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board of directors

The board and its staff are responsible for the long-term development and direction of The James Gang. All Board members volunteer their time and work on developing new endeavors while maintaining and improving current ones.
 
  ELIZABETH JUNE BERGMAN :: Elizabeth June Bergman is a dance and improvisational artist, dance educator and scholar.  She received her undergraduate degree in dance at DeSales University (Pennsylvania) and her masters in dance at the University of Iowa, where she is currently an adjunct assistant professor of dance.  She has lived and worked in Omaha and Minneapolis; she is always looking for models for creativity related organizing and hopes that Iowa City continues to be a community that supports community based art-making.  Elizabeth performs and teaches across the country and frequently collaborates with other artists from other fields.  In Iowa City she attempts to build community and create opportunities for dance and performance based art, which led her to co-direct SuperArt3:Works in Progress Festival at Public Space One, among other events.  She has served on the James Gang board since October of 2011. www.elizabethjunebergman.com
  CASSANDRA ELTON :: Cassandra grew up in Summit, New Jersey, received a BA in English from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and moved to Iowa City, Iowa in 2010 to pursue an MLS in Library and Information Science at the University of Iowa. She works part time at Grant Wood Elementary's Wildcats after-school program, as well as at the University Main Library Conservation Lab doing flood repair and for the School of Library and Information Science managing and creating content for their newsletter, website and Facebook. She became involved with the James Gang in 2012 as the Library Director of the Antelope Lending Library, a community library opening in 2013 on the Southeast side of Iowa City. Cassandra enjoys living on the Southeast side with her husband and their adorable Puggle.
  CARSON EGGLAND :: Carson graduated in 2006 from the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa and became involved with The James Gang shortly thereafter. Carson currently works full-time at the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City as the Development Coordinator. He has experience coordinating events, raising funds, and all the fun stuff in between! Ultimate Frisbee, running, golfing, skiing, road trips, and eating ice cream rank high on his list of priorities. Carson's passion with The James Gang revolves around encouraging and promoting community activism among young adults in the area.
  HANS HOERSCHELMAN :: Hans is a Senior Applications developer for the University of Iowa and a 2004 Computer Science graduate of the same. Hans has served on the board of Public Access Television in Iowa City and presently chairs the Iowa City Telecommunications Commission. Besides working on IT related issues for the James Gang, Hans also volunteers for CoderDojo, an organization working to teach programming to middle school age children. He also coordinates meetups of the University of Iowa Drupal Users Group and the Eastern Iowa Drupal Users Group,and acts as a representative for DrupalCorn Camp 2013.
 

DANIEL KHALASTCHI :: is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the author of Manoleria (2011), winner of the Tupelo Press First Book Prize.  His poems have recently appeared or are forthcoming in a variety of journals including Kenyon Review; Iowa Review; Denver Quarterly; jubilat; MAKE Magazine; 1913: A Journal of Forms; Forklift, Ohio; Court Green; Columbia Poetry Review; and iO: A Journal of New American Poetry. A recent fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, and former Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Marquette University, Daniel currently lives in Iowa City where he is the Assistant Director of the University of Iowa’s Undergraduate Certificate in Writing Program, Managing Editor of Rescue Press, and Publisher of the University of Iowa’s two undergraduate literary magazines, Ink Lit Mag and earthwords.  More information on these publications can be found here: http://magidcenter.uiowa.edu/
  DORA MALECH :: Dora Malech serves as the Director for the Iowa Youth Writing Project and is a writer, teacher, and visual artist. She received a BA in Fine Arts from Yale University in 2003 and an MFA in Poetry from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 2005. She is the author of two books of poems, Shore Ordered Ocean and Say So, and her poems have appeared in publications that include The New Yorker, Poetry, and Best New Poets. She has taught writing at institutions that include the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Saint Mary's College of California, Victoria University in New Zealand, and Augustana College in Illinois. 
  LUKE PROTTSMAN :: Luke loves living in Iowa City with his wife and kids. He also enjoys roasting coffee, traveling, hole-in-the-wall diners, road trips with their vintage Boler, and about any time spent with good friends & family. As for the more formal part of any bio: Luke moved to Iowa City to attend the University of Iowa, graduating in 1999 with a BBA in Finance. After graduating and to present, he is a financial and investment advisor. Luke is a co-founder of Reclaiming Roots, a venture to restore and reclaim sacred spaces in the community (while bringing together people for the cause of others: Roots events are typically highlighted by great coffee and fresh pastries). Luke also volunteers to assist in planning the annual Community Foundation of Johnson County charity golf tourney... as well as serves on the board of directors for Successful Living, a Supported Community Living agency in Iowa City. He also does mentoring and coaching in a few capacities.
 

AARON SCHAEFER :: Aaron is originally from the Iowa City area and has been back since late 1999 after spending much of his childhood and young adult life criss-crossing the nation.  He’ll tell you that even though he learned a lot traversing this country, Eastern Iowa remains his favorite place to come home to.  After a brief stint at the University of Georgia, Aaron arrived at the University of Iowa.  He graduated in 2002 with a BBA in Finance and Management and immediately continued towards an MBA.  After completing his studies in 2004, he took a job at the Hills Bank and Trust where is currently works as a Trust Investment Officer at their South Gilbert location.  Along with his involvement with The James Gang, Aaron also volunteers as an Ambassador with the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of directors of The Riverside Theatre.  Aaron is a former member of the now defunct Atlanta area band Slight Return but still can be found playing and singing original material at local restaurants (mainly The Mill) and community events.  He spends lots of time in the Amana Colonies with his family and enjoys fishing and hunting in the rivers and hills around the area.  
  RYAN WEST :: Ryan is an Iowa City native and has been involved with the James Gang since early 2008 when he moved back to the area to take on the role of Senior Vice President at West Music Company.  A graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama and Directing, Ryan spent a good chunk of time doing theatre in New York as well as a stint in Boston and Moscow where he earned his MFA in acting from Harvard University's American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training in collaboration with the Moscow Art Theater.  At West Music Ryan managed the marketing strategies and initiatives for all business units as well as handles international product sourcing and development.  Ryan also serves as a board member of The Englert Theatre and on the Riverside Theatre board of directors to stay true to his theatre roots.  Ryan is also a company member of the international theatre company, Theatre Mitu, current based in Abu Dhabi.  Besides serving on boards and being on the boards of the stage, Ryan like to travel, eat cheese, and geek out on technology.

 

The James Gang is eternally grateful to all of the past board members who have shaped the James Gang and its endeavors over the years.

 

Analia Alegre-Femenias • Eric Asboe • Ellie Azoff • Jared Bazzell • Mike Brooks • Heather Byers • Anne Craig • Denise Dooley • Josh Eklow • Jesse Elliot • Emily Ginsberg • Cassie Gonzalez • Spencer Griffin • Zach Hoyt • Kim Kullmer • Margaret Larson • Tyler Lechtenberg • Leigh Lewis • Forrest Meggers • Joe Mrkonich • Rob Pilaszewski • Jacek Pruski • Sarah Rades • Katie Roche • Sheila Samuelson • Laura Savage • Michael Schmitz • Miguel Soria • Andy Stoll • David Strackany • Amanda Styron • Shannon Thomas • Arthur Stewart