MA Alumni Profiles

Autumn Edmundson
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Cidaruh Jones - Education Coordinator, American Sign Museum
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Lauren Kowal - Doctoral of Musical Arts (DMA) Student, University of Maryland School of Music
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Artists as Administrators: Finding the Elements of a Performing Arts Nonprofit Organization that Facilitate Organizational Sustainability and Means for Artists to Create
Advisor: Rachel Skaggs

Molly McDevitt - Elementary Art Teacher, Strongsville City School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Mallory Petrucci
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Advisors: Dana Carlisle Kletchka and Richard Finlay Fletcher

Anastasia Sotnikova - PhD Student, Department of Arts Administration, Education, The Ohio State University
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
LGBTQ+ Content Policies and Public Practice in a Major Museum. The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Case Study
Advisors: Dana Carlisle Kletchka and Richard Finlay Fletcher

Katie Spets - High School Art Teacher, School District U-46
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Katie teaches high school photography, both digital and B&W darkroom. She is certified as a high school art teacher, so on any given year may have a 2D or 3D art class as well. Katie was recently certified as an International Baccalaureate art teacher and the school she teaches at started the IB art program this year. Beyond the classroom, Katie is the yearbook advisor, art show coordinator for her school, class council advisor, and works closely with her school's athletics department.

Katie shared that master's degree furthered her career in the sense that it has invigorated her ideas about her curriculum and what she uses as resources for her students. She is constantly thinking about representation in her classroom because she teaches at a very diverse high school.

Speaking of advice she'd share with current graduate students, Katie recommends graduate students speak with their teachers and ask for help when needed. Read ahead in the text as there is a lot of text to read and try to reflect constantly on ways a student can apply what they are learning.

Contact Katie if you are interested in learning more about her time in the Art Education master's degree program.

Mason West
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Ashley Austerman - Visual Arts Teacher, Mississinawa Valley High School, Mississinawa Valley Local Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Terrena Conson - Art Teacher, Shawnee Elementary School, Clarke-Shawnee Local Schools
Program: Art Education
Becoming a Reflective Teacher Educator: A Study on the Possibilities for Higher Education Arts-Integration Curricular and Pedagogical Practices
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

Mario D'Agostino - Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts and Director of Art + Design Program, Nova Southeastern University
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

At present, Mario teaches a 4/4 teaching load at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), where his teaching responsibilities range from teaching undergraduate courses in NSU's Writing and Art + Design Program (including an undergraduate course on Museum Studies and Gallery Practices). Mario also teaches courses in the Master's Program on Archiving and Curation for the Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media students. Beyond the teaching he performs, part of Mario's departmental service is serving as Director of our Art + Design Program at NSU, where he assists with staffing classes and hiring faculty; works with colleagues on curricular and program design; and works with colleagues to help facilitate the yearly art exhibitions the department hosts, from their Guest Artist Exhibition to their Juried Art Show.

While Mario's background is mainly in writing and literature, much of his research has explored curatorial and museological technique as meaning-making vehicles both in-and-outside gallery spaces. As such, Mario made the decision to join the AAEP program to better understand museum and gallery practice within the art field (and this would better inform the research that he performs as an Associate Professor). The AAEP program was also vital to his understanding of curricular design and programmatic shifts within the art field, which directly impacts his program Directorship. The institution Mario currently works at prides itself on its student-centeredness and the AAEP program has made him a better practitioner and advisor within his program to ensure that program students are receiving the support that they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Reflecting, Mario writes, "Beyond these departmental duties, my experience in this program has made me a better and more effective researcher. One of the essays I wrote for Dr. Ruth Smith's class was eventually published in Composition Studies Journal which explored the use of museological and curatorial technique in sustained writing classes."

"The program itself has a wide appeal; my cohort featured Gallerists, Museum Employees overseeing Educational Outreach Programs, Artists, K-12 Teachers, Art Practitioners, and Higher Ed Professors. From my vantage point, the courses that are foundational to the AAEP's curriculum fit the individual needs of these varied backgrounds, allowing us as students to continue to grow in our individual fields. Beyond this last point and because of the varied courses in the program, AAEP does a great job showing how these aforementioned backgrounds are oftentimes interrelated (and we, as students, all benefitted from this). While this Program is asynchronous online, the professors in the program do an amazing job creating a great learning environment that is collegial and supportive. Throughout my time in the Program, I never felt like I was completing the assigned work alone. Rather, the professors were always present and I even forged friendships with other students in the program where the first time we met face-to-face was at graduation! I highly recommend this program If you're thinking of doing a Master's Degree."

