Board of Trustees

• 

  Nichole Gantshar (She/Her)

  Co-President

  Nichole Gantshar is a former dramaturg turned arts administrator. She’s provided interim leadership for PlayMakers Repertory Company, Louisville Ballet, Theatre Bay Area, and Marin Theatre Company.  She spent five years as Executive Director of Rochester City Ballet. She also has worked for Tulsa Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Prior to her administrative career, she worked for Syracuse Stage, Hangar Theatre, and others. Nichole received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and MFA from the University at Stony Brook. An active Rotarian, has served as the treasurer of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), was Chair of the National Student Education Fund, and treasurer of the Syracuse Chapter of Girls Inc. Among her awards, she was twice nominated as an Outstanding Young Woman of America and received a LMDA residency grant to serve as the production dramaturg for the Atlanta Ballet’s production of The Great Gatsby.

• 

  Liebe Meier Swain (She/They)

  Co-President

  Liebe Meier Swain a health care leader, got her leadership start directing productions as an undergraduate student. In all things, Liebe emphasizes collaborations, evidence-base solutions, and skillful attention to an organization’s customers and it’s at-large community. An Ithaca resident for over twenty years, Liebe has served on several Ithaca boards in both civic and philanthropic capacities. Liebe believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is the soul of every community and that every story is a story worth telling.

• 

  Bernadette Parr (She/Her)

  Vice President & COT Chair

  Bernadette Soto Parr has worked in Admissions and Student Development at Cornell University for more than 20 years. Inspired by her daughter’s participation in the Hangar’s Next Generation School of Theatre programming and performances in Hangar Theatre productions, as well as the energy of the theatre, Bernadette is honored to be a part of the Hangar Theatre’s Board of Trustees. She has served on the Board since the start of 2020 and appreciates the Hangar Theatre family’s thoughtful, collaborative, and creative efforts to fulfill their mission to enrich, entertain, and enlighten.

• Mikhail O'Laughlin (He/Him)

  Treasurer
• 

  Davina Desnoes (She/Her)

  Davina Desnoes has over 25 years working in budget, planning and analysis, forecasting and strategic planning. She currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Budget and Planning Cornell University. Davina was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and has lived in Ithaca for the past 10 years with her husband Garth, and 3 almost adult children Darius, Sirus and Kayla. Davina was first introduced to theater by her son Sirus through his participation in school shows and NextGen, followed by professional theater performances. She enjoys reading, volunteering, playing games and attending shows at the Hangar Theater.

• Katherine Gould (She/Her)

• Dana Mueller (He/Him)

• 

  Mike Alessio

  Mike joins the Hangar Board as a new member coming to us from the other end of Cayuga Lake in Seneca Falls. As a 30-year Leader at BonaDent Dental Labs, Mike looks to contribute with creative perspectives and collaboration – coupled with a highly-motivated style. Team Building, Community Reach Out and Financial Direction are areas that he will be assisting in. He is a passionate advocate in keeping the arts alive with a goal of fostering a vibrant, cultural community.  Mike also serves on the Seneca County Community Services Board which oversees the County Mental Health Department. In addition, he founded “The Alessio Project” – an initiative to support youth in developing life skills & positive practices.

• Liddy Allee

• 

  Scott Pesner (He/Him)

  Scott Pesner is thrilled to be part of the Hangar Theater board, having seen his first-ever Hangar performance when he attended Cornell’s high school summer program and saw “Loose Ends” with a Cornell grad student named Jimmy Smits. A long-time theater lover (his first Broadway show: the original run of “Fiddler on the Roof,” though later in the run), Scott currently serves as the Director of Engagement for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell. Prior to his career in engaging alumni, Scott spent most of his career in marketing and promotions, mostly in the cable television industry. A graduate of Cornell, he is also a huge Cornell hockey fan (both men’s and women’s!), and currently serves as president of the Cornell Hockey Association.

Emeritus

• • Kristen Burt

  • John Alexander

  • Julia Bonney

  • Dr. Jessica Casey

  • Andrea Fleck Clardy

  • Ann Costello

  • Roy Dexheimer

  • John Elliott

  • Mary Kane

  • Susan Kaplan

  • Linda Trees Mack

  • Tom Niederkorn (Deceased)

  • Kathryn (Katy) Pearce

  • Paula Peter

  • Ray Schlather

  • Shelley Semmler

  • Margaret Shackell

  • Laurel Southard

  • Jamie Wells

  • Joel Zumoff