Our Dedicated Teams
Our enthusiastic staff, skilled instructors, and engaged board members bring diverse expertise and a shared promise to fostering creativity, connection and community to PAC Center. Their commitment helps shape a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving space for everyone looking for a place to belong.
Our Staff
Rosemary Fox
Rosemary has served as Executive Director for the past four years, guiding the PAC Center through a period of growth rooted in creativity and community connection. Her work centers on the belief that strong, engaged communities are essential to personal and collective wellbeing.
Rosemary’s career spans more than 35 years as an actor, director, and producer working throughout the Philadelphia region.
Prior to taking the lead at the PAC Center, Rosemary was the founder and owner of Xscape The Room in Media, where she designed and produced more than 10 original escape room experiences. This work blended storytelling, design, and collaboration — skills that continue to shape her approach to community-building and program development.
She is also a founding member of The Creative Living Room, an artist-led initiative that recently merged with the PAC Center, focused on creative arts programming for youth.
Rosemary and her husband have lived in Swarthmore for 22 years, where they have raised their three daughters. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Swarthmore and previously served on the board of Swarthmore Town Center, where she led leading initiatives like the “Nights in the Ville” outdoor dining series.
Outside of work, she loves long walks, reading, cooking, enjoying time with her family and dog Odey, and meaningful conversations.
For Rosemary, her work at the PAC Center represents the perfect culmination of her artistic, entrepreneurial, and leadership experience. She believes that community is not only where change begins— it is the resistance.
Executive Director
Mary Thompson
Born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area, Mary turned to yoga to maintain balance and strength during her 21-year career as an FBI agent. A certified Yoga for Healthy Aging instructor, she is the founder of Sanctuary Yoga, a spiritual wellness ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Swarthmore, where she fosters compassion and lifelong wellness through a donation-based yoga practice. Her trained therapy dog, Liza, accompanies Mary in the twice-weekly yoga practice.
She retired from law enforcement before moving to Swarthmore with her husband and son in 2018.
Mary finds joy in helping people challenge themselves in new ways, whether that is learning how to tap dance, talk with sensitivity about death and dying, experimenting with a new art form or surrendering to the unknowns of a Sound Bath. As the Health and Wellness director, she feels privileged to walk with people on their individual wellness journeys and witness personal transformation through PAC Center offerings.
Mary has served as Council President of Swarthmore College's Scott Arboretum and Gardens, and as Board President of Episcopal Impact Fund, a grant-making organization in San Francisco.
She received her undergraduate degree in Oriental Languages at University of California Berkeley and an MBA from St. Mary's College of California.
When not organizing all the fantastic programming for adults or teaching yoga at the PAC Center, you can find Mary volunteering and singing in the church choir at Trinity where her husband, the Reverend Dr. Ted Thompson is the rector. She's also learning to tap dance, sail and keeps up with the latest research on strong and healthy aging!
Director of Health and Wellness and Adult Programs
Lisa Oster
Lisa is a dancer, educator, nonprofit administrator, and mother with a BFA in Dance Education from The University of the Arts and a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from Concordia University. She began her career teaching dance in Philadelphia schools before working with arts organizations in New York, including the Arts & Business Council Inc and Americans for the Arts.
After earning her graduate degree and working with The McConnell Foundation in Montreal, Lisa returned to Philadelphia, joining the dance faculty at Darlington Arts Center and working in Corporate Relations at People’s Light. She now lives in Media, PA, with her husband and two sons, where she directs The Creative Living Room, teaches dance, and runs the popular Dance Me A Story program. For nine seasons, she has also co-choreographed and coached the Dancing Like A Star Fundraiser for the Delco Gaels.
Director of Children and Youth Programs
Sara Kleinert
Sara Kleinert is a familiar face at the PAC Center, where she has served as the administrator for the past three years. In 2026, she was named Operations Manager.
Sara holds dual BFAs in Scene Design and Studio Art from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, and an MFA in Socially Engaged Studio Art from Philadelphia's Moore College of Art & Design. Her making practice is grounded in community engagement, creative event facilitation, and visual design for theatrical spaces.
Active in the Philadelphia art and theater community, Sara has contributed to projects at The Rotunda Philadelphia, LaborCamp PHL, and Muhlenberg College.
At the PAC Center, Sara created the Summer Senior Program, partnering with the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association, offering seniors a weekly opportunity to take part in a creative workshop, followed by lunch and socializing.
With a strong foundation in fine arts, theatrical design, and event planning, Sara infuses creativity into every aspect of life.
Outside of work, Sara enjoys cooking, painting in her art studio, and bringing friends and family together. She and her husband are steadily building a small homestead, hoping one day to raise ducks and chickens amid a flourishing fruit and vegetable garden.