Email Mario to learn more about his academic journey and career?

Flint Garrabrant - Art Teacher, Watkins Memorial High School, Southwest Licking School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Yanshuang Ji - PhD Student, Department of Arts Administration, Education, The Ohio State University
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Asian Americans’ Arts Participation in Columbus, Ohio
Advisor: Rachel Skaggs

Noelle Klein - Art Teacher, Hamilton STEM Academy, Columbus City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Morgan McDonald
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Joy Mistovich - Assistant Education Director, Digital UX Accessibility Specialist, The Butler Institute of American Art and Freelance, Ohio Museum Association Accessibility Committee Member, Ohio Museums Association
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Joy works actively with her fellow museum colleagues, visitors, and docents to create the most accessible and inclusive visual arts experience possible. Her role involves a myriad of tasks including research, proofreading/editing documents, acquiring new skills about museum trends, accessibility, assistive technology, and educational programs. Besides this, Joy is passionate about giving a voice to the disability community and minority community members by creating accessible materials, such as braille, large print, website accessibility, inclusive programing for the neurodiverse community, and more. Most significantly, she has found fulfillment and purpose as she continues presenting at local, state, national, and international conferences, as well as serving in a variety of leadership roles within the visual arts, museum field, assistive technology, and accessibility sectors respectively.

Throughout her time in the AAEP and the online Master’s program, Joy acquired the skills to become a more effective academic researcher and leader while honing in on her gifts of narration, storytelling, and leadership. Joy gained the confidence to share her blindness experiences, academic research, visual arts experiences, and artwork with the world. Joy shared that she previously hadn't imagined she could become an effective blind academic researcher and connect her story telling, passion for the visual arts, assistive technology, writing, and experiences as a museum educator into one career path.

"I have gained the skills of leadership, academic research, improving my writing, as well as my advocacy and positionality in my career. Through my use of assistive technology tools, including Aira (Access to Information Remote Assistance), which connects blind and low vision users (Explorers) to highly-trained, remotely-located Visual Interpreters, I can receive instant access to visual information anytime and anywhere."

Joy credits Dr. Smith's ARTEDUC 7200.30: Overview of Research for Arts Educators for helping transform her perspective of academic research, where Joy used Aira on her iPhone with headphones and asked a Visual Interpreter prior to the beginning of her observation if they could describe the visual details as they occurred during Joy's research. The most significant moment though was Dr. Smith and the other students providing encouraging feedback for Joy's project. This assignment propelled Joy in the direction of academic research, storytelling, and scholarship. "I am eternally grateful to Dr. Smith, the other Ohio State AAEP Faculty, and students in my cohort for making my Master’s program experience an extraordinary stepping stone to a new journey! My Ohio State experiences will always remain as a pivotal moment within my life journey as I learned to combine all of my passions and skills into my museum career and continue to impact everyone I meet."

For current students or those interested in joining the AAEP Online MA, Joy shared there are countless ways to connect with, experience, and integrate the visual arts into everyday life and also as a career, writing that everyone possesses gifts, talents, and skills that can be shared with the world for a more inclusive, diverse, and accessible experience. She suggests students discover their passions within the field and strive to achieve purpose, fulfillment, and support from the incredible AAEP students and faculty, and dare to achieve your most extraordinary goals and aspirations. "This department has been built to allow everyone the potential of finding their path and flourishing in an ever-changing world, where the visual arts are more important than ever before. Nothing is impossible, and the sky's the limit!" Next up for Joy? She is now in the process of getting her PhD in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky.

Feel free to email Joy to learn more about her academic journey.

