Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director
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Constance E. Cook
(734) 763-0159
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
cecook@umich.edu |
Constance E. Cook has served as Executive Director of CRLT since 1993. She was named Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in 2006 and also serves as Clinical Professor of Higher Education in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, as well as adjunct associate professor of political science. Connie leads new initiatives on teaching and learning and represents both CRLT and the broader University community on those topics. She also runs professional development programs for University of Michigan department chairs and associate deans, as well as international higher education leaders. With Managing Director Matt Kaplan, Connie edited a book entitled Advancing a Culture of Teaching on Campus: How a Teaching Center Can Make a Difference (Stylus Publishing, 2011), a book describing CRLT programs and strategies authored by them and their CRLT colleagues. Prior to becoming the Director of CRLT, Connie was the executive assistant to the president of the University of Michigan and, from 1987-1990, Connie was coordinator of the FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) Comprehensive Program at the U.S. Department of Education. Before going to Washington, Connie was an associate professor at Albion College, where she chaired the political science department. She received her B.A. from Barnard College, her M.A. from The Pennsylvania State University, and her Ph.D. from Boston University, all in political science. Her two political science books concern American political interest groups: Lobbying for Higher Education: How Colleges and Universities Influence Federal Policy (Vanderbilt University Press, 1998), and Nuclear Power and Legal Advocacy: The Environmentalists and the Courts (D.C. Heath/Lexington Books, 1980). See also:
http://www.soe.umich.edu/people/profile/constance_ewing_cook/
Program Staff
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Matthew Kaplan
Managing Director
(734) 936-0644
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
mlkaplan@umich.edu
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Matthew Kaplan runs the day-to-day operations of the center, including oversight of budget, publications and publicity, and CRLT’s seminar series. He collaborates with the Artistic Director of the CRLT Players on theatre projects and with CRLT’s professional staff on meeting the needs of the university’s instructional community. He also co-directs the LSA Teaching Academy and oversees the Thurnau competition, the university’s highest undergraduate teaching award. Matt received his Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he worked at UNC’s Center for Teaching and Learning for three years before joining CRLT in 1994. He has published articles on the academic hiring process, the use of interactive theatre as a faculty development tool, and the evaluation of teaching, and he co-authored a chapter of McKeachie’s Teaching Tips on technology and teaching. He has co-edited The Scholarship of Multicultural Teaching and Learning (Jossey-Bass, 2007), a volume of New Directions for Teaching and Learning, and edited two volumes of To Improve the Academy (New Forums Press, 1998, 1999). With Executive Director Connie Cook, Matt edited Advancing a Culture of Teaching on Campus: How a Teaching Center Can Make a Difference (Stylus Publishing, 2011), a book describing CRLT programs and strategies authored by them and their CRLT colleagues. He was a member of POD’s Core Committee from 1998 to 2001.
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Crisca Bierwert
Associate Director
Coordinator of Multicultural Teaching and Learning
(734) 936-0648
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
crisca@umich.edu
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Crisca Bierwert is CRLT’s associate director and coordinator of multicultural teaching and learning. She provides workshops and consultations for departments and programs, consults with individual faculty members and TAs, and leads programs to promote diversity and social justice efforts at the University. She also does research on student learning outcomes, supports interdisciplinary teaching, and provides multicultural training. She participates in university wide diversity initiatives, and she is currently Past-Chair of the President’s Diversity Council and a member of the Council Executive Committee. Before coming to CRLT in 2000, she obtained her Ph.D. degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Washington, worked in the Native educational programs of the Coqualeetza Centre (Sardis, B.C.), and taught at the University of Michigan. Her major publications in anthropology and Native American Studies focus on text analysis, cultural politics, and environmental issues; they include Lushootseed Texts: An Introduction to Puget Salish Narrative Aesthetics and Brushed by Cedar, Living by the River: Coast Salish Figures of Power.
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Cynthia Finelli
Director of CRLT in Engineering and
Research Associate Professor
(734) 764-0244
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
cfinelli@umich.edu
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Cynthia Finelli is director of CRLT in Engineering, which serves the UM College of Engineering. She earned her B.S.E.E., M.S.E.E., and Ph.D. degrees from the U-M in 1988, 1989, and 1993, respectively. She holds a joint appointment in the College of Engineering and CRLT, and is also research associate professor of engineering education at U-M. Prior to joining CRLT in April 2003, she was the Richard L. Terrell Professor of Excellence in Teaching, founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and associate professor of electrical engineering at Kettering University. She is a strong advocate of active, team-based learning in the classroom and is engaged in several engineering education research projects. She is a past chair of the Educational Research and Methods Division of ASEE.
