Board of Directors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Katie Hite, Board President, is a professor of political science and currently the director of Latin American and Latino/a studies at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She holds a BA from Duke University and a Masters of International Affairs and PhD from Columbia University. She has written several books and articles on Latin American politics and human rights issues, and she teaches courses on world politics, Latin American politics, social movements, and political violence. At Vassar, Katie has been involved in working on issues of access and equity in Vassar admissions policy, and in pushing for practices that ensure that all students thrive. She is passionate about higher education as a right and an opportunity for all young (and old) people. Katie’s daughter Adeline (Allie) has been dancing with Energy for several years.
Maureen Bowers has been a member of the CCE Board of Directors since its 1997 New York inception. Maureen serves on a variety of not-for-profit boards, and since 2002, has been a trustee of the Kingston City School District Board of Education. The collaboration between arts and education, the recognition of this importance, and the commitment to fund these initiatives is paramount. Maureen is excited about the joint Carnegie Project, and is confident an integration between the arts, technology, and the sciences will engage students, reinvigorate Mid-Town, and help bring education into the 21st century.
David Basch served in a leadership role for over 30 years in the advertising business, primarily at the global ad agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, with the last 8 years in the position of Executive Vice.President and Board of Directors member. After departing from Saatchi & Saatchi, Basch established an independent practice as a personal business coach and senior marketing consultant providing guidance and transition coaching to top professionals. In his role as a professional certified coach (PCC), David has been engaged by a wide range of executives, creative managers, and business owners seeking to strike a balance between working goals and life satisfaction. David has made a difference in his community as a member of the professional faculty at SUNY, New Paltz, where he currently teaches advertising. David’s personal life has been equally fulfilling as the father of five.
Linda Wallace is an Information Technology Director at Kingstone Insurance Company in Kingston. She has been a volunteer at CCE since 2002 and on the Board of Directors since 2005. In 2007 she was challenged to perform with several other adults and the Percussion Orchestra of Kingston (P.O.O.K.) at CCE’s Annual Multicultural Dance Celebration even though she never played percussion before in her life. She had such a fun time during that performance that she became a member of P.O.O.K. She is also Sr. Treasurer of the Energy Booster Club. When Linda is not working or volunteering at CCE she spends as much time traveling as possible.
Meridith Robb, started by way of the persistent urging of her daughter, Gabriela. Through an after school program taught by Drew at the Edson Elementary school, Gabriela became hooked on hip-hop. 4 years later, they were both hooked. Meridith is an active member of CCE’s adult dancers, P.O.O.K. and also attends Latin dance class at the studio. She has been involved in planning and facilitating social, fundraising and performance events.
Carlos Alamo
Kardia Daly
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Bryant ‘Drew’ Andrews, Artistic Wellness Director, has over 20 years of experience working with youth. He has trained in the streets of New York City as well as with professional choreographers in the business. Drew has been teaching choreography and performing various styles of dance in the Tri-state and Hudson Valley area for many years. He has also recently taught and studied in Cuba. He has a focus on Hip-Hop fusion and is known for his high-energy dance style and his rich hard-hitting choreography. His passion for dance and for the welfare of children and young adults is evident in the way he encourages discipline and motivation for a healthy lifestyle. Having fun living and pursuing your passion in life is a major focus of Drew’s. Drew serves as a mentor to youth, parents and other community members. He manages his role as the organization’s program and artistic director along with being a leader to the staff and an inspiration to all.
Ev Mann, Executive Director, is a musician, composer and writer who founded CCE in 1989 as a way to bring high-quality, innovative arts education programs to underserved children and youth. Ev is featured as a percussionist on fifteen recordings and has performed with Don Cherry, Ana Ruiz, Terry Riley, David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, OmU, Bantu, and the Gasha Band among others. He was artist in residence with the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico for six years and has studied music in Mali, Senegal, Colombia and Cuba. He has a masters degree in Religious Studies from McGill University and a masters in Music Composition from Mills College. He is a published poet and has written two curriculum guides for use in K-12 education.