Mary Morris
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Elizabeth Myers - Art and Computer teacher, St. Leo the Great Elementary
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Elizabeth created art and computer to students in grades K-8th at St. Leo the Great Elementary in Cleveland, Ohio, where she created the curriculum. During her time in the Online MA in Art Education program, Elizabeth felt the curriculum building and the classes on diversity were helpful as she works in a school with a split demographic and several students from the poverty level. Elizabeth recommends current students to keep their notes and the books they have to read to reference later.

"You got this!"

Contact Elizabeth to learn more about her time in the Online MA program.

Tyiesha Radford Shorts - Education Coordinator, Maroon Arts Group and Community Artist-in-Residence, Urban Arts Space, The Ohio State University
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Stephanie Schieltz-Lowder - Art Teacher, Ansonia Elementary School, Ansonia Local School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Gabriel Simms
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Taylor Starkey (Daniel)
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Natalie Ward
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Kimberly Waters-Burghy - Visual Arts Teacher, Licking Valley Middle School, Licking Valley Schools and Regional Director, Central Ohio Art Education Association
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Avery Wood
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Julie York - Teacher, Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Marlo Brown (Linch) - Art Teacher, Jerome High School, Karrer Middle School, Dublin City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Travis Deal - Manager of Academic Affairs, Cleveland Museum of Art
Program: Art Education
We Begin To Intervene: A Narrative Case Study of An Employment Model for Museum Educators at The Wexner Center for the Arts
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

Andrea Fackelman - Art Teacher, St. Mary Catholic School
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Jasmine Floyd - PhD Student, Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy, The Ohio State University
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Emily Graham (Markey) - Teacher, The Hangout PDX
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Emma Hensley - Tour Coordinator, Cincinnati Museum of Art
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Bekah Leathersich Mertus - Assistant Director, Frost Tour Archaeology
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

Ariel March Williams - Visual Arts and Art History Teacher, Spring Street International School
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Desiree Morgan - Art Teacher, Benjamin Franklin High School, Benjamin Franklin Charter Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

My-Lien Olsson - Substitute Art Teacher, Kulturskolen, Agder
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Emily Schon (Hutlock) - Advancement Associate, Near West Theatre
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Advisor: Rachel Skaggs

Emily Schon is incredibly honored to be part of a small but mighty team at Near West. Near West is Cleveland's largest and most impactful community theatre with a mainstage season of intergenerational productions, in- and after-school programming, senior arts enrichment, and a variety of community events. Emily started at Near West right after graduating in spring 2023. Her role includes donor cultivation and stewardship, grant proposal writing, event planning, crafting correspondence, overseeing fundraising campaigns, and much more. Every day looks a little different, and Emily loves having the opportunity to collaborate closely with other departments. She is proud to work at an organization that truly transforms lives through accessible arts experiences.

Reflecting on her time in AAEP, Emily shared that AAEP was truly transformational for her and her career. Coming out of her undergraduate program during the pandemic, Emily was afraid to pursue a career in the arts and unsure of what her next step would be. Taking the leap to a new city and pursuing a graduate degree changed Emily's life. Everything from the course offerings to the professors to off-campus opportunities helped her grow in confidence. Being part of the Barnett Field School stands out as one of her favorite aspects as it exposed her to many organizations and arts leaders, shaping her outlook and empowering Emily to become the best version of herself. Spending time with a small group of her peers on a weekly basis supported Emily and gave her the sounding board she needed while working on her final project. Emily uses many of the skills developed in graduate school every day like working as a team, video editing, academic research, and especially survey/evaluation development.

Emily would advise current AAEP graduate students to embrace their unique perspective and background. If you're an introvert like her, putting yourself out there is difficult. But your point of view will only enrich the experience of those around you.

Want to contact Emily? Email her at emilynschon@gmail.com.

Taylor Seay - Art Teacher, Chestatee High School, Hall County Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Zita Smith - Ceramics Teacher, Lorain High School, Lorain City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Summer Weinheimer - Art Teacher, Liberty-Benton Local Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Courtney Wood (Williams) - Art Teacher, Grant Middle School, Marion City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Jill York
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Leigh Ziegler - Administrative Manager, School of Design at Virgina Tech
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Turn Out the Vote: How Musicians Mobilize on Social Media
Advisor: Rachel Skaggs

In Leigh's role as the Administrative at Virginia Tech's School of Design, she supports faculty, students, and other staff members in daily operations as well as manages various teams of student employees. Leigh works closely with the School Director, and together, they ensure that the School is running smoothly.

