USPA'S Executive Director

Lynn Slaughter was named USPA's executive director in 2006. She is passionate about the arts and dedicated to growing and developing USPA's arts' programming. Lynn has spent her career in the arts as a modern dance teacher, choreographer, and performer, and has also been a writer, counselor, and arts advocate. She has been on the dance faculties of Eastern Michigan University, the University of Oklahoma, and Interlochen's National Music Camp. She formerly served as the chair of the dance department at the Youth Performing Arts School and most recently, as the counselor at Governor's School for the Arts. Lynn earned her undergraduate degree at Smith College and holds masters' degrees from the University of Arizona in sociology and the University of Michigan in dance education.

Faculty

Rachel Blanton, who teaches violin at USPA, earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Louisville. Rachel has also completed teacher training courses with the Suzuki Violin Foundation. In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Rachel is active in the Louisville area as a performer and plays with the Irish band, My Darling Asleep.

Abby Ruiz Brown, who teaches and directs in USPA's Drama Department, earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in theatre arts at the University of Louisville, where she served as a graduate teaching assistant. Abby is also a playwriting novelist and has a strong interest in African-American Theatre.

Kathleen Browning is an art teacher at Sacred Heart Model School, a K-8 co-ed school that is a member of Ursuline Campus Schools. Kathleen earned her bachelor degree in fine arts and master's degree in teaching from the University of Louisville. She was a docent at the Speed Art Museum for four years. In 2005, Kathleen painted one of Louisville's Gallapalooza horses.

Laura Hammack Chipe brings over 35 years of expertise to our music program. She joined the faculty in the fall of 2007 and teaches voice and piano, as well as a sight-singing class for high school students. Originally from Elizabethtown, Ky, Dr. Chipe earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Georgetown College in 1970. She later attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning a master's degree in church music and a doctorate of musical arts. She was assistant professor of music at the University of the Cumberlands from 1997 to 2007, where she taught music appreciation, school music for elementary education majors, and applied voice. She directed the opera workshop at the University, and served as the conductor of the hand bell choir, women's chorus and youth chorale, a community children's choir that she founded in 1998. Prior to 1989, Dr. Chipe lived and taught in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for 14 years. She sang with the Brazilian National Opera, studied voice with renowned Brazilian professionals and taught at the American School of Rio and Our Lady of Mercy School of Rio. As a singer, Dr. Chipe concertized in Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and Natal. She also appeared as the lead in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, H.M.S. Pinafore, Gondoliers, and Pirates of Penzance. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Educators National Conference, American Choral Directors, Choristers Guild, and Orff Society. She is fluent in Portuguese but loves to speak "Portanol" with her husband Jose who hails from Ecuador. She is also the proud mother of former USPA music faculty member, Vanessa Chipe.

Suzanne Enriquez Dougherty is the newly appointed chair of the Visual Art Department. She teaches teaches visual art both at USPA and at the Ursuline Montessori School. She holds a bachelor's degree in studio art from Stanford University, has done extensive graduate work in art history at the University of New Mexico, and has also studied at the renowned Art's Students League and the National Academy of Design in New York City. An active artist, she has had numerous group shows throughout her career and has helped curate a number of shows as well. Suzanne's extensive teaching experience includes students ranging in age from pre-school through college. She enjoys being part of the Ursuline Campus where she has experienced a clear commitment to bringing the best, academically and spiritually, to students.

Shawn Eaton recently joined the music faculty at USPA where he teaches both voice and piano. Shawn earned his master's in church music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he was a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. A tenor soloist, he is currently working on his doctorate at Southern Seminary in voice and performed this past year in Handel's Messiah. Shawn is also an accomplished choral and instrumental director and accompanist. In Louisville, he taught voice at the Louisville Academy of Music and piano at Flying Hands Music Studio. He loves working with young people and is delighted to be part of USPA's music program.

