Staff & Board
Staff
Evan Mendelson, Interim Executive Director
Evan has over 45 years of experience working in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, including consulting and executive roles for local and national organizations. She came to Sonoran Glass School — first as a board member and then as Interim Executive Director — because of her love of the arts and her vision for the importance of glass art as an essential part of the Southern Arizona arts and culture ecosystem.
Paul Anders-Stout, Assistant Director
Paul started working in glass in 1999 at Philabaum Glass Studio. Paul’s fascination with glass was immediate and intense. While working for Philabaum, Paul earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in sculpture from the University of Arizona, graduating in 2004. Paul did extensive traveling working in studios from Wisconsin to Australia. Paul ran his own studio for five years and was the Hot Shop Director of the Sonoran Glass School from 2014-2024. His work can be found in private collections from Berlin to New York and Tucson to Seattle.
Marica Whittemore, Director of Education and Outreach
Marica is an experienced community art educator with a background in accessible programming. She received her Masters in Art Education from the University of Arizona in 2019 and has led education programs at numerous museums and art organizations, including the Creative Aging and Youth Education programs at SGS since 2021. She has worked with community groups such as the JCC, Watermark Retirement Communities, AZ School for the Deaf and the Blind, and countless K-12 schools. She previously was an adjunct faulty at the UA and has presented her research at national conferences.
Jason Marstall, Hot Shop Manager
Jason began blowing glass in 2003 through a cooperative program between SGS and the University of Arizona. Today, he continues to build his repertoire of advanced skills in all glass disciplines. Awards and distinctions include the Arizona Designer Craftsman Award for Art in Craft Media (2006); assistant to Laura Donefer and Jeff Mack for the Corning Museum of Glass Artist in Residency Program; and 3rd Place in the 2013 Tucson Glass Festival. Jason’s perpetually evolving style is apparent in his diverse array of work, from studies in blown forms and figurative sculpture to fine Venetian goblets and large carved vessels.
Lori Cummings, Administrative / Marketing Assistant
Lori is the new Administrative/Marketing Assistant and will be in charge of social media for the school. Her glass journey started in college with a stained glass course that quickly snowballed into trying fusing, torchworking, and furnace glassblowing- the last becoming her main passion and focus. She began teaching glassblowing in 2021 and found a love of sharing glass with others. This is her first summer in Arizona and she believes all the years standing next to the 2100 degree furnace helped her prepare.
Erika Parkin, Hot Shop Instructor
Erika Parkin is a Tucson based artist, originally from Ottawa, Canada. With a background in silversmithing, Parkin initially became interested in glass through bead making. She received a formal education in glass from the Sheridan College of Craft and Design, then moved to Arizona to begin her professional career. She was a member of the Philabaum glass team from 2007 – 2018, and still assists Philabaum with his painted and fused work. Clearly inspired by the wonder that is nature, she continues to create unique and sought after work, exploring natural surface, and varied landscapes.
Kayla Kelly, Facilities Assistant and Instructor
Co-Founders
Dave Klein, Co-Founder
Dave is a glass artist who developed many of the original SGS programs and studios. He received a BA in Education in 1991 and has worked internationally in glass. He continues to work with SGS striving to further enhance educational programs and applications for glass in art, science, and technology.
Tom Philabaum, Co-Founder
In 1973, Tom received an MA from University of Wisconsin where he studied glass with Harvey Littleton. Once he moved to Tucson, Tom started a glass studio in 1975, earned his MFA from UA in 1983, and helped orchestrate the first Glass Art Society (GAS) conference in Tucson that same year. He was co-chair for the 1997 Tucson GAS conference and received the AZ Artist of the Year award in 1998. In 2000, Tom and Dave Klein co-founded the Sonoran Art Foundation (now SGS). He has served on the Board of GAS, American Craft Council, Tucson Visiting Artists Consortium, and SGS.
Board of Directors
- Marcia Lerner, President
- Katja Fritzsche, Treasurer
- Alison Harvey
- Alex Heveri
- Mark Leputa
- Peter Morse
- Ethan Myerson
- Tracy Taft
Advisors to the Board
- Fritz Dreisbach
- Tom Philabaum, Co-Founder