Leigh believes her AAEP degree has helped her prepare for her role(s) at Virginia Tech immensely. During Leigh's time at AAEP, her cohort in the Arts Policy and Administration degree path was small, allowing her to develop strong leadership skills. Organizations like COSAA (Central Ohio Students for Arts Advocacy) and Trace, Layer, Play also helped her develop these skills by being around peers of all different perspectives. Not only did AAEP help in the soft-skills area, the courses were rewarding. Courses like Organizational Leadership were impactful for Leigh to understand the how and why different organizations run, noting that higher education institutions are not too different from nonprofit organizations. Leigh appreciated the mentors she had during her time as well, finding them incredibly helpful and supportive, particularly Dr. Skaggs and Dr. Ballengee-Morris.

What advice would Leigh give to current AAEP students?

"Get involved, and find the opportunities that you wish to accomplish! I shared my academic and professional goals with my advisor, and her and I were able to achieve what I wanted to do."

Shane (Andrew) Cullen - Visual Art Instructor, Lighthouse Youth Center
Program: Art Education
Research on The Effects of Art Education on Childhood Cognitive Development: A Literature Review Thesis Surveying Brain Architecture and Neural Activity
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Meghan Decatur - Art Teacher, Justus C. Richardson Middle School, Dracut Public Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Paige Dempsey - Engagement Manager, Dublin Arts Council
Program: Art Education
Where Audience Relationships and Art Education Collide: Cincinnati Art Museum's Digital Programming in the Time of COVID-19
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

Dautri Erwin - Executive Assistant to Senior Leadership, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Advisors: Joni Acuff and Tiffany Bourgeois

John Grosvenor - Visual Art Teacher, West Carrollton High School, West Carrollton Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Heather Herbay - Art Teacher, Barker Elementary School, Upper St. Clair School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Amy Holihan - Deputy Director, Music Columbus
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Elevating Artists’ Voices: Examining Organizational Dynamics Between Ballet Company Dancers and Leadership
Advisor: Rachel Skaggs

Stephanie Manuele - Art Teacher, Cody Middle School, Park County School District 6
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Denise Meza Reyes - Horizons Student and Family Engagement Director, Brunswick School
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Kimberly Newman - Elementary Art Teacher, Michigan Math & Science Academy
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Esther (Rohui) Roh
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Mackenzie Sheldon - Art Teacher, Fredonia Middle School, Fredonia School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Abigail Tracy
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Xiaoxiao Bao - PhD Candidate, Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy, The Ohio State University
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Lisa Brunswick - Visual Art Teacher, Celina Middle School and Celina High School, Celina City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Christine Ballengee Morris

Alice (Yu-Chin) Cheng - Lecturer, The Ohio State University
Program: Art Education
Reflect to Connect- Teaching Critical Dialogue in a Pandemic: A Teacher Reflection Participatory Action Research
Advisor: Christine Ballengee Morris

Celena Gilmore - Assistant Director, Conservation Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Advisor: Shoshanah Goldberg-Miller

Meagan Guild
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Shari Savage

Rachel Koral - High School Art and Creative Photography Teacher, Collier County Public Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Olivia Lancaster (Skoric) - Elementary Art Teacher, Clark Elementary School, Laurel Highlands School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Tatiana Marion Piche - Studio Ballet Instructor
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Christine Ballengee Morris

Cary Mitchell - Theatre Director, Grandview Heights High School, Grandview Heights Local Schools
Program: Art Education
Searching For Clues in Virtual Educational Theatre
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

De'Avin Mitchell
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
A Collection of 20 Poems: Using Poetic Inquiry in Response to Literature on Race, Work Policy, and Social and Cultural Theory
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Ashton Peck (Kelly) - Art Teacher, Gorsuch West Elementary School, Lancaster City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Brittany Schwarck - Art Teacher, Blacklick Elementary School, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Shari Savage

Lauren Smith
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Shari Savage

Cassie Tirrito - Art Teacher, South Seneca Middle School, South Seneca Central School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Sarah Voll - Art Teacher, Elmwood Primary School, Shawnee Local School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Christine Ballengee Morris

