About AmSAT
The Board
The AmSAT Mission
To establish the Alexander Technique as a basic and recognized resource for health, productivity, and well-being.
AmSAT Board of Directors 2019-2020
Cheryl Pleskow
Chair
- AmSAT Chair Elect: July 2018 - June 2019
- AmSAT Nominating Committee, Member: 2011 - 2013
- Member, Search Committee for Management Association Services: 2010
- AmSAT Human Resources Committee (retired committee), Chair: 2003 - 2007
- AmSAT Distinguished Service Award: 2003
- AmSAT Past Chair: 2001 - 2003; Chair: 2000- 2001; Chair-Elect: 1999-2000
- NASTAT/AmSAT AGM Committee, Site Coordinator at Amherst College: 1999
- NASTAT Committee to Develop Ethical Procedures (currently Professional Conduct Committee), Member: 1995
- Wrote “Standards of Professional Conduct for Board Members”, NASTAT News, Spring 1995
- Alexander Technique School of New England, Amherst, MA: Certified 1994
- Alexander Institute of Boston, Cambridge, MA: 1989 - 1990
- Teaching practices: currently Buffalo, NY; previously Northampton and Stockbridge, MA
- Ed, Educational Media and Instructional Design, Boston University: 1986
- A, Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota: 1974
- Dance Education and Performance, University of Wisconsin: 1969 - 1972
- Interests: writing, reading, movement/theatre improvisation, jazz, live performance, Jewish studies and community building
Lisa Levinson
Chair Elect
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Chair: July 2018 - June 2019
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Chair Elect: July 2017 - July 2018
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Treasurer: June 2016 - July 2018
- AmSAT Government Relations Committee Chair: April 2011 - June 2015
- AmSAT Certified, ATAA 2009
- On Faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, School of Drama, School of Music
- Private teaching practice in Pittsburgh, PA
- Violinist in Edgewood Symphony Orchestra
- Other interests: Music, hiking, cycling, cooking
- MBA degree from the University of Pittsburgh
Holly Rocke
Secretary
- AmSAT Board of Directors Secretary: June 2017 - present
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large serving on/appointed to the EC: January - June 2017
- AmSAT Certified, Alexander Technique Urbana, Urbana, IL: 2006
- Professor of Theatre, Eureka College: 2002-Present
- MFA, Acting - Illinois State University, Normal, IL 2002
- BS, Theatre and Mathematics - Eureka College, Eureka, IL 1999
Rick Carbaugh
Treasurer
- AmSAT Borad of Directors Treasurer: July 2018 - present
- AmSAT Board of Directors Past Chair: June 2018 - July 2018
- AmSAT Board of Directors Chair: June 2014 - June 2017
- AmSAT Board of Directors Chair-Elect: February 2014 - June 2014
- AmSAT Member-at-Large: June 2013 - February 2014
- Director, Alexander Technique Urbana, Urbana, IL
- AmSAT Certified, Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique, 1994
- 30+ years business experience in Restaurant Management
- BA English, Psychology minor - Grinnell College, Grinnell IA
Lisa DeAngelis, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2019 - present
- AmSAT Chair, Management Review Committee: 2015 - present
- Organizer/Assistant to the Directors of the 9th International AT Congress, Limerick, Ireland, 2015
- Organizer/Assistant, Presence in Performance Workshop, Pomona College, Pasadena, CA, 2015
- Faculty Member, Alexander Technique with Elm City ChamberFest in New Haven, CT, 2015-2017
- Organizer/Teacher, Alexander Technique Workshops International in Malibu, CA and Winston-Salem, NC 2013-2015
- Organizational Coordinator for Rachel Zahn's "Experiencing the Embodied Mind" Project in Gargonza, Italy, 2013
- AmSAT Chair, ACGM and ACGM Planning Committee, Chicago, 2013
- AmSAT Certified Alexander Technique Training with Joan and Alex Murray at Alexander Technique Center Urbana (ATCU) 2009
- Private teaching practice in Chicago since 2010
- Co-founder, Chicago Alexander Teachers (CAT)
