FACULTY / CURRENT

INSTRUCTORS

Harris, Holly. Holly's formal schooling began in the form of an herbalism apprenticeship under Jackie Rushton, a well established herbalism teacher in Michigan, and continued in 2009 with three ten week courses at the Naturopathic Institute of Therapeutic Education in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Holly has a working knowledge of the native medicinals/foods of the Midwestern region from several years of first hand wild crafting experience. This experience is enriched by her work at an organic herb farm, and installing medicine wheel gardens. She is currently undergoing a bee keeping apprenticeship, which includes an introduction into apitherapy, and also has training in aromatherapy and reflexology. Trying to walk lightly and believing that it’s the combination of the little things in life that makes the difference in the world are her key philosophies. Natural health, gardening, food as medicine being key facets of these beliefs. “The human body is amazingly complex, and can be studied for a lifetime with new discoveries around every turn. There are so many possibilities for creating health with herbs and minerals that I cannot help but to be fascinated” -Holly Agardy

Arnold, Jennifer. Jennifer has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from CMU. She works for the Dow Corning Corporation as a chemical engineer. Jennifer has studied meditation and Zen practices with Andy Rapp at Creative Spirit Center (now Creative 360) and has been leading group meditation sessions for over a year now. She is actively involved in the community and in personal spiritual growth; striving to continuously improve body, mind and spirit.

Ault, Alex, a 2010 Dow High graduate, has been juggling for 9 years.  He is self-taught and believes that ANYONE can learn to juggle.  He has juggled everything from scarves to knives to tiki torches (while lit !!) and is hoping to juggle chain saws someday.   Alex has lived in Midland all his life with his parents, 5 brothers and sisters, and various pets.  He will be attending SVSU in the fall and majoring in Occupational Therapy. 

Bartel, Suellen. Suellen Bartel is a Anat Baniel Method (sm) Practitioner  and Feldenkrais® Practitioner who resides in Bay City Michigan.  She was diagnosed with severe RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis at 16 years of age. Her experiences living with her disability led her to work with people with disabilities in many capacities, as a Disability Resource Consultant, Agency Director, and as a Outreach Coordinator for Mid-Michigan Community Health Center.  In 2001, Suellen was introduced to the ABM and Feldenkrais® Methods and started her amazing recovery process. In 2003, she began her ABM Method Training in San Francisco, became certified as a Feldenkrais Practitioner in 2007 and opened her business, Revitalize Yourself.  Her studio is located in Downtown Bay City, In the Phoenix Bldg. 721 Washington Ave, Suite 305. She offers hands-on private lessons as well as group lessons.   Suellen is living proof how this work can transform your life.  Having miraculously improved her everyday function and mobility, she continues to gain greater possibilities for her life! For more information visit www.revitalizeyourself.net.

Belson, Michele. Michele has a passion for people and helping people. Her years of experience within the health and fitness world, along with her own personal triumphs with serious medical issues, enhance her ability to provide a unique and personal approach to helping others. She desires to help women of all abilities discover their inner beauty and realize their full potential by providing a safe environment to utilize their mind, body, and spirit.

Michele is a wife, mother, and a loyal friend. She is a ten-year cancer survivor, who has battled epilepsy for nearly two decades, and fibromyalgia is now a daily reminder that she must remain dedicated to taking care of herself. Spending time with family and friends, enjoying a great cup of coffee or tea, traveling to new destinations, and the constant development of her spirituality while seeking enlightenment from this world, are some of Michele's favorite things.

Michele is certified in Reiki, PIYO, Meditation, and is a Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. This combination of certifications and personal struggles, help her teach programs designed to enhance bodies, minds, and spirits.

Berlin, Roz. Roz  holds two masters degrees - one in arts from Michigan State University and one in counseling from Central Michigan University. She works in the medium of fiber sculpture, and her woven sculpture forest has been featured throughout Michigan. 

