Statewide Faculty
Angela M.D. Allen is an adjunct professor at both John Tyler Community College and the Art Foundation Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her BA in painting at University of Maryland and her MFA in painting at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
Jeffrey Allison is the Paul Mellon Collection educator at VMFA and a professional photographer. He holds a BA in photography and film from Virginia Intermont College and an MFA in photography from VCU.
Fenella Belle, now an instructor of art at the Piedmont Virginia Community College, earned her MFA in fibers at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Karen Daly, a registrar and administrator at VMFA, holds a BA in religious studies from Louisiana State University and an MA in art historical studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Audrey Davis earned her MA in art history from the University of Virginia. She is the assistant director/curator of the Alexandria Black History Museum.
Anh Do specializes in animation as a faculty member at Virginia State University. He has a BFA in kinetic imagery and 3D animation from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently working on his MFA in animation at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Donna Drozda, a painter, author, and educator, attended The Cleveland Institute of Art, followed by nine years of intensive private study under the guidance of two mentors.
Sarah Eckhardt is assistant curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at VMFA and a current PhD candidate in art history at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received her MA in art history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and BA in art and English from Valparaiso University.
Dr. Cliff Edwards is currently a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. He did graduate and post-graduate work at Strasbourg University in France, Neuchatel University in Switzerland, the Hebrew Union School of Bible and Archaeology in Jerusalem, and Daitokuji Zen Monastery in Kyoto, Japan. Edwards earned his PhD from Northwestern University in Comparative Religion.
Karen Eide is a full-time professional artist and earned her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Mary Sweeney Ellett, now a retired art historian, earned her MA and PhD from the University of Virginia.
Celeste Fetta received her BA in art history with a minor in anthropology from The College of William and Mary, and holds an MA in decorative art history from the University of Glasgow. She is currently adult programs manager at VMFA.
Dawn Flores is a professional artist who has a BA and double-major in art and theater at Edgewood College, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Loyola University in New Orleans.
Dr. Jennifer Foley is the Paul Mellon Statewide educator at VMFA and an art historian and photographer. She holds a BA in art history from Brooklyn College, the City University of New York, and an MA and PhD in art history from Cornell University.
Karen Getty earned her BA in art history at The College of William and Mary and holds an MA in art history with a focus on African and African American art from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently the coordinator of tour services at VMFA.
Steven Glass is the resident potter at VMFA, where he has taught since 1982. He has conducted pottery residencies in Great Britain and Korea and is a member of the board of the Cub Creek Pottery Foundation.
Ryan Gothrup is an adjunct professor of glass at Tidewater Community College. He received his BFA from Kent State University and his MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Gothrup has been creating conceptually driven, multimedia works in glass for more than 10 years.
Margaret Hancock is owner of Margaret Hancock Studio and former director of public programs at the Virginia Center for Architecture. She holds a BA in art history from Duke University and a MEd from the University of Virginia.
Cherri Hankins is a custom fiber artist. In addition to weaving, spinning, and felting creative works, Cherri teaches classes and workshops throughout Virginia.
Mary Holland is the Thomas C. Gordon, Jr., Director of the Studio School and a professional artist. She has a BFA from Syracuse University and an MFA in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University.
v Li Jian, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Curator of East Asian Art at VMFA, earned her BA in English language and management at the Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute, and her MA in history of art from the University of Minnesota.
Anne Kenny-Urban earned her BA at Princeton University, her MA in art history at the University of Chicago, and her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Prior to her current role as manager of budget services and ARMICS compliance at VMFA, she served as VMFA assistant head of risk management.
Twyla Kitts is currently teacher programs educator at VMFA. She received a BA in Russian history from the University of Virginia and is also an artist who has worked in a variety of media.
Dr. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda is a poet, painter, and educator, and holds two masters degrees and a PhD from George Mason University, where she received the first doctorate presented by the school.
Linda Laino, an artist and educator, received her BFA from the University of Richmond and her MFA from Virgina Commonwealth University.
Glenn McClure is an award-winning professional photographer.
Abigail McKenzie has a BFA in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and an MA and MFA in printmaking from the University of Iowa. She is currently the chairman of the Art Department at Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia.
Courtney Morano, school and family programs manager at VMFA, received her BA in art history and anthropology from George Mason University, and holds an MA in Greek and Roman art from the University of Virginia.
Andrew Morgan is a Washington D.C.-based filmmaker with a BA in broadcast and cinema from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Phil Nesmith is an award-winning ferrotype and ambrotype artist and photographer in the Richmond, Virginia area.
Trent Nicholas holds an MA in cinema studies from New York University. He is currently the coordinator of statewide media resources at VMFA and teaches film history for the Virginia Commonwealth University Art History Department.
Dr. Elizabeth L. O’Leary, the associate curator of American Art at VMFA, earned her BA in art history at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, and her MA and PhD in art history at the University of Virginia.
Laura Parsons holds a BA from Carleton College and a MA from the University of Virginia. She also completed doctoral coursework at the University of Chicago. She is a freelance writer specializing in arts coverage.
Marjorie Perrin is an instructor of fine arts painting and drawing at the VMFA Studio School. She obtained her BFA at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a liberal arts degree from Randolph Macon Woman's College, and has studied at The Art Students League of New York and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Corey Piper received a BA in art history from the University of South Carolina and an MA in art history with a specialization in museum studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. He serves as the curatorial associate for the Paul Mellon Collection at VMFA.
