Skip to main content

Meet the People of UMMA

This is UMMA — a passionate group of individuals who believe that art is a fundamental human right. We are a collective and a culture. A collective driven by the importance of accessible art in our communities. A culture sustained and strengthened by respecting everyone’s voice and contribution.

Director’s
Office

734.763.9954
olsenc@umich.edu
You can usually find me... in storage, exclaiming over new acquisitions!

Christina Olsen

Director, University of Michigan Museum of Art
(she/her)
a woman poses for a portrait
734.763.9954
fikes@umich.edu
When not at UMMA I love going for long walks with my husband and our dogs, connecting with my family, reading, baking and enjoying a great meal with good friends!

Sandy Fike

Executive Assistant to the Director
734.615.2827
alisunnj@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA... I like playing with my kids, working on home renovation and design projects, and going to the farmer's market on Saturdays.

Alisunn Jones

Manager of Special Projects & Strategic Implementation
(she/her)

Art in Public Spaces

jrcarty@umich.edu

Jenny Carty

Curator of Art in Public Spaces
734.615.7754
elarso@umich.edu
You can usually find me... popping into curators' offices to check on exhibition progress.

Erika Larson

Manager of Art in Public Spaces
(she/her)

Collections
& Registration

My fondest memory from working at the museum is the Student Appreciation event. It really helped me come closer to my co-workers and establish a deeper connection to the workplace community.

Cal

Student Art Handler
734.764.1178
ccgross@umich.edu
You can usually find me... in collection storage admiring my favorite pieces of art.

Corey Gross

Chief Registrar
(he/him/his)
qianhe@umich.edu
For conservation requests, please reach out to my colleague Katie Prichard

Qian He

Asian Art Conservator
734.647.0527
katprich@umich.edu
My fondest memory at UMMA is... unpacking and cataloguing my favorite artwork in the collection, 'Journey Without Maps VIII' by David Budd.

Katie Prichard

Associate Registrar
(she/her)
Carly is a Senior pursuing a degree in Anthropological Archaeology, focusing in Maritime Archaeology and the study of Oceania. Carly is interested in Museum Studies and indigenous approaches to archaeology.

Carly

2024 SAB Member & Art Handler
(she/her)
734.764.8873
katstadt@umich.edu
You can usually find me... cataloging the collection and updating the database.

Katie Stadtmiller

Assistant Registrar
(she/her)

Curatorial
Affairs

734.647.0526
ldbecker@umich.edu
You can usually find me... needlepointing during meetings

Laura De Becker

Chief Curator Helmut and Candis Stern Curator of African Art
(she/her)
734.764.2426
jfriess@umich.edu
You can usually find me... debating between a small and large coffee at the UMMA Cafe.

Jennifer M. Friess

Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs Associate Curator of Photography
(she/her)
When I'm not working on museum projects, I enjoy working out and volunteering around Ann Arbor. I am also a Ph.D. student in the History of Art department and one of my favorite things to do is to take my students to visit UMMA.

Róisín

Graduate Student Curatorial Intern
(she/her)
karakfma@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA... I enjoy exploring local coffee shops and visiting the ​Farmers Market.

Kara Ma

Program Manager of the Chinese Object Study Workshops & Chinese Art Research Specialist
(she/her)
734.763.0804
avmiller@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA... I like to run around the playground with my son and seek out any bit of nature I can find.

Ashley Miller

Assistant Curator of African Art
(she/her)
734.647.0523
onatsu@umich.edu
You can usually find me... looking at an art work in study rooms or galleries.

Natsu Oyobe, PhD

Curator of Asian Art
What is your most niche personal interest... I love grocery shopping - the thrill of fresh produce!

Sarah

Graduate Student Curatorial Intern
robinkwi@umich.edu
The art movement that best matches my personal vibe is 1970s New York — raw, conceptual, spiritual; great jeans and taste in music.

Robin K. Williams

Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
(she/her)

Chang

Graduate Student Curatorial Intern

Development

734.647.2064
meaclark@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA... I love going on adventures with my family, traveling, enjoying Michigan summers, reading, making pottery, and exploring other museums.

Meaghan Clark

Assistant Director of Development, Annual Giving & Events
(she/her)
734.764.1983
jemcc@umich.edu
My fondest memory at UMMA...was being a part of all the reopening festivities when the Frankel wing was completed. It was amazing to see all the excitement as visitors experienced it for the first time.

Jenna Morgan

Stewardship Manager
(she/her)
734.647.3132
syrichar@umich.edu
You can usually find me... grabbing an iced latte at the UMMA Café!

Sydney Richards

Associate Director of Development, Individual Giving
(she/her)
Annie is a senior studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Gender and Health.