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Sara Armstrong
Artistic Director
(734) 615-8309
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
skarmst@umich.edu
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Sara Armstrong is the Artistic Director of the CRLT Theatre Program. She has over twenty years of experience as an actor, director, dramaturg, arts administrator, and educator across professional, university, and community contexts. Artistically, she is committed to creating work that encourages dialogue and critical reflection. As Artistic Director of the CRLT Theatre Program, she maintains the company’s repertoire of existing productions, develops original scripts, and works with academic units to incorporate theatre into their professional development programming. She also consults with faculty and graduate student instructors (GSIs) on communication issues and on incorporating performance into their instructional practices. Sara is a performance scholar. Her research focuses on the impact performers’ physical histories have on their conceptual and somatic experiences of performance training.
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Meg Bakewell
Assistant Director
(734) 615-9281
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
mbakewel@umich.edu
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Meg Bakewell received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University, and went on to earn her M.S in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, both at the University of Michigan. As a graduate student, Meg worked for CRLT as a Graduate Teaching Consultant, with a special interest in helping faculty and GSIs make effective use of instructional technology. As an instructional consultant, Meg continues to consult with faculty and graduate students about instructional technology. She also facilitates workshops related to teaching and learning, conducts midterm student feedback sessions, coordinates the UM Graduate Teacher Certificate Program and the Rackham-CRLT Intercampus Mentorship Program, and co-teaches with the English Language Institute a course for prospective GSIs who were educated abroad.
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Theresa Braunschneider
Instructional Consultant
(734) 763-5988
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
tbraun@umich.edu
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Theresa Braunschneider came to CRLT in 2012 from her position as a tenured Associate Professor of English at Washington & Lee University. She earned her Ph.D. in English and Women’s Studies from U-M, where she received both the Outstanding GSI Award and the David and Linda Moscow Prize for Excellence in Teaching English Composition. She has held fellowships at the National Humanities Center and the Huntington Library, and in 2009 she was awarded an ACLS Fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies. Her scholarly publications include the monograph Our Coquettes: Capacious Desire in the Eighteenth Century (University of Virginia Press, 2009), winner of the Walker Cowen Prize for an outstanding work of scholarship in eighteenth-century studies. At CRLT, her range of work includes consulting with faculty and GSIs about their teaching, managing the CRLT blog, and advising the CRLT Players as dramaturg.
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Deborah Meizlish
Assistant Director
Social science initiatives
(734) 763-2396
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
debmeiz@umich.edu
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Deborah Meizlish is an assistant director at CRLT. She consults with administrators, faculty, and TAs on course and curricular issues, including assessment; plans university-wide programs on teaching, learning, and academic leadership; and conducts seminars on a wide variety of pedagogical topics. Deborah co-directs the LSA Teaching Academy and is co-Principal Investigator on “The Impact of Meta-Cognitive Strategies within Writing in the Disciplines: Experiments to Improve Writing and Critical Thinking,” funded by the Teagle and Spencer Foundations. Deborah’s research and writing focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning, academic hiring, preparing future faculty developers, and academic integrity. She has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan.
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Rachel Niemer
Assistant Director
(734) 615-9266
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
rkniemer@umich.edu
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Rachel Niemer earned a B.A. in chemistry and women’s studies at Bowdoin College and her Ph.D. in chemistry from Caltech. Prior to coming to CRLT, Rachel taught chemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College and courses on pedagogy to undergraduate peer leaders as part of the Workshop program at the University of Rochester. At CRLT, Rachel consults with faculty, directs the Rackham-CRLT Postdoctoral Short Course on College Teaching in Science and Engineering, and co-directs the Health Sciences Teaching Academy. Her most recent research efforts focus on social media use as a backchannel, best practices for "flipping" one's class, and best practices for clinical teaching.
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Tershia Pinder–Grover
Assistant Director and Coordinator of GSI Initiatives
(734) 615-9263
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
tpinder@umich.edu
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Tershia Pinder-Grover received a B.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland, and went on to earn her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. In August 2005, she joined CRLT, where she is an assistant director responsible for planning teacher training for new engineering GSIs, co directing the Rackham-CRLT Preparing Future Faculty Seminar, and developing pedagogical workshops. She also consults with faculty and GSIs on a variety of teaching and learning issues. Her engineering education research initiatives focus on examining the effect of instructional technology on student learning and assessing GSIs' use of active learning.
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Laura Schram
Assistant Director
(734) 647-5676
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
lnschram@umich.edu
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Laura Schram joined CRLT in 2010 and is Assistant Director responsible for coordinating several graduate student development programs, including planning the "What's It Like?" panel series on various academic career options, co-directing the PFF Seminar, and faciliating the Graduate Teaching Consultant (GTC) programs. Laura also coordinates the pedagogy course for international graduate student instructors (ELI 994) and manages the Internationalizing the Curriculum grant. She consults with faculty on to achieve their student learning goals, facilitates workshops related to teaching and learning, and conducts midterm student feedback sessions for faculty. Her research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning, graduate student professional development and mentoring, and learner-centered teaching. She earned her B.A. in international studies from Middlebury College and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan.