Chloe Betts - Art Instructor, PD Studios
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Alexa Bolton
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Staysean Daley - Founder, Art Director, Illustrator, Kraasimages
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Alyssa Goot
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Shari Savage

Marcella Homan - Photographer, M.C. Homan Photography
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Karen Hutzel

Lynnette Ivey (Torres) - Director of Institutional Giving, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Drew Jones - Educator, Entrepreneur Academy, Emerald Campus, Dublin City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Layla Muchnik-Benali - Curatorial Assistant, Film/Video, Wexner Center for the Arts
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Richard Finlay Fletcher

Kelly Orlando (Ryan) - Art Teacher, Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Karen Hutzel

Molly Patridge (Zambito) - Visual Art Teacher, Worthingway Middle School, Worthington City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Ruth Smith

Taylor Skelton - Children's Miracle Network Program Coordinator, Navicent Health Foundation Inc.
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Shelby Spence
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Ireanna Aleya Spencer (Peete) - Art Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School, Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools
Program: Art Education
A Historical Study on the Implications of Brown v. The Board of Education on Black Art Educators
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Karla Stahlecker - Art Teacher, Valley Lutheran High School
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Shari Savage

Shannon Thacker Cregg - Visual Art Teacher, McDermott Elementary SChool, Northside Independent School District
Program: Art Education
Collaboration and Connection: An Action Research Study on Inclusive Art Museum Programming
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

Sarah Will - Fine Arts Teacher, Central Crossing High School, South-Western City School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Karen Hutzel

Bridget Williams - Artist in Residence, Jackson Township Elementary School
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Melissa Akey
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Brooke Belohlavek - Art Teacher, Little Snake River Valley School, Carbon County School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Jessica Caldarone - Art Teacher, North Attelborough High School, North Attelborough Public Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Chelsea Dipman - Elementary Art Teacher, Garfield Elementary School, Marion City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Brianne Gladieux (Denton) - Art Teacher, Middle School East, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Christie Guerrero (Paul) - Senior Instructional Designer, Agile Product Owner, Integration Innovation, Inc.
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Hilary Katz - Director of Teaching and Learning, Phillips Collection
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Joni Acuff

At the Phillips Collection, Hilary provides leadership, management, and strategic direction for the Teaching & Learning Division, including managing staff, programs, budget, and vision for School Partnerships, Teacher Programs, School + Adult Tours, Family Programs, and Creative Aging. Hilary manages two full-time Education staff members and 25-30 part-time Phillips Educators who design, implement, and support the museum’s tours and programs. She also designs professional development sessions and resources for PK-12 teachers focusing on arts integration and culturally-responsive teaching.

Hilary uses her AAEP degree every single day! In managing and leading ongoing training for her part-time educators, as well as overseeing in-service teacher professional development programs, Hilary bases a majority of these trainings on the knowledge she learned while in the AAEP program.

My entire approach to education and how I interact with my colleagues is grounded in what I learned at Ohio State.

Hilary would tell current students that tou get out of your learning what you put in. "It’s an absolute privilege to be in such a forward-thinking, valuable program. Use the time to get out of it everything you can—use all the resources and make all the connections. You will use what you learn everyday in the future."

Email Hilary if you'd like to learn about her time in AAEP or her position with the Phillips Collection.

Christine Masucci - Director of Communications, Managing Editor, SBCA
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Candace Stout

Linzey Rice - Administrative Manager, Teachers College Dance Education EdD Program and the Arnold Institute for Dance Education Research, Leadership & Policy at Columbia University
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Exploring the Role of Partnerships in Youth Arts Programming: A Case Study of Project Jericho
Advisor: Jim Sanders