Annie

2024 SAB Member, Student Program Assistant, & Development Intern
734.647.0516
asamps@umich.edu
You can usually find me... talking with curators about their ideas for new exhibitions.

Anna Sampson

Chief Development Officer
(she/her)

Exhibitions
& Publications

734.764.8319
mdcasad@umich.edu

Matt Casadonte

Senior Exhibitions Technician
734.936.0163
andco@umich.edu
You can usually find me... pouring over spreadsheets and, on the best days, seeing an exhibition or a project get installed. In my free time at the museum I love to wander the galleries – you can always find things you haven't noticed before.

Andrew Cohen

Exhibitions & Programs Project Manager
(he/him)
734.615.8186
kaweiss@umich.edu
"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." -Dolly Parton

Katie Derosier

Director of Exhibitions & Publications
(she/her)
734.763.8453
alexanea@umich.edu
You can usually find me... helping prepare artwork for display in the museum's collections rooms and doing a variety of tasks to prep for upcoming exhibitions.

Alexandra Eason

Assistant Exhibitions Technician
(she/her)
734.764.8012
kholoka@umich.edu
You can usually find me... installing art in the galleries.

Kate Holoka

Senior Exhibitions Technician
(she/her)
734.615.2796
savah@umich.edu
You can usually find me... deep in thought playing around with ideas for engaging exhibition graphics.

Savanna Homes

Exhibitions Graphic Designer
(she/her)
734.764.3894
erindahl@umich.edu
My fondest memory at UMMA is...the fall 2023 opening weekend - it was amazing to see the museum buzzing with excitement, and for all of the hard work and ideas to come to fruition!

Emily Rindahl

Exhibitions & Publications Project Manager
(she/her)

Finance
& Operations

734.647.0985
efarrel@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA... I like to read, write, watch movies, & listen to/play music! And maybe a little splash of video games...

Ethan Farrelly

Financial Specialist
(he/him)
Outside of UMMA, I play rugby! I am currently on the UM Women's team and we have won two national championships.

Ella

Student Event Host
(she/they)
734.764.4596
marlie@umich.edu
What is your most niche personal interest...I collect VHS tapes and enjoy creating themed double feature movie nights.

Marlie Hooper

Events Host Assistant
(she/her)
734.660.5804
jmorehe@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA... I like to spend time with my family and pets, host book club, and go on silly friend dates.

Jenna Morehead

Facilities Manager
(she/her)
734.647.0521
hnickel@umich.edu
You can usually find... me in the shop, merchandising and working with my wonderful staff of Shop Sales Reps and Visitor's Services Navigators.

Hayden Nickel

Retail Operations Assistant Manager
"There is nothing more artistic than to love people"

Juana

Student Event Host
(she/her)
734.763.7198
patanash@umich.edu
The art piece that best matches my vibe is... Caravaggio's Judith & Holofernes, it's a story of a woman who was underestimated. The artist was also underestimated.

Patricia Scott

Director of Finance & Administration
(she/her)
734.763.9051
nvanh@umich.edu
You can usually find me... unboxing new product arrivals in the UMMA Shop!

Neil A. Van Houten

Retail Operations Manager
(he/him)
Fictional characters that might best represent me are both Dipper and Mabel Pines from 'Gravity Falls'. Dipper, like me, is curious, loves learning, and can be very type-A. Like Mabel, I love sweaters and can be more relaxed and fun around people I feel close to.

Kaitlyn

Student Event Host
(she/her)

Marketing
& Public Relations

734.647.0524
ankney@umich.edu

Christopher Ankney

Director of Marketing and Public Relations
(he/him)
bickelk@umich.edu
If I was a dessert, I would like to be a Madeleine, their recipe is timeless and true - plus they look so cool!

Kate Bickel

Marketing Project Assistant
(she/her)
My most niche interest is Formula one. I often wake up very early to watch the races with my sister since they usually occur in Europe. I love to discuss the drivers and race strategy.

Prentiss

Student Marketing & Media Assistant
(she/her)
nkagerer@umich.edu
You can usually find me...walking around the museum talking with guests, getting inspiration, or taking photo and video for social media... follow us @ummamuseum :)

Neil Kagerer

Community Marketing & Social Media Specialist
(he/him)
moatru@umich.edu
Outside of UMMA I like... being out on a hike taking pictures of every single flower, mushroom, or bug I see.

Molly Trudeau

Web Content Specialist
(she/her)

Museum
Technology

773.987.6527
shayla@umich.edu
You can usually find me... in the basement working on bug fixes.

Shayla Johnson

Web Applications Developer
You can usually find me...coding on the apse couches, consuming an embarrassing number of iced coffees at the cafe, perusing the store for memorabilia.

