she/her/hers
Jenn Queen – Executive Director
734-926-4120
jqueen@annarborartcenter.org
Jenn Cornell Queen has been part of the Ann Arbor community for over 20 years. She joined A2AC in 2022 after over a decade of working at Ann Arbor SPARK, where she was senior vice president of marketing, communications, and events. Her professional experience includes working with public, private, academic, and nonprofit organizations, including the Detroit Lions, the University of Michigan, Hallmark Greetings, and Milk Means More. Additionally, Jenn is a former two-time business owner, having founded and ran a successful marketing agency as well as a weightlifting gym in Ann Arbor. Throughout her career, she has developed team building and leadership expertise as well as project and budget management, customer service, and fundraising skills. In addition to her professional endeavors, Jenn serves on the board of the Ecology Center, Family Learning Institute, Destination Ann Arbor, and Ann Arbor’s Main Street Area Association.
she/her/hers
KATE ROBERTSON – Sr. Director of Operations
734-926-4126
krobertson@annarborartcenter.org
Kate received her BFA in Studio Art with a Minor in Art History from Minnesota State University. She is a practicing artist and arts administrator/educator. Kate enjoys working collaboratively with the wonderful team at the art center, creative problem-solving, and talking about art.
she/her/hers
THEA ECK – GALLERY DIRECTOR
734-926-4121
teck@annarborartcenter.org
Thea is a visual artist who joined the Art Center Fall of 2022. Thea grew up immersed in Pittsburgh’s arts & culture environment. She attended Alfred University’s New York State School of Ceramics and received her MFA from the University of Michigan’s School of Art & Design. Thea’s art background is varied: As an exhibiting artist, she had solo shows at 1708 Gallery, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, the UICA, and Cazenovia College and received several research grants for her work with polar exploration archives in England and Denmark. Thea assisted many amazing artists while interning at the Women’s Studio Workshop as well as served as studio assistants to Ellen Driscoll and Marguerite Kahrl. Thea worked for ShopBot Tools, a NC-based cnc router manufacturer, expanding their educational programming around the country. She’s taught digital design and cnc router workshops at Port Townsend Woodworking School in Washington state. Thea lives in Ann Arbor with her family and loves the AADL and all the awesome community events that happen throughout the year.
she/her/hers
HANNAH KIRKPATRICK – ART IN PUBLIC DIRECTOR
734-926-4122
hkirkpatrick@annarborartcenter.org
Hannah Kirkpatrick originally hails from New Jersey and, later, Virginia. She received her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. Hannah’s work and practice focus on large public art and design projects, collaborative installations and performances, and a craft-based production of glassware and jewelry. She developed her professional career at institutions and in communities such as The Chrysler Museum of Art, The Governor’s School for the Arts, the Norfolk NEON Arts District, Socrates Sculpture Park, Taubman School of Architecture, and many craft schools across the country. Outside the Ann Arbor Art Center, you might find her in the garage making camera obscura installations or engraving glass.
she/her/hers
JEAN SPINDLER – DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
734-926-4125
jspindler@annarborartcenter.org
Jean graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Fine Art and an emphasis in painting. She also dabbles in illustration, ceramics, and graphic design. Jean has worked at a number of different camps over the last 11 years in places such as Maine, Colorado, Ireland, and Michigan. She enjoys beading, going to trivia night, and playing extreme dodgeball.
he/him/his
JEREMY WHEELER – MARKETING & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
734-926-4127
jwheeler@annarborartcenter.org
Jeremy Wheeler made a name for himself as a creative in the Ann Arbor area by working with such local organizations as Vault of Midnight, the Ann Arbor District Library, VGKids, Duo, 826 Michigan, and Lo-Fi. His personal work which ranges from a blend of comic-book vibrancy and dynamic graphic design to soft watercolors has been included in national exhibitions as well as in prominent entertainment editorials, book releases, and music-event promotions. A graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, he enjoys movies, comics, and occasional pop-culture writing assignments. Jeremy co-created and headed up The Bang!, a long-running dance party whose visual aesthetics he guided between 2001 and 2019.