Robyn Raines is currently campaign manager for the Barter Theatre and a professional artist. She earned her BFA in textile design at the Moore College of Art, Philadelphia.
John Ravenal earned a BA in art history from Wesleyan University, and both an MA and an M.Phil. in art history from Columbia University. He is currently the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at VMFA.
Dr. Susan J. Rawles received her BA in economics and government from Smith College, her MA in history of art from Rice University, and her PhD in American studies from The College of William and Mary. She is now the assistant curator of American Decorative Art at VMFA.
Lisa Rhody has a BA in English writing from Denison University and an MA in English literature from the University of Maryland. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland – College Park, where she specializes in 20th-century American literature, modernism, and contemporary poetry. She also teaches courses in writing, poetry, and American literature.
Dr. John Henry Rice is the associate curator of South Asian and Islamic Art at VMFA. He received his BA in art and architectural history and religion from Wesleyan University and his MA and PhD in history of art from the University of Pennsylvania.
Barbara Rothermel earned her MA in museum studies with an emphasis in art history at the University of Oklahoma. She is now the director of the Daura Gallery at Lynchburg College.
Rachel Sawan White, now an art and design faculty member at the Orchard House School, graduated in June 2000 from Loughborough University School of Art and Design with honors in fine art printmaking. She studied bookmaking and bookbinding, including traditional and experimental techniques.
Dr. Peter Schertz earned his BA in classical languages and literature from the University of Chicago. He received his MA in museum studies and PhD in classical art and archaeology from the University of Southern California. Schertz is currently the curator of Ancient Art at VMFA.
Dr. Donald Schrader, an adjunct professor of art history at Mary Washington University, received his MA and PhD from the University of Virginia, specializing in Italian Renaissance art.
Barry Shifman earned his BA in art history from the University of California – Los Angeles and his MA in art history from the University of Chicago, Illinois. He is currently the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Late 19th- and Early 20th-Century Decorative Arts at VMFA.
Emily Smith earned a BA in English with a minor in art history and an MA in art history, both from the University of Virginia. She is currently the director of 1708 Gallery in Richmond.
Dr. Rosemary Smith is an art historian who specializes in the art of Asia. She completed her PhD at the University of Virginia.
Beryl Solla, the chairman of the Art Department at the Piedmont Virginia Community College, received a BA from Florida International University and an MFA from the University of Miami, Florida.
Mary Swezey has a BFA in art history from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA in fibers from Arizona State University. She has also studied textile techniques at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. She has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and Longwood College as well as VMFA.
Jennifer Van Winkle, an artist and arts choreographer, received a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1996.
Kendra Wadsworth, a scenic painter for motion picture, theatrical, television, and commercial projects, has an undergraduate degree in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has an MFA in painting from The University of Pennsylvania.
Della Watkins holds a BA in art history from JMU, an MAE from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Virginia professional license to teach PreK – 12 art education. She is currently the chief educator of Education and Statewide Partnerships at VMFA.
Betsy White, an art historian and a member of the Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission, graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC.
Suzanne Whittier is a professional artist and instructor at the Appomattox Regional Governor's School. She received her BFA in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University and her MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Dr. Paula Winn received her BA in art history (the museum studies track), her MA in art history, and her PhD in pre-Columbian art and architecture with a minor in the art of colonial Latin America, all from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently an adjunct professor of art history and graduate assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. James Yates has led numerous workshops as an artist and psychotherapist utilizing the performing and visual arts. His background in the arts includes sculpture, percussion, improvisational theater and site-specific public art projects. His degrees include a BFA, MA in adult education and PhD in counseling psychology.
Dr. Sylvia Yount earned her BA in Italian with a minor in music from New York University, Washington Square and University College, her MA in history of art from the University of Pennsylvania, and her PhD in history of art from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She is currently the Louise B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Curator of American Art at VMFA.
Performing Arts
William Feasley attended the Estudio de Arte Guitarristico in Mexico City before becoming the first guitarist to receive the Peabody Conservatory's coveted Artist Diploma. He plays the classical guitar, both as a solo performer and as part of The
D’Amore Duo.
Jane Franklin is artistic director for Jane Franklin Dance studios in Arlington, Virginia. She has an MFA from Ohio State University, where she was a University Fellow. She also obtained her Laban Movement Analysis Certificate through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies.
Robert Jospé is a drummer, percussionist, and composer. He attended New York University and is currently an adjunct professor in the Department of Music at the University of Virginia.
Kelly Kennedy is a musician, actress, composer, teacher, and dancer. A soprano, Kelly accompanies herself on piano, guitar, harpsichord, and a variety of traditional folk instruments.
Kid Pan Alley has shared the joys of songwriting with children around the country. The organization’s mission is not only to give children hands-on experience in the creative process, but also to help them develop a broader awareness of the world around them, including exposure to pertinent environmental, social, and political issues.
Paul Reisler is a nationally known composer as well as founder and artistic director of the musical groups Trapezoid and Kid Pan Alley. He received his BA in music theory and composition from George Washington University.
Michael Jefry Stevens is a jazz composer and pianist. Each year, he brings a unique lineup of internationally known composer musicians — as well as the best in contemporary jazz and music education — to VMFA partners.