Arts Administrator Forums- Arts Education Round Table

Born and educated in India, Puneeta Mittal received a master’s degree in Hindi Literature in New Delhi, and launched her teaching career at Valley school, Krishnamurti Foundation boarding school, in Bangalore.
After moving to the United States in 1994, Puneeta discovered her passion for clay and focused on exploring clay forms and surfaces with Betty Busby of “The Clayroom” studio at Oyster Bay, NY. In 2006 she graduated with an MA in Studio art from Adelphi University, followed by an MFA from Long Island University in 2008. 
Puneeta started working as Adjunct Faculty at Adelphi University in 2005. She lives on Long Island where she continues to instruct as an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Suffolk County Community College & Long Island University.
With a strong belief that everything that is born, grows and withers away to be yet born again – incessant change from one to other proceeds in an evolutionary cycle – clay has proved to be an ideal medium for her expressions. Her love for color and textures in nature – internal and external, has proved to be an unlimited resource for the work she creates in her studio.
Puneeta continues to create works of art in her home studio on Long Island. Her work is featured in New York Times, Newsday, and other publications. Puneeta has sold art work at various galleries in New York, Texas, Turkey and Austria. Her work is in permanent collections of private homes and Public institutions throughout the world.

Joanne Spencer is the Program Coordinator of the Nassau BOCES Arts in Education Program which provides resources for schools to integrate the arts throughout all of the NYS Standards areas. Included are exhibits, performances, workshops, residencies and professional development at all levels, PreK-12, in music, dance, theater, writing and the visual and media arts. She is privileged to work with hundreds of local, regional and national artists and arts organizations to provide arts and enrichment programming in Nassau County schools. Previously, Ms. Spencer was the Long Island Philharmonic Director of Education. She created interdisciplinary orchestra education programs for Long Island school children. Earlier, Ms. Spencer was Executive Director of Gemini Youth Orchestras comprised of five performing groups of musicians aged 8-18.  During her tenure, Gemini made debut performances at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center.  Ms. Spencer holds several New York State school certifications including N-6, social studies 7-12, library media, and school and district administration. She has been both a music teacher and classroom teacher in Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, New York and Germany. Ms. Spencer is a founder and president of Orchestra Long Island, which carries on the programs of the former Long Island Philharmonic.

Stephanie Turner has an extensive background as a performer, director, educator and arts administrator. She currently serves as Director of Education and Outreach at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the Post campus of Long Island University. Tilles Center’s education programs include school partnerships, residencies, master classes, art exhibits, and a newly launched initiative for individuals on the autism spectrum.
Previously, Ms. Turner served as the Education and Apprentice Program Director for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Director of Entertainment for Jekyll and Hyde Entertainment Group and has taught, directed and performed for numerous companies throughout the U.S. 
Stephanie completed her undergraduate degree in theatre at Radford University in Virginia and attended graduate studies at Middlesex Polytechnic University in London. She is a member of Actor’s Equity Association, past member of the Arts Education Steering Committee for the Long Island Arts Alliance and is on the Board of Directors for Stage the Change, The Arts as a Social Voice, a not-for-profit which encourages high school students to create works of art around social justice issues.

Liz Fusco, Education Manager & Artist in Residence at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and Education, received a BFA in Art Education and my MA in Art, both from Long Island University and is currently an artist and certified art teacher. Liz has spent the last few years substitute teaching at different school districts and teaching art in various outreach programs across Long Island, while at the same time creating and exhibiting her artwork.