Our Faculty & Staff

Jaden Nogee is Usdan’s store manager and attends Binghamton University, where she studies accounting and information systems management. Jaden is a Usdan alum and continues to pursue musical theater and classical percussion in her spare time.

Stacey Jamieson is an Admissions Counselor at Usdan. She previously served as Assistant Dean and enjoys interacting with students and teachers. Stacey boasts more than 20 years experience as an attorney and advocate for children.

Courtney Kassinger has spent her summers at Usdan since 2002 when she first attended as a student. She has served as Discovery counselor, transportation staff, and is now Transportation Manager. Courtney is a teacher (and proud alum!) at Harborfields Central School District, teaching band, chorus, and music, as well as director of the annual Variety Show. She is a member of SCMEA and NAfME.

Jillian Greenberg is an artist and educator, and Usdan’s Director of Education. Prior to joining Usdan, Jillian managed Studio In A School’s Artist Residency Program. She has taught visual art in schools, organizations, and museums across New York City. Jillian holds a Master’s in Art Education from Teachers College at Columbia University and an MFA from the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London.

Dave Schecher returns to Usdan this summer for his 31st season. He is a trombonist, private music instructor and retired public school teacher who has also been the Director of The Long Island Brass Guild for many years.

Julia Forrest is an artist who works exclusively through the medium of film. She eschews digital processing for the home-made darkroom she built in her apartment, and enjoys pushing the bounds of reality through the camera lens. Julia also works as a teaching artist at the Brooklyn Museum, Medgar Evers College, and Lehigh University. As Usdan’s photography instructor, she is devoted to helping students push their own boundaries not only in film, but whatever medium of art they choose.

Kelly Schulte-Smith is a multidisciplinary artist, experimenting with crochet, bead-weaving, wire-weaving, resin, polymer clay, fused glass art, stained glass, steel, and mosaic art. Since graduating with a degree in interior design, Kelly has continued her own artistic exploration, while helping young people find their own voices as creators. She brings her unique perspective to Usdan’s Lego Design courses.

Christine Roepken is a freelance animator, educator, and fine artist. In addition to her many comic book and animation projects, Christine serves as Animation Workshop professor at the School of Visual Arts. She teaches Animation and Experimental Animation at Usdan.

Jared Peer is an artist and educator. He currently teaches art at Urban Assembly School for Media Studies and is pursuing his Master’s in Technology Specialism from Columbia University. Jared’s work explores combining technology and traditional woodworking with wearable interfaces. He is a Teaching Assistant at Usdan’s architecture program.

Chris Vivas is a ceramic artist whose work has been exhibited across the United States and Europe, as well as Turkey, Korea, and Japan. Drawing inspiration from the existential literature of Nietzsche, Sartre, and others, Chris’ work has brought him to notable ceramic residencies throughout the world. Chris instructs sculpture and cosplay courses at Usdan.

Annie Ewaskio is a painter and artist in Brooklyn, New York. She has participated in prestigious solo and group shows across the country, and her work has been published in The New Yorker, The Brooklyn Rail, and New American Paintings. She is the recipient of numerous fine arts grants, including two Kossak Painting grants, and teaches painting and drawing at Usdan.

Courtney Surmanek is a multidisciplinary artist, strategist, and organizer. Their work uses performance-poetry, art installations, and community initiatives to explore law, trauma, public space, and gender. Courtney is currently a Fellow of the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics’ EMERGENYC program and The Performance Project at University Settlement. They were a recent guest artist with the Broadway Advocacy Coalition at Columbia Law School and have participated in art residences at Cornell University, the Center for Artistic Activism, and others. Courtney has exhibited work across New York City and enjoys sparking creative exploration and risk-taking as a painting and drawing teacher at Usdan.

Laura Lannes is an illustrator and cartoonist, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian, Buzzfeed, Entertainment Weekly, and dozens of other publications. She has released several of her own comic books and appeared in multiple anthologies in the U.S. and Latin America. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Laura now resides in New York City and teaches Comic Art and Painting and Drawing at Usdan.

Oliver Valle is an interdisciplinary designer and artist in the fields of architecture and urban design, and teaching artist at Usdan. Prior to founding his own design practice, he served as an urban designer with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where his mixed-use development, transportation design, and urban design won multiple awards. Oliver continues to publish research internationally and he is a frequent guest at Columbia University, Syracuse University, Parsons School of Design, and other universities. Oliver instructs the Designing With Minecraft and Architecture courses at Usdan.

One of Long Island’s top 10 players, Joel Salman is a professional Chess Master who has been teaching chess to children in schools and libraries on a full time basis since 1994. The Long Island native joined the faculty of Usdan in 2003, where he co-chairs the Chess Department.

Jacqueline Selesky is a multi-talented dancer, proud Long Island native, and Usdan hip-hop instructor. Since the age of seven, Jacqueline has studied ballet, modern, jazz, Latin, hip-hop, and more. She has danced alongside Demi Lovato, Cardi B, and G-Easy in televised appearances, and appeared in Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It.” Jacqueline performed as lead soloist in Martha Graham’s Daughters of the Night and is a member of Asha Dance Company. She also teaches dance in Orange County Public Schools in New Jersey.

Zac Selissen is a guitarist, composer, arranger, and teacher. He has studied and performed across genres -- from rock and avant-garde to classical and tango. Since relocating to New York City, Zac has composed and performed scores for films, theater productions, ballets, and modern dance pieces. He is currently a teaching artist at Trinity Wall Street and teaches guitar and rock band at Usdan.

Dave Schecher returns to Usdan this summer for his 31st season. He is a trombonist, private music instructor and retired public school teacher who has also been the Director of The Long Island Brass Guild for many years.

