Staff
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S ARTS INSTITUTE
SUSAN SWARTHOUT is the Director of the Children’s Arts Institute. She has been working with young people and arts education for over 25 years including 11 years running a children’s theatre for the Smithsonian Institution. Susan has a Master’s Degree in Theatre and received teaching credentials from both North Carolina and California to teach English and Drama. Her last position was with The Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills where she headed the Education Department. As a professional arts educator, Susan has had a life-long commitment to working with young people.
SITE DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES CAMPUS
SUSAN SIMPSON (SUE) comes to the Children’s Arts Institute after a very successful three years as a Site Director for Fitness by the Sea summer camp. Susie is a credentialed teacher and theatre arts professional with experience in film television, stage and voiceovers. During the school year Sue is a first grade teacher at the Mountain View Elementary School in Tujunga.
SITE DIRECTOR, VALLEY CAMPUS
GEORGE NERSISYAN has worked for the Children’s Arts Institute for the last 3 years and served last year as the Site Director for the Valley Campus. A graduate of Cal State Northridge, George has 4 years experience as senior staff for the Children’s Community School after-school program where he also teaches sports clinics in football, soccer, and basketball.
INSTRUCTORS
LARRY ASHTON
Larry Ashton studied illustration and painting at Art Center College of Design (Pasadena), and received his BFA from Parsons School of Design (New York City). He has been working as a freelance illustrator for national magazines and newspapers for 25 years been doing oil paintings for 15 years.Larry started teaching art in the New Orleans public school system in 2002 and taught in many schools for the following three years. He moved to Los Angeles when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the school where he was working. He is currently teaching visual art through LACMA at different elementary schools in LAUSD District 4.
MELISSA BERMAN
Melissa Berman brings over 20 years of experience as a performing arts instructor and professional performer. Melissa’s background includes performing arts specialist in-residence for the Smithsonian Institution as well as various programs throughout Los Angeles, Orange County and Pasadena. Melissa’s work includes serving at-risk and special needs communities including the Very Special Arts Festival and most recently the Hollywood Arts Council’s Project SOAR. An award-winning critically-acclaimed performer, Melissa’s credits include The Center Theatre (LA), Don’t Tell Mama (NYC), and The Kennedy Center (D.C.). Melissa Berman holds a BFA (honors) in Dramatic Art and Speech as well as Graduate Work in EducationalTheatre from Virginia Commonwealth University.
GLYDIA CHAN
Glydia Chan returns for her third year with the Children’s Arts Institute, a function of her dedication to working with children and the arts. She has a multiple subject teaching credential and currently teaches Art, English, and History at a local middle school. She is also an artist and spends her time painting, drawing, and going to local museums and galleries.
KATHY CLEMENTS
Kathy Clements is a professional caterer and the owner of her own catering company located in the San Fernando Valley.
She started creating her own recipes and cooking for her family at the age of 9. She now has over 10 years experience as a professional and has catered both large and small events including everything from Baby Showers to Corporate parties. She also has knowledge and experience in many types of menu planning and preparation including vegetarian, vegan & gluten free. This is her first year at the Children’s Arts Institute.
NANCY CLEMENTS
Nancy Clements studied art at Wayne State University in Detroit where she received a B.F.A. in Interior Architecture and Textile Design. She has experience in the film industry as a Set Decorator, and has also exhibited her art quilts and wearable art. Nancy has been teaching art and sewing to children for the past 25 years. She is currently working for the Pasadena Unified School District teaching art and sewing and at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
KATY CRYNS
Katy graduated from Millikin University in Decator, Illinois with a major in English and a minor in Theatre. Katy is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor at Shiva’s Dance and Fitness in North Hollywood. She has taught hip hop and gymnastics in several after-school programs. In addition, she teaches ballroom dance to 4th and 5th grade students in underserved LAUSD schools through the Best Foot Forward program.
SARA “MS. MIGHTY” FENTON
Sara Fenton aka Ms. Mighty grew up in Toronto, Canada performing and competing in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Her love of dance prompted her to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional dancer. She has since performed with artists such as Nelly Furtado, the Beastie Boys and le tigre and with companies like Diavolo Dance Theater, shebang! B-girl (breakdance) Crew, and Lux Aeterna Acrobatic Dance Company. In addition to teaching with Diavolo, Sara currently teaches at Nikki’s Gymnastics and Gymnastics World.
ELIZABETH GUY GOKAY
Elizabeth earned her Bachelors of Art in Studio Art from Smith College where she specialized in photography, Video Production and Digital Media. She is currently finishing her Masters of Education at Antioch University and has polished her classroom teaching skills at Sylmar Elementary and New Open World Academy.
JESSE MACKEY
Jesse Mackey is a professional actor with credits in film, television and commercial work. A member of the Liquid Radio Players improvisational theatre company, he also directed the Re-creating Radio workshops for young people at The Paley Center for Media.
CARA MCGEE
Cara has been teaching dance in Los Angeles and New York for the past 8 years. After earning her BA from Columbia University, she continued training and performing with various dance companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Brockus Project. Her extensive performance experience includes the Alvin Ailey, “Memoria”, “Behind these Walls”, and as a backup dancer for Beyonce. Cara is currently the associate director of Ciaradance company as well as being the dance specialist of the Children’s Community School.
DAVID NEUBAUER
Magic Castle Magician David Neubauer is a full-time professional magician and actor who entertains throughout the United States. Specializing in strolling, close-up and stand-up magic, a small sample of David’s credits include entertaining at Comic Relief, the American Music Awards. He has performed with Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow and Dick Van Dyke among others, and at corporate, trade show and private events from Bar Mitzvahs to Weddings! He holds a specialized degree in theatre from the Michigan School of the Arts. For more information on David’s magic, please visit his website at http://www.dnmagic.com.
CORRIE OSUNA
Corrie Lynn Osuna is a Women’s Dress Designer specializing in an ecclectic mix of texture and color. Her work over the years has included styling for Television Movies, Custom Tailoring, Technical Design for large companies such as the Disney Stores Inc. and Creative Design for the Los Angeles industry. Corrie’s designs may be found under the label David Solomon Clothing in local boutiques throughout the Los Angeles Area. Corrie is also an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
JANET PLANET
Janet Planet is a drummer, artist, writer, filmmaker, music and arts educator, and ethnomusicologist with a degree in Communications/Speech-Theater who enjoys bringing people together in playful, creative ways through rhythm, writing, and art. Janet has studied West African drumming, dance, and drum circle facilitation extensively, including training in Senegal, West Africa. She is a founding member of the Los Angeles Women’s Drum Core and the World Music ensemble, The Luna Party! Janet has also founded the program, Write On!, which introduces and explores the many ways one can express themselves through writing. Most recently Janet has been honored to receive a Professional Designation in Arts Education from the Los Angeles County Arts Education Training Program through the Music Center Education Division. For info about Janet Planet and Drummin’ Fun, please visit http://www.drumminfun.com.
JESSE ROBINSON
Jesse received his BA from the UCLA School of Art and Architecture and his MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Sculpture and Extended Media. Currently a teacher at the Los Angeles High School for the Arts where he teaches sculpture and painting, he has also worked in enrichment programs at Larchmont Charter School and for Carney Educational Services teaching photography and woodworking.
LANI SALHUS
Lani is currently pursuing her Single Subject Credential in Art after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art at Cal State LA with an emphasis in Ceramics and Art Education. Her teaching experience includes teaching art for Lani Harmony Art and the Fibonacci School of Art . She also served as the Art Director for the Peach Factory After- School Program and volunteered at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk working closely with teachers and therapists to provide art activities for at-risk students.