Operations Manager
Martha Perkins
Martha has been a practicing artist for more than 40 years. After graduating with an MA from Mount St. Mary’s University, she worked as an installation assistant for multiple artists and as an art handler for US Biennial Inc. and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Martha moved to Swarthmore in 1999 to raise her two children and found many volunteer opportunities that scratched her artistic itch. In addition to assisting with school art programs and installations, she become president of the non-profit Swarthmore Friends of The Arts organization which hosts rotating exhibits of local artists' work in Swarthmore Borough Hall.
In 2018, Martha opened Gallery on Park, a Swarthmore boutique featuring fine arts and handmade work by local artists. Finding ways to connect these artists to the community gives Martha a deep sense of purpose and led her to launch the Swarthmore Makers Market alongside Shannon Elliott of Harvey Oak Mercantile in Swarthmore. The twice-yearly market draws thousands of attendees for an afternoon of live music, great food and viewing the works of more than 90 local artists and makers.
Martha has received multiple awards for her service to the community, including the Swarthmore Rotary Club Vocational Service Award and the Swarthmore Centennial Foundation's Shine-A-Light Award.
Artist in Residence
Alexandria Holden
Alexandria (Alex) Holden is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. She has 15 years of experience in the Marketing and Communications world. Her career has varied wildly: past jobs have included a potato chip factory tour guide, a boutique manager, various marketing roles at a chocolate factory, three non profits, and - most recently - a woman-owned winery in Berks County. However, all of them made her passionate about how stories and community bring us all together.
Alex holds a BA from West Chester University in Communication Studies. She has lived in Boston and Philadelphia, before moving to the area in 2024.
Outside of work, Alex is dedicated to making her home beautiful, gardening, arts & crafts and her family. She has painted two murals in her home. Alex loves watching great tv and movies and creating trinkets for her friends. She’s also a die-hard Philly sports fan. She lives in Morton with her husband and young son, their three cats (Gandalf, Tormund, and Lazlo) and dog (George Costanza).
Marketing Coordinator
Jess Bordas
Jess Bordas brings a diverse background in administration, education, and community-centered work to her role at the PAC Center. With experience as a clinical administrator, she has supported large teams and coordinated care for clients, building a strong foundation in organization, communication, and day-to-day operations.
Jess’s professional path also includes early childhood education, as well as several years of homeschooling her children through elementary school. These experiences reflect her commitment to learning, growth, and creating supportive environments.
In addition to her administrative and educational background, Jess is a certified Reiki practitioner and co-founder of Growth Catalysts, a platform supporting women navigating life transitions. She also co-hosts the podcast Next Chapter Women: She Blooms in Solitude, where she explores themes of identity, healing, and personal growth, and is the author of a published children’s book, Dancing Trees.
In her spare time, Jess enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, and continuing to explore practices that support personal well-being and reflection.
Evening Administrator & Operations Support
Our Board
Beth Murray
Beth has been a Swarthmore resident since 1994, raising her four children with her husband, Steve, in the supportive Swarthmore community. Over the past 20 years, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including president of the Swarthmore Recreation Association and the Swarthmore-Rutledge School Home & School Association, and as a member of the Swarthmore Environmental Advisory Council and Housing Affordability Task Force. She currently serves as president of the PAC Center Board and launched a bookstore, Celia Bookshop, in Swarthmore in 2025.
Beth holds a BA from Miami University and an MBA from Harvard and teaches in the Communication Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Board President
Kate Tejada
Kate lives in Wallingford with her husband, two kids, her mom, her doofy rescue dog & numerous animals who steal veggies from her garden. She moved to Wallingford in 2014, after living in South Philly for 15 years, and is still learning how to speak Delco. She is a proud graduate of Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Kate is a non-profit professional, having worked in philanthropy and the arts community in the Philadelphia area for 24 years. She is the Administrative Director & Board Liaison for the Independence Foundation in Philadelphia. Previously, she was the Managing Director for 1812 Productions, Philadelphia's All-Comedy Theatre Company. She also worked in arts administration for the Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia Live Arts & Philly Fringe and numerous other theater companies in Philadelphia. She's been a peer panelist for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, was a Master Lecturer at University of the Arts, teaching theater management and non-profit finance & budgeting, and has also been a guest speaker at Temple University.
Vice President
Sharon Mester
Sharon has been a resident of Swarthmore since 1995, raising three children in the community with her husband, Peter. Sharon is member of the Swarthmore Centennial Foundation and is a garden manager for the Swarthmore Horticultural Society. Sharon has served as president of the boards of the Swarthmore Town Center and the Swarthmore Co-op and is past president and treasurer of the Swarthmore-Rutledge School Home and School Association.
Sharon has a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. Sharon’s career started in product management at DuPont. After working for two start-ups in marketing and operations roles, she transitioned to a career in senior living. She currently works at SageLife, which owns and/or operates twelve senior living communities, one being Plush Mills in Wallingford.
