Current Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board Members
Chuck Bowden, Chair, has taught both English and Drama at Bel Air High School for over 20 years. A graduate of West Virginia University with a BFA in Theatre and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland with a Masters in Education, Chuck worked with the theatre program at Bel Air for over 25 years. Chuck has also served as the Technical Director and Scenic Designer at the school. As a musician, he has participated in the pit bands for the musicals since 1994. For 12 years, he has organized the North East Theatre Festival, a regional gathering of drama students, colleges and professionals from the Baltimore area. Chuck is an adjunct faculty member of the Theatre Department at Harford Community College, a Board member of the Scottfield Theatre Company and has worked as a Technical Director and Designer for several community theatres around the region.
Angie Sokolov, Vice Chair, has been singing, acting, and dancing in Harford County since before she could write her name. She is a graduate of William S. James Elementary, Bel Air Middle School, and Bel Air High School. Her love for the Arts led her to Elon University in North Carolina, where she received her B.F.A. in Music Theatre. She moved to New York City and was a professional actress for a number of years. She has been on National Tours, performed Off-Broadway, and been a member of the Actor's Equity Association. She went back to school to receive a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, got married, had 2 little girls, and moved back home, to Bel Air, MD. She now shares her love of performing, visual, and literary arts, with her students at Fallston Community Pre-k, and Garrison Forest School, where she teaches art based preschool. When not teaching, Angie still loves being on stage and can be seen around the county performing whenever possible!
Pete McCallum, Secretary Pete McCallum is the current president of the Deer Creek Chorale. He and his wife, Carol, reside in Street, MD. Pete retired in June, 2011 from the Cecil County Public Schools after a 41-year career in public education the last 17 of which were as an Executive Director of Instruction.
He serves on the Session at Highland Presbyterian Church, volunteers in the conservatory at Longwood Gardens, coordinates the McDaniel College graduate programs in Cecil County, gardens, travels, exercises, and studies guitar. Pete has 5 young grandchildren and loves being an important part of their lives. As a retiree, one of his primary goals is to make a positive impact on the community in which he lives.
He serves on the Session at Highland Presbyterian Church, volunteers in the conservatory at Longwood Gardens, coordinates the McDaniel College graduate programs in Cecil County, gardens, travels, exercises, and studies guitar. Pete has 5 young grandchildren and loves being an important part of their lives. As a retiree, one of his primary goals is to make a positive impact on the community in which he lives.
Marcia Bailey grew up in Baltimore County and discovered her love for music as a student performing in the school choir. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Xi Delta Omega Chapter in Harford County, Marcia has been supporting the Arts in the community since 2008. Xi Delta Omega’s Arts Committee is responsible for coordinating and showcasing various artists for various events which are hosted by the chapter. Marcia’s professional career spans over more than 25 years in the financial industry as a bank Assistant Branch Manager, Assistant Director at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, and as a Financial Examiner with the MD Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Marcia currently serves as a Senior Compliance Analyst with the federal government. Marcia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science and a Master of Science degree in Business from Strayer University. Marcia serves her community as a volunteer not only with her sorority, but also supports the American Red Cross and donates to homeless shelters throughout Baltimore County. For several years Marcia has served as an election judge in Baltimore County to ensure a functioning and honest election process.
Chris Depkin is a lifelong and enthusiastic participant and supporter of the arts. As a child she participated in community theatre productions and in high school acted in several shows at Corner Theatre in Baltimore. As an undergraduate, she majored in education with a minor in theater. She taught high school English and Reading in Baltimore County Public Schools for 30 years and retired in 2009. She earned a M.Ed. in Reading from Loyola College and a M.F.A.in publication design from University of Baltimore. After her retirement she was a teacher mentor for Teach for America for 2 years. From 2012-2020 she coordinated Harford County Public Library’s Partners in Reading program which paired volunteer mentors with struggling elementary school readers. Chris is a past president and current member of the Bel Air Community Chorus. She is also one of two volunteer coordinators for the Bel Air Summer Concert Series. A 43 year Harford county resident, Chris lives on a quiet 5 acre property in a steam valley where she and her husband Jim raised their two grown sons. In her spare time, she attends shows at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, the Hippodrome and on Broadway. Although she loves art, she claims her only real visual talent is creating dynamic colorways in quilts she makes. She is a member of 3 book clubs and also addicted to knitting. She cherishes time with her 4 grandchildren and traveling adventures with her husband. Like Harvey Fierstein, Chris believes “art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire, and motivate.”
