Meet the Instructors

Meet Our Instructors

Sonya Aboud has been teaching ceramics for over twenty years. Teaching adults wheel thrown pottery and hand-built pottery has been fulfilling. She minored in ceramics at George Washington University in D.C. She is Trinidadian, and has traveled to England, France, Italy, Turkey, Rhodes, Crete, St. Kitts, Aruba, and other Caribbean islands. 

Maddie Ade is a 3rd year student at Penn State, majoring in studio art with minors in art history and communications in the arts and mass media. She creates two-dimensional works in a wide range of media but specializes in oil painting.  

Ashley Angstadt is a third-year ceramic BFA who has been working with clay for four years. She enjoys creating ceramic pieces on the potter’s wheel and through hand building. She looks forward to sharing her skills in the studio with others who are also interested in having a unique hobby. In her free time, she loves exploring new cultures to experience other art forms. Ashley is excited for what is to come.  

Nina Burgos is a junior at Penn State studying elementary and early childhood education. When she’s not in class she loves to work at a local elementary after-school program. She spends her free time hiking, playing Frisbee, and reading. Her favorite kinds of art to create are drawings, collages, and prints. Nina can’t wait to combine two of her interests, teaching and art, and lead a colored pencil class this semester!

Mackenzie (Miki) Boveri is a second-year student at Penn State and will be majoring in early childhood education. She enjoys drawing, painting, graphic design, and has a hobby of thrifting and up-cycling clothes. She is excited to meet new people and share her love of art.  

Paige Cowperthwaite is a senior at Penn State majoring in a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts - with a concentration in drawing and painting - and minoring in psychology. She has been part of the BFA in drawing and painting program for two years and spends most of her time in her studio painting the day away. She is also the president of the Painting Club affiliated with the BFA Drawing and Painting program.

Chloe Kehayas is a senior at Penn State, majoring in hospitality management. She was involved in competitive dance for most of her youth and was also a member of a pre-professional dance company. At Penn State she is a member of the Lyrical Line Dance Company. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time at the Jersey Shore. Chloe is excited to share her love of dance with others this year!  

Sonika Kohli is a second year student majoring in biomedical engineering at Penn State. She is from Tolland, CT and is an avid crocheter! Her favorite things to make are stuffed animals, and she is extremely excited to be a crochet instructor this semester!  

Sonya Lewis is a junior majoring in meteorology with a double minor in climatology and Earth Systems at Penn State. She is the secretary for the Storm Chase Club at Penn State. She graduated from Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, VA in 2020. Sonya loves making arts and crafts, going to football games, and hanging out with her friends.

Emma Manwiller is a sophomore at Penn State earning her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and gaining a minor in horticulture. Ever since she was a young child, Emma has always enjoyed making crafts and creating art. This passion has transferred to her hobbies and career interests, as she hopes to continue to express herself creatively through her landscape designs and personal projects. She looks forward to sharing her artistic knowledge with other members of the Penn State community!

Erica Parsons is a 2011 graduate of Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. She substitutes within the local school district and her main artistic interest is in drawing and painting. She plans to go to graduate school to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree soon. In her free time, she enjoys camping, reading, and watching Steelers football with friends and family. 

Ken Plattner has studied at the University of Maryland, in Munich, Germany and at Penn State. In 1977, he opened his own stained-glass studio on Beaver Avenue in State College. Ken began teaching stained glass for the CFAC in the late 1970’s. 

Sydney Turner is a fifth year senior at Penn State double majoring in advertising and art with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. Born and raised in Central, PA, She is an artist, entrepreneur, and creative who works in watercolor, oil, gouache, graphite, natural dyes, and natural inks. Much of her work focuses on bringing the portraits of animals to life in watercolor, but she also is an avid plein air painter focusing on capturing the landscape and environment around her.

Elita Wadhwa is a sophomore at Penn State with an undecided major (mostly psychology). She is from India and is an international undergraduate student. She is a national record holder for the fastest recitation of Hanuman Chalisa (a Hindu hymn) by a teen. In her free time, she loves drawing, dancing, singing, and playing guitar. She loves playing with dogs and collects funds to feed stray animals in India.

Katy Ulmer is in her senior year at Penn State. She is an art education major from State College with a passion for painting. She has been instructing watercolor class at the CFAC since January 2022 and loves seeing the confidence students gain from the first class to the last class. In addition to the CFAC, she works at The Makery teaching painting and drawing. Aside from art, she is also passionate about hiking, gardening, and her dog! 

Piper Van Dore is a junior undergraduate student studying marketing and pursuing a minor in architectural studies at Penn State. Starting out her college career as an architectural student, Piper has a strong background in several areas of art. Her areas of specialty include painting, printmaking, jewelry making, and sculpture. Piper is very excited to share her love of art and knowledge with others!

Operational Staff 

Samantha Cox is a junior at Penn State, studying marketing in the Smeal College of Business. She participates in the Penn State American Marketing Association, as well as THON.

Anna Fetzko is a senior at Penn State, studying biobehavioral health. She loves to draw, paint, and listen to music in her free time. 

Emily Haertter is a second year student majoring in early childhood development. She participates in THON and the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association. 

Julie Mayer is a junior studying psychology at Penn State. She is involved in Trilogy and is excited for THON!

Alece Morgan is a second year student at Penn State, studying psychology and sociology. She loves to create vlogs for YouTube, watching Netflix, and hanging out with friends in her free time! 

Isabella Vishnevsky is a junior at Penn State majoring in psychology and looking to minor in graphic design. She enjoys dancing and painting in her free time.

Program Director 

Stephanie Gush enjoys working with Penn State students to develop and promote art programs for all ages! She began her career with the CFAC as an instructor for youth art camps and after school art classes and continues to find excitement in creating opportunities for exploration and expression through art. She freelances in graphic design and illustration, paints, enjoys hiking, and volunteers in the administration of community art events. She has experience teaching printmaking, bookmaking, and drawing/painting to children and adults. She is a graduate of Penn State with a degree in Art, with an emphasis in printmaking. 

Administrative Support Assistant 

Mandi Gatto is a Penn State graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrative Arts, with a focus in drawing and painting. She joined the CFAC in 2006. She teaches a variety of craft workshops to adults through the CFAC, and is also the Administrative Support Assistant, creating ads, maintaining email lists, and helping PSU students, staff and faculty sign up for art classes. She enjoys spending time with her family and doing anything crafty, such as scrapbooking, drawing, and painting.