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Amber Smith
Instructional Consultant
(734) 615-8060
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
alrsmith@umich.edu
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Amber Smith earned a B.S. in biology at Carroll College and her Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to coming to CRLT, Amber completed two post-doctoral experiences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: one focused on biology education research and the second focused on internationalizing science curriculum. At CRLT Amber works on a variety of projects, including the GSI Teaching Orientation, and consults with faculty on teaching and learning issues.
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Mary Wright
Director of Assessment and Associate Research Scientist
(734) 936-1135
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
mcwright@umich.edu
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Mary Wright is Director of Assessment and an Associate Research Scientist at CRLT. In this capacity, she works with U-M's faculty and academic units on assessment of student learning, evaluation of educational initiatives, and the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Her research and teaching interests include teaching cultures, graduate student professional development, undergraduate retention in the sciences, and qualitative research and evaluation methods. Her book, Always at Odds?: Creating Alignment Between Faculty and Administrative Values, was published in 2008 by SUNY Press. Outside CRLT, Mary has served as an external evaluator for several NSF grants, and she is also a member of the board of directors (Core Committee) for the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education. Mary earned an A.B. in sociology from Princeton University, an M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in higher education administration from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at U-M.
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Erping Zhu
Assistant Director and
Coordinator of Instructional Technology
(734) 763-3757
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
ezhu@umich.edu
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Erping Zhu earned a Ph.D. in instructional systems technology from Indiana University. Erping is an assistant director for instructional technology initiatives at CRLT, where she consults with faculty about integrating technology into their teaching and developing courses that incorporate instructional technology. She collaborates with colleagues from U-M technology units to provide services and programs to faculty through the Enriching Scholarship program. She also coordinates the Teaching Innovation Prize and directs the Teaching with Technology Institute. She has authored and co-authored chapters in books, encyclopedias, and academic journals. Her research focuses on technology and teaching, scholarship of teaching, and online learning and instruction. Dr. Zhu also coordinates CRLT’s China initiatives.
Postdoctoral Research Associates
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Liv Anderson
Postdoctoral Research Associate
(734) 763-2988
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
oliviasa@umich.edu
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Liv Anderson received a B.S. in Biology from Michigan Technological University. At the University of Michigan, she went on to earn a Masters in Public Health (M.P.H.) in Human Nutrition, a Registered Dietitian (R.D.) credential, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences. Liv was an undergraduate teaching assistant for a Biology Lab at Michigan Tech, was involved in patient education as an R.D. for kids, teens and adults, and was a GSI at U-M for two Environmental Health Sciences courses. At CRLT, she is involved in teaching consultations with GSIs and faculty, assessment projects, and various professional development programs for students and faculty.
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Karishma Collette
Postdoctoral Research Associate
(734) 615-9267
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
karishms@umich.edu
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Karishma Collette earned a B.Sc. in Life Science from the University of Mumbai, India, a M.Sc. in Industrial Biotechnology from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., and a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Michigan. At U-M, she was a graduate student instructor (GSI) for Genetics and Introductory Biology, and a graduate student mentor in the MCDB department. She has also taught Genetics as an adjunct lecturer at Eastern Michigan University. At CRLT, she does teaching consultations with GSIs and faculty, and contributes to graduate student development programs and assessment and evaluation projects.
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Anne Greenberg
Postdoctoral Research Associate
(734) 763-2880
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
akgreenb@umich.edu
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Anne Greenberg earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, and a M.S. and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University. At Yale, she was a Teaching Fellow for a variety of classes including Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior; Molecular Anthropology; Conservation Biology; and Diversity of Life. She also led a lab for Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior. At CRLT, Anne does teaching consultations with GSIs and faculty, contributes to assessment and evaluation projects, and participates in graduate student and faculty development programs.
Graduate Student Researcher
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Stefan Turcic
Graduate Student Researcher
(734) 763-2878
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
sturcic@umich.edu
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Program Associates and Coordinators
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Lori M. Dickie
Budget Administrator
(734) 763-6939
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
lmdickie@umich.edu
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Lori Dickie earned a B.B.A. in accounting from Eastern Michigan University. She has 30 years of experience in finance and administration at U-M, first at the U-M Development Office and then at CRLT. With CRLT since 2000, she is responsible for budget management and implementation of HR processes.
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Ryan Hudson
Program Coordinator
(734) 936-0641
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
rhudson@umich.edu
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Ryan Hudson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Carleton College and the University of Michigan, respectively. Certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language by the University of Liverpool, she did so in Prague from 1989 to 1991. As a GSI, she received teaching awards from Rackham and the department of political science. In September 2006, Ryan joined CRLT, where she leads the event planning team and provides general research and editing support.
