The ALASA Directory is a digital platform guiding professional networking opportunities for current and former members of the University of Houston’s M.A. in Arts Leadership program.

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Alanna Khubieh – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2021
Program Coordinator | UofH Sugar Land
Freelance Artist | alannakhubieh.com

Practicum Placement : The Heritage Society | Diversity over Diversion Initiative

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts in health, Community engagement, Fundraisin

Artistic Interests : Visual fine art, Digital art, tabletop RPGs, Video games, Storytelling, Reptiles, horror/suspense, rollerblading

Work Experience & Skills
  • Sales Assistant | CAMH
  • HBU Mentor
  • Student Chair | ALASA

Alexandra DiNunzio – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2017
Marketing and Business Development Manager | gin design group

Allison Jagers – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2022
Assistant Project Manager | Weingarten Art Group

Practicum Placement: Fine Arts Administration & Management

Arts Leadership Interests: Leadership, Management

Artistic Interests: Ceramics, Photography, Darkroom, Cross-stitching, Printmaking

Work Experience & Skills
  • Project Management
  • Gallery Operations
  • Photography
  • Social Media
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Strategic Planning
  • Logistics/Registration
  • Curatorial Collection Management
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Strategic Planning
  • Logistics/Registration
  • Curatorial Collection Management

Andrea Villalobos – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2020
Project Associate & Business Writer | Arts Consulting Group

Practicum Placement : Exhibitions Fellowship | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts in health, Community engagement

Artistic Interests : Crafting, Painting, Cello, Violin, Light reading

Work Experience & Skills

Aubrey Burghardt – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2021
Manager of External Affairs | Houston Arts Alliance

Practicum Placement : Public Art Coordinator | The East End Cultural District

Arts Leadership Interests : Fundraising, Exhibition Programming, Strategic Planning, Museum & Gallery Management

Artistic Interests : Writing, Mixed-media collage, Fashion

Work Experience & Skills

Bobbie Hackett – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2019
Member Services Representative and Financial Counselor in Training | Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union

Practicum Placement : Houston Arts Alliance

Arts Leadership Interests : Change management, creating healthy work environments, effective and genuine leadership.

Artistic Interests : Musician; piano and voice.

Work Experience & Skills
  • Grant management
  • Program management
  • Event planning
  • Front house management
  • Arts Administration
  • Education administration

Briana Gonzalez – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2017
Exhibitions Coordinator | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Practicum Placement : Exhibitions Office | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Museum and Exhibition Management, Museum Education, Problem Solving

Artistic Interests : “I love to create mixed media artwork with colored pencils, markers, acrylic paints, etc., and read sci-fi fiction in my spare time.”

Candace Noel – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2019
Creative Director & Floral Designer | Floral Noel

Practicum Placement : Maxi Flower Design | FLAMART

Arts Leadership Interests : Entrepreneurship for Artists

Work Experience & Skills
  • Floral
  • Graphic Design

Carlin Truong – (he/him)

Student | Spring 2023
DMA Choral Conducting Graduate Teaching Fellow | University of Houston

Work Experience & Skills
  • High school teaching credentials

Caroline Docwra – (she/her)

Alumnus | 2017
Visual Arts Project Specialist | Center for Performing Arts Medicine at Houston Methodist
Carolinedocwra.com

Practicum Placement : Children’s Museum of Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts in Health, Community Engagement, Socially Engaged Art, Fundraising

Artistic Interests : Photography, Arts for Healing and Relaxation, Writing, Accessibility

WORK EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

  • Fundraising
  • Grantmaking
  • Exhibitions
  • Arts Education

Carolyn Casey Figueroa – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2018
Arts and Cultural Creative Project Manager | Talent Support | Community Engagement Coordinator

Practicum Placement : Public Art | University of Houston System

Arts Leadership Interests : Strategic Planning, Research and development, Community engagement, Marketing, Education

Cecilia Norman – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2022
Community Engagement Manager | Art League Houston

Practicum Placement: Alief Art House – Art in Health

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts in Health Administration

Artistic Interests : Filmmaking, Animation, Project Management, Photography, Mental Health in Arts, Nature Based Art, Urban Farming/Gardening