Secretary
Mike Stack
Mike has lived in Swarthmore for the past 18 years with his wife and one daughter, who recently started college at the University of Vermont. Mike grew up in Westbrook, Maine and obtained a degree in Accountancy from Bentley University and an MBA from the University of Southern Maine. He recently retired after 17 years at the University of Pennsylvania working as the Director of Budget and Capital Planning in the Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services and previously worked in several roles for 11 years at IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, Maine. Before that, he worked in various internal and external auditing positions.
Mike previously served as treasurer of the SRS Home & School Association, the Foundation for Wallingford-Swarthmore Schools and the Rutledge Girls Club.
Treasurer
Meg Ryan
Meg grew up in Swarthmore. She attended SRS, played Swarthmore travel soccer, and had a classic Swarthmore childhood biking around town with friends (and stopping at the old Michael’s Pharmacy for candy!). She went to Friends’ Central School for Middle and High School, but spent her summers at Swarthmore Swim Club, including working as a lifeguard and assistant diving coach. She then left the area to attend college at Cornell University, followed by law school at Harvard, and then spent some years working as a lawyer in New York City.
She returned to the area in 2014 and worked as an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission, and currently is Associate General Counsel at Edward Jones. While living in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood of Philadelphia, Meg volunteered with her local public school’s nonprofit “friends of” group, organizing an annual silent auction and other fundraising events.
Meg and her husband, Matt, and their two kids, Scott and Molly, moved from Philly to Swarthmore in August 2021. They now live right down the road from Meg’s parents and the house where she grew up. Meg is happy to be back in town, and her whole family loves being a part of the Swarthmore community.
Board Member
Keville Bowen
Keville A. Bowen graduated from Art Institute of Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science in Media Art and Animation. College helped him learn the different approaches of teaching from professors to classmates. His internship allowed him to apply all he learned as a boarding camp art teacher and counselor. He love the experience so much that he went back for another two years.
Keville’s workshops teaches the art of creating Animation, Comic Books and Anime. His classes are infused with his love for story boarding, writing and history. Keville creatively teaches children at the Park Avenue Community Center in Swarthmore, Rockdale Art Center in Aston and Expressive Path in Norristown. He also teaches summer programs throughout the Delaware and Montgomery County Library system.
Teacher Liaison
Bindu Jayne
Bindu has lived in Swarthmore since 2018 with her husband Kevin, daughter Sejal, son Kiran, and dog Indiana Bones (Indy, if you're on his good side). Before putting down roots in Delco, Bindu grew up in New Jersey, lived over a decade in Philadelphia, and bopped around the east coast.
Bindu is a lawyer and has worked in the higher education space for the last fifteen years, primarily in the civil rights and equity space for such institutions as Swarthmore College, the University of Delaware, Appalachian State University, and Rowan University. She recently opened up her own consulting business and is the founding partner of Sage Education Consulting, LLC. Bindu went to undergrad at Cornell University and law school at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Board Member
Brandon Lausch
Brandon has lived in Swarthmore since 2009 with his wife, Abby, and their two daughters, McKenna and Cora, along with their adopted dog, June. He has served on the board of the Swarthmore Recreation Association, directed the SRA New Year’s Day 5K, coached youth basketball, and taught skateboarding. An avid runner, he also volunteers as a pacer for half marathons.
Brandon is Executive Director of Strategic Communications at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he oversees communications across the college’s three locations in Philadelphia and Georgia. He previously led media relations for Penn Medicine and Jefferson Health and spent a decade in communications roles at Temple University. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in New Jersey and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science and a master’s degree in communication management, both from Temple.
Board Member
Siddhartha Misra
Siddhartha Misra grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and now resides in Rutledge with his wife Valerie, daughter Pallavi, and their 2 dogs. His professional background includes a unique background in classical music, arts administration, and data analytics and he is currently a Data Analytics Manager at Incyte. He has a certificate from the University of Pennsylvania's Executive Program in Nonprofit Arts & Culture Strategy and has held previous volunteer roles with Sharing Excess, Opera Philadelphia, and the Providence Animal Center.
Board Member
Rebecca Warnken
Rebecca Warnken has resided in Media and more recently Wallingford for the last 13 years with her husband Greg, two children Ryan and Jane, and new puppy Oscar. She grew up in Wayne, PA and received her degree in mathematics and economics from Columbia University. She is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Rebecca has over 20 years of experience in human resources and benefits consulting. In her current role as Inclusive Benefits Leader at Aon, she works with employers to develop strategies to attract and retain talent, improve workforce wellbeing, and address diverse workforce needs. She is passionate about disability and neurodiversity advocacy, serving as an advisor to Aon’s Empowering Abilities employee resource group and member of the Neurodiversity Employment Network in the greater Philadelphia area.
Board Member
Sheri Whelpley
Sheri is a resident of Wallingford. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated with a degree in accounting and finance from Drexel University. After college, Sheri worked for a forensic accounting firm where she was responsible for the analysis of business income losses for companies ranging from small mom-and-pop businesses to multi-million dollar industries. After 25 years with the accounting firm, she left to work for Travelers Insurance, primarily assisting their construction accounts with surety bond and cyber claims.
