate of the MFA Acting program at the California Institute of the Arts. Risha taught in and around Los Angeles for seven years and moved to Chicago in 2014. She currently is a theater teaching artist in several organizations in the city and is now in her second year of teaching at ChiArts.

Kathy Scambiatterra is Artistic Director and co-founder of The Artistic Home. Chicago acting credits include: Beaten, The American Plan, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Skin of Our Teeth, Look Homeward Angel, Juno and the Paycock, Natural Affection, Orpheus Descending (The Artistic Home); The Glass Menagerie, Nelson Algren Live, The Diary of Anne Frank (Steppenwolf); Broadway Bound (Drury Lane Oakbrook); A Flea in her Ear (Chicago Shakespeare); Romeo and Juliet (Goodman Theatre), among others. Regional credits: The Quick Change Room (Pacific Resident Theatre). TV/Film credits: Chicago PD, The Appointment, Draggage, Sin Collector, Into the Wake. She has received 4 leading role Jeff nominations for work in Sweet Bird of Youth, Natural Affection, Abundance, The School for Wives. As a director, she has helmed acclaimed, Jeff nominated and After Dark Award winning productions for The Artistic Home including: Waiting for Lefty, In the Boom Boom Room, Angel City, After the Fall, Street Scene, Peer Gynt, The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Petrified Forest, Modigliani, Days to Come, The Touch of the Poet, The Night of the Iguana. Other directing credits: The Copperhead (City Lit) Angel City, Welcome to the Moon and Other Plays (LA Dramalogue Award), A Christmas Carol (Pacific Resident Theater (LA). Ms. Scambiatterra is the director of the actor training program at The Artistic Home Studio. In addition, she has taught at The Steppenwolf School, Columbia College, Center Theater’s The Training Center, Chicago, IL; Carolyn Berry Studio, The Pacific Resident Theatre LA, CA; Director’s Symposium, US Army, Heidelberg, Germany; Screen Training Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; and currently at The Chicago High School for the Arts.

Nicole Scatchell holds a bachelor’s degree in Dance and a minor in Business Management, her teaching license to teach Dance K-12 in public schools and is currently pursuing a master’s in Counseling Psychology. Nicole has been a dedicated dance educator in CPS, domestically, and internationally for over 16 years. She is the Artistic Director of Chicago Dance Institute, on faculty at Chicago High School for the Arts, Harold Washington College, Joffrey Academy, and Dance Director of All City Performing Arts. Her choreography for ChiArt’s mainstage musical was nominated for Best Choreography through National High School Musical Theatre Awards. In partnership with WorldWide Orphans, Nicole has led and directed international programming in Haiti teaching local children and training local teachers in pedagogy. Nicole has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Legere. She has performed with the International Ballet Ensemble and companies including BONEdanse, Zephyr Dance, David Dorfman, Dropshift Dance and has worked with choreographers such as Peter Carpenter, Reggie Wilson, Jan Bartosek, Tammy Thomas, Sean France, among others. She has performed for audiences across the U.S, Scotland, Italy, France, and Germany. She continues to perform professionally and is earning credentials to pursue her dream of integrating arts education, mental health, and community intervention.

As keyboardist, Shawn has worked with Common, Ice Cube, Little Brother, Bobby Brown, Dwele, Johnny Gill, Jon B., Bilal, Estelle, Julie Dexter, Rene Neufville, Rakim, Eric Roberson, and Maggie Brown just to name a few.

Arrangement/Composition for Theatre includes Red Summer (with Shepsu Aakhu and Andy White, premiering Sept. 2022), Middle Passage (Lifeline Theatre Spring 2022), Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery (Pegasus Theatre Fall 2017), Lawd the CVS is Burning…a Gospel Musical Stage Play (MPACT 2015) and Warm on the Cooling Board (MPAACT 2014).

Sound Design credits include N (GLP Productions 2019), Single Black Female and Lady Day at Emmerson’s Bar and Grill (Congo Square Theatre 2018-2019). Commercial credits include Jet Magazine, Mississippi Rick’s Restaurant, Huffy Bicycles, Arby’s and Sprint.

