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 2022-2023
Geordie MacMInn
Chair
- AmSAT Chair: July 2022 - present
- AmSAT Chair Elect: July 2021 - July 2022
- AmSAT Training Course Approval Committee Member: August 2020-July 2021
- AmSAT Higher Education & Professional Training Committee Chair, September 2003-June 2010
- Professor of Voice & Alexander Technique, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Drama, 2003 - Present.
- 2013 University of North Carolina Board of Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Alexander Technique Certified from ATI-LA, June 2001
- Designated Linklater Voice Teacher, 2007
- Jessica Wolf’s The Art of Breathing, Certified Teacher 2003
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, expected completion 2022
- Other trainings and modalities of practice: Psychodrama, Psychodramatic Bodywork, The Actor’s Secret with Betsy Polatin, Michael Checkov Acting Technique, Pure Movement, post-graduate training with John Nicholls
- B.A. Theatre Arts, Acting: California State University Fullerton, 1998
Matthew Dubroff
Past Chair
- AmSAT Past Chair: July 2022 - present
- AmSAT Chair: November 2020 - July 2022
- AmSAT Chair Elect: July - November 2020
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: June 2014 - June 2020
- 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
Lisa DeAngelis
Chair Elect
- AmSAT Chair Elect: July 2022 - present
- Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2019 - July 2022
- 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
Renee Schneider
Secretary
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Secretary: July 2021 - present
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2020 - July 2021
- Chair of ACGM 2019 New York: "Our Community's Future: Diversity, Equity and Belonging"
- Occasionally assists with Rose Bronec's training course in Urbana, Illinois
- Alexander Teaching in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
- Member of the Alexander Technique Diversity Coalition 2016-present
- Owner of Coqui Baby Cloth Diaper Company www.coquibaby.com
- Graduated in 2012 from Joan and Alex Murray's course, Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique
- Owner of Baan Aksorn Thai Language School for expats www.baanaksorn.com in Bangkok
- MBA in International Business from Thunderbird University/Arizona State University
- UCLA B.A. British Literature and minor in Asian American Studies
- English teacher in Peace Corps, Kyrgyz Republic
- Fourth-generation Japanese American
- Other modalities of practice: Somatic Experiencing, Somatic Resilience and Regulation, The Experience-Based Brain, Ortho-Bionomy, Reiki, classical Thai massage (Wat Po Massage School)
- Other interests: being a mom, being an entrepreneur, classical guitar, literacy, work in diversity and equity issues
Rachel Bernsen, Member-at-Large
- AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-large, 2021-present / 2009-2011
- National Certification, American Center for the Alexander Technique (ACAT), 2008
- Private practice, White River Junction, VT, 2021 / New Haven, CT 2008-2020
- Jessica Wolf’s Art of Breathing certification, 2022
- Feldenkrais ATM teacher, 2022
- Dancer, choreographer, interdisciplinary artist
- Teacher at universities, conferences, festivals, USA, abroad, 2008-present
- MFA Dance, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, 2001
- BA English, Macalester College, 1997
- See full bio: rachelbernsenat.com , for dance: rachelbernsen.com
Photo credit, Ben DeFLorio
Amanda Blair MacDonald, Member-at-Large
AmSAT Service
- Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: July 2022-present
- Membership Committee, Chair: 2019-present
- Taking Time To Connect, Curator and Host: 2020-present
- Training Standards and Course Requirements Committee, Secretary: 2014-2018
- ACGM Committee, Chicago 2013
- Certificate of Merit recipient: July 2021
- Distinguished Service Award recipient: June 2020
Education and Certifications
- Alexander Technique Teacher Training: Habit & Choice, Balance Arts, The Dimon Institute, Certified 2006
- Post-Graduate work with Beret Arcara, Joan & Alex Murray, Luc Vanier, Alice Olsher, and Mio Morales
- MFA in Dance, The University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
- R-MPA - Registered Movement Pattern Analyst with the Warren Lamb Trust
- Pedagogy and Developmental Movement studies with Anne Green Gilbert
- Certificate in Musical Theater Performance, American Musical and Dramatic Academy-NY
- BA in Theatre, emphasis in Music, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN
Teaching and Admin
- Faculty, DePaul University School of Music: 2019 - present
- Private Practice in Alexander Technique: 2006 - present
- Group Teaching includes: American Academy of Dramatic Art-NY, American Musical and Dramatic Academy-NY, The Ailey School, the 92nd Street Y, The Joffrey Academy, Near North Montessori School, and many other schools as a teaching artist
- Workshops for Teachers includes: Ann Green Gilbert’s Summer Dance Intensive for Teachers, Chicago Lights Dance Academy Professional Development Series, Bay Area Parkinson’s Group Teaching Methods Class, multiple teacher workshops at elementary schools, and workshops for AmSAT, WLT & NDEO conferences
