Staff Spotlights
Staff Spotlights is an opportunity for you to get to know more about our outstanding staff members.
Scroll through this page to learn more about our dedicated staff that are having fun with your campers this summer. Also be on the lookout for a teaching artist spotlight coming soon!
CASSANDRA RICHARDS - ARTS CAMP DIRECTOR / ASSOCIATE YOUTH ARTS DIRECTOR
Cassandra received a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with a Minor in Costume Design and a Minor in Anatomy and Kinesiology from California Institute for the Arts. Succeeding her graduation from CalArts, Cassandra joined Donna Sternberg and Dancers in Santa Monica, California where she performed wide variety of work over five seasons. She also performed with Omambo Dance Project where she became a World Salsa Champion in 2014. In cooperation with her performance career, Cassandra has been serving as an arts educator for the past Twelve years specializing in Dance and Musical Theatre. She has taught at many programs including Interlochen Center for the Arts, Governor’s School for the Arts of Kentucky, Plaza De La Raza Community Arts Program, Hills Academy of Music, Dance, and Art, Arts Alive After School Program, Dancing with RKDC Community Program, California State University Northridge, El Camino Community College, Fancy Feet Dance Studio, April’s Dance-N-Feet, and Drama Zone After School Program. Cassandra has produced and choreographed many student performances and directed college salsa teams who went on to win championships. She is very excited to continue her role as an educator and administrator as the Arts Camp Director & Associate Youth Arts Director at the West Side YMCA.
MEGHAN MURPHY - HEAD COUNSELOR
Meghan graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in Theater Production and Design with her focus in Stage Management. She had worked on many productions over the years in Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre. She has just returned to New York from San Antonio, Texas where she worked as a stage manager for SeaWorld. While there, Meghan worked primarily with the characters from Sesame Street. She is very happy to be in Arts Camp here at the West Side YMCA!
You can also find Meghan stage managing our Teen Theater Collective program during the year.
OLIVIA MICHEL - COUNSELOR
Olivia is a college sophomore at McDaniel. This is her first summer as a counselor with the YMCA arts camp. She chose arts camp because she used to be a camper at the YMCA Day Camp, Arts Camp and Teen Camp and Arts Camp was her favorite. She is most looking forward to learning some art history this summer. Her favorite form of art is theatre, which Olivia has done since she was seven years old.
ELIJAH BANKS - COUNSELOR
Elijah lives in New York City and this is his first time working at the YMCA. He majored in journalism at Hampton University in Virginia. A really fun fact about Elijah is that he loves taking pictures.
MITCH WARD - COUNSELOR
Mitch lives in Brooklyn and has worked for the YMCA Arts Camp for several weeks. He went to Ithaca College and received a Bachelor's degree in television & radio. He lived in Los Angeles for almost a year before moving to New York City.
HOLLY BROWNING - COUNSELOR
Holly is spending her second summer working for the YMCA Arts Camp. She lives in Queens, and is a visual arts student at Hunter College. Her main focus is painting, but she also has past experience in music and yoga. She is working towards getting a degree in arts education
ALEXIS THOMPSON - COUNSELOR
Alexis is from the Bronx, currently a senior at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and is studying child psychology. She has always enjoyed working with youth and is studying to become a clinical psychologist for children. Art is an area of talent in which many overlook, however it is quite important in crafting a well rounded individual. She was in her high school choir freshman through senior year and is now a member of her university's Women's Ensemble choral group. This is her first year working at Arts Camp and she is ecstatic to see what's in store for the summer!
MADELEINE PARDY - COUNSELOR
Maddy was born and raised in New York City and this her first summer working for the Y! She just graduated from college where she studied Sociology and Gender Studies. Madeleine has a background in theater and is super excited to be working at Arts Camp!
TOME HAREL - COUNSELOR
Tome was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, and moved to New York in 2010. This is her first summer with the YMCA Arts Camp and she is super excited about it! Tome majored in Art History and Asian Studies at City College and absolutely loves to spend her free time visiting museums and galleries. A fun fact about her is that she still loves to print photos that she takes. Something about the physical form of a picture is more meaningful to her.