Arts Education

Joy Christenson: Christenson spent 28 years teaching art in the public school, most of that time was spent in the middle school in Saint Cloud. She has a master?s degree from St. Mary?s University. She served on the committee to update the Minnesota arts education standards in 2018. She has written and completed grants, including a project grant. She recently retired from teaching and is working on her own artwork.; Geneva Gaukel: Gaukel is a development and marketing specialist at the Science Museum of Minnesota, where she supports the fundraising and operational efforts of the museum. Gaukel has previously held marketing and communications positions at Minnesota Youth Symphonies and Schubert Club, both in Saint Paul. She is a bassist with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra and an avid supporter of classical music in the community. Gaukel graduated from Macalester College with a BA in music and political science.; Sarah Lockwood: Lockwood is the production operations coordinator at Minnesota Opera, where she manages company rehearsal schedules and rental production logistics. She spends her summers as the company manager at Seagle Festival in upstate New York. She graduated with her bachelor of music in music industry, with a minor in management from Capital University (Columbus, OH) in May of 2017. She has previously worked with Children?s Theatre Company, the National Theatre for Children, Golden Horseshoe the Musical in West Virginia, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, and Jazz Arts Group Columbus.; Jacqueline Markevitch Paulsen: Paulsen lives and works in the Winona area as an educator and movement artist. She is the managing director of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and mission integration specialist for Cotter Schools. Her credentials include a BS in elementary education, a BA in theater with an emphasis in dance, a MS in educational leadership, and Montessori certification. Paulsen has been working in arts and education since 1993. Her recent volunteer work includes serving as a board member on the Winona Community Education Advisory Council, the Winona Historical Society education panel, and for Families First of Minnesota.; Matthew Sheetz: Sheetz holds a BS in music through the music therapy program at Augsburg College. His experience includes education and training in theater, music performance, set building, and design. He has fifteen years? experience working with people with disabilities at MSS, a nonprofit that provides support and services to individuals with disabilities, where music and art facilitation, community engagement, and self-advocacy are some of the programs he regularly leads. Currently, through the Fresh Eye Gallery, he is supporting/collaborating alongside MSS artists and administrators in pursuing professional recognition and advocating for their inclusion and the elevation of marginalized artists.; Bronwynn Touchette: Touchette is the lead school bus driver for Wadena-Deer Creek Schools. She is a wife and mother to two children. She serves on the boards of both Madhatters Community Theater and also Staples Area Women?s Chorus. She attended the University of San Diego for two years and the Academy of Art College for one year. She has been involved in grant writing for Madhatters for four years and recently she was chosen for a special artists? cohort through Five Wings Arts Council and Springboard for the Arts.; Brandon VanWaeyenberghe: VanWaeyenberghe is the executive director of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO). Prior to joining the DSSO, he served as the director of finance at the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and worked in fundraising and finance at the Houston Symphony.