Sheri is currently the treasurer for Congregation Ohev Shalom, where she is a member for over 18 years. In addition, she co-chairs an annual holiday food drive for the Mitzvah Food Pantry, the Wesley Center, and the Bernardine Center.
She previously was treasurer for the committee that raised funds for Strath Haven High School’s turf field.
Sheri has been Treasurer for the Swarthmore Community Center for over 10 years.
Board Member
Our Instructors
Elizabeth Affleck
Liz Affleck is a visual artist from Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Temple University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Art Education at Moore College of Art and Design. Heavily influenced by her background knowledge of therapeutic arts, Liz’s teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of self-expression through art-making. This philosophy is implemented through art lessons that balance structure and creative freedom, guiding students toward their personal artistic goals and assisting them in discovering their creative niche. As students develop a personal interest in visual arts, they will recognize the expressive and therapeutic powers of this modality.
Liz’s personal artistic interests and areas of expertise are mainly drawing and painting. Beginning in September 2023, she has designed and taught several visual arts courses at The Creative Living Room, many of which have been focused on developing students’ interests and technical skills in one or both of these art forms. Liz’s art classes have also drawn from her personal interest in art history, centering art projects and lessons around art movements and styles from various time periods, places, and cultures. She has also facilitated various visual arts-based workshops at The Creative Living Room, ranging from Sensory Play for Kids & Caregivers to Teen Night activities for adolescents. Liz is a passionate artist who aims to continue sharing her artistic knowledge with the world, empowering creative voices across many audiences.
Instructor
Jennifer Chipman Bloom
Jennifer Chipman Bloom began her ballet training at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She then attended The School of American Ballet, where Jerome Robbins chose her to originate a principle role in his ballet 2&3 Part Inventions. At 16 she was asked to join the New York City Ballet, where she danced works by Balanchine, Robbins and Christopher Wheeldon. She has taught at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Point Park College, Broadway Dance Center, Bryn Mawr College, and Swarthmore College.
Instructor
Keville Bowen
Keville A. Bowen graduated from Art Institute of Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science in Media Art and Animation. College helped him learn the different approaches of teaching from professors to classmates. His internship allowed him to apply all he learned as a boarding camp art teacher and counselor. He love the experience so much that he went back for another two years.
Keville’s workshops teaches the art of creating Animation, Comic Books and Anime. His classes are infused with his love for story boarding, writing and history. So be ready for your students to come back home talking about world history and Shakespeare. Keville’s seasonally workshops can be found at The Park Avenue Community Center in Swarthmore, Rockdale Art Center in Aston and Expressive Path in Norristown. He also teaches summer programs throughout the Delaware and Montgomery County Library system.
Instructor
Jane Bunting
Jane Bunting has been teaching group fitness and exercise for over 40 years, drawing upon her career as a pediatric and adult physical therapist, deep knowledge of human anatomy and a passion for yoga, pilates and guided imagery. Jane's exercise philosophy is based on the use of correct posture and alignment to create strength, flexibility and balance. Jane is delighted to join the PAC Center Health & Wellness team of teachers.
Instructor
Bara Burden
Bara Burden, originally from Prague, Czech Republic, began her dance career at age five and won multiple Czech Tap Dance Championship titles. She founded the tap dance company Tappy Dancers and, in 1998, partnered with the US Tap Dance community. For the past 20 years, Bara has lived, taught, and performed tap in the US as a member of Tap Team Two & Company, a cornerstone of the Philadelphia dance scene for over three decades.
Instructor
James Byers
James Byers (né Williams) is an actor, writer, director, and teaching artist. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, he lived a couple of years each in Tokyo and Munich with his dad’s work, and traveled a lot in that time. Upon returning to his home on Mercer Island, he followed a schoolyard crush into theatre, but fell in love with acting instead. James received his Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and Stonestreet Studios. James is part of the faculty for Next Generation Theatre and has been a staple teaching artist for The Creative Living Room as part of Dungeons & Dragons team and other theatrical themes.
Instructor
Ann Cole
Ann danced professionally with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle and LINES Ballet in San Francisco, sharing her expertise as a teacher, choreographer, and director. She served as Interim Artistic and Executive Director of Wilmington Ballet for over two years and has taught dance at Bryn Mawr College. Ann’s teaching emphasizes professional standards paired with a mindful, adaptive approach to learning the art of dance.
Instructor
Carrie Cook
Carrie has a BFA in Painting from Tyler School of Art at Temple University and Yoga certification from Dhyana Yoga in Philadelphia. She has taught classes at Fit 24 7 gym and Lofts 640, both in Philadelphia. She also taught weekly yoga classes organized by the Wellness committee at Drexel University College of Medicine.
She has had the opportunity to take workshops with many wonderful yoga teachers and participated in Yoga in Action leadership training with Shiya Mangel and Dawn Reid at Shanti Yoga Shala. She learns the most from her students and loves sharing the limitless possibilities and daily life benefits of a yoga practice with others. She teaches thoughtfully sequenced classes inspired by Vinyasa yoga.