Aaron Korn is a freelance horn player, performer, and educator. He has played alongside the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Symphony, and Allentown Symphony Orchestra. Aaron’s musical credits include Cinderella on Broadway, Rocktopia on Broadway, and the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. He currently teaches in the Music Advancement Program at the Julliard School.

Boris Deviatov is an award-winning violinist and conductor. After earning his doctorate of music in his native Ukraine, Boris toured the major concert halls of North America and Europe as a member of the Leontovich String Quartet. He teaches viola at Usdan.

Dr. Kegeki Nagao is an acclaimed musician and educator who has performed under conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Sergiu Comissiona, Paul Zukofsky, James DePriest, and Sixten Ehrling. A soloist, orchestral player, and chamber music performer, he has served as principal bass for the Westchester Chamber and Symphony Orchestras, Merrick Symphony, Atlantic Philharmonic, Strauss Symphony of America, Berkshire Opera, and the Transfiguration Chamber Ensemble. He currently directs the string department of Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School, and serves as Double Bass Instructor and Orchestra Director at Usdan.

Mark Bligh is the director of the Denton Ave Elementary Band (Herricks UFSD) where he teaches winds, brass and percussion for grades 3-5. The Denton Ave Band regularly attends NYSSMA Majors and consistently earns Gold with Distinction honors. Mark Bligh is an active NMEA member who has chaired several All-County festivals and presented at the Balanced Mind Conference. The past few years, he conducted the Winds, Brass and Percussion sectional for the NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Orchestra and will conduct the 2018 SCMEA Division 1 Central All-County Band. Mark performs regularly as Principal Alto Saxophone for the Northwinds Symphonic Band, has performed with the Atlantic Wind Symphony as well as various chamber recitals. Mark is a past member of SCMEA and current member of NMEA, NYSSMA, NYSBDA and NafME.

Michael Blutman enjoys a diverse career as a trumpeter and music educator. A graduate of Juilliard and the University of Maryland, his teaching, performing, and recording credits include: Ithaca College, Five Towns College, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, Sting, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orch, Broadway shows, and many others. Michael also co-founded the music education publishing company Pinnacle Music Press (www.pinmusicpress.com).

Sue Lehr is a musical director, teacher, and freelance musician, who is returning to Usdan for her 20th summer as cello instructor. Sue served as orchestra director at the Waldorf School for 20 years and continues to teach freelance today. She maintains a teaching studio in Freeport, NY and her quartet performs often at special occasions across Long Island.

Vasko Dukovski is an award-winning performing artist and composer whose work transcends genre and global boundaries. Since training at the Juilliard School, Vasko has become a prolific composer and advocate of contemporary classical and experimental music. He has collaborated and recorded with dozens of ensembles, and toured across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, China, and the United States, including dates at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Met, and MOMA. Vasko brings his talents to Usdan’s clarinet players every summer.

Steve Finklestein is a former park ranger, resident naturalist, environmental educator, and interpretive design consultant. For the past 30 years, he has taught at East Wilson School District. As a musician, Steve is a freelance percussionist who has performed internationally and recorded with acts that include Mariah Carey, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Dave Valentine, Selena, Randy Brecker, and others. Steve leads Usdan’s Nature, Ecology and Design class.

Amanda Signorelli is an arts educator devoted to helping young people foster a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. She currently teaches middle school art in Nassau County. Amanda is inspired by the natural world and, as Nature, Ecology, and Design instructor, she uses Usdan’s campus to connect her students to the artistic beauty in nature.

Anthony M. Romeo II is a music educator with nearly 30 years experience and a certified archery instructor. Anthony’s gift for teaching now inspires students daily at Seaford High School, where he serves as Director of Bands. As lead archery instructor at Usdan, Anthony is a USA Archery Level II Instructor and participates in archery societies and programming across New York state

Carolyn Popadin is a teaching artist, actress, and Usdan Musical Theater Director. Her work has brought her into schools and theaters throughout New York City and Long Island. She currently serves as a program director for Broadhollow Theater Company and co-director of the Infinity Arts Studio. She trained professionally with British American Drama Academy and has toured with the National Theatre of Performing Arts.

Christina Pawl is a dancer, singer, actor, and educator. She has appeared in multiple Broadway productions, including the Tony Award-winning CABARET, Meet Me In St. Louis, and South Pacific. She teaches dance at Broadway Dance Center, Main Street Theater, and Dance Alliance Roosevelt Island, and is a musical director at Usdan.

James Chricton is an actor at Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, Shakespeare Theater Company, Pioneer Theater Company, Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, and Prospect Theatre Company. He tourned nationally with Peter and the Starcatcher and serves as vocal director at Beyond the Stage Studio in Plainview, NY.
 

Rob Gallagher is an actor and vocalist who relocated to New York from the midwest in 1995 to pursue a career in musical theater. He starred as Javert in the Broadway production of Les Misérables and Emile Debeque in the Broadway revival of South Pacific. He is currently adjunct professor of voice at Long Island University and applied music at Five Towns College, as well as Musical Theater Director at Usdan.

Rita Broughton is the artist behind Usdan theater program’s imaginative backdrops. She is a professional artist and master of murals, faux finishes, trompe l’oeil, and decorative art. Rita’s paintings have been exhibited across the region, and her work has been acquired by many private collectors. She enjoys working with Usdan students to create backdrops that embellish and enrich their performances.

Michael Janover is a Long Island-based musical director, actor, composer, and arranger. He is passionate about sharing music, and believes it has the power to heal and connect people. Michael enjoys directing theater and performing as a pit orchestra musician, and teaching musical theater at Usdan.