- President, Lyric Opera of Chicago's Young Professionals Board, 2017-present
- BME in Music Education (Voice) from University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
Matthew Dubroff, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: June 2014 - present
- ACGM Coordinator, 2005
- Alexander Technique Certified from ATTC-VA, 2002
- Founding Member and performer, Theatre Nohgaku, 2000 - present
- Teacher of Wu Style Tai Ji, 1999 - present
- Professor of Theatre, Hampden-Sydney College, 1999 - present
- Monbusho Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies, Japan, 1997 - 1999
- M.F.A., Asian Theatre Performance, The University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 1997
- B.A. Theatre, Williams College, 1990
Jay Foote, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2018 - present
- AMSAT Member, Research Committee: since 2017
- AMSAT Certified Alexander Technique Teacher Training at Balance Arts Center (BAC) 2013
- Teaching Assistant on BAC Teacher Training Course since 2015
- Private teaching practice in Manhattan and Brooklyn since 2013
- Presenter for Freedom to Make Music Conference in New York City, 2018
- Record Producer and Freelance Bassist in NYC
- Bassist on Broadway's 'Hamilton', 'Dear Evan Hansen', 'Waitress' and 'The Band's Visit'
- Member of the Local 802 American Federation of Musicians
- Voting Member of The Recording Academy
- Member of the Jim Keltner Fan Club
- B.A in Music from University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa
- M.M. in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey
Westley Howard, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2019 - present
- Alexander Teaching Practices in Urbana, Bloomington and Peoria, IL
- Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique, 1991-94, AmSAT Certified 1994
- Phildelphia School of the Alexander Technique, 1989-90
- Freelance Rock and Jazz Guitarist and Instructor, 1989-present
- Adjunct Professor of Guitar, Parkland College, 2001-2014
- Masters of Music, Music Theory, University of Michigan, 1989
- Bachelors of Music, Classical Guitar and Music Theory, University of North Texas, 1987
- Other interests: Ballroom and Salsa dancing, building and repairing tube amplifiers
Xochi John, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2018 - present
- RYT-200 Yoga teacher, Alignment Yoga, 2017
- AmSAT certified, Alexander Technique Urbana, 2014
- Private Alexander Technique and Yoga teaching practice, Madison, WI
- BM in Cello Performance, Oberlin Conservatory, 2011
Claire Rechnitzer, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2019 – present
- AmSAT News/Journal Team Member 2010 – 2012
- AmSAT Certified, ATOC 2008
- Private Teaching Practice in Cincinnati OH
- Goldsmith, Gemologist, Content Provider for Jewelry Industry
- Other Interests: Sightseeing, Hiking, Gardening, Reading
Sarah Silva, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2018 - present
- Member, Research Committee: 2017 - present
- Faculty - Chapman University Conservatory of Music: 2017 - present
- Faculty - Sage Hill School, Music, Theater, Dance, and Art Departments: 2016 - 2017
- UCLA FitWell, Alexander Technique Coordinator and Instructor: 2016 - present
- Private Practice in Long Beach
- Community Involvement: AT Coordinator, SAG-AFTRA Health Fair: 2017; Health Fair, Central Los Angeles: 2016; AT Coordinator, Better Angels Healing Arts Festival: 2015 - present
- AmSAT Certified, ATI-LA, 2015
- MM in Vocal Performance, Colorado State University: 2011
- BM in Vocal Performance, Chapman University Conservatory of Music: 2009
Mara Sokolsky, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2018 - present
- Member, Nominating Committee 2016 - present
- Chair, Nominating Committee 2007 -2009
- ACGM Planning Committee - Bristol, RI 2008
- AmSAT Certified since its inception in 1987
- STAT Certified, School of Alexander Studies, London, 1980
- BA in Choreographic Drama, University of Wisconsin 1975
