The Board

The AmSAT Mission

To establish the Alexander Technique as a basic and recognized resource for health, productivity, and well-being.

Find out more about the members of our Board of Directors by clicking on their names and visiting their teacher profile page.

Kathryn Miranda, Chair

• AmSAT Chair, Nov 2011- June 2013
• AmSAT Chair Elect, September 2011- June 2012
• Director, ATS (Alexander Technique Syracuse) Teacher Training Course, 2009-present
• Member and then Chair, AmSAT Training Approval Committee, 2009-2011
• Member, AmSAT News Team, 2005-2009
• Faculty, ACAT (American Center for the Alexander Technique), 1996-2004
• Adjunct Faculty, Syracuse University, 2006-present, Mannes School of Music and The New School, NYC, 1992-2004
• Executive Director, ACAT, 1990-1997
• AmSAT Certified teacher, ACAT, 1990
• BA in Psychology with a minor in Movement Education, University of North Carolina, 1980
• Editor, "Dare To Be Wrong, The Teaching of Judith Leibowitz" (2007)"
• Private teaching practice in Syracuse,NY, 1990-present

Ann Rodiger, Treasurer

• AmSAT Treasurer, June 2010--present
• Founder and Director of the Balance Arts Center and Teacher Training Course, New York City, 2003--present
• Distinguished Alum Award, University of Oregon, School of Music and Dance, 2010
• Presenter at AGM 2009,2010,2011
• Alexander Technique Teaching Certificate, Alexander Technique Center Urbana, 1981
• MA in Dance, The Ohio State University, 1975. (focus on Labanotation and Laban Movement Analysis)
• BS in Dance with Honors, University of Oregon, 1973
• Advanced Labanotation Certificate, 1975
• Dance Faculty at CUNY (1988-1990), University of Hawaii-Manoa (1982), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1980-1981), University of Illinois-Urbana (1977-1980), California State University-Hayward (1975-1977)
• Publications: "How to Sit, Your Body at Work" (2011), "Working with Less Stress and More Energy" CD (2011), "The Joy of Walking Well" CD (2001)
• Private Alexander Technique practices in New York City and Berlin, Germany

Lauren Hill, Secretary 

• Elected to AmSAT Board of Directors June 2008
• AmSAT Secretary, Feb 2011--present
• Chair, AGM Policy Committee, 2007-2008
• AGM Registrar, 2004 and 2007
• Alexander Technique Private Practice, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2003-Present
• Certified, Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique (Joan and Alex Murray, Directors), 2003
• ESL teacher, non-profit event management, and international exchange program work, 1994-2003
• Master of Arts in Teaching, School for International Training, 1996
• BA Magna Cum Laude in Foreign Languages and Literature, University of Delaware, 1993
• Avid ballroom and tap dancer

Barbara Casey, Member at Large 
 

• AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-large, June 2011-- Present  
• STAT certified teacher--2009, Constructive Teaching Centre, London, England
• AmSAT certified teacher--2009
• Early Childhood Educator--1965-2000
• Ed.B English/ Secondary Education-Rhode Island College
• Ed.M Special Education-Rhode Island College
• Alexander Student--1986-1996--Saura Bartner/ 1996-2000-Carol Gill

Mary Derbyshire, Member at Large 

• AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large, elected 2009
• AmSAT Secretary, 2009-2010
• Chair, AGM Policy Task Force, 2009-Present
• Chair, 2008 AGM Coordinating Team, AGM Bristol, RI
• Alexander Technique Private Practice Dublin, Ireland, Evanston, Illinois, Little Compton, RI, 1995--Present
• Certified, Chicago Center for the Alexander Technique, 1994 (Beth Stein director) also trained with Tommy Thompson, Cambridge, MA 1989-90
• Ecole du Mime, Etienne Decroux, Paris, France 1983-84
• B.S. Northwestern Univ. 1983, Theatre Major
• Owner, Willow Farm, Little Compton, RI

Lisa First, Member at Large 

• AmSAT Board of Directors, Member at Large since June, 2010.
• Member, AGM Policy Committee, 2005-2008
• Member, Training Course Approval Committee, 1999-2005
• Presenter, AmSAT's AGM 2006-2011
• 1992-present- AMSAT Certified Teacher of the Alexander Technique. Maintain private practice with individual students, provide group instructions and consultations for national and international organizations and institutions including the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Iguan Dance Studio and Kannon Dance, St. Petersburg, Russia; Saira Blanche Theatre and Schepkin Theatre School, Moscow, Russia; Pedagogical Institute and other venues, Yaroslavl, Russia; Duncan Centre, Prague, Czech Republic; Berlin, Germany, Amsterdam, Holland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA and numerous schools and institutions in Minneapolis, MN.
• Alexander Technique Institute of Boston, Boston, MA. Certified May, 1992.
• Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, Master of Arts, Liberal Studies (MALS). Special field; Dance and Movement Studies. June, 1991.
• Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH, B.A. Visual Arts/Dance. Graduated June, 1982.
• Link Vostok, East/West International Arts Exchange nonprofit; Executive director and founder 1993-present- international directory and co-organizer for ten international dance festivals in Yaroslavl and Kostroma, Russia as well as numerous international projects. Created to generate cultural exchanges between international artists, primarily between East and West. Has also brought 10 international Alexander Technique instructors to Russia.