Brillhart, Christine, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Community Relations, Meta4
Christine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Science degree in biology from Central Michigan University. She taught science in the Midland Public School system for 13 years as well as designed curriculum and provided professional development for educators. She created and coordinates a math mentoring program (S.M.A.R.T.) with over 50 volunteer community members for 5th and 6th grade students. Currently, she networks and develops partnerships with schools and other educational agencies to re-tool, create and expand existing programs, as well as assist with marketing, grant writing, scheduling and development of summer camps and after school programs.

Burns, Ray. Ray is a Physical Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, trained in the Feldenkrais Method®, the Anat Baniel Method(sm), & the Anat Baniel Method for Children(SM) practicing in the Saginaw Valley of Michigan.

Christens, Terry. Terry has enjoyed creating art since early childhood. Her love of creativity was very helpful in her first career as a nurse. Then when her children were born she stayed home to raise them and began to volunteer at school and as a Scout leader. She has taught sandcasting, egg decorating, cell animation on the computer, tatting, knitting, polymer clay, fabric dyeing, and most recently the Zentangle® drawing method. She is looking forward to sharing this wonderful new relaxing art form with you.

Cirihal, Stephanie, Stephanie is a Certified Personal Coach, having graduated in 2003 from Coach University, a leading coach training organization. She is available as a coach, facilitator, and workshop presenter. Stephanie learned to follow her heart and passions when she hired a coach to make a life and career transition to coaching in 1999. Since then, her fascination with powerful conversations led her to becoming certified in Crucial Conversations Mastery, a workshop that teaches people the skills to successfully conduct the conversations they need to have to enhance their lives. Six years as a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt in innovation and problem-solving as an engineer at Dow Chemical honed her problem-solving skills and added to her toolbox as a facilitator and project leader. Her travels around the world with Dow Chemical expanded her cultural intelligence and appreciation.  As a certified coach, she uses that experience and all her tools to guide her clients in the process of identifying their passions and empowering them to make choices based on what is truly important to them. She is also a Certified White Belt instructor of the Nia Technique, and is passionate about re-awakening the joy of movement and creativity in others through teaching this intelligent approach to fitness.  Stephanie’s vast experiences as a coach and Nia instructor have made her very aware of the intricate connection between our emotional, mental, and physical health.  She believes that the basis of most illness, dis-ease, and chronic pain are feelings of being stuck, dissatisfied and powerless.  She also believes life should be fun, that we all have choice, and that doing what we love is our responsibility, not a luxury.  Her background in coaching, experience as an instructor, personal spiritual journey, and history of following her own passions makes her a natural to lead others on their paths.

Clayton, Denyse, Director of Theatre Programming Meta 4
Denyse is a graduate of Northwood University in Midland where she earned degrees in business, marketing and advertising. She has been teaching children's theatre classes for 10 years, primarily in Midland and Bay City. She has also directed dozens of shows at Midland Center for the Arts including Peanut Gallery, Theatre Guild and Music Society productions, as well as in many venues in the Detroit area. She is a past board member of Peanut Gallery, was the drama coach at Jefferson Middle School in Midland, and is currently the drama coach at St. Brigid Catholic School in Midland.

Cohen, Heather and Ben. Heather and Ben have been tie-dying professionally and recreationally for 3 years. Their company, Traveling Tie-Dye Party, is on the road during the summer months traveling to art fairs, festivals and events to provide a great interactive unique activity unlike any other! Tie-Dye has colored their way and they hope to put a little color into everyones wardrobe. They strive to be educational and are always a hit with kids and adults alike.

Cook, Julie. Julie has an Associate of Arts degree from Delta College, is a certified massage therapist, and has worked for ten years as a graphic artist and photographer.

Crissman, James W. James W. Crissman is a veterinary pathologist and former large animal veterinarian. He is the author of a 1998 Pudding House Publications chapbook, Jailbait in Holy Water, and has won numerous prizes for his poetry. His short story, Wallhangers, won the 2007 Dirt Rag literature contest.  Root Cause: the story of a food fight fugitive is his first novel. Jim and his veterinarian wife Jill live on a small farm in central Michigan where they’ve grown three children and much of their food for more than twenty years.

