Employee Bios

Brevyn Fleming

Brevyn is a 2018 alum of the AAC.  Having studied illustration and creative writing, she is working on several stories including a webcomic.  She’s extremely passionate and will happily talk about whatever book, game or show she’s currently obsessing over.

Dani Tellez

Dani has been a Cincinnati native since 2000. She is an AAC Alum with a focus in Art History and Painting. When not in the office, she enjoys time with her husband going to concerts, cafes, museums and hanging out with their cats.

Jordan Gakle

Jordan is from Ann Arbor, Michigan and studied English and Creative Writing at Central Michigan University. As a writer, her primary artistic outlet is through poetry. She has had six poems published in various journals, spanning from undergraduate collections to internationally distributed publications. After moving to Cincinnati on a whim in January of 2021, she fell in love with the city and creative scene here.

Megan Martin

Megan has taught academic and creative writing since 2005. She is the author of two collections of experimental prose, NEVERS and Sparrow & Other Eulogies, and serves as prose editor for the literary journal and small press Coast/No Coast. She holds a BA in English from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Alison Trimbur

I am very excited to be working with the Art Academy of Cincinnati! I am originally from Youngstown, OH, and spent a lot of my life in Dayton as well. I graduated from UC in 2018 and have been working in higher education ever since. I enjoy being in creative spaces supporting artists, and in my free time I like to read, write, attend concerts and be with my family. I love meeting new people, so please come say hi!

Markus Cook

Markus Charles Cook is an award-winning filmmaker born and raised in Cincinnati, receiving his degree in Media Communications from Asbury University 2017.  He owns and leads creative direction for the video production house MonCharle.  When he's not on the clock, you can still typically find him behind the camera, working on his own narrative film projects. Or gaming his brain cells away with his friends.

Casey Riordan

Casey Riordan, LPC, received an MA in Mental Health Counseling from University of Cincinnati and a BFA in Painting from Ohio University. In addition, she maintains a professional studio practice and exhibits her work in museums and galleries throughout the US.

Nytaya Babbitt

Nytaya earned her BFA at the Art Academy of Cincinnati in illustration. She practices advocacy within her work hoping to impact the community, through empathy and creative thinking. Nytaya is set on helping others achieve their goals.

Nicholas Korn

Nicholas is a digital marketing strategist with over 15 years serving the Cincinnati business community. He is also a playwright, poet and composer. His stage play, Delirium’s Daughters, was produced Off-Broadway in 2015, and he produced 23 plays at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts. He is currently publishing a large-scale poetry project called The Wild Sonnets and producing his music series, The Atomic Symphonies. Nicholas is a graduate of Northwestern University with a BA in English Literature.

Rose Emory

Business Analyst Specialist. I am a highly motivated, positive individual with great organizational leadership and communication skills achieving success in Fortune 500 corporate roles, business ownership and community leadership by combining broad business acumen and talent for bringing diverse people together around shared interests. Customer service master and efficient problem solver, and experience with project management work.

Alex Tellez

A native of Texas, Alexandria grew up in a military family and lived on the East Coast until moving to Cincinnati in 2000. Alexandria began studies in Business at Cincinnati State after graduating from Oak Hills High School. She began her work at AAC in summer of 2014 in Community Education’s award-winning Camp Art Academy program.

Alex Siebert

Alex is a Cincinnati native who primarily uses music as his creative outlet, performing in a variety of ensembles. He has devoted his career to helping people to reach their full creative potential. He believes that the arts play an integral role in shaping peoples’ lives, and enjoys meeting the creative and unique people that inspire the rest of the world.

Denise Brennan Watson

A native of South Texas, Denise Brennan Watson was a member of the Coastal Bend English Riding Association and King English Riding Association. Denise holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy, and she completed a double major in Philosophy and Journalism with a minor in English. She loves words and culinary arts.

Sam Holloway

Sam graduated from the AAC in 2019 with a BFA in Illustration, minoring in Painting and Drawing. She started her Community Education career in 2016 as an assistant at Camp Art Academy, then excelled as CE’s student work study until her graduation. Sam has a passion to inspire creativity and fun in everyone she meets.

