Staff

Christina Martin-Wright

Executive Director

Christina holds an M.F.A. in directing and dramaturgy from the Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and an undergraduate degree in Performance. She is one of the founders of Madison’s StageQ Theatre and has been an active member of the arts community for over two decades. Christina has nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and external relations experience with some of the area's most vibrant organization and events, including the Wisconsin Film Festival, Children’s Theater of Madison, and Madison Children’s Museum. Christina is also a member of the Friends Board at UW—Madison Waisman Center and sits on the Leadership Team of Any Given Child Madison, a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts.

Christina has been with AFA since 2018.

Peter Bovenmyer

Art Director

Peter holds a PhD in art history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an undergraduate degree in Art and Design from Iowa State University. He has authored several art historical publications and is the recipient of fellowships from the American Academy in Rome and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Following his studies, Peter worked for an art firm in Chicago before joining AFA as Art Director in 2021. He is passionate about increasing visibility for artists with disabilities and expanding accessibility to the art market.

Jill Jaworski

Director of Arts Education

Jill holds a Bachelor of Science Education in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Drawing from Drake University. She also holds a Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her time at UW-Madison, she explored the psychological underpinnings of children’s prejudice toward peers with disabilities and researched various interventions to increase understanding and empathy. She also has worked with several local artists with disabilities in school partnerships. As an early education teacher she created and led disability-related training material for school-wide professional development, as well as new staff trainings, parent education sessions, and conference workshops.

Jill has been with AFA since 2020.

Mike Lawler

Director of Development & Storytelling

Mike earned a B.S. in Theatre Arts and Anthropology from Western Oregon University, and has spent most of his working life in the performing arts. He is also a published author, former staff writer for TYA Today, and freelance writer, focusing on stories and articles about the arts advancing the way artists think about and execute their work. He has led and/or founded multiple arts organizations, including Arden Theatre in Salem, Oregon, Wisconsin Story Project, and Theatre LILA in Madison, Wisconsin.

Mike has been with AFA since 2019.

Matthew Sanborn

Program Associate

Matthew graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls with a B.A. in fine arts concentrating on ceramics and photography. He has worked as an art mover, a blacksmith, a cook, and in Madison as a para transit driver for over ten years. Throughout his life Matthew has been involved in the arts, be it drawing and painting, theater (both on stage and backstage), and dance – but especially in music. He has given the occasional beginning guitar lesson and not only writes and records his own music but has recorded and produced albums for several other artists. Since 2014 Matthew has made the trailer soundtrack for the Wisconsin Film Festival.

Matthew has been with AFA since 2021.

Debra Scheibinger

Operations Manager

Debra graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a B.S. in Art Education. After starting her own media design business, VertuArts, she became a product designer at American Girl, and spent three years designing dolls, accessories, and furniture, including the historical doll, Kit Kittredge. More recently, she was the marketing specialist and educational program manager at Eugster’s Petting Farm in Stoughton.

Debra has been with AFA since 2016.

Greg Behrend

Choir Director - Appleton

Greg grew up in Wisconsin Rapids and graduated from UW-Green Bay in 2014. He has a passion for music and making music with others. When not leading the Appleton Choir, Greg serves as pastor for You Belong, a new church in Green Bay.

Leslie Iwai

Teaching Artist

Leslie holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Chemistry from Wayne State College in Nebraska and a M.Arch. from Virginia Tech. An installation artist and sculptor, her artwork is multidisciplinary and material rich. Tandem with her studio practice, Leslie has been a teaching artist since 2002, was on the Nebraska Teaching Artist Roster from 2009-2013, and traveled widely throughout the state as part of the Dana Foundation's Nebraska Teaching Artists Initiative. Leslie has worked with children as young as three, teenagers, senior adults, and those with a wide variety of abilities. She has had extended teaching artist training through the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and has worked with ARTS for ALL Wisconsin since 2013 as well many other local Wisconsin organizations such as the Overture Center for the Arts, and Badger Prairie Health Care Center.

Christy Grace

Teaching Artist

Christy has been making art her whole life but made it her focus and career after graduating with an Associates Degree in Graphic Design from Madison College. In addition to her work with ARTS for ALL Wisconsin, Christy is a professional fine artist, art-jewelry maker, and children's book illustrator. She averages about two art local art markets and shows a month while creating new work. Christy also strives to connect with and advocate for those living with invisible illnesses, physical or emotional, by creating art that communicates what can't always be seen or said. 

Deb Neuman

Teaching Artist

Deb has worked for AFA since 1994 and is an educator with a BS in Music Therapy from UW-Eau Claire. She has held many positions with AFA, including as the founder and Choir Director of our Menomoie Choir, and the Western District Director.

Carolyn Schwartz

Teaching Artist

Carolyn  is a certified Music Together (R) Teacher and a Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) Award-winning jazz singer. Originally from Mamaroneck, New York, she has been making music and making people smile for over 20 years. This is her third residency with ARTS for ALL leading music and movement in Head Start programs in Madison. In addition to her work with ARTS for ALL Wisconsin, Carolynn is a graphic artist, and the Special Events & Development Associate at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County.

Mike Scheibinger

Teaching Artist

Mike is a certified learning disabilities teacher with over a decade of experience working with K-12 students in the public school setting. He is an accomplished teacher, musician, music producer, and program manager. As a producer, Mike has worked with many top artists, including Mick Fleetwood, Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and star producer Bill Laswell.

Beth Turner

Teaching Artist

Beth is an Emmy-award winning television journalist who loves words and the power they carry to encourage, empower and equip people. She is a professional expressive writing facilitator and healing storyteller who hosts workshops, retreats, conferences because she sees over and over the transformative power of words. “I help provide platforms and expressions for those who don't typically have a voice or are unsure sometimes of the one they do have. It is life-giving work for all.” Beth is an author, published poet, wife, and mom to three boys, a large black lab, a rabbit named Esther, and a few wayward backyard chickens.

Anne Vanderbloemen

Choir Director - Madison

Anne is a veteran middle and high school band teacher with the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District.  She has directed the AFA Madison Choir since 2017. She has a BA in Music Education from UW-Madison and a Masters degree in Conducting from Sam Houston State University. Anne has been playing clarinet with the Madison Wind Ensemble since 1998 and singing all her life.