Arts and Architecture/Performing Arts Alumni Board Member Biographies

Jeffrey Morgan
jmorgan@cubellis.com; jnmorgan1@comcast.net
Ambler, PA
Penn State Degree: Bachelor of architecture, 1974
Position: Managing Partner, Workplace Solutions, Cubellis

Career Moves: With over 35 years experience in architecture, interior design, practice management, discipline management and firm management, Jeff has personally designed and managed over 7.5 million square feet of space for corporate clients. His extensive experience also includes real estate strategy consulting, interior master planning and owner’s representation. Jeff’s clients have included industry leaders such as GMAC Residential Mortgage, Cendant Mortgage, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Educational Testing Service, CIGNA Healthcare, IKON Office solutions, BISYS Retirement Services, Liberty Property Trust, Brandywine Realty Trust, GSI, United Illuminating, PECO Energy, Key Bank and PNC Bank. Prior to his current role as the Managing Partner, Workplace Solutions Jeff held roles at Cubellis as the Chief Operations Officer, Vice President of Architecture and managing Principal for the Philadelphia Office.

Special Interests: Jeff's professional passion is developing workplace strategies. A registered architect with a bachelor of architecture from Penn State, Jeff has served on the Board of Directors for the Charter High School for Architecture & Design, the Penn State Development Committee for Arts & Architecture and is current president for the Alumni Board of Directors of Penn State's College of Arts & Architecture.

Jeff's personal interests include hiking, kayaking, biking and collecting American crafts.

Mona Niemiec Oberman
mniemiec@nyc.rr.com
New York, NY
Penn State Degree: Bachelor of fine arts in theatre arts, 1982

Position: Freelance Television Production Services

Career Moves: Formerly a staff producer for music programming at Thirteen/WNET New York, Mona worked in the public television industry since 1990, when she left the glamour of a job as a producer's assistant on Broadway for the glamour of a job as a producer's assistant in television. Though her first television job was in the drama unit of the performing arts series Great Performances, she eventually moved to the series' music unit. Since then she has worked in every aspect of multi-camera live event production and post-production at home in New York City and around the world, on programs as varied as Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, the annual New Year's Day concert with the Vienna Philharmonic, and The Gershwin's Crazy for You. She attributes whatever success she's had to her ability to type and lift heavy objects, though not at the same time.

Kurt Pitluga
kurt.pitluga@sru.edu
Slippery Rock, PA
Penn State Degree: Master of art in art history, 1990; Ph.D. in art history, 1994
Position: Assistant Professor, Art Department, Slippery Rock University

Career Moves: Upon graduation, Kurt taught in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Colorado, and in 1996, started teaching at Slippery Rock University.  He has delivered talks on numerous topics dealing with nineteenth and twentieth centuries architecture. His area of interest while at Penn State was the collegiate designs of Charles Z. Klauder, considered the dean of college of architecture in the early 20th century. Currently the focus of research has been on Sidney Foulk, the ninteenth century architect responsible for the design of Slippery Rock University’s oldest buildings. Kurt teaches courses such as Overview of Western and World Art, Foundations of Modern Art, North American Art, The Renaissance Tradition, Early Modern Art and Art Since 1945.

Lizette Rios-Williams
rwarchitects@comcast.net
Venetia, PA
Penn State Degree: Bachelor of Architecture, 1993, Bachelor of Science in architecture, 1993
Position: President, Rios Williams Architects PC

Career Moves: Lizette is the president of Rios Williams Architects, PC in Venetia, PA ....

Christopher Short
shorthorn79@hotmail.com
Haymarket, VA
Penn State Degree: Bachelor of science in music education, 2002
Position: Music Teacher, Baldwin Elementary School , Manassas City Public Schools, Manassas, VA

Career Moves: Chris has been teaching K-4 general music in Manassas, VA since 2006.  Prior to that, he taught middle school band, orchestra, and chorus.  He also has experience teaching high school and middle school marching band, and teaching private students on French Horn.  In 2004, Chris received a Master of Music in French Horn Performance from Michigan State University.  At Penn State he played in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Horn Ensemble, and was a member and officer in the Blue Band.  He was also president of the Penn State chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. 

Special Interests: Outside of the classroom Chris is a classical performer.  He plays French Horn regularly with the Prince William Symphony and NOVA-Manassas Orchestras.  He also performs with the Virginia Grand Military Band, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, Prince William Baroque Ensemble, Reston Chamber Orchestra, National Concert Band of America, and various chamber ensembles in the Washington, DC area.  Chris is also an avid golfer and works part-time at a local golf club.

Le Van "Butch" Pretzman Smith, Jr.
smithl@lmsd.org
Ardmore, PA
Penn State Degree: Bachelor of science in art education, 1970
Position: Art Educator, Lower Merion School District, Ardmore, PA

Career Moves: After graduation, Butch worked for a year in interior design. In 1971, Butch joined the Lower Merion School District as the art teacher at Ardmore Junior High School, where he served until its closing in 1978. Bala Cynwyd Middle School became his next assignment, where he remained until being appointed art supervisor for the school district in 1996. In addition to his work in the school district, Butch had a successful graphics design business from 1977 through 1985 and was partner in an interior design firm in Philadelphia from 1981 to 1989. Since 1990, Butch has sold real estate for RE/MAX Executive Realty in Bryn Mawr, while continuing to teach art at Harriton High School.

Personal Information: Butch is married to Jacquelyn (Jackye) Smith, a retired teacher in the Lower Merion School District.

Emilee Taylor
ejrolyat@earthlink.net
Philadelphia, PA
Penn State Degree: Bachelor of science in art education, 1974
Position: Art Educator / Teacher Support Specialist, School District of Philadelphia

Career Moves: Emilee has taught elementary and middle school art in the Philadelphia schools for the past 32 years. She recently has started a new position with the School District of Philadelphia as a Teacher Support Specialist for art teachers. This position provides support through professional development and school visits for newly appointed teachers as well as seasoned art educators in the system. Prior to her current position, Emilee taught at the James Russell Lowell School from 1974 to 1994 and the Joseph J. Greenberg School from 1994 to 2007. Emilee has presented a series of workshops covering topics such as Japanese art, culture, and African-American artists in State College, Pa., Baltimore, Md. and Los Angeles, Calif. She has also achieved National Board Certification through the process conducted by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in the area of early and middle childhood art.

Special Interests: Emilee enjoys exhibiting art work with her mother, a fellow artist. She also enjoys photography, sewing, fashion modeling, and volunteer work with her church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

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