Debrah Baxter, M.Ed.ChairDebrah is Chair of the Board of Directors for START. As an educator at the college and university level for over 20 years, she truly enjoys working with the teen population and helping students achieve their goals, both personally and professionally.
Debrah has lived abroad in Japan, Brazil, and Italy and has traveled extensively. Debrah was an exchange student during college, studying art history and opera in Europe, which was where she developed her love of art. While residing in Florence, Italy as an adult, she worked with the Catholic church to set up docent programs at various landmarks around the city. Debrah and her son, Spencer, moved to central PA in 2019 from Virginia Beach, VA, where she was an instructor at Old Dominion University and Wave Leadership College. She currently is an instructor of English and Communication at Susquehanna University. |
Mike Bennett
Special Initiatives Chair
Mike Bennett is a professional artist who has worked for Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, TikTok, Chrome Industries, Rogue Brewing, Will.I.Am, and Kenny Chesney, to name a few. He now resides in Portland, OR, having moved from Selinsgrove, PA in 2016. He studied Art Education, Computer Design, Illustration and Animation at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and proceeded to chase his dream of illustration and character design immediately after his graduation in 2012. Mike has spread over 2000 original pieces of art around Portland, Oregon and has raised over $50,000 for local charities, as well. His work in Portland has earned him awards and recognition. Mike’s won in the Best Visual Artist category for the annual @willametteweek Best of Portland 2020 Issue.
Follow along with his 1.5 million+ Social Media Followers on Instagram and TikTok:
https://www.instagram.com/mikebennettart/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mikebennettart
His professional website is https://www.atozoopdx.com/
Additional Articles and Videos
https://pdxparent.com/keep-portland-full-of-art-mike-bennett/
https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/11-features/430764-338715-mike-bennett-turns-portland-into-land-of-cartoon-giants?wallit_nosession=1
https://www.kptv.com/portland-artist-and-social-media-star-mike-bennett-finds-a-home-for-his-a-to/video_1c743fd7-69ef-53b7-9256-f0777f11423f.html
www.oregonlive.com/teamoregon/2020/04/drive-by-zoo-pops-up-in-portlands-alberta-neighborhood.html
Follow along with his 1.5 million+ Social Media Followers on Instagram and TikTok:
https://www.instagram.com/mikebennettart/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mikebennettart
His professional website is https://www.atozoopdx.com/
Additional Articles and Videos
https://pdxparent.com/keep-portland-full-of-art-mike-bennett/
https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/11-features/430764-338715-mike-bennett-turns-portland-into-land-of-cartoon-giants?wallit_nosession=1
https://www.kptv.com/portland-artist-and-social-media-star-mike-bennett-finds-a-home-for-his-a-to/video_1c743fd7-69ef-53b7-9256-f0777f11423f.html
www.oregonlive.com/teamoregon/2020/04/drive-by-zoo-pops-up-in-portlands-alberta-neighborhood.html
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Denise MoyChamber LiaisonDenise Moy moved to Selinsgrove in 1987 to become an Associate Director of
Admissions at Susquehanna University. Always interested in the arts, Denise began volunteering in art-related activities soon after her retirement. She worked with Peppers: The Artisans' Collective, The Post & Lintel Gallery, and Snyder County Arts Council (for which she served as president) to promote area artists and crafters and to encourage young people to be creative. Projects to bring the community together through the arts include five-day arts camps for younger kids, sidewalk and Commons craft shows, placing art in Selinsgrove businesses during July, decorated scarecrow and chair contests, Halloween costume contests, and holiday arts showcases. Denise is a member of Selinsgrove Area Chamber of Commerce's marketing team and looks forward to including START in Chamber efforts to revitalize, beautify, and enrich our area. |
Quinn StanfordArtistic AssistantQuinn has been involved with art in this area from the time he was young. He's an active member of the Grand, Travelers, and Scrim Youth Theater, performing in a production of Alice in Wonderland during their Summer 2021 season, and has presented his artwork of famous, inspiration women at Sunbury Arts Council shows. A kid of many talents, Quinn is also quite the chef!
Prior to being on START's board, Quinn assisted in START's Holiday Window Painting Project in November and volunteered hours of his time to help the artists complete the second of the Selinsgrove Pool Bath House murals. Quinn is a freshman this year and looks forward to becoming a member of the National Art Honor Society at Selinsgrove Area High School. |
Rebecca Willoughby, Ph.D.Advisory Board ChairDr. Willoughby is currently the Executive Director for Student Success and First Year Experience at Bloomsburg University but has worked as a professor, administrator, program coordinator, adviser, and student advocate in Higher Education for nearly two decades. She writes frequently about film, Shakespeare, and education.
In addition to her many other skills, Dr. Willoughby is an exceptionally talented singer and can often be seen performing with her husband, Jeff at local venues. Rebecca is incredibly well-connected and has been able to connect local talented artists to work as mentors to our student interns. |
Ciera ZacekCommunity Liaison / Special Projects LeadCiera Zacek is a 2019 Selinsgrove graduate who participated vigorously in National Art Honors Society as well as had many projects featured in local art shows.
As an individual who deals with a variety of mental health issues, she draws inspiration from her struggles and uses it in her artwork to reach out to others. Ciera is now a third year art studio student at Bloomsburg University concentrating in print making and graphic design with a minor in marketing. She is spending her summer doing commission artwork and growing her small print making business. Ciera plans to complete internships in major cities to spread awareness about social justice through artwork. She hopes to graduate college and go on to teach art to young children and to establish her own studio gallery. Check out her business instagram page @artgirlshit.co |
John Zerbe
Community Liaison
John is a professional muralist whose work can be seen around the streets of Philadelphia. Originally from Selinsgrove, he is incredibly active in the Philadelphia community, working with three different non-profits: Impact Services, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and We CAN.
Impact Services mobilizes people and resources to create thriving communities by helping with re-entry, improving pathways for career development, increasing affordable housing, and investing in community development. Through their comprehensive approach to community and economic development, they serve over 17,000 Philadelphians each year. Mural Arts Philadelphia unites artists & communities through a collaborative process, using the tradition of mural-making, to create art that transforms. We CAN (Change & Action Now) is three local nonprofits—HACE, Impact Services, and NKCDC—coming together to support residents, community organizations and the police in the Kensington and Fairhill neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
John’s murals and artwork can be seen on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jczerbe
Additional article:
https://kensingtonvoice.com/en/mural-artist-john-zerbe-paying-tribute-to-veterans/?fbclid=IwAR0OlzJv9eiWEisSqnFncoKfFHzXmwhW4Q6-B25pdWmZpETNiznpEeQjK0E
Impact Services mobilizes people and resources to create thriving communities by helping with re-entry, improving pathways for career development, increasing affordable housing, and investing in community development. Through their comprehensive approach to community and economic development, they serve over 17,000 Philadelphians each year. Mural Arts Philadelphia unites artists & communities through a collaborative process, using the tradition of mural-making, to create art that transforms. We CAN (Change & Action Now) is three local nonprofits—HACE, Impact Services, and NKCDC—coming together to support residents, community organizations and the police in the Kensington and Fairhill neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
John’s murals and artwork can be seen on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jczerbe
Additional article:
https://kensingtonvoice.com/en/mural-artist-john-zerbe-paying-tribute-to-veterans/?fbclid=IwAR0OlzJv9eiWEisSqnFncoKfFHzXmwhW4Q6-B25pdWmZpETNiznpEeQjK0E
Past Board Members
(Thank you for your help, talent, and service!)
Chris Kalcich (2020-21)
Isabel Proger (2020-21)
Isabel Proger (2020-21)