Carrie is also an accomplished visual artist and has a background curating and displaying corporate art collections as a consultant for art4business. At TCLR at the PAC Center, she gives her students a chance to interact with different mediums and enjoy the process of creating their own masterpieces.
Carrie lives in Wallingford with her husband Jonathan, children Orli and Gabe and two sweet dogs.
Instructor
Peter Demkin
Peter is in his final semester of a Master’s in Education with a Social Studies concentration. Peter has played Dungeons & Dragons for nearly a decade, and loves to bring that same spirit of storytelling into the classroom by encouraging students to think critically, imagine boldly, and create their own characters or stories.
For Peter, teaching is about more than facts and dates; it’s about inspiring students to imagine, build, and tell their own stories. Whether that’s through history or a character they dream up.
Instructor
Jane Barry DePaul
Jane Barry DePaul, E-RYT, YACEP, started taking yoga classes to deal with the anxiety and stress of a job layoff and dealing with aging parents. That layoff had a silver lining because it gave her time to go to yoga school and she has been teaching since 2013 at local studios and Penn State Brandywine's wellness classes! While she was originally attracted to the increased muscle tone and flexibility of her body, it was the sense of peace and calm that kept her coming back to her mat. Jane enjoys teaching students at all levels, especially those who think they cannot yoga. Her supportive cues, use of props and mindful breathing help students build a practice to face life's challenges with a stronger body, calmer mind and renewed spirit.
Instructor
Allison DeSalvo
Long before performing for families, children’s entertainer Allison DeSalvo could be heard singing up in a tree at her childhood home in San Francisco. Later as a professional actress, she won critical acclaim appearing in music-theatre-opera productions off-Broadway and in Europe, including La Scala Opera in Milan, Italy. Along the way, Allison fell into, and in love with performing and teaching kids. She founded World of Song, combining her talents in music, dance, storytelling, and art to nurture the full spectrum of children’s creativity and need for self-expression, and began writing her own songs. Allison has released two well-received albums of original children’s music and performed at numerous festivals, museums, libraries, and schools in NY, PA and CA. In addition to her music classes and events, she is known locally from her tenure as Children’s Programmer at Swarthmore Free Library and on faculty at Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School. She is one of the original co-founders of The Creative Living Room and continues to teach classes as well as produce family-friendly community events.
Allison completed her formal training at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, earning her a BFA in Drama.
Instructor
Lindsay Duggan
Hunter Moon Herbs is run by Lindsay Duggan in Swarthmore, Pa. She is a practicing herbalist who studied under Maia Toll from The Herbiary in Chestnut Hill, and continues to study through other herbalists programs as well as through self exploration. She loves spending time with and directly working with the plants and has a large medicinal garden at her home in Swarthmore. She also teaches classes on herbalism and leads many medicinal plant walks in the area. All of the herbs used in making her tinctures and salves are either grown in her garden or wild harvested in the Greater Philadelphia area. Lindsay has 2 young daughters and has more recently shifted her focus to working with and teaching children.
Instructor
Kate Garchinsky
Kate Garchinsky is a children’s book illustrator, teaching artist, and nature educator specializing in wildlife nonfiction. She illustrated the award-winning Secret Life series by Laurence Pringle, including The Secret Life of Red Fox and The Secret Life of the Sea Otter. Kate blends science, storytelling, and hands-on creativity to help young learners connect with nature through art.
Instructor
Allison Garfinkel
Allison Garfinkel is a nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Swarthmore mom. Allison has helped countless breastfeeding families through her 20-year nursing career in maternal/child health. She has worked as a lactation consultant and educator since 2016 and has recently started her own private practice serving Delaware County. Allison hopes that through her offerings, families will gain the confidence, practical skills and support necessary to achieve their personal breastfeeding goals.
Instructor
Janiya Henley
Janiya Henley, is a proud 2022 graduate of Norfolk State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications, specializing in General Broadcasting. As an aspiring filmmaker, Janiya is deeply passionate about inspiring change, educating and empowering my community, and making a meaningful impact. Through authentic storytelling, Janiya strives to illuminate untold narratives, celebrate our shared experiences, and spark conversations that drive progress and transformation.
Instructor
Camille Holstein
Camille Holstein, RYT-500, E-RYT 200, has over 15 years of teaching experience and co-owns Enso Yoga and Meditation. Her classes are an eclectic blend of vinyasa, hatha, Ayurveda, yin theory, and mindfulness that focus on present moment awareness, wholehearted acceptance, and the modern application of yogic philosophy as a living and inclusive practice. She is passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga and meditation with all and believes that the ancient art and science of yoga seeped in mindfulness can create inner and outer clarity and harmony.