Charity Furr – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2020
HR Coordinator (Recruiting and Learning)

Practicum Placement: Community Engagement | Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

Chenay Newton – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2017
Assistant Manager – Social Media | The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Practicum Placement : Children’s Museum of Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Leadership, Marketing

Artistic Interests : Performing Arts, Dance, Photography

WORK EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Chelsea Whittington – (she/her)

Student | Fall 2022
Graduate Assistant | Public Art University of Houston System

Practicum Placement : Public Art UHS, Arts + Wellness

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts in Health, Educational Programming

Artistic Interests : Mixed Media, Interactive Installations, and Digital Art

WORK EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Colby Wilson – (he/him)

Student
Disaster Services Coordinator | Houston Arts Alliance
Founder and Director | Dynasty Creatives

Practicum Placement : Creative Direction / Branding

Arts Leadership Interests : Marketing, Branding

Artistic Interests : I am a stylist and Creative Director.

WORK EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Cyndie Meersman (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2020

Practicum Placement : Public Art University of Houston System | Educational programming

Arts Leadership Interests: Content programming

Cynthia Garcia

Alumnus | Fall 2020
Executive & Artistic Director | Exalted Arts

Practicum Placement : A.D. Players | Asia Society Texas Center

Arts Leadership Interests: Leadership, Management, Marketing, Faith + Art

Artistic Interests: Playwriting, Acting, Singing, Producing

Danielle Hodgins – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2019
Costume Design Lecturer | UHD
Artist | Aldea Art & Designs

Practicum Placement : Costume Director – AD Players Theatre

Arts Leadership Interests : Change Management, Executive Direction

Artistic Interests : Set design, Costume design, Mural Work

Work Experience & Skills

Debbie Vu – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2022

Practicum Placement : Museum Management

Arts Leadership Interests : Fundraising, Management, Marketing

Artistic Interests : Sculptor and Fabricator

W. Denae Powell – (she/her/hers)

Alumnus | Spring 2017
Assistant Professor | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Practicum Placement : Educational Programming Advocacy | Houston Ballet

Donald Rabin – (he/him)

Student | Spring 2025
Community Embedded Fellow | Houston Symphony
Interdisciplinary Fellow | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts
Arts and Health Fellow | Houston Methodist
Staging Director | National Flute Association

Arts Leadership Interests : Strategic Planning, Fundraising

Artistic Interests : Flute, dancing, improv, standup comedy, and just anything arts related! I also really enjoy going on adventures, being a curious mind, and skydiving.

Work Experience & Skills

Emily (MLe) McWilliams – (she/they)

Alumnus | Fall 2018
Professor of Arts Administration (TA/Instructor of Record) | Florida State University

Arts Leadership Interests : Community Engagement, Strategic Planning

Gabriela Magana – (she/her/ella)

Alumnus | Spring 2023
Executive Assistant and Special Projects Coordinator | Advocates of a Latino Museum of Cultural and Visual Arts & Archive Complex in Houston, Harris County (ALMAAHH)

Practicum Placement : Curator | Holocaust Museum Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Gallery and Museum Management, Curatorial Studies, Development, Community Engagement

Artistic Interests : Painter

Grace Ruiz – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2016

Hannah Grunwald – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2020
Grants Manager | KIPP Public Schools

Practicum Placement : Lawndale Art Center

Arts Leadership Interests : Program Development & Community Engagement

Work Experience & Skills

Ileana Yordan – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2018
Program Manager | Public Art University of Houston System

Practicum Placement : Lawndale Art Center

Arts Leadership Interests : Program Development & Community Engagement

Work Experience & Skills
  • Gallery Management
  • Grassroots Non-Profit Development

Isabelle Dom – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2017
Senior Digital Marketing Manager | Agritecture

Practicum Placement : Education, Community Engagement, Strategic Planning | Houston Ballet

Arts Leadership Interests: Marketing, Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurship

WORK EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Jacob Shideler – (he/him)

Student | Fall 2022
Program Manager, Community Engagement | Theatre Under The Stars

Practicum Placement: Seeking Opportunity!