Joshua Faith, USPA's clarinet instructor, holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from Indiana University Southeast, where his primary instructors were Donald McMahel (conducting) and Ernie Gross (clarinet). In addition to teaching at USPA, Joshua is currently assistant band director at New Albany High School, and also teaches with Indiana University Southeast's Arts Institute. He is a founding member of Samavayah, a group that performs kirtan music, a tradition of Hindu folk music from India. Joshua conducts the new Instrumental Ensemble for middle and high school students that began in the fall of 2007 at USPA.

Dr. Connie Hensley Golden teaches piano at Ursuline School for the Performing Arts and also serves as Music Director at St. James' Episcopal Church. An accomplished professional musician and educator, she holds baccalaureate degrees in piano and organ performance, as well as in music education. She completed a master's degree in organ performance at the University of Oklahoma and holds a second master's degree in piano performance. In 1972-73, she was awarded a George C. Marshall Fellowship for Study in Denmark. During the 15 months of her fellowship, she concertized extensively throughout Scandinavia, Holland, and northern Europe. Dr. Golden also earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from the University of Kentucky in 1997, and in 1999, was the first featured guest artist to play the then newly-installed Schoenstein Organ of St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in Harrods Creek, Ky. She is currently preparing additional concerts and lecture-recitals to be presented throughout the year in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Colorado and Tennessee.

Robert Greene is an outstanding newcomer to the drama faculty at USPA. He recently earned his MFA in Theatre Arts (Performance) from the University of Louisville and holds a bachelor's degree from South Carolina State University in Drama Education. Prior to pursuing his graduate studies, Robert worked as an after-school counselor, a mentor to elementary school students, and served as a drama consultant for a school district in South Carolina. As a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Louisville, he taught courses in Acting, Enjoyment of Theatre, and African-American Men in Theatre. Having concentrated heavily on performance during graduate school, he's happy to get back to teaching and working with young people. Robert is a part of the teaching team for Beginning, Intermediate, and Youth Drama, and also teaches our Fairy Tale Theatre classes.

Cynthia Leigh Heath is a longtime beloved member of USPA's dance faculty. A graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School where she majored in dance, Cindy also earned a bachelor's degree in dance from Stephens College. She has performed with the Louisville Ballet, Walt Disney World, and the Starlight Foundation.

Mary Holt joined the drama faculty in the fall of 2007. Mary teaches drama both on campus and in our outreach program at Nativity Academy. She is currently completing her MFA in acting at the University of Louisville, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in theatre arts. Mary has extensive professional experience working in children's theatre in New York City, including playing the role of Keesha in Strawberry Productions' The Magic School Bus Live and the role of Tracey in American Theatre of Arts' You Shouldn't Have Told. An accomplished actress, singer, and dancer, Mary is a genuine triple threat who loves teaching and working with young people, as well as performing!

Gerald Kean, USPA's theatre chair, technical Director and scenic designer, has extensive experience working in set production in television, video and theatre. His start in the entertainment industry came as a set dresser on the ABC mini-series, Innocent Victims. He also worked on the FX series, Beyond Belief, before returning to Kentucky. Gerry has been with the Ursuline School for the Performing Arts since 1995. His set designs can also be seen at the Stephen Foster Drama Association or on tour with the Blue Apple Players.

Grace Kim teaches piano and voice. She first joined USPA’s music faculty in 2004. She earned her master’s degree in church music from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and her bachelor’s in Music from Chong-Shin University in Seoul, South Korea. She has been a music director and soloist for several churches in California, Kentucky and Uzbekistan, where she served as a missionary for five years. Grace currently serves as director of music at Stuart Middle School in the Jefferson County Public School System.

Don Leffler teaches guitar at USPA and has been a professional musician for more than 40 years. He is a member of the Louisville Federation of Musicians and has written a guitar text and scored a musical presentation for an industrial company. Don is also an accomplished banjo instructor.

Julianne McWilliams has served as a ballet instructor and choreographer at Ursuline School for the Performing Arts since 1998. She brings a wealth of experience, having been a principal professional dancer with the Lexington Ballet and a member of the Louisville Ballet Civic Company. From 1993-1998, she co-owned and directed the A.R.T. Centre, a private dance studio, with Amy Trier Delaney.