Shawn Wallace’s teaching experience includes current work at Storycatchers Theatre, Lyric Opera’s Empower Youth Program, and past work as the Technical Theatre Program Lead at Mayo Elementary School.

Eliza Fernand is an artist and educator who works primarily with video, sound, fabric, and clay. After studying sculpture and photography at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan and earning a BFA Sculpture from Pacific Northwest College of Art in Oregon, Eliza led a cross-country career attending over a dozen artist residencies and exhibiting internationally. A new citizen of Chicago, she spent the last eight years in Michigan where she directed and facilitated an artist residency, taught at non-profit organizations, and earned an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Sierra Nevada University. In artmaking and in teaching, Eliza aims to provoke an acceptance of loving practices outside of the norm, and promote experimentation on all levels. www.elizafernand.com

jennyhalpern.com

Chris Lin Dao-Heng is an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Chicago, working in media including videos, comics, graphic design, puppetry, music, and installation. A major part of his art practice is related to language learning, immigration, humor, and vulnerability. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, he earned his BFA with honor from the University of Victoria in 2005 and an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008. His visual art, short stories, and comic work have been published by the Chicago Architecture Center, Bailiwick, This Side of West, Fiction At Work, Shampoo, and Levitate. Mr. Lin has taught at ChiArts since 2012 in both the Visual Arts and Creative Writing Conservatories. When he is not creating art and teaching, you can find Mr. Lin building elaborate Lego houses with his son, cooking complicated meals, and rocking out to synth music. abalonemoney.com

Claire Moore is an artist and educator living in Chicago. She uses painting to understand herself and her surroundings, and her work can largely be described as self-portraiture. Claire received a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2007, and an MFA in Painting and Drawing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2021. She has shown her work at various spaces in Florida, Rhode Island, New York, and Chicago. clairemoorestudio.com

Diana Noh is an interdisciplinary artist working with photography, fiber, and installation. She reconstructs distressed photographs of architectural spaces and landscapes to explore trauma, family relationships, and cultural in-betweenness.

Her work has been exhibited internationally, including Space HNH (Seoul, South Korea), Griffin Museum (MA), Woman Made Gallery (Chicago), The Arts Council (NC), Editart (Geneva), and Hudson Valley MOCA (NY). She has held residencies at Peninsula School of Art (WI) and Talking Dolls (MI), with works in the collections of Jennifer and Dan Gilbert, Kyungil University, and private collectors.

Noh is currently an Artist in Residence at the Chicago Artists Coalition. She holds a B.F.A. from Kyungil University and an M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Caitlin Ryan is a Chicago-based interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker. Her work explores the nuances between comedy and humor, specifically using the vernacular of the uncanny to investigate systems of anthropology. I am interested in small underground (and sometimes temporary) communities to observe perspectives that push the boundaries of what it means to have radical empathy. Ryan received her MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has most recently shown works at Airlock,Iceberg Projects, Flatlands, Gallery 400, and Hyde Park Art Center. She has also screened works at Onion City Film Festival, Chicago Underground Film Festival, ICDOCS,Cosmic Rays,and the Nightingale Cinema.

Frank Vega (b. 1992, Ecuador) is a transdisciplinary artist working with sculpture, painting, and hybrid objects produced from repurposed materials. His practice centers on an archaeological approach to objects that shape our culture and collective knowledge. Different materials, surfaces, and shapes help Vega build objects with unique attributions that coexist creating empowering narratives.

Vega lives and works between Chicago and Ecuador. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has exhibited at the Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago), MDW Fair at Mana Contemporary, (Chicago), El Lobi, (Puerto Rico), The Green Gallery (Milwaukee), Koik Contemporary, (Mexico City), and the Krannert Art Museum, (Champaign). Awarded with a Frankenthaler Scholarship from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; the Florence M. House Scholarship and the Helen E. Platt Blake Scholarship from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and a Leroy Neiman Fellowship from Ox-Bow School of Art.