Linzey's current position is Administrative Manger of the Dance Education Program, Arnhold Institute for Dance Education Research, Leadership & Policy, and the Arnhold Dance Education Research Studios at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this role, she manages operations - budgeting/finance, marketing, human resources, student support, etc. - for the doctoral program within the Department of Arts & Humanities. Linzey also manages the operations of the research institute by supporting the team of Research Fellows and directing a team of doctoral student employees. They recently opened a 5 million dollar state-of-the-art dance studio complex at Teachers College, so a primary function of her role has been managing and programming this space. Linzey's team has proudly launched a community-based recreational dance program for the greater Columbia University, Morningside Heights, and Harlem communities called Morningside DanceWorX. The program offers studio classes and workshops taught by current dance education doctoral students that celebrate diverse dance traditions and actualize innovative, exploratory, or interdisciplinary approaches. Housed under the umbrella of the Arnhold Institute, it has been an exciting blend of research and practice in the field of dance education. Linzey's team is currently exploring the potential for a variety of partnerships throughout the community as they continue to build this program. In addition to her time in the field, Linzey is also pursuing a PhD in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Linzey credits much of her success to what she learned while in AAEP. Reflecting, Linzey states, "While I have transitioned from arts nonprofit organizations into arts within higher education, my time in AAEP is absolutely the bedrock of current career. The MA in Arts Policy & Administration is inherently interdisciplinary, and the variety of inquiry and experience throughout the program allowed me not only to gain practical insight into the function of organizations and systems, but also into theoretical perspectives of the arts and education as a whole. My thesis research on arts and community partnerships has also directly informed my work with the Arnhold Institute's community-based dance programs. Not to mention, I am grateful I had the opportunity to be a Graduate Teaching Associate for the undergraduate art education course, Writing Art Criticism, for four semesters. As I begin to pursue a PhD, this university teaching experience is invaluable."

Linzey remembers Dr. Candace State discussing the work of Maxine Greene and touting the phrase, "Find friends of your mind." This idea has stuck with Linzey and has guided how she approaches mentorship and intellectual connection with peers, faculty, and students alike. Linzey encourage current AAEP graduate students to "find friends of their minds" throughout their time in the program and beyond.

Miranda Rife - Attorney, Rife Law and GCAC Lawyer Referral Services Program Coordinator, Greater Columbus Arts Council
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Cultivating a Creative Community: A Case Study of the Gahanna Area Arts Council
Advisor: Dana Carlisle Kletchka

After completing the Arts Policy and Administration MA program, Miranda went on to earn her JD from Capital University Law School and now runs a law firm (Rife Law LLC) focused on serving creatives in Ohio. Miranda works with individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and creative businesses to strengthen their business practices and protect their tangible and intangible assets. As a solo practitioner, she manages all day-to-day aspects of the law firm and works with arts organizations to help educate artists about key legal considerations for creatives.

Miranda first discovered she was interested in attending law school during one of her required courses, Legal Environment of Public Organizations. What Miranda learned while earning her MA APA sets her apart from other lawyers and allowed her to fill a niche role in Columbus. Miranda is able to offer her clients a unique perspective as a lawyer with hands on experience in the nonprofit sector and the creative economy. Miranda's thesis research focused on emerging nonprofit organizations and her research has been foundational to her nonprofit practice. AAEP provided Miranda with opportunities to develop a strong arts network in central Ohio.

Miranda urges current students to make the most of their time in AAEP by digging into topics and projects that they are passionate about. "OSU's campus is full of resources and opportunities, so look for ways that you can collaborate with other departments and apply what you learn to your own scholarship. Remember that your dream job might not even exist yet, you may have to build it yourself!"

Are you interested in learning more about Miranda's experience? Email her at miranda@rifelawllc.com.

Keith Scanlon - Founder, ColoRule LLC, and High School Art Teacher, Gahannah Lincoln High School, Gahannah-Jefferson Public Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Christine Ballengee Morris

Zoë Schmid (Zwegat) - Major Gifts Officer, the College of Wooster
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Diversity, Inclusion, and the Visitor-Centered Art Museum: A Case Study of the Columbus Museum of Art
Advisor: Shoshanah Goldberg-Miller

Rena Winton - Visual Art Teacher, Woodrow Wilson High School, Long Beach Unified School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Veronica Abraham - Visual Art Teacher, Watkins Memorial High School, Southwest Licking School District
Program: Art Education
Advisor: JT Richardson

Kate Nordstrom (Bryant)
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Karen Hutzel

Kris Roberts - Project Coordinator- Software Tooling, Cummins Inc.
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
your little voice: An autoethnographic narrative on philosophy, technology, relationships, and the arts
Advisor: Jim Sanders

After receiving his MA in Arts Policy & Administration, Kris worked for a regional arts council for several years as Operations Manager. His duties included accounting, website management, project management, event planning, and managing the state arts agency grant program in the region. Based on this experience, Kris moved to an administrative role in a global company, and then into his current project coordination role at Cummins Inc. In his project coordinator position, Kris describes himself as Scrum Master and as a facilitator/team coach for the US-based software team (9 developers) where he plans and aligns to meet software delivery goals. Kris also leads AOP planning, ongoing purchasing for an annual license budget of $1 million, and the designing and implementation of processes for development tool requests, approvals, purchases.