Cyr, Darlene. Darlene was born in Welland, Ontario Cananda. Darlene's daughter, Morgan introduced her to henna. When Morgan passed away from Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Darlene decided to continue to share the world of henna as a legacy to her. 

Davis, Cristy. Cristy is a Close To My Heart Consultant with a passion for papercrafting who loves teaching people how to be creative with their scrapbooking and cardmaking.

DeGroot, Heather. Heather has played violin in the Midland Symphony Orchestra for 17 years and has served as principal second violin for the past 13 years. She studied violin, voice and English at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in voice with K-12 music certification. She grew up on the east side of St. Paul, Minnesota and was very active in music and theater all through school. She sang and danced in her high school and college show choirs, including Old Gold Singers and Iowa State Singers. Heather has taught choir, general music classes, and orchestra at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels and taught string classes and orchestra . She currently teaches violin, viola, piano, and voice lessons privately. She is also director of the Three Rivers Fiddle Club. In addition to performing in the MSO, Heather sings in Camerata at the MCFTA and does some accompanying on piano for singers and instrumentalists. She has directed children’s choirs at two churches in the past. Heather loves musical theater, has performed on stage, as a pit orchestra conductor, violinist and pianist, and has served as rehearsal accompanist, vocal coach and music director in several places. Most recently, Heather was music director for Teenage Musicals Inc.’s production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and before that “The Snow Queen”.

Fromhold, Jan, ACSW.  Jan is a psychotherapist in private practice in Midland. Previously she was a clinician and a supervisor in a hospital setting and on the Faculty at Smith College Continuing Education Program. Her interest in Tai Ji goes back a long way finding her drawn to the parks in early morning visits to China a decade ago. She has studied with Chungliang Al Huang, Dr. Paul Lam and Sifer Tony Ha. Jan is also a certified instructor for Tai Ji for Arthritis.

Harner, Trisha. Through the sharing of her own life experiences Trisha creates the opportunity for others to explore their own individual path to well being that allows one to become comfortable with their creative inner self. Trisha is a facilitator of personal growth workshops and book groups.
Trisha has been coached by and worked with Lucia Capacchione, who is the pioneer and author of Visioning…Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams. She creates a safe supported environment for you to Vision your own dreams into reality.

Holmer, Barbara. Barbara was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954. With access to a large cultural center and metropolitan park system, her interest in art and nature began early. Exposure to gardening and sewing at a young age with full use of her grandmother’s treadle sewing machine provided further inspiration for future creative endeavors.

Though always working on various art and sewing projects, Barbara pursued a career in the medical field after moving to Michigan. In 1982 she began attending evening classes in drafting, technical illustration, and fine art at Lansing Community College. She then returned to school full time at Kendall College of Art and Design and in 1991 obtained her BFA degree.

In 1994 Barbara began to focus on botanical painting, working with plants from her home and garden. Her work has been included in international exhibitions across the country. One of her paintings is in the collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was included in the 10th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration.

Throughout the years, Barbara has maintained an interest in textiles. In 2005-2006 she was the visiting artist at Deerfield Elementary School in Rochester Hills and created a quilt with participation from all of the students.

Barbara continues to devote time to botanical drawing, making art quilts based on her paintings from Kendall, and has been teaching classes in both disciplines at the Flint Institute of Arts in Flint. While visually and philosophically influenced by the aesthetics of Japanese culture and the Arts and Crafts movement, the dominant inspiration for all of Barbara’s art is her deep concern for the environment and the wonders of nature. An avid gardener and reader of nature writing past and present, she is constantly evaluating how art-making best reflects her thoughts, concerns, and observations of the natural world.

