Faculty

Roberto Gutiérrez Varea began his career in theater in his native Argentina. His research and creative work focuses on live performance as means of resistance and peacebuilding in the context of social conflict and state violence. Varea's stage work in the United States includes directing premieres of works by Migdalia Cruz, Ariel Dorfman, Cherríe Moraga, and José Rivera, among others. He is the founding artistic director of Soapstone Theatre Company, a collective of male ex-offenders and women...

Dr. Xiomara Cornejo (she/her/ella) is a Salvadoran American theatre director, award-winning playwright, award-winning dramaturg, award-winning designer, and award-winning educator from Compton, California. Some of her most recent theatre credits include Cebollas (DCPA), every.single.one (Studio Four), Alma (Colorado New Play Summit), and References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (MOLAA). Her professional work includes theatre for social change, community organizing, directing, design, and after...

Amie Dowling creates dance and theater for the stage, for film and in community settings. For the past several years, her work has considered the politics and representation of mass incarceration. Well Contested Sites, a collaboration with Bay Area artists, some who were previously incarcerated, won the International Screendance film prize. Her most recent film, Separate Sentence, examines the intersection of gentrification and the generational impact of incarceration. She has presented work...

Dr. Thomas Kurtz enjoys a multi-hyphenate career as an educator, researcher, arts administrator, and performing artist, with a commitment to champion equity-driven initiatives in the arts. His aim is to foster a community within which all students have the resources available to reach their full potential. 

A dedicated educator, Thomas’s teaching is influenced by his experiences working in numerous public schools, higher education institutions, community music schools, and nonstandard...

Megan Nicely is an artist/scholar whose teaching and research integrate theory and practice. Her scholarship brings together experimental choreography, critical dance and performance studies theory, philosophy, cultural studies, and physical practices including modern/contemporary dance, Japanese butoh, yoga, and other somatic approaches. Her group Megan Nicely/Dance has performed on both US coasts, in the UK, and in Europe, and her writing has appeared in TDR: The Drama Review, Performance...

Graciela Acedo is a ballet teacher, choreographer, and a USF grant recipient. She trained in Caracas and at Boston Ballet with a government scholarship and a Harkness Ballet Internship. Professor Acedo performed the classics with Ballet Teresa Carreño sharing the stage with Rudolf Nureyev, Fernando Bujones and Julio Boca. She's a former principal dancer with Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas and worked with choreographers Judith Jamison, Ulises Dove, John Butler, Elisa Monte, Dennis Nahat, Choo San...

Philip Amo Agyapong is a dance teacher and researcher. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Theater Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance, specializing in African Dance Traditions and Contemporary African Dance from the University of Ghana. In the same University, he served as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Dance Studies and gained valuable experience in leading undergraduate and exchange students in theory and practical dance classes. Philip has extensive...

Cara Burgoyne is a vocalist, musical-theatre actress, and solo cabaret artist, performing Broadway, American Standards, country music and pop songs in the Bay Area. She enjoys helping new students find their voice and learn to express themselves through music. She also likes working with more advanced students as they improve their vocal technique and create believable and full-bodied characters. Also, Cara is a full-time Speech Language Pathologist with the San Francisco Unified School District...

Brenton Cheng is a teacher, performer, and director of movement-based performance, as well as a core faculty of Integrated Movement Studies Laban/Bartenieff certification program and adjunct faculty at the University of San Francisco. In addition to directing his own work, he has performed with internationally-acclaimed Contraband, Zaccho Dance Theater, Angus Balbernie, Kim Epifano, Jo Kreiter & Flyaway Productions, Megan Lowe Dances, and many others, at such places as Jacob's Pillow, Bates...

Daria D'Andrea performs across stylistic boundaries from 17th century Italian to 21st century tango. Daria plays with the San Francisco Opera Center Orchestra and is a member of the California Symphony, Sacramento Opera / Philharmonic and Fremont Symphony. Her baroque specialist training was in Europe where she toured extensively with the European Baroque Orchestra and studied with leaders in early music: Roy Goodman, Ton Koopman and Jaap Ter Linden. Daria performs with outstanding early music...

Reggie Daniels was born in San Francisco. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco in 2012 and his Masters at USF School of Management in business in 2014. He will complete his Doctorate of Education in 2018.

In 2012 Daniels received a Merit Scholarship from the University of San Francisco, School of Management. He has been honored with the Black History Month Local Heroes Award and highlighted on KQED; in July 2012, he received the In the Trenches “Change...

Kara Davis, co-artistic director of project agora, danced for Atlanta Ballet, Ohio Ballet, and Ballet Jörgen in Toronto, Ontario. She is a founding member of KUNST-STOFF and Janice Garrett & Dancers, both of which she danced with for ten years. She has performed choreography by Margaret Jenkins, Alex Ketley, Amy Raymond, Pearl Ubungen, Val Caniparoli (ACT), and Robert Moses. She has received multiple Isadora Duncan awards and nominations for her dancing and choreography. Her work has been...

