Bios
Elected Officers
Jeff Sandquist currently serves as the Chair of MAAE. He served for a number of years as the secretary and vice-chair of MAAE. His history with the Alliance goes back over 20 years to the beginnings of what is now the MAAE. In addition to his work for MAAE he is a past-president of; Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association, Missouri Choral Directors Association, Missouri Music Educators Association, Central District MMEA, and Arts Rolla!. He continues to serve SWACDA as the Honor Choir Coordinator. In real life he is recently retired from the music department chair and choral director position for the Rolla Public Schools, a position he has held for twenty-five years.
Tom Tobias, Tom Tobias, born 1954 in Decatur Illinois, spent his early, formative years in Quincy Illinois and St. Louis Missouri. He graduated from Lindbergh High School in 1972. In 1976 he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Southwest Missouri State University (Missouri State University) with an emphasis in printmaking and drawing. In 1982, he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts Degree and teaching certification from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
His 33 years as a teacher were spent teaching art, K-12 at various schools in the Saint Louis Public Schools, the last ten at Metro High School. Throughout his teaching years, at various times he taught part time as an adjunct instructor for Meramec Community College and Washington University. In December of 2014, he retired from teaching, and accepted a position as Arts Education Director for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He retired from his position as Arts Education Director in June of 2019 and is currently a long-term substitute teacher for the Mehlville School District.
In between substitute teaching opportunities he spends his time making art, completing house repairs, traveling and spending time with family and grandchildren.
Michael Dove , PhD currently serves as the secretary for MAAE. He is the vice-president elementary music for the South Central Missouri Music Educators Association and is the treasurer for Kodaly of the Ozarks. He has been a full-time music educator since 1989 and earned his doctorate from the University of Kansas in 2008. Dr. Dove has completed Kodaly certifications in Levels 1-3 and Orff certification Level 1. He has served as the chairman of the music department, professor of music education and director of bands at Baptist Bible College, Springfield. Currently he is teaching in the Marshfield R-I school district.
Bruce Dickerson, Master of Science with a Specialization in Choral Music Education from The Univeristy of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign 1982 and a Bachelor of Science with a Specialization in Music Education: Choral/Vocal Emphasis from the U of I Dec 1978. Retired Choral Director from Truman High School 2006 and as Director of Middle & Upper School Music at The Barstow School in 2018. Previous teaching was at LaSalle-Peru Twp. High School in Illinois. Bruce was President of the Missouri Choral Director's Association 2005-2007, President of KC Metro MMEA District #3, serves on the Board of Directors at Music/Arts Institute in Independence MO where he founded The Young MAIsterSingers Children's Choir in 1985 which performed with KC Symphony, Independence Symphony and Northland Symphony Orchestras as well as recording new children's choir music for Belwin Mills Music Co. Bruce has served as a building rep for the Independence NEA and as District Department Chair. Retirement includes assisting MCDA when needed, teaching piano to 4 of his 7 grandchildren and serving as Finance Chair for LifeConnection Church: Independence.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Advisory Council for Financial Sustainability
Harlan Brownlee currently serves as Chair of the MAAE Advisory Council and understands the transformational power that the arts have to improve the quality of life for individuals and the community. He has worked for thirty-five years in the arts education field as a performing artist, teaching artist, and arts administrator. Mr. Brownlee received his B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and earned an M.A. in Educational Research and Psychology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. He has an extensive performance background and currently serves on the Credentialing and Professional Development Committees for the National Young Audiences – Arts for Learning Network. Brownlee is on the Kennedy Center’s National touring roster for the Partners in Education program and Changing Education through the Arts. HBRO@MAIL.com
Arts Integration Committee
Robert M. Gifford, DMA was a member of the statewide Arts Education Task Force that in 1990 recommended formation of the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, and he has served on the Board of Directors of the Alliance since that time. He was Chair of MAAE from 2003-2011 and currently serves as Chair of the MAAE Arts Integration Committee. Dr. Gifford is a member of the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame and the 2010 recipient of the Missouri Arts Council Arts Award in Arts Education.
Legislative Watch Committee
Seeking a chair.