Gigi Devanney has been a resident of Harford County for more than 25 years. Her love of the arts began in her childhood in central Florida. Her love of music (she studied instrumental music performance in college), expanded to include all the performing arts and she has served on the board of directors for Ballet Chesapeake for more than ten years. She knows the impact art has had on her life and wants others, particularly those in our area, to have opportunities for similar experiences. Professionally, her skills lie in communication and marketing in the education sector. She believes her relational approach guides her to ask thoughtful questions in an effort to better understand the environment, the critical issues, and the goals. Her expertise at looking at things both critically and holistically and considering the impact on all stakeholders helps her advise appropriate and effective strategies. Married to a Harford County native, Gigi has three grown children and loves spending time with family and friends.
Emily Fadgen Emily B. Fadgen ATR-BC, LCPAT is an experienced art therapist currently at The Retreat at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore, MD and in a private practice group at Pivot Point Counseling, LLC in Bel Air, MD. Emily has her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Rider University and Master’s in Art Therapy from Drexel University. She is a registered, board certified art therapist through the National Art Therapy Credentials Board and a Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Emily also supervises art therapy graduate students from Notre Dame University of Maryland. Emily believes in each person’s creative potential and seeks to help individuals access it. She enjoys moving paint around on canvas boards, spending time with her husband, two sons and cat, treasure hunting in thrift stores and hot yoga.
Karen Heppen majored in classical civilization at Boston University and took additional courses in accounting. As the Director of Finance and Operations of the Center for Food Action, which operates seven food pantries in northern New Jersey, she especially enjoyed working on appeals and being the staff support for fundraising events. When she and her husband decided they wanted to move closer to their children and their families, they were delighted to find Harford County and Havre de Grace. They have found much pleasure in new friends and in this beautiful area. Karen is a weaver and is the newsletter editor of the Warped Weavers Guild, a local group of talented fiber artists. She is also involved with the creation of temari (Japanese thread balls) and, as one of the Temari Twins, exhibits their work and teaches this folk art to others. She has volunteered at the Center for the Arts and has served on the board of the League of Women Voters of Maryland and of Harford County. Karen has served on the Harford County Cultural Arts Board for eight years and feels that it is a privilege and a pleasure to have a part in supporting and encouraging the arts in Harford County.
Christina McLoughlin has nurtured a lifelong passion for the arts through hobbies, study, travel, volunteering, and advocacy. She holds a master’s degree in art history and museum studies, and has dedicated her career to supporting the arts and cultural sector through philanthropy. A seasoned development professional, she served for over a decade as Grants Director at Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore, and is now Institutional Giving Manager at WYPR – Your Public Radio. She is also a grants consultant for both Maryland Symphony Orchestra and McAllister & Quinn, which leads clients around the U.S. in winning funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other federal agencies. Throughout her fundraising career, she has driven critical support for arts and cultural organizations, and for arts and humanities initiatives at universities and colleges. She has worked in museum collections management, as an arts writer for various publications, and as an adjunct instructor of art history. While her greatest loves are visual art, music, and folk art/traditions, she believes that all art forms make valuable contributions to society and the human experience. Having lived in New York, Nevada, California, and Virginia, she is pleased to have made Darlington, Maryland, her permanent home and to have chosen a resident County that invests in its citizens by supporting the arts.
Heidi Neff Chuffo is a Professor of Art + Design at Harford Community College. She earned her MFA in painting from the University of Iowa in 2002 and her BFA in painting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1994. Heidi Neff currently exhibits at the Amos Eno Gallery, an artist-run gallery in the 56 Bogart Building in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. She lives in Bel Air, Maryland, with her husband, Paul Chuffo, and their children, Max and Maya.
Wendy Roberts A Harford County resident for 32 years and graduate of The Maryland Institute, College of Art, Wendy’s professional background includes marketing, graphic design, account and project management. Wendy has worked with non-profit annual campaigns and membership initiatives with associations, community services, health care and higher education. Wendy volunteers as the Director of Communications for The Textile Society of America, Social Media Admin and Exhibition Chair for the Mid-Atlantic Fiber Arts Association, Ambassador for the Baltimore Museum of Art and serves on the Board of Directors for the Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore. Her art interests include art history, contemporary art, cultural history and the creation of textiles / fiber art. Her textile art practice includes weaving, tapestry and natural dyeing.
Bill Rothenbach has been a resident of Harford County for almost 30 years. He recently retired after a 45 year career as a corporate Human Resources Executive and is now President of Harbor Lights Human Resources Consulting, LLC. In addition to his work with the Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board, he is also a member of the Advisory Boards for the Chesapeake Human Resources Foundation, the College of Science and Health Professions for Edinboro University and the UMBC Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program. Bill taught for 5 years at Towson University as a member of the Associate Faculty for the Graduate School Human Resources Development Program. He holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from Edinboro University and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from The University of Akron. Bill discovered his passion for art late in life when he began painting. Since then his modern abstract pieces have won juried competition awards and have been exhibited in numerous galleries. He is an advocate for the important role that culture and the arts can play in the lives of everyone.”
