Staff  2010-2011

Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt, Co-Founder, President and CEO

Dr. J. Nathan Corbitt is Professor of Cross-Cultural Studies at the Campolo School for Social Change at Eastern University and President and Co-Founder (1997) of BuildaBridge International, an arts-education and social intervention non-profit organization. With extensive overseas living, work and travel in over 40 countries, he regularly consults and trains both locally and internationally. With previous experience as a public school teacher, congregational musician, cross-cultural trainer, and communications consultant he chaired the Department of Communications at Eastern University later becoming Associate Dean for Research and Development at the Campolo School for Social Change. Currently he teaches in the MA and Urban Studies program and coordinates the Arts in Transformation concentration. He is author of The Global Awareness Profile (1998,2005) a popular online self-awareness inventory and teaching manual on global awareness. The inventory is used by universities for assessing global awareness and is offered online at www.globalawarenessprofile.com. He co-authored (with Dr. Vivian Nix-Early) Taking It to the Streets: How the Arts Are Transforming Communities. (Baker, 2003) The book is based on their national research project of 61 faith-based community arts organizations and artists serving marginalized urban communities and at-risk youth through the arts. He also authored, The Sound of the Harvest (Baker, 1998) a study of the origins and roles of spiritual music based on principles from ethnomusicology, sociology and theology. Dr. Corbitt currently leads BuildaBridge in strategic and systems planning, technology development, international programs, and is a core faculty member in the BuildaBridge Institute.

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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , COO

Dr. Vivian Nix-Early owns a private clinical practice and is Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of BuildaBridge International, an arts education & intervention nonprofit in Philadelphia that engages the arts to bring hope and healing to vulnerable populations in Philadelphia andinternationally. A licensed clinical psychologist, educator and musician by training, Dr. Nix-Early has over 30 years of experience working with youth in community settings. She is co-author of Taking it to the Streets: How the Arts Are Transforming Communities (Baker Books 2003). She serves as Dean and is a primary faculty member of the BuildaBridge Institute, teaching Arts in Education, Arts in Healing and Arts, Creativity and Human Development.
Prior to 2010, Dr. Nix-Early spent 30 years in higher education, serving first as professor of psychology and associate provost at West Chester University, and more recently as Dean of the School for Social Change at Eastern University. Dr. Nix-Early received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from New York University in 1979. She is a licensed psychologist in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. She is also a board certified music therapist, having completed her post-graduate Certificate in Creative Arts Therapy: Music Therapy at Drexel University.

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Ms. Dembrosky oversees all programming, volunteer coordination, development, and office administration. Ms. Dembrosky grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and received her bachelor’s degree with honors from West Chester University in Political Science, International Relations before heading to Eastern University for her Master’s degree in International Development.  She has twenty years of professional dance experience, and is trained in ballet, jazz and modern dance. She taught dance in two local studios for the past six years and currently dances at Pulse Dance Center.  Ms. Dembrosky’s international travel has provided her eight years experience working with diverse youth populations and various non-profits.

Magira Ross, Community Programs Coordinator

Originally from Denver, Colorado, her passion for dance and educating children led her to teach in the Baltimore area for twenty-eight years in schools, studios and community venues. Magi is a two time Educators Fellow of Bates College and the founder of My Sister’s Keeper Dance Collaborative and The Moving Spirit Dance Collective where she choreographed and taught professionally for many years before coming to BuildaBridge. Magi received her BA in visual and performing arts from University of Maryland, graduating with honors, and her Master of Dance Education from Temple University. For the last two years she has been teaching core courses in dance as an adjunct faculty member of the Temple University Department of Dance.