Instructor
Emie Hughes
Emie Hughes is a professional dancer & multimedia artist living in the Greater Philadelphia Area. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Dickinson College, where she won the Emil R. and Tamar Weiss Prize in Creative Arts. After graduating, she lived and worked in New York City. Her dance works have been presented at the Delaware Art Museum; Dickinson College; Triskelion Arts; the EstroGenius Festival (2017); and the Brandywine Art Museum, among many other institutions.
Her mixed-media works have been shown at Rabbithole Gallery (Brooklyn, NY); The Art Trust (West Chester, PA); and the Delaware Art Museum (Wilmington, DE), among others. Emie is a trained Dance for Parkinson’s instructor through Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn.
In her dance teaching and choreography, Emie weaves ballet, modern, improvisation, and tap to explore the art and joy of movement. She is a proud member of the PAC Tappers and continues to choreograph and perform regularly. Learn more at www.emiehughes.com.
Instructor
Virginia Jennings
Virginia Jennings, aka, Miss Virginia has been guiding families in a shared musical experience for over 10 years across the region at music schools, private lessons and concerts at venues like World Cafe and Kelly Center for the Arts. She has combined her years of experience and passion for music to bring you PlayIn Time Music circles that are crafted to maximize fun and social connection, but rooted in basic musical foundations. Virginia is also a certified children’s yoga teacher for yoga@play, and you can find her using music and movement to bring joy to schools throughout the area. Ps. She is also the unpaid chauffeur to two teenagers!
Instructor
Suki Kermes
Suki Kermes is a certified yoga & meditation teacher with 15+ years experience and a special love for prenatal, postnatal and pelvic floor yoga. The pregnancy, birth & postpartum journey she experienced with her three children are her greatest teaching moments. Suki’s therapeutic nurturing approach supports students to slow down, take up space & be guided home to their inner wisdom.
Instructor
Pam Klotz
Pam Klotz is a dance and fitness instructor. She shares how much these have had an impact on her life that she wants to share with the community, and was trained to become an instructor. Finding RED HOT DANCE as the perfect opportunity for anyone who loves music and movement, Pam found her passion in teaching these classes at the YMCA and other psaces beginning in 2013. She is thrilled to bring these offerings to the community at the PAC Center.
Instructor
Laura Kuchmay
Laura has worked at the Middletown Free Library as the Adult Services Librarian since 2010. Before that she worked as the manager of the Children’s Department at Barnes and Noble for 3 years, where she discovered just how much she loved sharing her love of books with others. At the Library, Laura runs the adult programming which includes a wide variety of art programs and lecture series. She also helps run a STE(A)M summer camp for middle school aged girls at the Library called TechniGals. In her free time Laura likes to read, hike, kayak, travel, and Zentangle. She is also a Girl Scout troupe leader!
Instructor
April Leffler
April holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is a Reiki Master, accredited T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) instructor, and shamanic practitioner. Since 2000, she has taught TCC classes across the Philadelphia suburbs to diverse populations and was recently appointed as a TCC Teacher Trainer. April also maintains a private practice in Media, PA.
Instructor
Nancy Maas
Nancy began her ballet training with the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Germany, and continued her studies more locally at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. She then went on to dance with Ballet Oklahoma and Cincinnati Ballet. After retiring from dancing, she tried to find ways to keep moving to music, and eventually fell in love with the yoga-inspired workout called PiYo. She became PiYo-certified in 2019 and enjoys helping people stay active through “dancing” on the mat!
Instructor
Bethanne Margies
Bethanne Margies has over 20 years of experience teaching dance and choreographing for students of various ages and levels. She teaches students as young as 2 years old, as well as teens, adults, and every age in between. She teaches many disciplines of dance, such as ballet, lyrical, jazz, theater dance, improvisation, tap, and hip hop. She also taught yoga at the Ridley Sports Club for six years.
Bethanne grew up on Long Island, NY, and moved to PA in 2005. She taught at many studios all over Long Island (Northport School of Dance, Tappin’ Feet, Center Stage); and PA (KMC, Dance Zone, Koresh School of Dance). Bethanne currently teaches at the Conservatory of Music and Dance (Eagleville and Worcester), and has been an instructor at Kicks for 17 years. Bethanne’s career includes experience as a choreographer for musical theater. As an employee of the Plainview-Old Bethpage school district in NY, she choreographed the middle school musical productions for 10 years. Bethanne also choreographed two shows for the Best of Broadway Summer Theater Troupe in Hewlett, NY. She is currently the choreographer for Mother of Providence Regional School in Wallingford and ET Richardson Middle School in Springfield. She is also teaching artist for The Creative Living Room at Park Avenue Community Center for their Kids & Caregivers and Summer Camp programs.
