Faculty and Staff

Meet Our Faculty and Staff

Dr. Michele Pagen

Artisitic Director

Michele is a professor of theatre in the Department of Culture, Media, and Performance at California University of Pennsylvania. A native of southwestern Pennsylvania, Michele knew that if given the opportunity, she would build a place where area youth could study theatre and musical theatre in an environment that was safe and nurturing, yet challenging and professional. The Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy is just that place. She received her B.A. in Theatre from California University of Pennsylvania and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Directing and Staging Pedagogy from Bowling Green State University. Michele teaches the acting sequence, directing, and voice for the actor courses at the University. She is an Estill Master Trainer with Estill Voice International.

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Destiny Cumberland

Administrative Assistant

Destiny (she/her) has served as the Administrative Assistant for MVPAA for the past 3 years. Prior to this role, she served for 2 years as the Acting Teacher for Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Destiny holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from PennWest California, and is currently employed at Duquesne University on their Campus Visit and Events team. Destiny also completed an Arts Administration internship in London, England, during the summer of 2021 with The Space Theatre. An avid stage manager, event planner, and lover of all things type-A and dramatic, she finds passion in assisting the MVPAA in new endeavors year after year.

Christina Bordini

Acting

Christina (she/her) is thrilled to be teaching at MVPPA for another year! She is a Cal U alumna with a BA in Theatre/Musical Theatre '11 and a M.Ed. PreK-4 Education '21. She has directed SE Jr. and co-directed SE the past four years. Christina currently teaches Kindergarten at Canon-McMillan SD, where she incorporates the arts into her lessons as much as possible. She hopes your kids of all ages want to come learn, grow, & play at MVPAA!

Aubri McCune

Acting and Improv

Aubri (she/her) is a senior Secondary English Ed major with a minor in Theatre from Elizabeth, PA. Some of her previous work includes Big Fish (Sandra Bloom), Exit Pursued by a Bear (Sweetheart), Great Comet of 1812 (Marya Dmitrievna), Godspell (Light of The World/George), and many more. Before college, Aubri received musical theatre training from Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theatre and The Collective Pittsburgh. Aubri would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her passion for theatre! She would also like to thank her theatre teachers & professors for helping her grow as a performer.

Delaney Harvey

Dance

Delaney (they/them) is a 2024 PennWest graduate with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Delaney started dancing at age 3, studied competitive dance at Lanzi Academy of Dance from 2010-2020, and taught competitive dance at Studio K Dance Center from 2020-2022. They have served as Dance Captain under John Wagner for ELF the Musical (Fall 2021), The Drowsy Chaperone (Spring 2022), A Christmas Carol., and more.

Grace Hess

Dance

Grace (she/her) is a sophomore veterinary technology major with a minor in dance at Pennwest California. She has danced since the age of 3. She studied at Point Park University and Millennium Dance Complex,, where she was a member of the Competitive Company and completed her certificate program. Grace also attended Point Park’s International Summer Intensives. Grace is now co-owner and instructor at Variations Dance Company in California, PA. She has won numerous choreography and teacher excellence awards.

Sherry Hess

Dance

Coming soon

Riley Hockman

Musical Theatre Performance

Riley (she/her) is a second year English Education major from Mars, PA. Riley started her theatre journey at seven years old with Jeter Backyard Theatre, continued through high school and now participates in performance at PennWest California. Some of her previous work includes, Clown Bar (Bobo), She Kills Monsters (Ensemble), Story Theatre (Various), Willy Wonka (Violet), and many more.

Quenten Zboyovsky

Musical Theatre Performance

Quenten (he/him) is a passionate teaching artist dedicated inspiring and empowering the next generation of performers. As a director, music director, and choreographer, Quenten works with both MVPAA and a local high school, where he brings creativity, energy, and expertise to every production. He also teaches musical theatre at Main Street Theatre Company, guiding student as they develop their performance and technical skills. He is a Theatre Arts major with a musical theatre concentration at PennWest University, blending a solid academic foundation with extensive practical experience in th3e performing arts. Whether on stage, or in the classroom, Quenten strives to help students find their voices and grow into confident, capable artists.