Committee to address issues of Racism, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE)
Maria A. Ellis, currently serves as Chair of the MAAE RIDE Committee addressing issues of Racism, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity and is a passionate educator and conductor. She is the owner of Girl Conductor and currently serves as the Director of The Sheldon’s City of Music All-Star Chorus and The St. Louis Children’s Choirs newest virtual ensemble
. She is an active clinician, adjudicator and presenter throughout the United States and abroad. Maria holds a B.M. in Music Education emphasis on Voice (K-12 Certified) Degree from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. She has served as the Arts and Administrative Fellow for The St. Louis Symphony and has served as the Community Engagement Manager for The St. Louis Children’s Choirs. Maria is the Repertoire and Resource Chair of Inclusivity for the Missouri Choral Directors Association. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Music Educators, Missouri Alliance for Arts Education and holds Level 3 Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education. Maria is the wife of Marion Ellis Jr. and the mother of Aria, Kendal and Noah.
MAAE SUPPORT TEAM
Phyllis Pasley - Master in Art of Teaching , Webster University, Bachelor of Science in Education (Elementary) and Bachelor of Music Education (K-12 Vocal) from University of Central Missouri. Retired after 34 years in public school teaching from Pattonville School District July 2019, where she spent the bulk of her tenure as a K-5 General/Vocal Music specialist at Willow Brook Elementary. Her teaching experience also included long-term sub positions at Duchesne Catholic High School and St. Louis Public Schools. Phyllis has served on boards and commissions for the Creative Motion Alliance, and the Maryland Heights Cultural Arts Commission. She has worked closely on a series of benefit concerts for the Branson Regional Arts Council and Neighbors and Friends of Table Rock Lake. Married to Tom since 1985, the couple reside in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Phyllis Pasley began training in January 2020 with Ben Martin and assumed the executive director role July 1, 2020.
Kyna Iman a Missouri lobbyist, has an unusual name, pronounced Ki-na I-mahn. Since 1993, Kyna has run her own one-person lobbying firm, Kyna Iman LLC. The one person is her, and it’s how she likes it. Iman went to William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., where, unlike some of her colleagues at the Capitol, she did not study political science or law; she was an English and communications Major, who minored in dance. She's worked with the Arts Council, since 1988, and now represents a wide variety of issues related to arts, education and health including Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, Missouri Citizens for the Arts, Gifted Association of Missouri, American Red Cross, the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA), Missouri Southern State University, Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association, among others.
Communication Manager: email:
Sarah Serio, MAAE's Communication Manager is a nationally exhibiting printmaker residing in southwest Missouri. She received degrees in fine art and graphic communication. She is active in her area arts community and currently serves on the Neosho Arts Council Board of Directors. Learn more about Sarah by visiting her weebly website. Contact Sarah at communication@moaae.org
Lauren Hanahan, MAAE's Arts Across the Curriculum Program Specialist currently (also) works as an Early Childhood Teacher at The College School in St Louis, MO. Lauren's current teaching follows a Reggio Approach where she uses many mediums to help students become observant of the world around them. Lauren was an Arts Integration advocate and Instructional Coach in Virginia for over 10 years, where she collaborated with others to develop grade-level and school-wide Arts Integration lessons and units, coordinated research, planning, and budgeting for teaching-artist-in-residence visits, and led professional learning sessions in arts integration techniques and strategies. Lauren has received over 100 hours of arts integration training and looks forward to assisting MAAE's efforts in this area.
Cynthia Williams Phelps holds a Ph.D. in Music Education, with an emphasis in learning, teaching, and curriculum, from the University of Missouri. Dr. Phelps teaches graduate courses in music education online at the University of Missouri. As a music teacher educator, university supervisor, public school music educator, and choral/instrumental performer, she cultivated a unique perspective for the importance of fine arts advocacy and arts integrated learning communities. Dr. Phelps has collaborated with Literacy and Art Education specialists in teaching expressive arts projects, developed integrative course materials, and presented arts integration workshops at state and national conferences.
Christine Jarquio Nichols serves as MAAE's Coordinator for projects of the RIDE Committee, addressing issues related to racism, inclusion, diversity and equity. Christine is a passionate music educator in Columbia, Missouri, and has been a force in the music community for over a decade. Her leadership skills and dedication to creating meaningful and impactful programs has led Christine to being a sought after director, singer, pianist, and educator in the mid-Missouri area. In addition to teaching choral and vocal arts at Columbia Independent School, she will be stepping into the role of Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging to lead the school in that capacity.