Bethanne has a wide variety of performance experience. She has performed in New York City at such venues as Danspace, Construction Company, and Lincoln Center. She has been in two Greek plays, The Bacchae (Loft Theater, Oakdale, NY) and Electra (City University of NY). Other favorite shows include Camelot, Godspell (St Francis Summer Repertory, NY), An Act of the Imagination, and Extremities (Molloy College, NY). Additionally, as a member of Nassau Dance Theatre Troupe for 6 years, she performed all over Long Island and regionally, including Jones Beach, Hershey Park and Disney World. Bethanne earned her Bachelor Degree in Dance from City University of New York (Queens College campus). She has continued her dance education by attending various workshops and conventions, including the Rhythm Works Integrative Dance certification. In addition to teaching and choreographing, Miss Bethanne is also the busy mom to her son and daughter, Alex and Elizabeth!
Instructor
Kate McGrath
Kate McGrath has worked for Philadelphia Young Playwrights as a teaching artist for over 30 years leading theatre and writing workshops in dozens of schools at all age levels and is a three-time recipient of PYP’s Adele Magner Memorial Award. She has taught for the past ten years as a drama teaching artist, lead teaching artist and curriculum consultant with ASAP Drama.
She holds a BA in Theatre from UNC-Chapel Hill where she was a Morehead Scholar, an MA in Theatre from Villanova, and has additional certificates from the Folger Theatre Conservatory, the London Theatre School, and the National Theatre Institute.
Instructor
Julie McHugh
Julie McHugh is an NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, a NASM-Corrective Exercise Specialist, a USTAF Level One coach and an AFAA-certified Group Exercise Instructor and holds certifications in Barre, Spinning, TRX, and BodySHRED. She is delighted to be part of each person’s fitness journey and believes everyone should have the gift of feeling strong and capable in their everyday lives. She is a mother of three and resides in Swarthmore.
Instructor
Ibrahim Miari
Raised in the city of Acre, Israel, Ibrahim Miari (RYT-200) is an experienced theater artist. He has explored a variety of meditation styles, such as Sufi dance and Gurdjieff’s Sacred Dances, and in 2015, he completed a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Enso Studio in Media, PA. From 2016 to 2021 Ibrahim taught Slow Flow, All Levels Vinyasa Flow, and Power Yoga classes at Enso and the Healthplex Sports Club (now YMCA.) He presently instructs Power Yoga at Yoga in the Circle. Outside of acting, Ibrahim also serves as a language instructor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Instructor
Aidan Novak
Aidan Novak grew up in Media and is a proud graduate of Penncrest High School, where he was a member of the Roaring Lions Marching Band and Choir. He completed his undergraduate degree in education (K-8) with a certification in special education from Neumann University. He has taught Kindergarten locally and is an Assistant Scout Master for BSA Troop 85 in Media. For three summers, he was TCLR's Summer Camp Manager for The Creative Living Room. Aidan is a regular Dungeon Masters for the D&D Teen program. He is also a long-time employee at Linvilla Orchards.
Instructor
Jeannine Osayande
Jeannine Osayande is an Anthropologist; choreographer, dancer and cultural expert of Diasporic West African dance and drum traditions for over 40 years. She is founder and director of Dunya Performing Arts Company, specializing in Art Integration programming, commissioned choreographic works; and ethnographic research on the Historically Black Neighborhood Of Swarthmore. Ms Jeannine’s mission is to add value to her environment and community through Arts, Culture and Social Change. She is co-chair of the Philadelphia Folklore Project. Ms Jeannine has a BA in Anthropology from Temple University; Certificate in Traditional and Contemporary African Dance Noyam African Dance Institute/ Ghana Board of Education; Teaching Artist Certification, Columbia University Teachers College.
For More Information: dunyapac.com
Instructor
Jenny Oshen
Jennifer Oshen is a practicing speech-language pathologist experienced in early intervention, elementary and middle school settings, with a particular interest in culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Study and work in the fields of psychology, traumatic brain injury, and English as a Second Language brought her to the fascinating study of speech and language. In her practice, she is oriented to the strengths and interests of her students. When collaborating with families, she builds upon what parents are already doing to support their child’s development and incorporates enriching strategies that fit into their daily routines. She is the parent of three bilingual children.
Instructor
Lisa Oster
Lisa is a dancer, educator, nonprofit administrator, and mother with a BFA in Dance Education from The University of the Arts and a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management from Concordia University. She began her career teaching dance in Philadelphia schools before working with arts organizations in New York, including the Arts & Business Council Inc and Americans for the Arts.
After earning her graduate degree and working with The McConnell Foundation in Montreal, Lisa returned to Philadelphia, joining the dance faculty at Darlington Arts Center and working in Corporate Relations at People’s Light. She now lives in Media, PA, with her husband and two sons, where she directs The Creative Living Room, teaches dance, and runs the popular Dance Me A Story program. For nine seasons, she has also co-choreographed and coached the Dancing Like A Star Fundraiser for the Delco Gaels.
Instructor / Director of Children and Youth Programs
Adam Pelta-Pauls
Adam has earned a Masters Degree in Acting for Stage, Screen, and Radio from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2014. He has worked as a touring actor for years and have experience with many kinds of theater, including musical theater and performance improv. Adam is also a proud theater educator in a variety of capacities, including at PAC Center.