Arts Leadership Interests: Arts Advocacy, Community Connection

Work Experience & Skills

Janine Mae Arostique- (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2020
Development Manager | Asia Society Texas Center

Arts Leadership Interests: Change management, Fundraising, Cultural policy

Jennifer Lanham – (she/her)

Student | Spring 2023
Student Program Coordinator | University of Houston

Practicum Placement: Houston Symphony, Student Concerts Coordinator

Arts Leadership Interests: Education, Community Involvement, Audience Engagement

Artistic Interests: Flute, Piano

Work Experience & Skills
  • Elementary Music Teacher | Katy ISD
  • Private Lesson Teacher | Self Employed

Jennifer Staples – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2020
Executive Director | Dance Alive National Ballet

Practicum Placement: Independent Research on COVID-19 Effects & Racial Equity on Arts Organizations

Arts Leadership Interests: Arts Advocacy, Community Connection

Work Experience & Skills
  • Administrative
  • Development
  • Marketing

Jessica Gonzalez – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2020
Marketing Manager | Houston Grand Opera

Practicum Placement : HGOco Education & Outreach | Houston Grand Opera

Arts Leadership Interests : Marketing and Communications, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Strategic Planning

Artistic Interests: Classical music, opera, drag

Work Experience & Skills
  • E-Mail Marketing
  • Digital Marketing
  • Stage Management
  • Opera Administration

Jordon Nickerson – (he/him)

Alumnus | Spring 2017
Digital Marketing Analyst | Capacity Interactive

Practicum Placement : Houston Youth Symphony

Arts Leadership Interests : Administration, Finance, and Marketing

Artistic Interests : Music production and performance

Work Experience & Skills

Kaitlyn B. Jones – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2022
Curatorial Assistant | Mid-America Arts Alliance

Practicum Placement : Mitchell Center for the Arts, Graduate Assistant

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts Consulting, Performing Arts Curation, Program Management

Artistic Interests : “I believe that art is a conduit for healing and activism. As an interdisciplinary artist and arts administrator, I engage in anti-racist practices and methodologies to create, curate and support art that diversifies community programming and makes it accessible for all communities regardless of race, age, gender, sexuality, ability or socio-economic status.”

Work Experience & Skills
  • Freelance Project Manager and Independent Curator
  • Event Planning
  • Office Administration
  • Performing Arts Curation
  • Communications
  • Project Management

Kara Cothern – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2018
Art Consultant | Skyline Art Services

Practicum Placement : Arts Connect

Arts Leadership Interests : Management

Artistic Interests : Painting, drawing, textiles, music

Karoline Melstveit – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2017
Associate Artist Manager | HarrisonParrott

Practicum Placement : Finance Department | Houston Symphony

Arts Leadership Interests : Artist management, Orchestra management, Financial management

Kathleen Clark – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2021
Education Coordinator | Rockport Center for the Arts

Practicum Placement : Community Engagement | Art Museum of South Texas

Arts Leadership Interests : Community Engagement, Strategic Planning

Lauren Miller – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2019
Growth Marketer | Women in Sales Everywhere (WISE)

Practicum Placement : Texas Music Festival – Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

Arts Leadership Interests : Marketing, Change Management, Event Coordination & Management, Community Outreach

Artistic Interests : Opera & singing

Work Experience & Skills
  • Stage Management
  • Marketing

Liz Sholar – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2021
Community Enrichment Manager | Project Row Houses
Consultant | lizsholar.com

Practicum Placement : Art Programming | Community Engagement | Project Row Houses

Arts Leadership Interests : Public Programming, Community Engagement, Socially Engaged Art Practices

Work Experience & Skills
  • Grant Writing Consultation
  • Programs Management

Lysette Portano – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2021
Operations Assistant | European Association of International Education (EAIE)

Practicum Placement : Performing Arts | Virtuosi of Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts Accessibility, Arts and Health, Fundraising

Work Experience & Skills

Madi Murphy – (she/her)

