Erin Elman
Dean, Continuing Studies
Erin Elman is the Dean of Continuing Studies at the University of the Arts. She has worked with youth and teens over the past twenty years in varying capacities, including Director of Pre-College Programs at UArts. Elman has an MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking as well as an MA in Art Education, both from the University of the Arts, and holds a BFA in Art from Carnegie Mellon University. Elman exhibits her prints and installations locally and regionally, and has works in numerous public collections, including the Tate Museum in London.
Melissa DiGiacomo
Director of Operations, Continuing Studies
Melissa DiGiacomo joined Pre-College Programs as Assistant Director in 2002. She received her BFA in Photography from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., and an MFA, also in Photography, from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. DiGiacomo previously worked as a Marketing Coordinator for American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. and was also a staff member in the photography department at the Smithsonian Institute Air and Space Museum. She currently teaches photography to undergraduate students at the University of the Arts, and her work has been exhibited in several galleries in Georgia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
Sheila Watts
Assistant Dean, Continuing Studies
Sheila Watts earned her BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons, The New School for Design and her BA in Psychology from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Studies. While in New York, she worked for the education departments of the Guggenheim Museum and Dia Center for the Arts. Watts also has an MS degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University and has been working in higher education for the last seven years. An article from her master’s thesis "Identification and the Cultural Organization" was published in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Arts Management, Law & Society.
Gehia Davenport
Data Coordinator, Continuing Studies
Gehia Davenport has a BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts. Shortly after graduation she became a member of “The Company Grace.” She was involved with the Amos Dance Program in Philadelphia and was the Director of Dance Programs at Amos Playground Recreation Center from 1999 – 2000. Davenport has taught ballet to youth of all ages at Amos Playground Recreation Center, Progressive Center for Dance and Wissahickon Dance Academy. She established her own non-profit dance school “Gehia’s School of Dance” from 2002 – 2003, and was the first to introduce dance to her church. She has since guest choreographed and danced for non-profit organizations such as NHTBC Praise Dance Ministry, and choreographed for Summit Presbyterian liturgical dance group and Upper Room. Davenport has been employed with the University of the Arts since 1995.
Kaitlynd O'Doherty
Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, Continuing Studies
Kaitlynd O’Doherty earned her BA in Art History from Boston University. While at BU, O’Doherty interned at the Boston Center for the Arts and co-founded the only entirely student run gallery at the university. Additionally, she has interned at several non-profit arts organizations in New York including the New York Foundation for the Arts and the Joan Mitchell Foundation. O’Doherty recently moved to Philadelphia and looks forward to becoming acquainted with the arts community while continuing to explore her interest in Arts Administration.
Beth Pannell
Communications Coordinator, Continuing Studies
Beth Nicewonger Pannell has a BS in Mass Communication from the University of Evansville, with a concentration in Journalism and a minor in Studio Art. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College and specializes in Creative Nonfiction. Currently developing her Master’s thesis into a memoir book project and writing both flash fiction and flash nonfiction, Pannell serves on the Artist Advisory Board for First Person Arts. She also teaches Writing for the University of the Arts Continuing Education program.
Sarah Pater
Assistant to the Dean + Development Coordinator, Continuing Studies
Sarah Pater is a graduate of Boston University where she received a BFA in Painting with minors in Printmaking and Art History. At BU, Pater worked in the Student Activities Office and co-founded the only entirely student run gallery at the university. She has interned at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art in Wilmington, DE and at the Print Center in Philadelphia. Pater has exhibited her paintings, prints and installations in and around Boston, MA and Philadelphia, and hopes to continue to exhibit her work throughout the Philadelphia area and beyond.
Melanie Pulley
Administrative Assistant, Continuing Studies
Melanie Pulley received a BFA in Painting and Drawing with a concentration in Art Therapy at the University of the Arts. She began working with the Pre-College Programs + Outreach while still an undergraduate student. In 2009, Pulley became Administrative Assistant for the Division of Continuing Studies. In addition to this position, she has served as a Teaching Assistant for both the Pre-College Saturday School and Summer Institute. Pulley is also a gallery-exhibiting artist in Philadelphia, showing her work at The Goldfish Gallery and other venues.
Jewel Santiago
Data Manager, Continuing Studies
Jewel Santiago is a graduate of Berean Institute where she received a degree in Computer Science and Business Administration. She graduated Cum Laude of her graduating class. She also received the President’s Award for her academic achievements. She has been with the University of the Arts for 13 years. With no performing talents to call her own, she lives vicariously through the students. Santiago also considers herself a “jack of all trades master of none” when it comes to Interior Design. She has had two rooms featured online at HGTV.com where she received four stars out of five for her work.