Poppea Dorsam, cellist, received Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Boston University under Michael Reynolds and George Neikurg. She also received the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society award. Her Dissertation (UMI # 3214930) is on "Giovanni Battista Cirri." Undergraduate studies were with Andor Toth Jr. at Oberlin Conservatory. Dorsam also teaches at SF Community Music Center and GlenView Cello Camp, and runs a private studio. A member of the Sacramento Philharmonic, she...

Italian-born guitarist and musicologist Giacomo Fiore has premiered more than two dozen new works for justly tuned, electric, and classical guitars, and released eight recordings for Cold Blue, Pinna, Spectropol, Paper Garden Records, and his own label. As a scholar, his research focuses on U.S. experimental music, intonation, and performance. He has published articles in Music Theory Spectrum, JSAM, and TEMPO, and writes regularly for Classical Guitar and SFCV. He lectures on historical topics...

Suzanne Garramone has played piano as an accompanist and chamber musician for more than 40 years. She earned her Master's Degree in piano performance from the University of Iowa. Since then, Suzanne has musical-directed and performed hundreds of productions staged by middle schools, colleges and community theatre groups. She co-founded oboe/piano duo Classical Trash with Brenda Schuman-Post. Suzanne is also an original member of squeezebox rock band Those Darn Accordions. She has performed...

As a Core Member of the Bay Area theatre company, Word for Word, Stephanie has acted in numerous productions, including Upton Sinclair’s "Oil!" and Susan Glaspell’s "A Jury of her Peers." For Word for Word, she directed the long-running production of "Bullet in the Brain" and "Lady's Dream" by Tobias Wolff, which played at the Magic Theatre and toured France. Most recently for the company, she directed "All Aunt Hagar's Children" by Edward P. Jones.  She has acted with Berkeley Repertory Theatre...

Professor Kamatani is a pianist with extensive teaching and accompanying experience. She is also a music historian, specializing in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Baroque period in general. She has taught Music Appreciation, Introduction to Opera, and Music Theory and Musicianship at USF.

Joseph Lares is the conductor and faculty advisor for the USF Don Marching Band, which he formed in 2009. Born and raised in Northern California, his areas of interests include student development, building community through musical performance, street photography, and media production. Joe is an alumnus of the University of California, Davis, where he studied new media and documentary film production as part of the Technocultural Studies program. His photographic work can be found at the...

Michelle is an actress with over 20 years experience performing in traditional and experimental theater. She has appeared internationally, regionally and in NYC at numerous Off Broadway venues including Cherry Lane, Culture Project, INTAR and EST. She developed original work at HERE Arts Space and Richard Foreman's Ontological-Hysteric Theatre, as well as acting in developmental workshops and readings with New York Theatre Workshop, The Lark, and American Repertory Theatre. In the Bay Area, she...

Judith May, educator, vocalist, and songwriter has been using music to promote community building, change, activism, and healing since 1985. An instructor and vocal coach, she teaches voice lessons, songwriting, and is an ensembles coach at the University of San Francisco and in her private studio. She has adapted psychotherapy principles, learned while earning her master’s degree in somatic psychology, to enhance the effectiveness of her teaching style and help performers overcome performance...

Paul G. McCurdy has worked as a teacher, coach, or pianist for a number of organizations throughout the Bay Area. This includes A.C.T. Young Conservatory, Chabot College, the Hamlin School, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, Lamplighters Musical Theatre, Lick-Wilmerding High School, the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus, Sacred and Profane, the Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and Volti.

In 2014 he recorded Mozart KLAR...

Joshua McDermott has been working in the Bay Area as a Designer and Technical Director since 2005 and joined the Performing Arts Department at the University of San Francisco in 2010, where he founded and directs the Tech and Design Certificate program.

Florentina Mocanu-Schendel was born and raised in Romania. She studied at the People's School of Art in Bucharest and University of Theater Arts in Targu Mures graduating with Diploma in Acting/MFA for theatre and film. She performed for the National Theatre, Comedy Theatre of Bucharest, Romania Film and won several awards for her work. Since moving to the United States, she has worked in theatre and film while completing her education with an MA in Drama from San Francisco State University and...

Born and raised in New York, "D" began dancing professionally at 14 and began instructing dance classes one year later. His work has appeared in numerous music videos, television shows, and international venues and he has appeared on the MTV, BET, Telemundo and Fox networks. As a dance educator, "D" has taught at many schools including SUNY Purchase College, Dominican University, SOTA, LINES Ballet and ODC Dance Commons. After obtaining his BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase College, he was offered...

