Instructor Bios

Instructor Bios

Ron Ames

Graduate Digital Photography Mastery Program, Mark Hemmings Graduate Master’s Program; iPhone Photo and Editing Academy/Emil Pakarklis. Award winner and regular contributor to ICM Photography Magazine. Teaching experience: The Delaplaine Arts Center.

Anne Boyer

MFA candidate, Hood College; MAT, Maryland Institute College of Art; BA, University of Maryland, College Park. Teaching experience: Montgomery County Public Schools, Frederick County Public Schools, Glen Echo Park. Exhibits regionally and nationally.

Sarah Cairns

BFA, The School of Visual Arts. Teaching experience: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD; Black Rock Center for the Arts, MD.

Vicki Clarkson

AA, Spencerian College. Teaching experience: Frederick Made, MD; Prince George’s County Public Schools, MD. Exhibits nationally.

Lesa Cook

BA, University of South Carolina; studied at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, George Mason University, DC; The Art League in Alexandria, VA; Florence Academy of Art, Italy. Teaching experience: Frederick Community College.

Gina Copanzzi

Diploma, Penn Foster; studied at the Gemological Institute of America, CA; Montgomery College, MD; Jewelry Arts Institute, NY. Founder, GMC Designs.

Jamie Gerhold

BFA, Savannah College of Art and Design. Teaching experience: City of Frederick Parks & Recreation, MD; Jamie Gerhold Designs, MD; Orenda Center of Wellness, MD. Muralist regionally and nationally.

Elizabeth Hinton

Hood College and Frederick Community College. Studied with Kesra Hoffman. Assistant teaching experience: Valley Elementary School, MD; Lucy School, MD.

Cecil Holloway

BFA, Savannah College of Art and Design. Teaching experience: Workhouse Arts Center, VA; Digital Kidz.

Janet Ibrahim

BA, University of Maryland. Teaching experience: Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, MD; Maryland Housing Partnership Program.

Rylie Johnson

Pursuing BFA in Art Education, West Virginia University. Teaching experience: The Delaplaine Arts Center.

John Kachik

BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Teaching experience: MICA. Award-winning and internationally recognized illustrator. Exhibits regionally.

Jennifer Kirk

BA, Mount Holyoke College. Teaching experience: The Delaplaine Arts Center.

Carol Leadbetter

BA, McGill University, Canada; AA, Photography, Montgomery College; Electronic Digital Photography Certificate, Montgomery College. Award-winning photographer. Exhibits regionally.

Ciarán Lynch

BA, Dublin City University, Ireland; Furniture Design, Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, Ireland. Teaching experience: Benchspace, Ireland; Miasamgeori Elementary School and IELTS Academy Gangnam South Korea.

Allison Mandich

MAT and BFA, Frostburg State University. Teaching Experience: Frederick County Public Schools, MD.

Julie Maynard

Student of Wanda Taylor Remington. Teaching experience: Artist-in-Residence, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, MD. Exhibits nationally.

Karen McGraw

MA, Art of Education University; BS, Kutztown University. Teaching experience: Enhance Arts, Frederick County Public Schools, MD; Camp Invention, MD.

Christine Merry

Master Artist’s Program, Compass Atelier; MA, San Francisco State University; BA, Colby College. Teaching experience: Arts of Great Falls, VA. Exhibits regionally.

Stephanie Miller

MS, Johns Hopkins University; BA, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; studied at Staub Art Studio. Teaching experience: Church of the Brethren Learning Center, MD. Exhibits nationally.

David Modler

MFA, James Madison University; MEd and BS, Towson University. Teaching experience: Shepherd University, WV; Perquimans County Public Schools, NC; Loudon County Public Schools, VA. Exhibits nationally.

Callie Otness

BA, Whitman College. Teaching experience: Open Arts Studio, WA; Annie Wright Schools, WA; Norwood School, MD; Holton-Arms School, MD; Arts Barn, MD; Clarksburg Town Center, MD; private instruction. Exhibits nationally.

Jaz Parks

BA, Towson University (MD). Teaching experience: Washington Street Studios (WV). Exhibits regionally.

Beth Prokop

MFA, Academy of Art University; BA, Mary Washington College. Teaching experience: JoAnn Fabrics; Cornerstone Homeschool Cooperative, MD. Owner/instructor Artisan Sewing and Fashion Academy.

Calvin Edward Ramsburg

Studied with Vo-Dinh Mai. Teaching experience: Frederick County Public Schools. Artist-in-Residence, Maryland State Arts Council. Exhibits internationally.

