Meet the Arts for Learning Staff

Staff Directory

JoEllen Florio Rossebo

President, Chief Executive Officer
317-925-4043, ext. 115
jrossebo@artsforlearningindiana.org

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Ploi Pagdalian

Senior Director of Programs
317-925-4043, ext. 116
ppagdalian@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: Franklin Township, Decatur Township, Shelby County

Sarah Tirey

Program Director
317-925-4043, ext. 123
stirey@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: IPS, Center, Perry Township, Warren Township, Lawrence Township, Boone County, Hancock County, Johnson County, Madison County, Morgan County

Angela Yetter

Scheduling & Program Director
317-925-4043, ext. 114
ayetter@artsforlearningindiana.org

Regions: Washington Township, Pike Township, Wayne Township, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Northeast Region, All Unlisted Counties

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:

Scott Janz

Director of Artist Programs
317-925-4043, ext. 113
sjanz@artsforlearningindiana.org

Jessica Knudsen-Bahney

Grants & Stewardship Manager
317-925-4043, ext. 122
jknudsen@artsforlearningindiana.org

Jennifer Collins

Director of Development
317-925-4043, ext. 112
jcollins@artsforlearningindiana.org

Jeanette Huber

Accountant
317-925-4043, ext. 110
jhuber@artsforlearningindiana.org

Jessica Dunson

Marketing & Communications Specialist
317-925-4043, ext. 120
jdunson@artsforlearningindiana.org

Executive Committee

Susan Oliver / Chair
Staff Technical Writer
Salesforce

Susan is a Staff Technical Writer for Salesforce, specializing in writing Marketing Cloud Trailhead content. Susan has a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from New York University with a concentration in oil painting and cinema studies. For most of her career after college, she worked as a writer & video producer for a production company in Indianapolis. She then transitioned to working for Salesforce (formerly ExactTarget). She has spent several years in project and program management and just recently shifted to writing. Personally, she lives with her 3 cats and husband in the Broad Ripple area. She keeps busy through many hobbies, including baking, painting, and relearning how to play the piano. In addition to her work with Arts for Learning, she also volunteers for Girls Inc. and Pass the Torch.

Allison Meta / Vice Chair
Vice President, Branch Manager
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

Allison joined the Indianapolis team of Chubb Group of Insurance Companies as the Branch Manager in October 2003. Her 20-year tenure with Chubb includes branch management and various roles in underwriting and marketing. Previously, she served as the Southeast Regional Marketing Manager in Atlanta from 2000 to 2003. Allison started her Chubb career in the Birmingham, Alabama, office in 1994 after spending five years in underwriting and marketing positions with another property and casualty insurance carrier. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.

Tami Earnhart / Interim Secretary
Partner
Ice Miller LLP

Tami is a partner at Ice Miller and has been practicing as a labor and employment lawyer for over 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Legal Administration from the University of Evansville and her Juris Doctorate from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Tami has served on various community and professional boards, including the Board of Directors of Social Health Association, the Executive Council for the Labor and Employment Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the Parish Board of Consultors of Saints Francis and Clare Catholic Church. During her time on the Board of Directors of Arts for Learning, Tami has been a member of the Program Committee and participated in the planning of the Leap into Arts Fundraising Event, as Chair, Co-Chair, or Committee member. Tami and her husband, Chris, have two children, Asher and Bryce, and reside in Greenwood, Indiana.

Board of Directors

Amandula Anderson
Director of Real Estate Solutions

Amandula Anderson is the Director of Real Estate Solutions for IFF in the Indiana market. Amandula has nearly 20 years-experience in the nonprofit sector where she has led two community-based organizations – Irvington Development Organization and United Northeast CDC; convened a Quality of Life initiative on the northeast side of Indianapolis; directed a program to facilitate a two-generational approach to supporting families within 5 Indianapolis communities; and spent a few years supporting affordable housing through a tax credit syndicator. She is a graduate of Arlington High School, received her BS in Public Affairs from IUPUI and is finalizing her Masters in Real Estate Development at University of Indianapolis. In her role at IFF, she is supporting schools and nonprofits in their desire to build/move/expand in spaces that meet the needs of their clients and brings dignity to all. Amandula enjoys spending time with her husband and five children/young adults. They like to watch movies, play video games, read and travel.

Kate Appel
Community Volunteer

Kate is a life-long supporter of the arts, education and youth. She taught and produced theater before raising a family, but continued being active in the arts and education as a volunteer. She was a founding member of Orchard in Bloom (OIB), an annual community event, fundraiser for The Orchard School, and benefit for Holliday Park, and chaired the event for several years; she started a gardening symposium in adjunct with OIB and co-chaired that for several years as well. Currently, Kate serves on the Boards of Directors of Paul’s Church, Women 4 Change, and The Fine Arts Society, and on the Advisory Board of Classical Music Indy; she is an Honorary Board member with Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre and a Founding Board member of University High School. Kate has previously served on the Boards of Directors of Paul’s Music, the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Prize/Indianapolis Zoo, The Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indianapolis Opera. She also assisted in the creation and funding for the art therapy department at Riley Children’s Hospital.