Dr. Mary Ann Mertz, teaches voice, piano, and choral music at USPA, and serves as director of music for the Drama Department. She has been studying, teaching and performing in the Louisville area for more than 40 years. She received her bachelor of arts in music from Bellarmine University, her master's of theological studies from St. Meinrad School of Theology and most recently, her doctorate in ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Over the years, she has served in parishes as a director of music and worship and taught both music and liturgy in a variety of settings. Mary Ann has a love for people and a deep understanding of how music serves to create human beings in God's image. In her teaching of music, she guides children in finding themselves, valuing who they are, reverencing others, and using their own particular voice. She feels privileged to bring her gifts to enrich the community of the Ursuline School of the Performing Arts, and to be enriched by the children and adults whom she teaches.

Laura Meyer is one of USPA's most versatile teachers and currently teaches piano, class piano/piano laboratory, music theory, dulcimer and violin/viola. She is a member of the American College of Teachers. Laura has taught music to all ages since 1985, and has taught students at the Ursuline School for the Performing Arts for many years (1986-1988 and January 1996-present). In 1998-1999, she was the recipient of the St. Angela Award for Community, Reverence, Leadership, and Service granted by the Ursuline Campus Schools. Laura received her bachelor's degree in music with a primary emphasis in piano performance and a secondary emphasis in vocal performance from Bellarmine University in 1989, and has pursued additional study at the University of Louisville and Pennsylvania State University. In addition to teaching, she has been a pastoral musician and a director of worship in the Roman Catholic Church since 1978. Her duties have included: organist, pianist, cantor, ensemble director, choir director, liturgy coordinator and lay minister trainer. Laura has earned certificates in liturgical music & organ, cantoring and liturgy. In the fall of 2007, Laura became the principal accompanist and children’s choir director at St. Barnabas Catholic Church.

Professional artist and educator Mary Newton teaches drawing and painting for adults and believes in a relaxed and nurturing approach to teaching. From 1990 to 2002, she taught painting and drawing at the University of Louisville and even taught students in Paris through the school's overseas program. Mary earned her master's in fine arts from the University of Cincinnati. Her work has been exhibited at various museums and galleries throughout the country, and she has been featured in New American Paintings and the Christian Science Journal. Mary is a two-time recipient of the Al Smith Fellowship in painting from the Kentucky Arts Council.

Laura Patton, who teaches Suzuki and traditional piano methods at USPA, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in music. During her early years, she learned piano through the Suzuki method, developing strong technical and aural skills, and later pursued training in organ and trombone, performing in a wide variety of styles from classical to jazz to contemporary Christian. Laura has studied composition and particularly enjoys improvisation at the piano. She created and taught music theory classes and piano through the University of Memphis' Community Music School as well as music appreciation and piano in the Conservatory of Germantown Baptist Church. Laura has served in various churches in a variety of capacities from accompanist, orchestral trombonist, band keyboardist and choir director. She is currently pursuing a master of divinity in church music degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration in piano performance.

Julie Reese joined USPA's faculty in the fall of 2006 as a trumpet instructor and has also taught and composed original music for USPA’s Arts’ Sampler camps for young children. A Colorado native, she grew up in a family of brass musicians and played in her family's band, the Wolfe Family Brass Quartet, from 1997-2003. From age 9 to 18, she studied with Manny Araujo, the principal trumpet player in the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She earned a full-tuition scholarship to study with Terry Sawchuk and major in trumpet performance at the University of Colorado where she served as principal chair of the symphonic band. After graduating, Julie spent two years on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. She moved to Louisville with her husband Paul, who is working on his masters in divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Jill Schurman is a wonderful new addition to the piano and voice faculty and also serves as chair of the Music Department. A native of eastern Kentucky, she earned degrees from Morehead State University, the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky where she earned a master's in music education. She has 15 years of experience teaching music in grades K-8 and has directed numerous children and youth choirs throughout the Louisville area. Jill has also completed all levels of teacher training in Orff-Schulwerk and uses this approach in her work with choral and percussion ensembles. She is past president of the Kentucky chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and Choristers Guild. She also teaches music education courses for classroom teachers at the University of Louisville. Currently, Jill serves as the choral director at Sacred Heart Academy where she directs the A Cappella, Concert and Madrigal Choirs. She has toured with her choirs to various festival competitions throughout the United States and most recently received a Distinguished Festival Rating at Walt Disney World Resorts, Festival of Music competition in Orlando and the "Gold" award in the Specialty choir division. She enjoyed signing with Voces Novea and can be heard on their recording, Reflections, as a featured soloist. Jill is also a harpist and cantors regularly at her church.

