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An Abundance of New Staffers

Juilliard had a bumper crop of new staff members, many of whom are pictured above, recently. (Photos by Jonathan Tichler)

 

Matthew Allman, physician assistant, rejoined Health Services after a nearly four-year hiatus, during which he served as the chair and program director of the department of physician assistant studies at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. A graduate of the University of Texas Medical Center at Dallas, he has practiced as a physician assistant for more than 13 years.

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Brandon Anderson, operations assistant, Residence Life

Ola Baldych, graphic designer, came to Juilliard from Drexel University, where she worked in institutional advancement, alumni relations, and performing arts; she received her design training at Drexel's Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. Her freelance design and photography portfolio includes work with Drexel's Polish Poster Collection, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Painted Bride Art Center, WXPN, the Captain Black Big Band, Fresh Cut Orchestra, and Putty Dance Project.

Maggie Berndt, content producer, is a native of Lincoln, Neb. She earned a BA in English from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago while performing as a violinist and pianist. She's worked at WGN Radio, the Illinois Humanities Council, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, andLyric Opera of Chicago, and she enjoys cooking, crocheting, watching British mysteries, and spending time with her two dogs and husband.

Colly Carver, assistant stage supervisor, worked as an overhire at Juilliard for seven years. He holds a BFA in musical theater performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and studied documentary film at N.Y.U. His performance credits include Broadway, film, and television, and he has also worked in the industry as director, choreographer, and film/video editor. He is also a professional painter and sculptor. (Instagram: @collyhonaw)

Janet Clarke, Recording Department administrative assistant and office manager, is a lover of the arts and enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling, and event planning. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two sons, and daughter.

Hilary Easton, who's on the dance faculty, joins Juilliard Global Ventures (J.G.V.) as director of global K-12 dance programs.

Joan Faughnan, accounting manager, started her career in public accounting and spent the next 15 years in the for-profit sector before switching to K–12 schools. Working at the Brearley School and most recently, La Scuola d'Italia, she discovered a professional satisfaction being part of a school community and looks forward to combining that satisfaction with her love of the performing arts.

Rachel Fitzgerald, staff carpenter, graduated from Ithaca College with a BFA in theatrical production arts and a concentration in technical design. She has spent the past three summers working at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, most recently as an assistant technical director.

Andrew Gaines, projects administrator for performance activities in Vocal Arts, was previously an associate artist manager in the opera/vocal division at IMG Artists. He's also held positions at Columbia Artists Management Inc., the Glimmerglass Festival, and the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Andrew attended Vassar and resides in Astoria.

Brittany Giles-Jones, events and projects coordinator in Drama, is from Connecticut and spent five years representing actors and dancers at 411 South Talent. In 2014, she was a Juilliard stage management intern; she's also been a stage manager for New Harmony Theatre, Lyric Stage Company, Brave New World Repertory Theatre, and 54 Below. She also works with the youth and young adult department of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc.

Alyssa Gilliam, administrative assistant for global K-12 programs, J.G.V.

Irina Girch, staff accountant and budget analyst, immigrated to the U.S. with her husband and daughter from Ukraine, where she received her degree in accounting. Previously she worked in both corporate and nonprofit organizations including Betsey Johnson, the Gillen Brewer School, and the ALS Association. She enjoys cultural events, museums, traveling, and yoga.

Victoria Grempel (BFA '16, dance), communications coordinator in Development and Public Affairs, served in a variety of administrative roles including in the Development and President's offices as a work-study student.

Laurence Hegarty, crisis intervention coordinator/staff counselor, Health and Counseling Services

Lindsey Hresko, assistant director of student engagement and leadership, comes to Juilliard from Lafayette College, where she wasthe coordinator of student involvement. She comesfrom a theater and choral background and has a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University and a master's from Rutgers.

Jessica Hunter, assistant stage supervisor, worked most recently at the Atlantic Theater Company and before that at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. She's an avid traveler and Army brat who loves new cultures and foods; New York is her 17th move to date. If she's not at work, you can find her traveling with her fiancé, Johnathon, catching a weekend show or sports game, or binge-watching Netflix with her dog, Riley.

William Johnson, digital analytics manager for J.G.V., hails from Rhode Island and has a PhD in arts administration, education, and policy from Ohio State University. He listens to every genre of music and has a deep connection to the works of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Lisa Dempsey Kane, principal orchestra librarian, who’s originally from Rhode Island, recently worked as the head librarian of the Aspen Music Festival and School, the co-librarian of the Naples (Fla.) Philharmonic, and the Orchestra Librarian of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans. She is also an active violinist who served as the associate concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony for 15 seasons.

Thomas Kelley, manager and producer of performance activities for the Center for Innovation in the Arts, is an improviser and actor and a founding member of Reckless Theatre, an improvisational comedy theater. Originally from Indiana, he has an MFA in acting from the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard, and he lives in Inwood with his wife, Julie Jesneck (Group 32).

Kathryn Kozlark, special projects producer in the Office of the President, graduated from Vassar and has worked at the Public Theater, the American Repertory Theater, and, most recently, Signature Theatre, where she served as artistic associate.

Richard Mannoia, director of global K-12 curricula and professional development, J.G.V.

Aaron Martin, lead carpenter, is an Ohio native who earned his BFA in international theater production from Ohio Northern University and an MFA from the University of Delaware's professional theater training program. He spent the past four years as the scene shop supervisor at the University of Oklahoma.