Project Staff
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Gina Aylward
Program Assistant
(734) 936-2871
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
aylwardg@umich.edu
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Gina Aylward earned a dual B.A. in English and Sociology from the University of Michigan. Before joining CRLT in July 2013, Gina worked as a development assistant at an historic preservation nonprofit in Virginia, and as an events coordinator at an urban market in Ann Arbor. At CRLT she provides support for events such as the Student Learning Analytics at Michigan seminar series and the LSA Teaching Academy, among others.
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Pam Fisher
Program Assistant
(734) 647-4765
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
fisherpj@umich.edu
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Pam Fisher. At CRLT, Pam provides support for the CRLT website, videography and photography, and graphic design for print and web publishing. Pam also provides support for campus-wide events, including the CRLT Seminar Series, Teaching with Technology Institute, and the One Day Preparing Future Faculty Conference.
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Laura Gonzalez-Garcia
Program Assistant
(734) 615-4617
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
lgonza@umich.edu
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Laura Gonzalez-Garcia earned her B.A. in political science and international studies from the University of Michigan. In January 2013, she joined CRLT where she provides support for focus groups, workshops for Graduate Student Mentors, and other CRLT events.
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Amy Beth Hamermesh
Technology Support
(734) 936-2596
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
amybeth@umich.edu
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Amy Hamermesh is primarily responsible for technology support at CRLT. Before joining CRLT, Amy received her M.A. in linguistics from the University of Michigan and worked as the departmental administrator at the University of Michigan’s Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. Amy provides support for all of CRLT’s computer-related technology, including research and training for CRLT staff.
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Jeri Hollister
Program Assistant
(734) 764-2462
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
jerih@umich.edu
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Jeri Hollister earned her B.A. in history of art and her M.F.A. from the School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan.Prior to joining CRLT in August 2004, she worked in the Visual Resources Collections in the Department of the History of Art in LSA. Jeri provides support for various CRLT programs, including the five-week Rackham-CRLT Preparing Future Faculty Seminar, the seven-week Postdoctoral Short-Course on College Teaching in Science and Engineering, the Graduate Teacher Certificate program, and CRLT grants. She also maintains the CRLT website, and provides desktop publishing and graphic art support.
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Kathryn Pamula
Program Assistant
(734) 763-4418
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
kpamula@umich.edu
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Kathryn Pamula earned her B.B.A. in Business Administration and her B.T.A. in Theatre Arts-Performing Arts Management from the University of Michigan. Before joining CRLT in July 2013, she worked in event planning at ArtsEngine at U-M and in general management at several professional theatre companies, including the Manhattan Theatre Club. At CRLT, Kathryn provides support for the China Fellows Program and the Provost's Campus Leadership Program, among other events.
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Carolyn Parker
Assistant to the Executive Director
(734) 763-0159
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
cwparker@umich.edu
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Carolyn Parker earned a B.S. in kinesiology/education from the University of Michigan. Carolyn provides administrative and secretarial support to the executive director and to the managing director. She also plans and coordinates several campus-wide events: New Faculty Orientation, the Provost’s Seminars on Teaching. She provides support for the Michigan-China University Leadership Forum.
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Courtney Riddle
Company Manager, CRLT Theatre Program
(734) 615-9265
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
myersco@umich.edu
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Courtney Riddle studied Communications and Theater Arts at Eastern Michigan University. As Managing Director of The CRLT Players she supervises and coordinates the work of actors and support staff, coordinates rehearsal and performance schedules, manages logistics of travel with the company, and collaborates with the Artistic Director on program development. Courtney has been a resident of Ann Arbor since 1998 and performs at The Performance Network, The Purple Rose Theater, The Tipping Point, and The Blackbird Theater.
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Melinda Thompson
Administrative Assistant
(734) 764-0505
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
guillory@umich.edu
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Melinda Thompson earned her associate’s degree in administrative assistant technology from Washtenaw Community College. She has over 10 years of combined clerical and customer service experience and has worked in several different departments at the University of Michigan, including the Housing Information Office and the Facilities Information Center. Since January 2004, Melinda has been with CRLT, where she oversees the undergraduate student assistants and keeps the office well supplied and running smoothly.
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Jessica Von Hertsenberg
Performance Coordinator, CRLT Theatre Program
(734) 936-0646
1071 Palmer Commons • 100 Washtenaw Ave.
jvonh@umich.edu
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Jessica Von Hertsenberg earned her B.A. in German and linguistics from New York University in 2009. After moving to Ann Arbor, she joined CRLT in 2010. Jessica oversees performance and trip logistics for the CRLT Players and works with the Managing Director on scheduling and communication with theatre program contacts. She also provides support for other CRLT events.