- Management includes: House Manager for Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Director’s Guild of America-NY; Dance Coordinator for The New School Summer Musical Theatre Immersion Experience; Program Manager for Chicago Lights Summer Dance Intensive; and organizer of multiple dance concerts
Other
- AT Congress volunteer: Chicago 2018
- Co-Founder and Treasurer of Chicago Alexander Teachers (CAT)
- TEDx DePaul: How We Move is How We Think: 2019
Emily Faulkner, Member-at-Large
CONTINUING EDUCATION
- Adaptive/Wheelchair Tai Chi, 18 hours, Veterans Administration, spring 2021
- Alexander Technique Science Workshop (alexandertechniquescience.com), 11 hours, Spring and Summer 2020, Spring 2019
EMPLOYMENT
- Brooklyn Harbor Healthcare, Veterans Administration, Pain Management Department, Alexander Technique teacher, (2019-present)
- Movement Research, faculty, world-renowned experimental dance academy; teach Alexander Technique and improvisation. (2010-present)
- Riverside Initiative Alexander Technique (RIAT), Affiliate Faculty Member, New York, NY (2018-present)
- Université Dauphine, Paris, France; guest lecturer/workshop, Alexander Technique and presentation skills, interview skills (2017-present)
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France; guest lecturer/workshop, English speaking debate club, Alexander Technique and debate skills (2017-present)
- Steady Buckets (youth basketball league), movement coach/Alexander teacher (2010-2019)
- Lighthouse Guild for the Blind and Visually impaired, instructor, Dance/Alexander Technique. (February 2018-2020)
- Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT; guest Artist (2010)
- Emily Faulkner Dance, Artistic Director (2010 – 2020)
EDUCATION
- Wesleyan University (1986) - majored in biology and dance, with honors in dance
- American Center for the Alexander Technique (1999) – 3-year AMSAT certified training program
Erin O'Leary, Member at Large
- AmSAT Board, Member-at-Large, July 2021–present
- AmSAT Committee for AT and the Performing Arts (CATPA); 2017-present
- AmSAT certified, ATNYC (J. Nicholls / N. Walsh); 2013
- Private teaching practice in NYC; 2013-present
- Guest Faculty at National Theater Institute, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center; 2019-present
- Adjunct Faculty at The Juilliard School, Drama Division; 2015-present
- Associate Faculty at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts; 2015-present
- Guest Faculty at University of TN, Dept of Theater and School of Music; 2013-2015
- MFA Acting- The University of Tennessee, Clarence Brown Theater, Knoxville, TN
- BFA Acting- DePaul University, Theater School, Chicago, IL
Ruth Rootberg, Member at Large
- AmSAT Board, Member-at-Large, July 2021–present
- AmSAT Membership Committee, 2000–present
- AmSAT Chair of Professional Conduct Committee, 2013–2018
- AmSAT News, AmSAT Journal, Advisor, Editor (Associate and Interim), Production Manager, Proofreader, staff writer, 2004–2018 (not all at once!)
- AmSAT Distinguished Service Award: 2017
- AmSAT Certificate of Merit: 2014, 2011
- AmSAT Policy and Procedures Project, 2010–11, 2016
- AmSAT Credentials Review Committee, 2006–2007
- AmSAT Marketing Committee: Archivist, 2003–2009
- AmSAT Raising More Money Team, 2003–2004
- AmSAT Florence Office Volunteer, 2000–2003
- Author: “Handing the Experience to the Pupil” and other articles, AmSAT News/AmSAT Journal
- Author: Living the Alexander Technique, Volumes I and II (2015; 2018)
- Alexander Technique School of New England, Amherst, MA: Certified 2003
- Laban Movement Analysis, certified 2000
- Group Leadership Training, 1997–98
- Associate Professor, Yale School of Drama, 1995–2000
- Adjunct Faculty, Theatre School of DePaul, 1993–1995
- Adjunct Faculty, Northern Illinois University, 1992–1993
- Linklater Voice Training, designation 1993
- M.A. and M.E.d. in Interdisciplinary Arts in Education, Columbia College, 1918, 1983
- Professional singer, puppeteer, clown
- Zurich International Opera Center, student and professional opera singer in Switzerland, 1974-1976
- M.M. voice, New England Conservatory of Music, 1974
- B.M. voice, New England Conservatory of Music, 1972
- B.A. Tufts University, Magna Cum Laude, psychology and music, 1971 (AT with Frank Pierce Jones)
- Interests: writing, reading, theatre, film, family, Sudoku
(photo photo credit: (c) Clive J. Mealey)
Eleanor Taylor, Member at Large
- AmSAT Board Member-at-Large: 2021
- AmSAT Committee for the Alexander Technique in the Performing Arts (CATPA): 2018-present
- AmSAT Marketing Committee: Head of Strategic Brand Initiative Team 2020-present
- AmSAT Slogan Committee: 2019-2020 (committee retired upon completion of charge)
- Faculty at Riverside Initiative for the Alexander Technique (RIAT) AmSAT Teacher-Training Course, 2017-present
- Alexander Technique Faculty at Manhattan School of Music, American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Respiro Opera
- Completed Teacher Training at ATNYC with John Nicholls and Nanette Walsh, 2014
- Post-graduate training in Jessica Wolf’s Art of Breathing and Betsy Polatin’s The Actor’s Secret methods
- B.M. Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory (1993) and M.M. Vocal Performance from University of Minnesota (Graduate Fellowship Recipient, 2000)
