Staff
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Robert "Bob" Willenbrink, Ph.D.
Executive Director bwillenbrink@mdcfa.org office: 443-567-5216 Dr. Willenbrink, was the Founding Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Missouri Western State University. He holds the Ph.D. from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University. Bob began his career at Hazard (Kentucky) Community where he founded the Hazard Summer Playhouse and served for many years as Chair and Director of Theatre at the University of Central Arkansas. While there he created the Youth Theatre of Central Arkansas, was the national director of the ARC Performing Arts Institute for disabled artists, and founded ACTS, a theatre performance troupe for disabled performers. He has directed over 85 productions of various styles at numerous venues. He has served as chair of Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VI, the Kentucky Humanities Council board, a director and first vice-president of the Jenny Wiley Theatre, and as the artistic director for the Kincaid Regional Theatre. Most recently he was the Department Head and Producer/Director for Missouri State’s Equity Tent Theatre. He received the Kennedy Center Bronze Medallion for Service and the Distinguished Creative Production Award at Morehead State University. |
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Suzanne Zantop
Administrative Assistant szantop@mdcfa.org office: 443-567-5216 Suzanne Zantop serves as Administrative Assistant and Cultural Events Coordinator for the Maryland Center for the Arts and brings over 40 years of experience working in the performing arts in the Baltimore area. As Artistic Director of the Harford Dance Theatre at Harford Community College, she directed the county's first full-length production of The Nutcracker and co-created Harriet's Happiest Halloween, a perennial community favorite. She worked in numerous theatrical productions in the Baltimore area, as both actor and director, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Shadowlands, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Steel Magnolias, and On Golden Pond. Suzanne chaired the School Concerts Committee of Harford County, which was instrumental in bringing professional performances and artists to Harford County's schools. In Dancing for the Arts 2015, Suzanne raised funds for the Maryland Center for the Arts on behalf of the Deer Creek Chorale, with whom she sings in the Chamber Choir and for whom she served as Treasurer and grant-writer for ten years. With her late husband, she was co-owner and hospital manager of the Fallston Veterinary Clinic for over 35 years. In her spare time, she writes a blog (www.mygreekchorus.com) and travels. pc: vickiegrayimages.com |
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Amelia "Amy" Nelson Riley Administrative Assistant ariley@mdcfa.org office: 443-567-5216 Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Amy grew up studying dance at Point Park University and the PA Governor’s School for the Arts at Mercyhurst College. She spent her summers at the family home in the Chautauqua Institution, NY, where she continued her dance training and served as an administrative assistant to the Chautauqua Ballet and Theatre companies, as well as dance critic for the Chautauquan Daily newspaper. Amy received a scholarship to Goucher College, where she completed a Dance major, with a concentration in Dance History & Criticism, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 2001. While attending Goucher College, Amy completed a study abroad course in London, interned at the NYPL Performing Arts/Dance division archives, wrote for the Dance Newsletter, and was a member of the dance-history performing ensemble, Choregraphie Antique. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington, DC, where she served as a graduate research assistant. Moving to NYC, Amy completed the Pilates Method instructor certification program before returning to Goucher College to teach full-time at the Pilates Center, later serving as its director. While teaching community members and academic students in the Pilates Center, Amy also completed M.Ed. courses in K-12 Guidance and Counseling at Loyola University Maryland, and spent some time working in the Harford County Education Foundation and as a substitute teacher in the county’s public school system. Most recently, she completed Cornell University's SC Johnson College of Business online certificate program: Women in Leadership. Additionally, Amy is passionate about foreign travel, having visited Japan and numerous European countries, as well as hosting exchange students from Spain. While currently raising two young children, Amy has spent time volunteering locally with the Harford County Cultural Arts Board, Bel Air Rotary, and the Moms Club of Fallston. |