After receiving a bachelor's degree in composition and choreography from the University of California, Riverside, Eli danced with Heidi Duckler's Collage Dance Theater, Stephanie Gilliland and Dancers, and Lizz Roman and Dancers. An excellent musician and composer, Eli has enhanced the Conservatory's ballet and modern technique classes as a musical accompanist since 2005. He has also composed dance music for a number of works created by Summer Lee Rhatigan on the Conservatory's students, as well...

Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez received his EdD in international and multicultural education from the University of San Francisco. He is one of the original founders and co-director for Grupo Folklórico Los Alteños, a traditional Mexican folklórico company in Sacramento.

With 25 years of experience in traditional danza, Manuel enjoys connecting his research on identity, artful resistance, and radical imagination to social justice spaces of performance. In recent years, he has traveled to various...

Jennifer danced ballet professionally for over ten years, with the Miami City Ballet, the Alabama Ballet, and the Washington Ballet. Throughout her career she experienced mind-body techniques as an important and valuable measure for preventing injuries. In addition to a career in ballet, Polyocan is also a graduate of New College of California with a degree in arts and social change. She has taught ballet for over 20 years to both children and adults at ODC, UC Berkeley, and the University of...

Mark Rafael (aka. Truitt) has been a professional actor for the past 25 years. His Bay Area appearances include Ted Kaczinski Killed People with Bombs, Schrodinger's Girlfriend, and Joe Goode's Body Familiar for the Magic Theatre, The Best of Playgrounds 9 & 11, Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes, ReOrient Festival, and the Bay Area Playwrights' Festival. He has also appeared regionally at Yale Repertory, American Stage, Wisdom Bridge, and Northlight Theatre, among others. Film and Television...

Rick has over 30 years of experience as an educator in academic and professional contexts. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco since 1993. During that time he has been recognized for his teaching, including receiving USF’s Outstanding Lecturer Award and for his other work for the University and its students, the College of Arts and Sciences Service Award, and Student Organization Advisor of the Year. Additionally, he has provided workshops and seminars...

Christopher "Kit" Ruscoe, originally from Louisville KY, studied Classical Composition at the University of Louisville and Jazz Performance and Improvisation at the University of North Texas. He has over 25 years of experience in composing, performing, recording, and teaching music and guitar and is a member of ASCAP. Kit is currently working on film scoring and compositions for TV and documentaries as well as playing in several recognized Bay Area bands.

Liv Schaffer received her bachelor’s degree from Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA program at Dominican University of California in 2013, and has spent subsequent seasons performing with AXIS Dance Company, DanceWorks Chicago, The Dance Exchange, and Robert Moses’ Kin.

Liv is a community engagement artist with Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion®, and a lead artist with the Pillow's Medicine in Motion program, investigating ways in which dance is a tool for medical practitioners to enhance humane...

Rebecca has been a member of the music faculty at USF since 2001. She conducts the USF Classical Choral Ensembles and teaches Intro to Music Theory and Private Voice. In addition to her work at USF, Rebecca serves as Artistic Executive Director of Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus in Berkeley. She holds BA and MA degrees in Voice and Conducting from UC Santa Cruz, a DMA in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, a Masters of Nonprofit Administration from USF, and...

Ken Sonkin is an award-winning actor/director who has worked at American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, SF Playhouse, Magic Theater, Center REP, 42nd Street Moon, Z Space, Sonoma Rep, Broadway by the Bay, San Jose Stage Company, Pacific Resident Theater (LA), Grove Shakespeare Festival (LA), Seacoast Rep (NH), Denver Center, and Pennsylvania Centre Stage. He is a member of PlayGround, Actors’ Equity Association, and the Screen Actors Guild.

Ken was a member of A.C.T.’s acting company and...

Paul S. Flores is a San Francisco artist of Mexican and Cuban-American descent who has built a national reputation for interview-based theater and bilingual spoken word. He integrates indigenous and Latino healing practices to tell the stories of real people impacted by immigration and systemic inequalities. Flores appeared on Season 3 and 4 of HBO’s Def Poetry. He is the author of the plays We Have Iré, which premiered in 2019 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; PLACAS: The Most Dangerous...

Pascal Bokar Thiam has earned his undergrad at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a Master's Degree from Cambridge College, in Cambridge, MA, and a Doctorate Degree in Education with honors from the University of San Francisco, CA. Born in Paris, France, and raised in West Africa Mali/Senegal, Pascal Bokar is listed in the "Great Jazz Guitarists" book by Scott Yanov published by Hal Leonard. His CD "Guitar Balafonics" received Stars in 4 Downbeat Magazine and was selected as "One of the...

Beth Hersh is a designer and play write who has worked extensively in dance and theater in the Bay Area.