Lisa Boncosky
Community Volunteer

Lisa is an Air Force brat who had the good fortune to marry a native Hoosier and is delighted to be rearing her two children in Indianapolis. Maggie and Sam are active in orchestra (French horn and trombone, respectively) and are lucky enough to attend a school with a keen focus on the importance of the arts. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Secondary Education from James Madison University and received her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Denver. She is a photographer by trade and loves the creative outlet, but her business has taken a backseat to parenting for the time being. Lisa served in the Children’s Museum Guild from 2004 to 2010, has served on the jury for Heartland Truly Moving Pictures since 2005, and enjoys being a member of the Contemporary Art Society at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Her husband, Bill, is the President of Art to Remember, a company that raises funds for arts education.

H. Daphne Chiu
Waste Water Project Manager
Citizens Water

Daphne is originally from Taiwan and has lived in United States since 1997. She attended Purdue University for graduate school. Daphne has over nine years of experience in wastewater systems as an engineering project manager for the City of Indianapolis and, now, Citizens Energy Group for sanitary sewers, combined sewer overflows treatment, and wastewater treatment plants. During her free time, Daphne enjoys music, hiking, and travel. She lives in Avon, Indiana, with her husband and son. She is an active member of North United Methodist Church where she sings in the choir and is involved in various mission ministries.

Todd Clevenger
Grant Administrator
Hamilton County

Todd is the Grants Administrator for Hamilton County where he helps evaluate the County’s grant readiness, identify grant opportunities, secure grant awards, manage grant projects and funds and ensure compliance with all grant requirements and regulations. During his career, Todd has served as a corporate marketing and communication executive as well as an outside consultant. His experience building, implementing and managing strategic marketing and communications strategies spans numerous industries including: healthcare, education, non-profit, government, finance and technology. Todd is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism and holds a Masters in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife Sue have two sons, Jonathan and Jordan, and live in Cicero.

Lawrence D. Hilton
Assistant United States Attorney
The United States Attorney’s Office

Lawrence received his B.A. in Music from Furman University. He went on to earn his M.S. from Miami University in 2008 and Juris Doctor from Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2011. He currently works for The United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana as Assistant United States Attorney.

Dorene Rodriguez Hoops
Community Volunteer

Anson Keller
Principal Architect
DkGr

Anson is Founding Partner and Principal at DkGr Architects in Indianapolis. As an instructor for the Indianapolis Art Center, Anson has taught classes ranging from basic drawing to stop-motion animation in the Center’s outreach program. In his free time, he enjoys working on his 19th-century home and his mid-20th-century motorcycles.

Susan Gran Michal
Director of Early Childhood Education
The Children’s Museum

Susan has over 20 years of professional experience in education, having taught and directed in public, private, and charter schools in Indianapolis and in Tucson, Arizona. Susan has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University and a master’s degree in Educational Administration and leadership from Butler University; she has also spent time in Finland and Sweden studying their educational systems. Susan and her husband, Rich, have three grown daughters, Lily, Isabelle, and Sophia, and live in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis.

Anne Surak
Founder
art + space

Anne Surak has been an art dealer and curator for twelve years. She has an extensive background in exhibition planning, art consulting, gallery management and design. Before relocating to Indiana she was the inaugural director of Project 4 in Washington DC, a gallery that represented mid-career and emerging contemporary artists. In 2014, she founded art + space, an extensive art consulting and curatorial service emphasizing trends in contemporary art and design. art + space was originally conceived in 2006 in Washington, and has been re-launched in Indianapolis to involve the city in a greater international artistic dialogue by broadening the scope of work being exhibited and commissioned, while also nurturing the careers of a small group of promising, local artists by introducing their work to a more global audience. In Washington, Anne served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Project for the Arts; in Indiana, she has served as the Board President of the Contemporary Art Society at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and is currently the Director of Exhibitions of Exhibit Columbus.

LaTonya M. Turner, PH.D.
Dean, The Educators College
Marion University

Dr. LaTonya M. Turner serves as the Dean of The Klipsch Educators College at Marian University. As a former principal, counselor, and teacher, she is a highly sought-after educator who expertly trains educators to be high-performing leaders in K-12 and higher education systems. Throughout the nation, you will find students, educators, and educational institutions who have been energized by Turner’s spirit and knowhow. LaTonya is known for her unique ability to design and implement rigorous curricula that actually achieve measurable results and transform schools; she has been called upon by the State Board of Education and the Indiana Department of Education to assist with School Quality Reviews. Dr. Turner continuously seeks ways to make sure all children, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic standing, have ample opportunity to maximize their potential. Turner’s advocacy is regularly expressed through institutional consulting, leader coaching, and workshops for students, parents, and educators. LaTonya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and English from Missouri Valley College, a Master of Science in Education degree from Indiana University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University.

Sarah Walter
Manager of Marketing & Communications
Managed Health Services

Sarah Walter currently serves as Manager of Marketing & Communications for Managed Health Services (MHS), a local health coverage provider. In this role, she develops and executes marketing plans to provide clear, comprehensive information to Indiana’s Medicaid population and healthcare providers. Prior to joining MHS, she was the Director of Communications at the Indiana Perinatal Network, a non-profit working to improve the health and outcomes of Indiana’s mothers and babies. She holds a degree in Public and Corporate Communications from Butler University. Sarah volunteers as a tutor with School on Wheels and is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association. She lives in Butler-Tarkington neighborhood of Indianapolis with her husband, Adam, and enjoys running on the Monon Trail, going to concerts, and, of course, cheering for the Butler Bulldogs.