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.
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.
Kelley Dilworth A longtime advocate of the arts, Kelley has over 30 years of business management, community service, event planning and fundraising experience under her belt. In addition to raising three children, building her own home on 6 wooded acres in Jarrettsville, and managing a construction-based business with her husband for over 30 years, Kelley has also been a constant presence in both the local and regional arts community. Kelley is currently enjoying her ‘location independence’ as a freelance social media marketing consultant, working mostly with artists, small businesses and nonprofits.
Kelley’s Nonprofit Arts Management education, training, and experience has found her working alongside numerous arts and community organizations, including the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Creative Alliance, The BOOM Theatre Company, Center for the Arts, her local PTSA, and alma mater the Institute of Notre Dame in Baltimore, in the areas of Development/Fundraising, Grant Writing/ Reviewing/ Developing, Marketing, Executive Board Management, Outreach, Event Planning, Program Planning, Volunteer Management, as well as Website and Social Media Management.
Kelley grew up amongst the marble steps and form-stone facades of East Baltimore. She moved to Harford County in 1988 as a newlywed. She is a self-proclaimed travel addict, having been to 25+ countries and half the US states...so far! In her spare time you might find Kelley shopping at local farm, flea, or arts market, enjoying an outdoor film or festival, hiking, biking, kayaking, practicing yoga, snow skiing in winter, or hanging out with friends and family around her backyard fire-pit with a glass of red wine in one hand and a s'more in the other.
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, beginning in childhood and extending throughout her studies, travels, and decades of volunteer service 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 is currently Grants Director at Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore. She is also a grants consultant for both Maryland Symphony Orchestra and McAllister & Quinn, which leads clients across the nation in winning funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and other federal agencies. Throughout her fundraising career, she has driven critical support for museums, arts and cultural organizations, and arts and humanities initiatives at institutes of higher learning. She has also worked in museum collections management, as an arts writer for various publications, and as an adjunct instructor of art history at universities. 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.
Jared Noe (Director / Director of Photography / Production Manager): A graduate of North Harford High School and Towson University, dove quickly into the production and post production sides of music, film and video production both domestically and abroad. Though he has worn many hats the ones that stand out the most are Director of Photography, producing, and directing multiple film and television series. In addition Jared is the owner of Suited Four Productions (production services firm), which is now based in Joppa, MD. Other Activities and accomplishments include multiple awards for film and television programs, Member of the Aberdeen Parks and Rec Council, Eagle Scout from Troop 811 (Pylesville), IASTE 487 Union Member and active member of the arts community throughout the County.
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.
Laura Ward-Moran is the owner of Harford Premier Pilates, LLC and the director of the John Carroll School College Preparatory Dance Program. A dancer, choreographer, Pilates Instructor, and educator; she earned her BA in Dance Education with Secondary Maryland State Certification from Goucher College in 1999. While a student at Goucher, she was an award winning dancer, student and choreographer earning several scholarships and awards including: The Friends of Goucher Dance, The Amy Goldstein Dance Scholarship, The Bond Dance Award, The Summer Studies in Dance Scholarship, and a Phi Beta Kappa award her senior year for her choreography. Her performing career includes time with companies: Howard County Ballet, Choregraphie Antique, and Nancy Wanich-Romita and the Moving Company.
With 20+ years teaching experience, she has taught ballet, modern, choreography and Pilates throughout the East Coast. Her involvement with dance education goes beyond the classroom, as she was invited as a consultant to write the dance portion of an integrated arts curriculum for the Harford County Public Schools in 1998, she implemented a dance program for Parkville High School in 1999, and in 2016 she implemented the College Preparatory Dance Program at the John Carroll School which has tripled in size since its inception. In 2019 she implemented the Ballet Academy at John Carroll. Mrs. Ward-Moran received her certification as an Authentic Pilates Instructor in NY, NY in 2001, and is a level V+ certified authentic Pilates instructor through Romana’s Pilates, NY, NY. She is proud to have been a student of Joseph Pilates’ protégé, Romana Kryzanowska. For six years she had the pleasure of teaching Pilates in the Dance Department at Goucher College, and she became the Assistant Director of the Pilates Center, prior to opening her own Pilates studio in Harford County in 2005. In addition, she also spent a valuable summer in Dallas, Texas at Southern Methodist University where she obtained her Fundamentals Certificate in the Language of Dance (Motif), as developed by Ann Hutchinson Guest, where she enjoyed studying closely with LOD instructor, Tina Curran. In 2018 she was certified by Marie Walton-Mahon to teach Progressing Ballet Technique.
Her work in Harford County has been extensive. In July 2001, she opened The Maryland School of Ballet and Modern Dance, Inc. where for 15 years she successfully built and grew a dance program for children and adults producing 29 original ballets and modern dance concerts through her school and company, The Maryland Dance Project. In 2016 she successfully executed the sale of her school. Mrs. Ward-Moran has contributed to her community as a panelist, guest speaker, volunteer and columnist regarding dance, education, and business. Her publications have include being interviewed by Lisa Okuhn, for an article in Dance Studio Life Magazine about the importance of Mission Statements, and in 2020 five of her articles are being published by Dance Teacher Web. She keeps an active online dance audience through her blog, A Collection of Dance Topics. She has participated as faculty in the Maryland State Dance Festival and has served as guest instructor for Open Marley Night at EMC, and as an adjudicator for the Susquehanna Youth Ballet. She is a member of the NDEO, the Maryland Dance Council, and the sponsor for the JCS NHSDA Chapter. She is also an appointed Board Member of the Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board. She enjoys Real Estate and is a licensed Real Estate agent in Maryland.
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.