Contact Us About SAIL
We want to hear from you!
If you're interested in joining the club, want to know about a project, wish to talk to us about a plan, or needing help with an event then let us know! We're here to grow and enrich the community and hearing your voice is the start!
Rachel Loeffler, [email protected]
Originally from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Rachel began her student career at UTC in the Fall of 2015. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education at UTC, and plans to get certified in TN to teach visual art to grades K-12. She has worked in multiple medias, and most enjoys working in painting, drawing , and graphic design. As a future art educator and arts advocate, she is passionate about the integration of art in education, community, and family engagement. Rachel is a Kim Alan Wheetley Interdisciplinary Scholar (2017-2019), a Mario and Grace Charles Education Scholar (2018-19), and a James Gamble Memorial Award winner (2018- 19). She began working as a student assistant at SCEA in July 2017, and plans to graduate from UTC in May 2019.
Laurie Melnik, SAIL Adviser/Executive Director of SCEA, [email protected]
Laurie Melnik is the Executive Director for Arts-Based Collaborative at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she also oversees theatre education programming for the center. AtArts-Based Collaborative, Laurie cultivates multi-organizational collaborations around strengthening arts teaching and learning across diverse populations and interdisciplinary contexts. Culturally responsive pedagogy and asset-based community development maintain a strong presence in Laurie’s work as she works across sectors to help communities realize and maximize their creative potential when solving critical problems. She is a member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education where she served as a Professional Development Co-Chair and was recently elected to their Board of Directors. She has an M.F.A in Theatre with a concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Central Florida, an M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and is a 2013 Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute alum.