Anushka

Student Web Developer
(she/her)
734.763.0256
jmturner@umich.edu
You can usually find me... quietly helping other staff so they can make a positive impact on our visitors.

John Turner

Director of Museum Technology
(he/him)

Public Experience
& Learning

734.615.9815
lherbert@umich.edu

Lisa Herbert Borgsdorf

Associate Director for Public Experience & Learning
(she/her)
734.615.8181
dchoberk@umich.edu
You can usually find me... talking about art.

David Choberka

Mellon Foundation Curator for University Learning and Programs
(he/him)
734.846.6108
briannon@umich.edu
You can usually find me... hanging out with UMMA's Student Advisory Board members, devising awesome student programming, introducing them to the wonderful world of museum work, and being a hype-woman for their creative social media endeavors.

Briannon Cierpilowski

Manager of Student Programs
mahalina@umich.edu

Mahalina Dimacali

Program Coordinator
(she/they/siya)
You can usually find me... teaching. in a gallery

Michaela

University Learning & Programs Rackham Doctoral Intern
(she/her)
kafi@umich.edu

Kafi Laramore

K-12 Teaching & Learning Coordinator
734.678.0903
jleija@umich.edu
You can usually find me... with the PEL team strategizing about upcoming events and other activities in the museum.

James P. Leija

Deputy Director for Public Experience and Learning
(he/they)
Stella is a Junior studying Art and Design and Political Science with a minor in Urban Studies.

Stella

2024 SAB Member & Student Program Assistant
(they/them)
Annie is a senior studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Gender and Health.

Annie

2024 SAB Member, Student Program Assistant, & Development Intern

Eva Rosenwald

Outreach Coordinator for Civic Engagement
“She quietly expected great things to happen to her, and no doubt that’s one of the reasons why they did.” ― Zelda Fitzgerald

Robyn Thum-O’Brien

Irving Stenn Jr. Fellow in Public Humanities and Museum Pedagogy
(she/her)
734.615.6247
mdegroo@umich.edu
You can usually find me... in the galleries with a group of young students and teachers.

Grace VanderVliet

Curator for Museum Teaching and Learning
(she/her)

Visitor Services and Retail

Aine

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
Outside of work at UMMA... I love to create art of my own! I crochet and knit, sew, paint, sketch, and dance. I also love the research I do on Bipolar Disorder in the EmoTe lab on campus, and enjoy spending time with my friends and my sweet cat, Lola!

Lillie

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/they)
Outside of UMMA I like... I like to travel because a lot of art works are inspired by natural scenery. While enjoying the natural scenery, I can also personally appreciate the different aesthetics displayed in the paintings.

Biying

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
If I was a fictional character, I'd be Stitch because I am small, feisty, spunky, and willing to do anything from my family. I also am a tad obsessed with him and am an avid collector of Stitch items!

Kari

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
Outside of UMMA I like... being outdoors, whether it be running, hiking, biking, swimming, camping, or sitting in the sunshine with a good book.

Anna

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
My fondest memory from working at the museum is when I met Janie Paul and got to speak to her about what she is doing in STAMPS for the Prison Creatives Arts Project. It was very inspiring.

Leah

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
Outside of UMMA, I’m pursuing a degree in art and design at the University of Michigan. I have a deep love for creativity and enjoy working with various artistic mediums.

Jacob

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(he/him)

Sophie

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
What is your most niche personal interest...the history of medicine and anatomical art

Caroline

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
The piece of art that best matches my personal vibe is, 'Near the Lake' by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, simply because I could stare at it for hours.

Lejla

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
You can usually find me... helping guests out, whether in the shop or the front desk.

Amarilis

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
If I was a dessert, I think I would be Baklava! Sweet, nutty, and a bit messy.

Nikki

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
Outside of UMMA, I enjoy reading, knitting, and spending time with friends and family.

Rahma

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
Outside of UMMA I like... to hike and explore new places

Terahnia

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)

Daja

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
What is your most niche personal interest...I am a huge Ancient mythology nerd, specifically Greek/Roman but any ancient mythologies. I love learning mythologies from any culture.

Breea

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
My most niche personal interests (which aren't niche at all) are probably collecting vinyls and anything marvel!

Kendal

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)
Outside of UMMA, I enjoy painting at the park, going to concerts, and spending time with the people I love!

Alexa

Student Shop/Visitor Services Rep
(she/her)

UMMA Leadership Board

The UMMA Leadership Board (ULB) is a volunteer advisory board created and supported by UMMA to provide strategic guidance on issues of advocacy and fundraising for the Museum.

Meet the ULB

Student Advisory Board

The Student Advisory Board (SAB) is dedicated to creating a culturally inclusive community through programmatic efforts, and amplifying student voices to shape the museum.

Meet the SAB