Michele J. Russo, Senior Education Associate for Young Audienes New Jersey, manages early childhood residency and professional development programs. She worked for several years in the Publishing Department of Merrill Lynch before discovering her passion for early childhood education.  Michele was an Assistant Teacher in toddler and preschool classrooms at Princeton Montessori School prior to joining Young Audiences of New Jersey in 2001.  In addition to early childhood programs, Michele is a partner in the A.I.E. Consortium, which manages long term residencies in partnership with New Jersey State Council on the Arts.   Michele is  Chair of the New Jersey Arts Education Collective and is also a published poet.  mrusso@yanj.org

Barbara Reuther has served as Education Director at the Arts Council of the Morris Area since 2001. She oversees arts programming for schools and community organizations, manages a broad roster of performing and teaching artists and promotes their work through the publication of an annual Arts Education Program Guide, the presentation of a 2-day Arts Education Showcase and a Cultural Arts Roundtable. She administers the Council’s Arts Residency program, overseeing grants as well as placement, planning and assessment of artist residencies. Prior to arts administraton, Barbara taught Art K-8 for over 10 years in Madison and Rockaway Township, New Jersey. She is the co-author and illustrator of Art Curriculum Activity Kits – Primary Level  and Art Curriculum Activity Kits – Intermediate Level published in 1988 by Prentice Hall and republished in 2001 as one book Complete Art Curriculum Activities by Pearson Publishing. breuther@morrisarts.org

   Jenifer Simon is Director of New Jersey Programs, Partnerships and the Artist/Teacher Institute (aTi) at Arts Horizons. She oversees PreK-12 artist residencies, professional development and family workshops. She directs aTi, a 35-year old summer intensive program co-sponsored program with the NJSCA that offers hands-on workshops in the performing, literary and visual arts that takes place at William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ and Rutgers University, Camden, NJ.  Jenifer holds an M.A. in Arts Administration from Columbia Teachers College, a B.S. in Studio Art from Skidmore College, and three certifications as a career and training and development specialist. jenifer@artshorizons.org 

   As the Arts Education Administrator for the AIE Consortium, Shelley Benaroya helps oversee a cornerstone of the NJSCA’s arts education programming. Through its annual matching grant program, AIE offers students and teachers the opportunity to engage in and learn about the creative process through long-term residencies taught by highly qualified professional artists.  She comes to this position, having served as an AIE teaching artist and educator for more than 15 years.  In addition to teaching, Ms. Benaroya has worked as a writer, editor, and public relations executive for such companies as CES Publishing, Simon & Shuster, Highgate Pictures, The Rowland Company, and NBC News. Her awards include poetry and teaching fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. sbenaroya@yanj.org

Lees Hummel, Director of Education and Outreach - American Repertory Ballet

Lees Hummel joins ARB as the Director of Education and Outreach where she is working to expand the reach and quality of ARB's Education and Outreach Program. Lees comes to the organization with a distinguished background in dance performance, choreography and education. Lees earned  her BFA and MFA in Dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Lees has performed in numerous professional dance companies, on television and the silver screen. For the past 15 years, Lees has been an Assistant Professor teaching at the University of Miami, Miami Dade Community College, New World School of the Arts, Dillard School of the Arts Performing Arts High School, R.R.Moton Magnet Elementary, Conchita Espinosa Academy Middle School,Western Kentucky University, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College, Wintrop University, and Southeast Missouri State University. Lees  brings all this extensive experience to her new role at ARB.  Contact Lees at: lhummel@arballet.org

Lees with a student