Anne Johnson, Member at Large 

• AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large, June 2011--present
• AmSAT Teaching Certification, Credential Review Process, 2010
• Adjunct Faculty Boyer College of Music, Temple University, 2006--Present
• Alexander Technique Private Practice, 1995--Present
• Faculty, The Professional School of Massage Therapy, Langhorne, PA 1998--2003
• Practicing Fine Artist, 1984--Present
• Lead Singer in a Band for FUN, 2001--Present
• Education
• Certification in the Art of Breathing with Jessica Wolf, 2010
• Certification in The Carrington Way with John Nicholls, 2005
• Certification The Alexander Foundation Teacher Training, Philadelphia, PA 1995
• BFA Painting- Cum Laude 1983, American University, Washington, DC
• Elizabeth van Swinderen Award for Outstanding Artistic Accomplishment and Promise 

Meg Jolley, Member at Large 

• AmSAT Board Member at Large, since 2011 
• AmSAT Teaching Certification from ATI-LA, 2005
• On the Faculty of Pomona College Department of Theater and Dance, since 1984
  • Classes taught include: Alexander Technique for Faculty
  • Alexander Technique for Students - Group and individual tutorials
  • Anatomy/Kinesiology
  • Explorations of Somatic Movement Techniques
  • Mind in Motion (Developmental Movement)
  • Ballet
• Other teaching includes:  ATI-LA, Santa Monica College, various AGM workshops, 9th International Congress for the Alexander Technique, Lugano
• Dancer/Choreographer NYC and LA, 1977 - present
• EDUCATION:  Pomona College, BA, Magna Cum Laude in French (1973), California Institute of the Arts, further studies in Dance (1973-1975), University of Illinois, MA in Dance (1977), Certification in Applied Kinesiology (1983)

Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Member at Large 

• AmSAT Board of Directors, Member-at-Large, elected June 2009
• Associate Professor of Dance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, faculty since 1982, Interim Department Head 2001-2005
• Alexander Technique for Dancers, Dance Kinesiology and Somatics, Alexander-based contemporary dance technique, Somatics in Dance Training
• Choreographer
• Faculty, Urbana Center for Alexander Techniquee 
• Certified, Urbana Center for Alexander Technique, June 1990
• Labanotation Reconstructor Certification, 1985
• MA in Dance, The Ohio State University, 1979
• BFA cum laude in Dance, University of Illinois, 1975
• Co-editor, The Body Eclectic: Evolving Practices in Dance Training, University of Illinois Press, 2008 

Elizabeth Reese, Member at Large  

• Board Member at Large, AmSAT March 2010 to present
• Faculty member at AT-NYC, 2007 to present
• Faculty member at Postural Rehabilitation, training program for Veterinarians and Chiropractors learning alternative care of horses and dogs. Nottingham, PA, 2006 to present www.posturalrehabvets.com
• Private practice, 1994-present, Warwick and New York City, NY
• Owner/Instructor. Cloverdale Dressage Farm, 2005 to present www.atdressage.com
• Founder/Artistic Director of Warwick Summer Arts Festival, 1999 to present www.warwickarts.org
• Associate Producer, Dancing in the Streets, NYC, 1992-1995
• Director of Visitor Services and Cultural Programs, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY, 1985-1991
• Dancer/Choreographer, NYC 1979-1987
• Education
  •           Thomas Jefferson College, BPh, 1978 Women’s Studies/Performing Arts
  •           American Center for the Alexander Technique, 1994
  •           American Riding Instructors Certification Program, 1997
  •           Certification in The Carrington Way with John Nicholls, 2004
  •           Certification in the Art of Breathing with Jessica Wolf, 2006

Anne Shivas, Member at Large 

• AmSAT Member-at-Large since 2009
• Founder, Upper Valley Community of Poets, 2006
• Teacher, Institute for Life-long Education at Dartmouth, (Scottish Poetry and Literature) since 2004
• Certified, Jerusalem School for the Alexander Technique, June 1994
• Adjunct Faculty, London University Institute of Education 1986 - 1987
• M.A. Philosophy of Education (Distinction), London University, 1983
• B.Ed Hons. (Class 1) – Dance and philosophy, Dunfermline College, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1980

Luc Vanier, Member at Large 

Bio Unavailable

Indrani Kowlessar Gallagher, Lay Director