Elissa Settles joined the music faculty in the fall of 2007 and has expanded USPA’s Kindermusik program. Elissa has been a Kindermusik educator since 1997 and has also taught piano, voice, and flute. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music business at the University of the Cumberlands.

Jessica Allen Stansbury, chair of the dance department, trained at the Youth Performing Arts School, the Louisville Ballet, and the University of Louisville Dance Academy. She earned her bachelor's in dance from Virginia Intermont College where she studied ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and choreography, and also did graduate work at Case Western Reserve University in choreography and Graham Technique. Jessica has worked with several well known choreographers including Donald McKayle, Randy Allen, and Alun Jones, and has performed in Steps in the Street by Martha Graham and Bolero by Pascal Rioult.

Rozanna Thompson enjoys teaching harp at USPA where her Debutante Harp Ensemble performs at local functions and WAVE TV Sounds of the Season at Christmas. Rozanna holds music degrees from Georgetown College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Church Music. She taught piano and English in Feira de Santana, Bahia Brazil for two years in the Journeyman Program which is similar to the Peace Corps. She added the harp by studying with Linda Rollo Wood of Indiana University. Rozanna plays professionally with ARVS VIVA (harp/mandolin/flute) and The Underhill Trio (harp/violin/cello) and has been in pit orchestras with The Broadway Series, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, and Music Theatre of Louisville. For 20 years, she has played with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Orchestra.

Janet Witzleben recently joined the dance faculty, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to USPA's growing dance program. A former professional dancer with the Eliot Feld Company, she trained at American Ballet Theatre and Harkness House for Ballet Arts with some of the greatest teachers and choreographers of the 20th century, including Agnes DeMille, Valentine Pereyslavek, Anton Dolin, Patricia Wilde, and David Howard. She earned her BFA in ballet at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and has more than 15 years of teaching experience in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Amy Perigo Valle, a member of USPA's piano faculty, teaches both Suzuki and traditional piano. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in musical arts at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She received her undergraduate degree at Tennessee Temple University and her master of music at Austin Peay State University. For several years, she taught at First Clarksville Conservatory in Tennessee and at the Community School of the Arts on the Austin Peay campus. She is a member of the Music Teacher's National Association and has also been affiliated with Junior Festivals of the National Federation of Musi c.

Staff

Tamara Begley, USPA's office manager has both a strong arts and administrative background. A former administrative assistant with JBM Properties, she is also active as a professional modern dance teacher, choreographer, and performer. Currently, she co-directs Moving Collective and teaches dance at the Louisville Ballet, Allegro Dance Theater, and Studio SILK. Tamara is a graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School and a summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she earned her BFA in Choreography and Performance.

Andrea Hammer has been a costumer at USPA for the past three years. A Louisville native and the mother of three girls, she's been sewing and making clothing since 1990. She especially enjoys studying period costumes and making and costuming porcelain dolls.

Vivian Reverman, USPA's costumer, has been sewing and creating costumes since she began making outfits for her dolls as a child. She began her association with USPA as a volunteer in the costume department when her youngest daughter, Danielle, was involved in the drama program for several years. In 2004 Vivian replaced USPA's retiring costumer. Vivian has worked on costumes at Walden Theater and for the 2005 movie, Dreamer, starring Kurt Russell. Vivian's outstanding costumes reflect her careful attention to detail and commitment to historical accuracy.

Elaine Spalding , USPA’s part-time office assistant, joined the staff in 2005. Elaine earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Kentucky and her master’s degree in school leadership from the University of Louisville. A veteran teacher and school counselor with the Jefferson County Public Schools, Elaine frequently does substitute teaching in schools throughout the metro Louisville area.