Jewell, Chandra. Chandra was born in BayCity and resides in Midland with her husband Mike and two sons. She took her first photography class in 1985 in highschool and found an immediate fit. She attended college in Ann Arbor Michigan for Photography and has been a professional photographer with her own studio, Natural Expressions Photography, for 4 years. Chandra has taught basic photography skills in the past at Touchstone in BayCity and donates her time and talent yearly for Camp Warm Hearts, a grief camp for children and Relay for Life of Midland County. Mixing old with new and throwing in a little crazy passion is what inspires her photography.

Johnson, Emma. Emma grew up in Houghton, Michigan. She holds a BFA in painting and photography from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and a BA in English (emphasis in poetry) from the University of Minnesota. She has also participated in semester and year-long exchange programs at Parsons Paris School of Art and Design and Rutgers University respectively; her work has been exhibited internationally. She approaches art with an interdisciplinary background and currently interactive and graphic design are her media of choice. Her teaching experience ranges from kindergarten through college. In her spare time, she plays the bells in the Joyful Bells at First United Methodist Church and the violin in the Midland Community Orchestra.

Keefe, Cynthia. Cynthia is an award-winning artist and arts educator who earned her Master of Fine Arts Degree from Vermont College of Fine Arts. After receiving the Alden B. Dow Creativity Fellowship in 1994, she co-founded the Creative Sprit Center (now Creative 360), an interrelated arts and wellness non-profit organization. She served as Director of Arts Outreach for Northwood University for thirteen years and was named Midland Downtown Business Person of the Year in 1997 for revitalizing the downtown business community through the arts. She has taught drawing, painting, color and design, mixed media and art history at Creative 360, Midland Center for the Arts, Central Michigan University and Delta College, is currently an adjunct professor of art at Northwood University. Cynthia was honored in the 2011 exhibition VOICES: Extraordinary Women of Midland County at the Midland Historical Museum and will be the 2011 recipient of he Arts Angel Award from Creative 360.

Levy, Larry. Larry is a retired Delta College Professor of English and a published poet. He has also conducted many poetry-writing workshops for people of all ages. Larry is married to Cheryl Levy, known to many mid-Michigan children and adults as a theater person, guest teacher, and storyteller.

Love, Janet. Janet has spent most of her adult life studying health and wellness and its effects on the body. She holds a Professional Level Yoga Teachers certification from Kripalu the leading center in N. America for yoga & health. Kripalu Yoga is a conscious practice of physical yoga postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques for integrating body, mind, and spirit. Love has been trained in Theoretical & Applied Yogic Philosophy; General & Applied Anatomy & Physiology; and Professional Ethics. She also holds certifications for personal training with The Cooper Clinic and Aerobic Fitness Association of America, and Thai Yoga Massage from Lotus Palm.

McGeehan-Woodard, Anne. Anne facilitates Journaling for Seniors and has taught and co-taught several classes at  Creative 360. Anne is an avid gardener and volunteer at C360 and in her community. She holds a degree in Elementary Education, is retired from a 25 year career at Dow Corning Corp. and is a retired C360 board member. Anne's passions are her family, gardening, journaling, children and all forms of creativity.

McMahon, Darcy. Darcy is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Education Strategy Meta4 with over 16 years of teaching and administration expertise in education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in science in education and a master’s degree in middle level education, both from Central Michigan University, and was an adjunct professor of education there for six years. As an entrepreneur, through TMB Consultants, she has developed and published curriculum and conducted professional development programs. She taught science and English at Jefferson Middle School in Midland for five years and served and chaired many committees for Midland Public Schools. Most recently, Darcy was the Director of Education and Volunteers at Midland Center for the Arts and continues to serve on the School of Distinction Committee at St. Brigid Catholic School.

Moreira, Zizelda. Zi was born and raised in Brazil. She grew up in a very poor family of five children. As a child, she never saw any paintings, but she loved to draw, and she sketched on any paper she could find, including her school notebooks. Her teachers loved her drawings !