Elizabeth Stevens is a native New Yorker who transplanted to Harford County over ten years ago. Her love for the arts came from growing up in Manhattan and having such an eclectic upbringing. Mrs. Stevens was greatly influenced by having relatives who were writers, musicians, and painters, but she also sang for Children’s Choir and Young Adult Choir at Abyssinian Baptist Church and grew up singing with Leontyne Price and The New York Philharmonic. Afterschool, she spent time with Dance Theatre of Harlem’s program, as well as being involved in the American Museum of Natural History’s educational programs (newly begun in the 70’s) where her mother worked. A former student of Sonia Sanchez, Mrs. Stevens sat at the feet of many great poets firsthand from Alice Walker to the late Gwendolyn Brooks. It is because of Dr. Sanchez’s influence that she is in not only in education but incorporates the arts so heavily. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Xi Delta Omega Chapter in Harford County, Stevens has been supporting the Arts in the community since 2008. Xi Delta Omega’s Arts Committee Chair is responsible for coordinating and showcasing various artists for various events hosted by the chapter. Elizabeth’s professional career spans over more than 25 years in Education and Instructional Technology and Administration. She is a graduate of Temple University, and Notre Dame of Maryland University respectively where she earned her bachelor’s and Master of Arts and has studied at The Graduate School of Education at Harvard University where she was certified in Reading, Writing and Civic Education. A part-time Teacher Consultant and writer, Mrs. Stevens is a very active part of the Harford County community. It is not uncommon to see her running/walking for her favorite charity, donating shoes, sewing dressing or shirts for children in Haiti. Her all -favorite task is painting rocks with positive messages and hiding them around Harford County to brighten others’ day.
Erin Feeney Whipple, PLA ASLA Erin Feeney Whipple is the Associate Director of Landscape Architecture and Programs at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Her work—administrative and creative--is focused on forging meaningful connections between Longwood’s 1.5 million average annual visitors and the 500 acres of publicly accessible gardens, meadows, and forests. Erin co-leads two teams--Programming and Interpretation--that collaboratively work with seventeen representatives from all departments to set strategy, goals, and coordination. With more than 700 annual events, exhibitions, and frequently evolving horticulture displays this work is invaluable to the effective delivery of the organization’s mission. Erin’s collaborative nature goes beyond her administrative duties. She loves to conceptualize and implement both thoughtful moments and grand visions for Longwood’s guests. Most recently she designed an intimate installation of bronze sculptures, Chloe and Lucinda, by Andrѐ Harvey in Longwood’s Perennial Border. Erin is also the artist and lead designer on many of Longwood's special installations including the very popular (attracting up to 7,000 guests nightly) Luminary Nights that utilize light and graphic patterns to create joy for guests while highlighting the landscape. Erin is the primary liaison with artists commissioned for grand projects at Longwood. She oversees the garden's large-scale art installations from conception and planning to installation. A few of these site-specific installations include: Bruce Munro's Light, 9 installations of tens of thousands of lights and 235 miles of bare optic fiber exhibited across 23-acres; Klip Collective's Nightscape, a multi-year, summertime, experience that used mature trees and topiary as the canvas for 11 video installations harnessing projection mapping technology; and the installation of two, 30-foot tall sculptures made of 635 bamboo rods designed by the Ikebana Sogetsu Headmaster, Akane Teshigahara. Erin Whipple is an alumna of Longwood Gardens’ prestigious Professional Horticulture Program. Prior to joining Longwood, she earned a Landscape Architecture degree from Michigan State University and worked for the Hitchcock Design Group in Chicago. As a member of the firm’s Civic Team, Erin worked on projects aimed at improving local community resources. She has now settled in Kingsville, Maryland, with her ultra-supportive husband and has two future artists of her own.
Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board is currently accepting applications from Harford residents with a passion for the arts.
Harford County Cultural Arts Board Coordinator Jessica L. Cleaver has extensive experience in information literacy, grants administration, and building and assessing inclusive systems. She enjoys problem-solving and connecting people, resources, organizations, and ideas. Mrs. Cleaver has been employed by The Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees since 1999, as Harford County Cultural Arts Board Coordinator since 2015, and served as a member of the County Arts Agencies of Maryland Executive Committee since 2020.
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