Sukey Rankin

MA, Gifted Education, Shippensburg University; BA, Juniata College. Teaching experience: Hood College, MD; Washington County Public Schools, MD; Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, MD.

Joh Ricci

BFA, Kuntztown University. Award-winning fiber artist. Exhibits regionally.

Trip Sheridan

BS, Towson University. Teaching experience: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD. Exhibits regionally and nationally.

Theresa Steele

MAT, Mount Saint Mary’s University; BMA, University of South Carolina. Teaching experience: Frederick County Public Schools, MD.

Christine Tischer

BA, Hood College. Studied at George Washington University with Sheila Waters, Carl Rohrs, Denis Brown, and other well-known American and international calligraphers. Teaching experience: Washington Calligraphers Guild (WCG), DC; Museum of Fine Arts of Washington County, MD. Member, WCG, serving as Workshops Chair for 17 years. Exhibits with the WCG.

Joe Yablonsky

BS, Penn State University. Teaching experience: Smithsonian Associates, DC; Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, MD; Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, MD; Anne Arundel Community College, MD. Exhibits regionally.

Visiting Artists

Alison Armor

Self-taught quilling artist. Teaching experience: The Delaplaine Arts Center.

Milana Boroskovia

Teaching experience: Artists-in-Residence, Sandy Spring Museum, MD; various regional and international arts centers. Exhibits internationally.

Jordan Cannon

MFA, Maryland Institute College of Art; BA, Washington College. Teaching experience: Shepherd University, WV; Frederick Community College, MD; Hagerstown Community College, MD; McDaniel College, MD; Montserrat College of Art, MA; Guangdong Industry Polytechnic, China. Exhibits regionally.

Erin Fostel

BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art. Exhibits nationally. 2025 Delaplaine Contemporary Innovations Artist.

Cynthia (Nolly) Gelsinger

Teaching experience: The Glass Resort, MD; Common Ground on the Hill, MD; International Society of Glass Beadmakers Annual Conference, 2013. Member, Frederick Hot Glass Society, MD. Exhibits nationally and internationally.

Jeri Greenberg

AA and BA, Parsons School of Design. Teaching experience: Cameron Art Museum, NC; Center for Contemporary Art, NJ; Visual Art Center, NJ. Affiliations: Master Circle, International Association of Pastel Societies; Signature Member of The Pastel Society of America. Exhibits nationally.

Joanna Lohr

PhD, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. Teaching experience: private instructor.

Cherie Peters

EdD, Northcentral University; MA, University of Missouri; BA, Park University. Teaching experience: Scenic Regional Library, MO; Southern Missouri Arts Connection, MO; Operation Life Support, MO; Lake George Escape, NY; K–12 educator, NV, MO. Exhibits in the Midwest region. 2025 Artist in Residence, Cunningham Falls State Park, MD.

Intermittent Instructors

Kelli Harrison

MEd, Art, Towson University. Teaching experience: Frederick County Public Schools, MD.

Lauren Koch

MFA, University of Maryland (UMD), College Park; BFA, University of West Georgia. Teaching experience: Frederick Book Arts Center, MD; Shepherd University, WV; UMD, College Park. Exhibits internationally.

Christopher Madden

BFA, Ohio State University. Teaching experience: Yellow Barn Studio, MD; Griffin Art Center, MD. Exhibits regionally.

Lee Newman

MFA, American University. Teaching experience: College of William & Mary, VA; American University, DC; Georgetown University, DC. Founder, Washington Studio School. Exhibits internationally.

Affiliated Organizations for Instruction

Clustered Spires Quilt Guild

The Clustered Spires Quilt Guild includes beginners through experts, with interests from art quilts to traditional quilts in an array of materials. The guild’s purpose is to share a love of quilts and quilt making. It is pleased to partner with The Delaplaine Arts Center to provide quilt-related classes and workshops. The guild also sponsors seminars, exhibitions, workshops, and community service projects.

Mid-Maryland Woodturners Club

Members of Mid-Maryland Woodturners Club are pleased to share their joy and knowledge of woodturning with others. Members of the club are happy to support of The Delaplaine Arts Center in its community outreach to introduce our hobby to new woodturners, and to help experienced turners improve their skills. We enjoy sharing woodturning techniques, safety tips, and sources of material and equipment with folks who would like to give woodturning a try, and we encourage them to explore this form of art.