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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Development Associate

Ms. Sarah Rohrer comes from California, where she graduated in May of 2010 from Biola University with a degree in Intercultural Studies. She has extensive experience in event planning and coordination through her university’s programs and activities.  Her excellent people skills revealed through her internship with BuildaBridge as Institute Intern in the Spring of 2011 led BuildaBridge to hire Sarah as a Development Associate in July 2011.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Social Media & Marketing Associate

Jincy Varughese is a senior Chemistry and Business major at Arcadia University. She previously worked as a Development and Marketing Intern at BuildaBridge. She currently serves as Social Media and Marketing Associate managing BuildaBridge’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Haiti Arts Relief, Liaison Associate

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, author, film-maker, and teaching artist, Maèvaromynathalie Guirand Renaud, developed a passion for the arts as a tool to educate and empower children and youth in under-resourced communities. With a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University, in Multi- Media Communications with a concentration in Film and Television Production, Renaud utilizes her skill and talent to advocate for social justice  and change. Because of her compassion for children and youth in her home country, Renaud has now joined forces with BuildaBridge International as a Haiti Arts Relief Liaison Associate to ensure that all children living in transitional homes due to catastrophe or crisis are provided with highest quality of care through education, psychosocial support, and developmental skills. Renaud is also currently enrolled in the Arts in Transformation concentration of the M.A. Urban Studies program at Eastern University.

Rachel Schraffran, Artology Fiscal, Marketing & Reporting Director

Originally from the Bay Area, Rachel has lived in Philadelphia for five years.  Her creative and professional backgrounds are in visual and performing arts and education.  Her focus is interdisciplinary and collaborative projects that further self-understanding, communication and healing.  In 2008, Ms. Schaffran received a Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in Art from Temple University's Tyler School of Art.  For the past few years, Rachel has worked as a teaching artist in school and community settings in Philadelphia while pursuing her own creative work.  Rachel served as Artology 2011's Fiscal, Marketing and Reporting Director.

Bridget Carroll, Artology Associate

Ms. Carroll recently graduated from Marywood University with a B.A. in Art Therapy and a minor in Sculpture.  Currently, she resides in the Philadelphia suburbs where she was raised.  Additionally, Bridget has spent time serving in New Orleans, Mexico and Guatemala with a strong belief in bringing social justice and healing through art.  Bridget currently serves as Artology Associate and volunteer with the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative.

Alysia Williams, Artology General Operating Director

Alysia Williams has genuinely enjoyed being an integral part in the expansion of BuildaBridge’s Artology Program over the past three years. With each new Artology session, Ms. Williams delights in enhancing our community by empowering Artology families, members of the BuildaBridge/Artology staff and other community members to meaningfully encounter each other as she encourages them to showcase their existing talents and pursue holistic growth. Ms. Williams earned a Master of Arts in Urban Studies & Youth Leadership as well as a Certificate in Youth Development at Eastern University (Philadelphia/St. Davids, PA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Earlham College (Richmond, IN). A strong advocate for increasing hope, healing and connectedness in the world, Ms. Williams has over 10 years of experience utilizing strengths-based approaches with youth and adults in the Human Services Sector via educational settings, mental health facilities, recreation centers and faith-based organizations. Additionally, Ms. Williams is active in several non-profit boards and advisory councils. Moreover, Alysia grasps opportunities to volunteer in projects geared towards youth and community development and seeks chances to interact with nature’s beauty.

John Austin, IT Specialist

Kent Kissinger, Accountant

Jill Kane, Harrisburg Liaison

Ripley Robinson, Webmaster

Rebekah Leeper, Volunteer Graphic Design Artist

Kari Reed, Volunteer Graphic Design Artist

Kaylie Sauter, International Artist-On-Call, Kenya

Teaching Artists

Danielle Boyer-Graves, Culinary Arts

Camille Edwards, Drama, Creative Writing and Spoken Word

Tyler Kline, Visual Arts

Robert Kelleher, Visual Arts/Photography

Maritza Ogarro, Hip-hop dance

Maeva Renaud, Multidisciplinary

Magi Ross, African Dance

Julie Rosen, Visual Arts

Sarah Thompson, Visual Arts

Art Therapists

Douglas Cornman, Dance movement therapist

Natalie Hoffmann, Visual Art therapist

Celeste Wade, Visual Art therapist

Jennifer Nonas, Visual Art therapist

Artology

Larry Stier, Lead Science Teacher

Vivian Rowe, Lead Art Teacher