Reflecting on his time in the program, Kris shared that the AAEP program and internships set expectations and introduced topics and experience that were later very important in his arts administration role, especially regarding public policy (due to his state arts agency-adjacent duties), budgeting and finance, and program evaluation. AAEP also provided exposure to a breadth of professional experiences, which were later helpful in considering a path forward (or what might be less suited to his skills and interests).

Kris recommends that current graduate students engage fully in the content, even if it seems uninteresting or irrelevant at the time. Kris writes, "The future is unknowable, and some topics may become much more relevant later; it's helpful to have a bit of prior experience to draw from. Within the curriculum, find ways to follow your interests within the bounds of an assignment; it's an arts program, be creative. Academia can be rigid, try to find something to inspire and engage you with the subject matter. Follow the rules, but don't be afraid to make the experience meaningful for yourself."

Susannah Montgomery - Business Development and Ecosystem Manager, EIT Culture and Creativity
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
The Playful Art Museum: Employing Creativity as a Tool for Visitor Engagement
Advisor: Joni Acuff

Susannah Montgomery is a Business Development and Ecosystem Manager at the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Culture & Creativity. In this role, Susannah connects stakeholders from research, private, public, and creative sectors to drive innovation across the cultural and creative industries. She focuses particularly on partnerships that address the digital transition, including the ethical use of AI and other digital technologies in the sector. Susannah's responsibilities include relationship management with new and prospective partners, organizing consortia for venture-building, research projects, and policy labs, as well as representing the organization at events to strengthen networks and visibility. Day to day, this work combines event organization, partnership cultivation, and strategic business development aligned with EIT Culture & Creativity's mission.

In her previous position as Deputy Director of the Sustainable Media Lab, Susannah co-edited the Research Handbook on Human Rights and Digital Technology and took on tour (including to OSU!) their award winning exhibition, fabricated: Unravel Fact from Fiction in your Digital World. This was an interactive exhibition and research project about the digital literacy and the impact of AI and other digital technologies on elections. Susannah's team wrote about some of their early findings in a late breaking work for CHI 2025. Alongside her work at EIT Culture & Creativity, Susannah works with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision (the national media archive of the Netherlands) to manage EPIC-WE, a Horizon Europe-funded project aiming to empower young people to participate in shaping European Culture and their own future by ‘imagining, creating and exchanging cultural values and heritage through game-making’. Her primary job was to oversee 3 cultural hubs in the Netherlands, Portugal, and Denmark where they ran 12 cultural game jams with cultural heritage institutions, creative industries companies, universities, and youth participants.

The AAEP program equipped Susannah with the ability to navigate the intersection of cultural policy, administration, and entrepreneurship, which proves to be a daily reality in navigating the complex European innovation ecosystem. The program trained her to think critically about how the arts and culture connect to broader issues of economic development, social benefit, and policy. Reflecting on skills learned, Susannah wrote, "I developed transferable skills such as stakeholder engagement, program and project management, strategic planning, and cross-sector communication. The program’s emphasis on collaboration and applied research also gave me practical experience in building partnerships and leading initiatives that balance creativity with organizational sustainability, which directly supports my current work in building multi-stakeholder networks across Europe."

Susannah would encourage current students to take advantage of opportunities to connect theory with practice. The more students can engage with real-world projects, internships, and networks, the better prepared they will be for the field. "Keep cultivating a curiosity for new technologies and trends shaping the arts and culture sector. And remain flexible: careers in arts and cultural policy often follow nonlinear paths, and the ability to adapt and apply your skills in new contexts is one of the greatest strengths you will carry forward."