Student | Fall 2023
Exhibitions Fellow | Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Practicum Placement : Exhibitions | Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Exhibitions Management, Curation

Artistic Interests : Painting, Drawing, Photography

Work Experience & Skills
  • Curatorial Assistant & Research Associate | FotoFest

Melissa “Rose” Tylinski – (she/her)

Alumnus | Fall 2021
Freelance Artist | PaintedbyRose
Donor Engagement Coordinator | Houston Arts Alliance

Practicum Placement : Digital Communications & Analytics | FreshArts | Arts District Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts and health, Law and the Arts, Marketing, Business Models, Ethical Leadership

Artistic Interests : Studio Art Drawing, Arts & Psychology, Arts in Medicine, Photography, Painting

Work Experience & Skills

Michael McFadden (he/him)

Alumnus | Fall 2016

Ming Wang (he/him)

Student | Spring 2023
Administrative & Patron Relations Coordinator | Apollo Chamber Players

Practicum Placement : Music Study

Art Leadership Interests : Fundraising, Marketing

Nancy Agin Dunnahoe (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2017
Content Marketing Senior Manager, Founder | Neon Artifact

Practicum Placement : Digital Archives | Houston Arts Alliance | Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts Marketing

Artistic Interests : Digital Archives, Storytelling

Nina Saunders (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2022
Education and Community Engagement | Alley Theatre

Practicum Placement : Arts in Health | Alley Theatre

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts in Health for Education

Olivia Howell-Wilson

Alumnus | Spring 2016
Grants Coordinator | Community Foundation Sonoma County

Practicum Placement : Events & Education | Children’s Museum Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Grants management, Philanthropy

Artistic Interests : Line block printing

Work Experience & Skills
  • Event Planner
  • Higher Ed Development
  • Foundation Grants Management

Paige Kutschall – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2023
Board & Executive Relations Manager | Houston Ballet

Practicum Placement: Strategic Planning | Houston Ballet Academy

Arts Leadership Interests : Arts Education, Strategic Planning, Development, Management

Work Experience & Skills

Rachael Fernandez – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2019
Wine Show Coordinator | Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Practicum Placement: The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Arts Leadership Interests : Operations, Management, Administration, Education and Community Engagement, Accessibility, Advocacy, Governance

Artistic Interests : Watercolor painting, crocheting, sewing, performing arts

Work Experience & Skills

Sarah Richardson – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2022
Development Coordinator | The Witte Museum

Practicum Placement: Children’s Museum Houston

Arts Leadership Interests : Applied Anthropology, Museums, Nonprofit Management, Organizational Culture, Strategic Planning, DEAI

Work Experience & Skills
  • Project Management
  • Intercultural Competence
  • Nonprofit Operations
  • Technical & Business Writing
  • Data Analysis & Research
  • Collections Care & Interpretation

Stephen Davis – (he/him)

Alumnus | Spring 2023
Grants Associate & Literary Manager | A.D. Players

Arts Leadership Interests : Leadership, Change Management, Fundraising

Tanja Peterson – (she/her)

Student | Fall 2023
Director and Curator | Redbud Gallery

Practicum Placement: Redbud Gallery

Arts Leadership Interests : Curation, Educational Programming, Community Engagement

Artistic Interests : Paintings, Prints, Photography, Sculpture, Mixed Media

Work Experience & Skills
  • Elementary English Language Arts Teacher

Tyler Kay – (she/her)

Alumnus | Spring 2018
Self Employed- Public Artist, Muralist, Painter | Tyler Kay

Practicum Placement: Community Engagement | The Skopelos Foundation for the Arts

Arts Leadership Interests : Public Art

Artistic Interests : Public art, painting, mural painting, project management, design, small business operations

Work Experience & Skills
  • Art Gallery Operations
  • Project Management
  • Creative Directing,
  • Small Business Operations

Zachary Gresham

Alumnus | Fall 2015
Program Manager | Arts in Medicine | MD Anderson Cancer Center

Practicum Placement: The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

Arts leadership alumni + student association

3700 Cullen Blvd
Houston, TX 77204-4039
uhartsleaders@gmail.com