Hannah Cosdon (Co-Motion coordinator) is a child/family therapist who studied Psychology, Theater, and Dance at Connecticut College and earned her Master's degree in Social Work from Smith College. She teaches Dance, Creative Coping Skills, and Theater Movement for Gifted and Talented Middle and High School Students. This year she is also teaching a Dance/Movement Studies course at Allegheny College and a movement workshop for Life Skills students at Meadville Senior High School.
Tom Erdos (Late afternoon swim coordinator) is a former Associate Professor of Physical Education and Aquatics Director at Allegheny College who currently serves on the Dance and Movement Studies faculty. Tom will direct the recreational swim program that concludes the Players extended day.
Richard Freysinger (Players vocal music instructor and Apprentice co-coordinator) holds a BA in Math and Music Education from the University of Michigan and a MM in Music education from Duquesne University. He teaches Elementary General Music, Band, Chorus and Orff at Alice Shafer Elementary School and performs in various ensembles throughout Northwest Pennsylvania.
Debbie Gifford (Pre-Kindergarten program coordinator) is the Program Manager at PENNCREST Thurston House. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Preschool and Family and Consumer Sciences. Debbie and Pete initiated the Pre-Kindergarten program and have coordinated it through its ten years.
Janace Gifford is a student at MASH, helping to co-ordinate Pre-Kindergarten as her senior project.
Jill Gifford is a 2nd year Master's student at Tufts University in the Eliot Pearson Dept. of Child Development in Medford, MA. She graduated from Juniata College in 2009.
Pete Gifford (Pre-Kindergarten program co-coordinator) is the Systems Manager in Administrative Computing Services at Allegheny College. He plays the guitar and piano and enjoys reading and writing local history.
Jeff Hollerman (Apprentice science instructor) Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, has taught at Allegheny College for 14 years. In the summers of 2002 and 2004, he coordinated the Allegheny Summer Neuroscience and Humanities Summer Institute. In the Fall of 2007, in conjunction with Jan Hyatt and Alec Dale, he published an article in the Journal of Aesthetic Education on the Neuroscience of Dance.
Jan Hyatt (Landscapes Program Coordinator): holds an MFA in Theater/Dance from Case Western Reserve University, and an Ed. D. in Arts Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1984 she received the Ohio Governor's Award for Arts Education and in 2004 the Julian Ross Prize for Excellence in Teaching from Allegheny College.
Jill Hyatt (Novice and Players math/science instructor, Book of Student Writing editor, and Apprentice work study coordinator) has a B. A. in American Studies in Education from Allegheny College and a M. E. D. in Oral Deaf Education from Smith College. This is her ninth year with the Landscapes Program. She has also worked with Summerbridge Pittsburgh, an award winning program for at-risk middle school students for three summers as a teacher and Dean of Faculty. She is the secondary gifted coordinator in the Crawford Central School District.
John Hyatt (Morning Players Co-Coordinator, Apprentice Co-Coordinator, rhythm and dance instructor, Landscapes Original Music CD producer, and afternoon improvisation coordinator) is a social studies teacher in the Crawford Central School District who has an MA in Education from Allegheny College. In 2005, John was named to Who's Who in American Teachers. John also teaches guitar and performs throughout Northwest Pennsylvania with Unkle John's Band, C2H, and Unkle John Squared.
Joyce Klason (Novice Co-Coordinator) has a BS in both elementary and early childhood education. She teaches first grade at Second District Elementary School in the Crawford Central School District
Lori Lawrence (Pre-Kindergarten Literature and Writing Coordinator) teaches at West End Elementary School in the Autistic Support Classroom. She enjoys swimming, cooking, and reading. This will be her seventh year with the Creating Landscapes Pre-K program.
James Reedy (Apprentice senior high school rhythm and dance instructor and performance lighting designer and operator) is an Artist in Residence with the Dance and Movement Studies Program at Allegheny College. James has been a guest artist in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the United States. A former member of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, he is also a graduate and teaching assistant at the Full Spectrum School of Healing and Self Transformation.
Bob Shields received a BS in Mathematics. He taught high school mathematics for 10 years before he received a Masters of Art with a concentration in clay. He is currently a practicing ceramic artist and can be found at www.shieldstileworks.com
Betsy Sumerfield graduated with a B. A. in Communication Arts/Theatre from Allegheny College. She went on to earn her Masters Degree for Theatre and Dance from American University in Washington DC. Betsy currently teaches dance at Allegheny College where she is also the advisor for JADE, a jazz dance performance group. She teaches at Allegro Dance Arts, movement at the ARC, theatre and character development for the High School and Middle School Enrichment Programs, and was a Pennsylvania Roster Artist. Some of Betsy's recent awards include Educator of the Year from the ARC of Crawford County and the YWCA Woman of the Year for the Arts.
Brian Thummler (Players and Apprentice art instructor, Novice Co-Coordinator and puppet instructor, and Creating Landscapes Web Site Designer and Manager) is a visual artist and puppeteer. He holds a BFA in drawing and a BA in Psychology from Edinboro University of PA. He is a teaching artist in the Allegheny College Middle Schools Arts Immersion and the Senior High School Gifted and Self-Identified Talented Programs.
Eleanor Weisman (Allegheny Student Intern Coordinator) is the Director of Dance and Movement Studies at Allegheny College. Eleanor has a Ph.D. in Art Education from Ohio State University, A Master of Arts of Liberal Studies in Movement from Wesleyan University, and a BFA in Liberal Dance-Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She is a Certified Movement Analyst and has been working with students of all ages in movement and dance for over 30 years.
Dana Hunter Yeager '92, began her career with Creating Landscapes in 1990 as an Allegheny intern. She eared an M.Ed. in early childhood and elementary education from Antioch University. In summer '93 she created the Novice Program which she directed until 2007--when she began maternity leave. Dana anticipates launching the Creating Landscapes Learning Center, a multi-age primary school in fall 2011.
Nate Youngblood (French and Afro-Caribbean language and culture instructor) has a B. A. in French from Allegheny College and two Certificates of the French Language from the Sorbonne, Paris, France. Nathan is a French teacher at Saegertown and Maplewood High Schools in the PENNCREST School District.
Lora Zill (Players and Apprentice writing instructor) MA, Gannon University, Allegheny '78 is a Teaching Artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and an adjunct instructor at Gannon University. She also teaches creative writing in Allegheny's programs for gifted and talented middle and senior high school students and teaches poetry to students who are challenged. She edits a poetry magazine and directs a writing conference. Her work has been published in the U.S., U. K., and Canada.