she/her/hers
RACHEL DEROCHER – SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR
734-926-4129
rderocher@annarborartcenter.org
Rachel graduated from Albion College with a BA in Psychological Science and Environmental Studies. She joined the Art Center staff in the summer of 2019 and assists with various education programs. Outside of the Art Center, you’ll find her exploring new hiking trails, taking on new crafts, and befriending all sorts of dogs.
she/her/hers
AMELIA HISSONG – EDUCATION PROGRAMS MANAGER & ART CAMPS DIRECTOR
734-926-4129
ahissong@annarborartcenter.org
Amelia has taught at A2AC Art Camps since 2016 and is excited to take the helm and work with camp staff to ensure the continuity of the high-quality, super-fun art camp experiences for which the A2AC has become known. Outside of the A2AC, Amelia has taught art in various educational and classroom settings to Elementary through Middle School students primarily in Ypsilanti. Amelia studied Art Education with a focus in Painting at Kendall College of Art and Design and received her BA from Eastern Michigan University with a minor in Sociology.
he/him/his
MARC J. MCCAY – CERAMICS STUDIO MANAGER
734-994-8004
mmccay@annarborartcenter.org
Marc received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking from Indiana University, Bloomington, Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts. Coming from California and having traversed the country several times, he finally landed here at the Art Center. In addition to being a Printmaker and Ceramicist, Marc has a passion for all things Mid-Century.
she/her/hers
SIYI ZHANG – GALLERY SHOP MANAGER
734-926-4128
szhang@annarborartcenter.org
Siyi joined the Art Center in the Summer of 2021. She is a graduate of NYU with an MA degree in Visual Art Administration. Prior to graduation, Siyi worked as a Marketing Assistant at the No.name Art Residency, an Artist Assistant for Visual Elite, and interned at the Leila Heller Gallery in New York City. While completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, Siyi worked at the University of Michigan Research Museum Center and the University of Michigan Museum of Art. She enjoys chopping fruits and veggies and cooking in her spare time.
she/her/hers
NATALIE JOHNSON – DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
734-926-4123
njohnson@annarborartcenter.org
Natalie joined the Art Center in November of 2021. As a practicing artist, she dabbles in metalsmithing, photography, and stained glass. She’s a big fan of early morning flea markets, paint-covered overalls, and the A2AC.
she/her/hers
STEPHANIE MCDONALD – CORPORATE GIFTS MANAGER
734-926-4128
smcdonald@annarborartcenter.org
Steph is a Michigan native who graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Art History. Over the years, she’s had many hats: artist, chocolatier, tutor, professional nanny, and ESL teacher. Her days are now spent making art, treats, and keeping her tiny humans alive.
she/her/hers
Deanne Neiburger – Assistant Ceramics Studio Manager
734-994-8004
dneiburger@annarborartcenter.org
Deanne Neiburger is an artist living and working in Ann Arbor. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, majoring in figurative sculpture. Deanne has been teaching both children and adults at the Ann Arbor Art Center since 2014 and joined the Art Center staff as the ceramic studio tech in 2018. When not creating artwork, you can find her playing hockey, plucking the banjo, or playing the flute in the Ann Arbor Concert Band.
she/her/hers
Chloe Robberts – EDUCATION COORDINATOR
734-926-4131
crobberts@annarborartcenter.org
Chloe received her BA from the University of Michigan in Art & Design, with a minor in History of Art. She is a practicing interdisciplinary artist interested in charcoal, printmaking, and book binding. She joined the art center team in 2023 as the Assistant Camp Director before settling into her position as the Education Coordinator. Chloe loves learning new crafts and watching scary movies in her free time.
she/they
Lainey Queen – EDUCATION COORDINATOR
734-926-4131
lqueen@annarborartcenter.org
Lainey graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BA in Psychology and a concentration in Political Science. She also has a background in Art History, studying at Western Michigan University and the American University of Rome. You can find Lainey painting outside the Art Center, spending time with her cat, Duck Duck, or playing pickleball.