Dr. Melissa A. Cooper serves as MAAE's Director of Public Policy. From Northwest Oklahoma State University- she received her Bachelors of Music Education (BME), from Southeast Missouri State University - Masters of Arts, and her Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, from the University of Missouri - Columbia. Melissa is a retired PK-12 General Music, Band and Choir teacher, having taught 30 years in Oklahoma and Missouri. She currently teaches private piano, and will be teaching part-time general music and choir in the private sector, as well as serving as a co-mentor for the Southeast Missouri Music Educators Association. Melissa is married to Kevin S. Cooper since 1991, and is the mother to Katrina, Kathlyn, and Keegan.
Make Music Day-St. Louis Coordinator email: stlouis@makemusicday.org
Marschnee Strong is an entrepreneur, vocal instructor and adjunct faculty member at Webster University with 22 years of experience planning and coordinating community and fundraising events from inception to execution and in leading, mentoring, and managing people in arts and education. Learn more about Make Music Day and Make Music Day - St. Louis
Senate Student Fine Arts Exhibit Chair email: senate.exhibit@maea.net
Vicki Bean is retired visual arts educator who coordinates this massive project for MAAE and MAEA each year. Vicki has taken on a number of leadership roles thorughout her career including President of MAEA, Advocacy Chair, District and Division representative and more. She has served the Alliance in several ways including a seat on the Advisory Council. She was named the National Secondary Art Educator of the Year and National Western Regional Art Educator of the Year in (both in 2015.) Among her duties as exhibit chair, Vicki not only collects the student art and distributes it for selection, but also oversees the student recognition, the duplication and the display of the work in the Senate Hallway at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City. In addition, she has overseen the distribution of copies of the selected prints to the Missouri Senators who chose them, and has also brought visual displays to MAEA conferences to celebrate this work.Learn more about this annual project here.
Fine Arts Education Day Coordinator email: faed@moaae.org
Dr. Karen Stafford is a retired music educator with decades of experience as an elementary music specialist, and collegiate level instructor. She received her PhD from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. She has worked in the School District of Washington, New Haven, Adrian and Kingsville, MO and also as an adjunct professor for Lindenwood University, and Central Methodist University and as a supervisor of student teachers for Missouri State University.Show Me Arts Education Day Coordinator email: smarts@moaae.org
Sarah Matthews is a theatre educator with a wide variety of experience and a passion for both arts education and arts integration.
Awards Coordinator email: awards@moaae.org
Stephanie Henry is originally from Boston but now lives in KCMO where she directs choirs and does part-time church music when she isn’t traveling around the globe with her husband Tim.
Ben Martin taught and directed educational theatre in Missouri for 34 years before retiring in the spring of 2010 During his career, he won the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards from the Lee's Summit School District, The Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri and Missouri State Thespians. Martin continues to be an active advocate for school theatre by serving as Executive Director for the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education and has just completed terms on the boards of the Educational Theatre Association and the Missouri State Thespians . He is active in his community of Lee's Summit where he is a past president of the Arts Council, current president of the new community theatre, Summit Theatre Group, a member of Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce. Ben retired from his role as executive director of MAAE in 2020 and now serves as State Arts Advocacy Chair through Americans for the Arts for Missouri Citizens for the Arts and serves as liaison from MCA to MAAE.
Rachael Wenzel, MAAE's Communications Director. A visual arts educator from the Kansas City area, Rachael brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm, and will assist with electronic communications, contact lists and social media. Contact Rachael at rachael.wenzel@moaae.org or communicationsdirector@moaae.org
FORMER Fine Arts Education Day Coordinator email: jsandquist@moaae.org
Jeff Sandquist not only serves as the Chair of MAAE, he has served as a coordinator for MAAE's annual celebration of Fine Arts at the Missouri Capitol - Fine Arts Education Day for over a decade. Learn more about this annual event here.
Andrea Branstetter, MAAE's 2022 SHOW-ME Arts (SMarts) Coordinator. A recently retired music educator from Crocker, MO, Andrea brings a love for service and a passion for advocacy work in support of arts education. Preliminary plans for the FY '22 our student advocacy training initiative include both virtual and in-person components. You can learn more here or contact Andrea at advocacy@moaae.org.