Rachel Rowen - 6-8 Art Educator and Senior Faculty Union Representative, Indianola Informal K-8, Columbus City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Karen Hutzel

Rachel Rowen is an art educator in a city wide lottery public school. She teaches grades 6-8, collaborate with community members through the arts, and is active in her teachers union.

The art education program helped Rachel develop skills for education, as well as meaning making and expression through the arts, and the technical skills needed to understand various media.

Rachel recommends students take art classes to further understand art and take psychology, to further understand humans. She also advises students to learn how to take care of themselves so that they may continue their very integral work through the arts in this world.

Rachel is available at rachelnovember1@gmail.com to further discuss her career and time in the AAEP Art Education MA program.

Patrick Callicotte - Mental Health Specialist, Dublin City Schools
Program: Art Education
Advisor: Shari Savage

In addition to a Master of Arts degree in Art Education, Patrick also holds a Masters in Social Work (The Ohio State University). Patrick currently serve as a Mental Health Specialist within Dublin City Schools, where he provides direct social-emotional support to students through individual and group sessions, with a focus on IEP/504 goals, skill-building, and emotional regulation. Patrick's role also centers on collaborating with teachers, administrators, families, and outside providers to reduce mental health barriers and ensure students have equitable access to their education.

Patrick notes that his AAEP degree was foundation in shaping the way he approaches his work today. Through his graduate coursework at OSU, Patrick developed a deep understanding of inclusive practices and the role of social justice in education, which continues to guide how he supports students in accessing their learning. Patrick's thesis work on inclusion in art education taught him how to design creative, equitable learning environments, and the program as a whole expanded his understanding of the many ways artmaking can be used to foster expression, connection, and growth. These transferable skills, including collaborating across diverse perspectives, using creativity as a tool for problem solving, and advocating for equitable access, are central to Patrick's current role as a Mental Health Specialist where he regularly integrates artmaking into student support.

Patrick's advice to current AAEP graduate students is is to embrace the full range of opportunities the program offers and to stay curious about how art and education intersect in diverse ways. "Take time to explore different approaches to artmaking and teaching, and lean into the program’s focus on social justice and inclusion, as those themes are highly relevant across many careers. Build strong relationships with your peers and professors, because those connections can continue to shape and support your professional path long after graduation. Most importantly, trust that the skills you are developing such as critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and advocacy are widely transferable and will open doors in ways you may not expect."

Interested in speaking with Patrick? Email him at patrickcallicotte@gmail.com

Marly Coldiron - Individual Giving Manager, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Cultivating Creativity: The Columbus Museum of Art and the Influence of Education on Museum Operation
Advisor: Candace Stout

AAEP offered Marly a wonderful friendship and mentorship with Wayne Lawson and connections to the Columbus non-profit and arts and culture industry.

Josh Coy - Executive Director of Arts Partnerships and Programming, Ohio University
Program: Arts Policy and Administration
Making Places or Making Waves: Cultural District Policy Making Considerations for the Public Good
Advisor: Wayne Lawson

As the Executive Director of Arts Partnerships and Program at Ohio University, Josh provides administrative, producing, and creative support within the College of Fine Arts. He oversees the Communications and Marketing team in areas such as crisis communications, grantwriting, multimedia production, social media, government relations, and alumni engagement; supervises a professional theater company called Tantrum Theater and the Athens International Film and Video Festival; manages grants through a large scale grant application strategy; and provides budgetary management through assisting faculty across the college in budget planning, forecasting, and management of various departments and independent arts producing units. Among his many hats, Josh is also the chair of the college's Experiential Arts Council Committee and the previous chair of the college's DEI Committee, a co-producer of the Biennial “OHIO Artrepreneurship Summit”, and is a senator on the Administrative Senate (2025-27). Since leaving Ohio State, Josh has also completed a MA in Theater and a MC in Communications, both from Ohio University.

Josh credits AAEP for the skills he currently uses, particularly the practical knowledge, cultural connections, and strategic priorities taught by Professor Emeritus Wayne Lawson, which had a profound impact on what is important to Josh in leading any of the organizations he has since graduation. Josh recommends current AAEP students get involved in student leadership opportunities that allow them to try out their skillset while in college.

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