Ryan Hugh McWilliams, content marketing manager for J.G.V., is a lifelong arts lover and arts administrator specializing in social media and digital marketing. He comes to us most recently from the Park Avenue Armory and has previously worked at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, Here Arts Center, and P.S. 122.

Nicolas Moessner, managing director of finance and risk management for J.G.V., spent 20 years in Frankfurt, Paris, and New York; his banking exposure spans the U.S. and Canada, Latin America, EMEA, and Eastern Europe. A New Yorker by adoption who's originally from Alsace, he worked most recently at Deutsche Bank New York. He loves the performing arts broadly and is a major fan of William Christie, Jordi Savall, and Juilliard415.

Mitchell Montealegre (MM '12, double bass), administrative assistant and acquisitions assistant in the library, was an active double bass player in the Rocky Mountain region before returning to Juilliard. An avid Red Sox fan, he's also held positions at the Aspen Music Festival and School and was a founding member of Sphere Ensemble.

Anthony Reed, Willson Theater master electrician, has previously served as master electrician at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, staff electrician at Center Stage in Baltimore, and master electrician/lighting designer at Ocean State Theatre Company in Rhode Island.

Faye Richards, first hand in the costume shop, comes from the Tony Award-winning costume shop Parsons-Meares, where she worked for the past four and a half years. Faye has also worked as a tailor for Givenchy during Fashion Week for a number of seasons. She enjoys biking and going to her cabin in Vermont.

Brooke Rogers, director of K–12 programs for J.G.V., was most recently the education director for Wingspan Arts, a small nonprofit organization providing multidisciplinary arts programs to N.Y.C. public school children. She holds a BA from Reed College and has a background in outdoor education and also in her first love, theater.

Salla Saarikangas, dance curriculum specialist for J.G.V., is a choreographer, restager, and dance educator from Helsinki, Finland. She was trained at Balettakademien, Stockholm, and earned a BA from SUNY Empire State College and an MA in dance research and reconstruction from City College. She's served on the dance faculties of Tanssivintti (Finland), Connecticut College, and Queens College and is also on the Lincoln Center Education faculty.

Leah Siepel, director of instructional design for J.G.V., has designed digital courses for universities, educational technology start-ups, and nongovernmental organizations, reaching thousands of students with her work. Prior to entering the digital education space via Amplify Education, she taught English and writing for N.Y.U., the New School, and the Internationals Network for Public Schools. She also performs and teaches contemporary and improvisational dance and is an avid student of yoga.

Allegra Smith, senior director of e-learning for J.G.V., a passionate arts aficionado, previously spent four years working at the Museum of Modern Art managing its online course and MOOC program. She also produced interpretive exhibition content and assisted with the redesign of the museum's website.

Joe Soucy, assistant dean for orchestral studies, comes to Juilliard from Carnegie Hall, where he was manager of artist training programs focusing on workshops, master classes, and the National Youth Orchestra of the U.S.A. A double bassist, he holds degrees from Eastman School of Music and Manhattan School of Music, and he still performs when his schedule allows.

David Strobbe, production administrator in Vocal Arts, has a BA and an MPA, and he joins Juilliard after working in the artistic department of the Metropolitan Opera. He's a former principal dancer with Smuin Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Cleveland San Jose Ballet Company, and is the co-founder-owner of the White Cloud Pilates Studio.

Kathleen (Kathy) Tesar, associate dean for enrollment management, worked most recently at the University of Southern California as the coordinator of the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival. Prior to that, she was at the Colburn School for 12 years, most recently as associate dean in the Conservatory of Music. She was also the admissions director at Eastman, from which she received her BM in violin. She also holds a masters in violin and is a doctoral student in organizational change and leadership at the U.S.C. Rossier School of Education.

Shakivla Todd, assistant director of residence life, holds a bachelor's degree from California Lutheran University and a master's from Michigan State, where she studied student affairs administration. Most recently, she worked in residence life at the School of American Ballet. She calls Southern California and Columbia, S.C., home, and her favorite hobby is ice cream.

David Townsend (Group 34), media production manager for J.G.V., enjoys cooking, cycling, and crafting impactful stories that educate and inspire when he's not performing Shakespeare or putting on a puppet show with his daughter.

Becka Vargus, J.G.V. dance curriculum specialist, is on the faculty of Lincoln Center Education and has been a teacher and dancer for the American Dance Legacy Initiative and dances with and is children's ballet mistress for Dances Patrelle. She's performed and toured with Taylor 2, Maffei Dance Company, Avodah Dance Ensemble, and Martita Goshen's Earthworks, among others. She graduated from Brown and majored in Artistic Expression and Child Development.

Jessica Woodbridge, associate director of research and prospect management, was most recently manager of prospect management at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. She got her undergraduate degree in music with a concentration in music business from James Madison University, and an MBA from William Paterson University. She plays piano, sings in her church choir, and was an Irish step dancer for more than a decade.

Carl Young, chief information officer, comes from the international security consulting firm Stroz Friedberg, where he founded the security risk consulting practice. He has also been the global head of security technology for Goldman Sachs in New York and London and a senior executive and supervisory special agent in the F.B.I. specializing in the development and deployment of technology to support counterintelligence and counterterrorism investigations. An adjunct professor at John Jay College, he's written three reference books and numerous articles on security and risk analysis.

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