Instructor
Matt Ralph
Matt Ralph is an experienced educator with a passion for creating environments where kids can explore their creativity, build confidence and connect with others with similar interests. A father of two, Matt grew up in South Jersey but has lived in Broomall for the past decade and is the owner/operator of Snapology of Newtown Square.
In addition to his work running programming for kids, Matt works with college students at Eastern University, manages a soccer news website called Philadelphia Soccer Now and has an extensive background in journalism, which he also loves sharing with young people of all ages.
Instructor
Beatriz Ramirez
Beatriz Ramirez is a Spanish Instructor at Swarthmore College, where she has been teaching all levels for the last five years. Before her time here, her teaching experience had been enriched by cooperating with varied institutions, such as the University of Salamanca, the University of Santiago, Charles University of Prague and Appalachian State University, in North Carolina. Currently, Beatriz´s interests focus on the evaluation of both written and speaking language exams for the Instituto Cervantes, where she collaborates as a certificated examiner of the DELE Spanish Diplomas.
Instructor
Marcus Siler
A Philadelphia native, Marcus A Siler has spent the majority of his life performing. Marcus graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 2001 obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Theatre. An actor, director, writer, singer, dancer, and award-winning indie filmmaker, Marcus has been showcasing his talents throughout the country for decades. Marcus is the Owner/CEO/DIRECTOR of Theatre and Me, LLC, and its division Marcus A Siler VID-PHOTO and Marcus A Siler Designs.
Instructor
Kate Slovich
Kate is an accomplished ballroom and Latin dance instructor, choreographer, and performer with 20 years of professional teaching experience.
She has studied with renowned international coaches, including Czech dance champions Rene Ostarek and Bronislava Vrtalova, as well as Anna Trebunskaya of Dancing with the Stars. Kate has coached students to Top Student placements at national NDCA competitions and has taught dance programs for both youth and adult students throughout the Philadelphia area.
Her performance credits include the Triple Crown dance competition; Philadelphia Dancing with the Stars; the Philadelphia Orchestra and Academy of Music’s 155th Anniversary Concert featuring Yo-Yo Ma; and television appearances on Fox 29’s Good Day Philadelphia and The 10! Show.
Kate enjoys teaching beginners and reluctant dancers, firmly believing that everyone can dance and that learning to dance should be fun.
Instructor
Mary Thompson
Mary, E-RYT 200, discovered yoga to maintain balance and strength during her career in federal law enforcement. A certified Yoga for Healthy Aging instructor, she is the founder of Sanctuary Yoga, a spiritual wellness ministry at Trinity Church, Swarthmore, where she fosters compassion and lifelong wellness through yoga.
Instructor/Director of Health and Wellness and Adult Programs
Audrey Uchimoto
Audrey Uchimoto is a teacher of Sound Meditation, also known as Sound Baths, utilizing therapeutic sound frequencies and vibrations to shift consciousness and enhance well-being. Her practice fosters mindfulness and helps individuals reconnect with their inner selves.
Originally from the Main Line area of Philadelphia, Audrey spent a decade in Los Angeles, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Loyola Marymount University and worked in healthcare public relations. During this time, she discovered the transformative effects of sound baths, igniting her passion for the healing power of sound.
After returning to her hometown of Berwyn during the COVID-19 pandemic, Audrey reconnected with her community and dedicated herself to sharing the benefits of sound healing. Over the past three years, she has introduced sound meditation to a diverse audience through sessions at yoga and wellness studios, retreats, corporate events, and private and group sessions in her home studio. Her work continues to inspire and transform lives through the power of sound.
Instructor
Joan Warburton-Phibbs
Joan Warburton-Phibbs is a dance, health, and wellness educator for many decades. She is the co-founder of Chrysalis Center for Creativity, and was the arts team leader and dance educator at Cab Calloway School of the Arts where her dance team was the ACC Open Champions. Joan is also an award-winning choregrapher. She currently serves as secretary to the Delaware Dance Educators Organization. Joan has choreographed over 250 works, taught all levels of dance and composition in independent private schools in DC, VA, London, and Amsterdam. Joan was also a seven year adjunct professor at Cabrini University teaching Dance Across the World, Stress Management, and Dance Technique. Joan has been a performer with many modern dance companies over the years and is excited to offer classes in her new hometown of Swarthmore.
Instructor
Susan Wefel
Susan Wefel, a graduate of the Boston University Theater School, BFA in Acting, is a Philadelphia theater legend, performing on stage for more than four decades. She has starred in dozens of local and regional theater productions, and was the Artist in Residence at Hedgerow Theater in Rose Valley for 45 years. As a stage veteran, Susan is a much sought-after acting and theater arts coach and mentor, teaching children and adult acting classes. She particularly enjoys watching her older students rediscover their inner-child and playful self through acting. Susan is thrilled to join the PAC Center roster of talented teaching artists, and looks forward to bringing the magical experience of acting to the PAC Center community.
Instructor