When she was 32 years old, her niece encouraged her to take oil painting classes at a new art studio under the direction of Lisiane Catalano. When she began the classes, Zizelda had never had a paint brush in her hand. Zizelda became consumed with painting, and her teacher recognized that Zizelda painted to release years of creativity from her soul . After studying for 2 years, she was asked to become an assistant at the school. Four years later, she opened her own studio in Jundiai, Brazil.

After opening her own studio, she studied under the direction of a famous Brazilian artist, Alice Vilhena, to learn new techniques. Vilhena was a very important influence on Zizelda’s life because she helped her to developed her own unique style of painting with acrylics.

Later, Douglas Tufano, a retired professor and author, introduced Zizelda to the history of art and famous artists. Tufano had traveled the world and seen many great masterpieces first-hand. He “opened her eyes” and mind to the knowledge of art history and the work of the masters. Zizelda believes he was the inspiration for her to become an artist.

In 2003, Zizelda participated in a public exhibition in Jundiai, Brazil, with other local artists. Her artwork received the “people’s choice” award. In 2010, she moved to Midland, Michigan, with her husband and two sons (and two dogs).

Padgett, Pennye. Pennye has been tapping forEVER...Studied in NYC with Paul Draper National dance convention teacher, choreographer, director.

PigeonCreek Shakespeare Company. Based in Grand Haven, Michigan, the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company seeks to offer performances of Shakespeare's works toMichigan audiences in a variety of non-traditional theatre venues.Pigeon Creek Shakespeare employs techniquesof theatrical performance such as universal lighting and audience contact to adapt its productions to multiple performance venues, andto actively engage audience members in performance.

Pilnik, Kristiina. Kristiina earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Alcantara Machado University in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has travelled the world extensively and is fluent in six languages. She has designed and taught English language courses for children and adults; designed and coordinated after school arts programs; been a foreign correspondent for television; written as a freelance journalist for newspapers and magazines; and won awards as public relations account executive for Ogilvy & Mather in Brazil. In addition, Kristiina has been involved in children’s theatre in Midland for almost 10 years, co-directing Peanut Gallery productions at Midland Center for the Arts with Denyse Clayton and teaching children’s theatre classes and summer camps. She is the Chief Operations Officer and Director of Arts and Marketing at Meta4, Inc.

Rabine, Lauren. Lauren was captain for her high school varsity Pom team for all 4 years and an All-Star Pommer. She has designed and taught Pom clinics for elementary and middle school girls and is passionate about teaching pommers. Come have loads of fun getting fit while creating athletic performances to great music! You will receive a t-shirt and poms!

Siddiqui, Shona. Shona was born in Hyderabad, India and emigrated to Toronto, Canada at a very young age. Her background includes studies in English Literature at the University of Toronto and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).She is fluent in Urdu and Hindi and can speak some Arabic. While living overseas for several years from 1997-2003 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (where her husband accepted a teaching position), she taught English at an elite, private college for Saudi women. Shona offers a diverse and varied background with her Indian roots and her experience abroad. She easily shares her experience of living in the Muslim world, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently she is pursuing education in Sociology and Islamic Studies while engaged in interfaith activities and global dialogue.

Sarantis-Rodriguez, Megan. Megan is the founder/artistic director/instructor of Michigan's Premiere Bellydance Troupe the Belly Dance Divas™. She began bellydancing in 1985 with the Habibi Dancers of Lansing, MI. The lack of bellydance opportunities, in the Tri-Cities, prompted her to create the highly successful Hip Hop Bellydance™ program in 2002. From one small class Hip Hop Bellydance™ has grown to over 200 women taking weekly classes plus Michigan's largest bellydance troupe the 'Belly Dance Divas™'. Due to this huge growth Certified Instructor's have been trained to present Megan's newest creation Bellydance Booty Camp™, a low-impact, high cardio workout with bellydance technique. The Divas believe that no matter what your shape, size, or age you TOO can dance like a diva while getting fit in the process.