2018 EAL MENTORS & MENTEES
Annelize Machado (EAL mentee)
is a dance-artist creating solo and group works. Her dance draws on training in Bharata Natyam (Classical South Indian Dance), Kalaripayat (Indian martial art form) and other forms of western contemporary dance.
Kristin Gossett (EAL mentor)
is a social entrepreneur dedicated to improving lives through education. She has served as a strategic advisor to philanthropists, private foundations, education organizations and corporate leaders in the Central Texas region for more than 15 years including Ballet Austin, KMFA, Classical 89.5 and KUT Austin. Currently she serves as President of Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Texas.
Lauren Macknight (EAL mentee)
Chris Cowden (EAL mentor)
is the director of communications at the Department of Art and Art History at UT Austin and is a practicing visual artist.
is the executive director of Women & Their Work, a visual and performing arts organization located in Central Austin that serves as a catalyst for contemporary art created by women living and working in Texas and beyond.
Ian Tuski (EAL mentee)
serves as the development associate at Austin Classical Guitar. Previously, he developed guitar education programs for Title I Public School students in New Haven, CT. He is passionate about creating systems of arts access and participation that allow diverse communities to participate in the world of classical music.
David Hammond
is the director of development at KMFA 89.5, Austin’s independent classical station. He joined the KMFA staff in 2013 after a decade of experience with Conspirare, Austin Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.
Lauren Macknight (EAL mentee)
is the Education Program Manager at Austin Theatre Alliance, providing access to the performing arts to 22,000 Central Texas kids this year. She is the curator of Mortified Austin, a storytelling show based on awkward and hilarious teenage artifacts.
Jenny Lavery (EAL mentor)
is the Producing Artistic Director of Theatre en Bloc and Programming Director at the Austin Creative Alliance, in addition to spearheading a new theatrical series geared towards babies called World of Wee! and being the Curriculum Director and Resident Teaching Artist at the Austin Jewish Repertory Theatre.
Rachel Dennis (EAL mentee)
Xochi Solis (EAL mentor)
is an Austin, TX based artist sharing her studio time between Texas and Mexico. Her works include multilayered, collaged paintings constructed of paint, hand-dyed paper, vinyl, plastics, and images from found books and magazines. Solis considers the repeated act of layering a meditation on color, texture, and shape all leading to a greater awareness of the visual intricacies found in her immediate environment, both natural and cultural.