Tommy Ballard

After neighborhood-hopping around the Miami Valley, Tommy found a home along the Ohio River in Cincinnati. In 2016 he joined the CE Faculty as an instructor of natural-dyeing, textile printing, and fiber work. Since then, he has coordinated outreach programs such as Artist & Writer in Residence and Portfolio Prep. He enjoys bodies of waters, nostalgia, and a bargain.

Linda Kollmann

Linda spent 25 years in northern Ohio before moving down to Cincinnati and raising her two kids here.  She has worked in HR for 10 years and loves getting to interact with employees on a daily basis.  Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her blended family, especially her granddaughter.

Rick Wolhoy

Born and raised in Eastern Kentucky, Rick earned his BFA from nearby Marshall University. Making his way to Cincinnati by the Ohio River, Wolhoy received an MFA at the University of Cincinnati School of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Prior to leading the facilities department at the AAC, Rick held the position of Assistant Director of Academic at the University of Cincinnati focusing on the instruction of sculpture, as well as managing the MFA graduate studio facility. While owning and operating Rick Wolhoy, LLC he specializes in a wide variety of design and fabrication throughout the greater Cincinnati region.

Jake Brinkmann

Duck Tape Enthusiast, creative adventurist, and maker of things.  Bachelors of Fine Arts at The University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Minor in Marketing at The Lindner College of Business. Before joining the AAC team, Jake worked on sculptures, animatronics, and themed sets for amusement parks and museums. He spent a couple years hand cutting tile for Rookwood Pottery and continues to do landscaping on the side. “Always keep Duck Tape in your car.”

Dutana D

Dutana D is a Minneapolis raised and Cincinnati based artist. She graduated from the Art Academy of Cincinnati in 2022 with a BFA in design and a minor in creative writing. Dutana’s work utilizes synthetic hair which is culturally and socially connected to black bodies in hopes to shift the gaze of contemporary spaces while simultaneously combating black erasure. When she’s not in the office she’s most likely attending to her plant babies.

Ricky Pleasant

Ricky earned his MBA from the University of Cincinnati and his BS in Finance from Alabama A&M University. Ricky’s primary focus is being a resource bank for teens and young adults. He believes that if everyone has the proper information and opportunity, they will be able to fulfill their purpose and accomplish their goals. When he is not working with students, Ricky enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and watching other people play video games.

Dylan Robinson

An experienced designer and illustrator operating out of downtown Cincinnati, Dylan Robinson has dedicated a troubling amount of his brain towards remembering inane comic book trivia, and is capable of putting both feet behind his head, much to the horror of onlookers.

Katie Brenner

Katie is a Midwest based conceptual artist and photographer, and an AAC Alum. She received her MFA at the University of Cincinnati DAAP, and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies. Katie utilizes still photography, installations, video and sculpture to create dynamic environments, interaction and introspection for viewers. She is an experienced college and community level educator, and arts program manager. Katie’s work has been showcased regionally, including the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, OH.

Frances Hutchinson

Frances has worked in Higher Education for 21 years. She has a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership. On top of being the new Director of Financial Aid at the AAC, she is a professor and teaches Advertising and Marketing. She enjoys reading books, hiking, and traveling with her family. Her favorite vacation destination is anywhere with a beach. She loves helping people and her goal is to provide the best Financial Aid services to the student body at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Linnea Gartin

Gartin is a dedicated art worker providing expertise in public art planning, creative place-keeping, and nonprofit program management with a devotion to ethical community practice, art education, industry safety, and cross-sector collaboration. She received her Bachelors degree in Art History from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2014 and a Masters degree in Social Practice Art from the University of Indianapolis in 2018. In addition to leading the Office of Engagement at AAC, Gartin also teaches in the BFA and MAAE programs.

Anissa Lewis

Born and raised in Covington, KY, with an MFA in Painting/Printmaking at Yale University School of Art. While the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, she also has an art practice that focuses on community engagement and social agency. Imani’s mother and a lover of book and walking in nature.

Elaine Watson Dean

Elaine comes to us as an experienced accounting specialist and will be handling student financial accounts and payments along with other accounting duties in the business office. In her leisure time she enjoys time with family and friends, volunteers at church, walks in the park, dancing, attending various concerts, performing arts play, musicals and traveling.