Idyllwild Arts Academy :: Contact Admission

Admission/Marketing

	Marek Pramuka, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Film, Music and Theatre Admission Coordinator Phone: (951) 659-2171 ext. 2344 e-mail: marekp@idyllwildarts.org
MBA; Marketing and Corporate Development, University of California, Anderson Graduate School of Management, Riverside / Palm Desert. Marek joined Idyllwild Arts as the Associate Dean of Admission and Financial Aid in January of 2004. He currently oversees the recruitment of students into the Moving Pictures, Music and Theatre department. Marek resides in Idyllwild with his wife Michaela and their two children, Pierce and Easton.
	Tara Sechrest, Associate Dean of Admission Creative Writing, Dance, Interdisciplinary Arts, and Visual Art Admission Coordinator Phone: (951) 659-2171 ext. 2345 e-mail: tsechrest@idyllwildarts.org
Tara attended the Idyllwild Arts Academy as an Interdisciplinary Arts major for four years, graduating in 1994. In 1998, Tara graduated with honors from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Psychology and an emphasis in dance. She received her Masters in Education and PPS credential from the University of Redlands in 2005 and is a member of the Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society. Tara has worked for the educational tour and airline industries in Boston and Austin, and has had her own massage therapy business. She has traveled extensively throughout the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central America, the South Pacific, Africa and North America. Tara has worked in the Admission Office at IAA since 2005. Her passions are dance, travel, hiking and mountain biking.
	Phillip Dunbridge, Assistant Dean of Admission Theatre and Interdisciplinary Arts Admission Coordinator Phone: (951) 659-2171 ext. 2341 e-mail: pdunbridge@idyllwildarts.org
MFA, American Repertory Theatre's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University and The Moscow Art Theatre. Phillip started at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in the Summer of 2007 as the Dean of the Children's Center for the Summer Program. Phillip also lives on campus with his wife Cassaundra and three boys: Jude, Ethan and Grayson. Phillip and Cassaundra are dorm parents for the Pierson Dorm.
	Janette Soffes, Admission Administrative Assistant Phone: (951) 659-2171 ext. 2223 e-mail: jsoffes@idyllwildarts.org
Janette joined Idyllwild Arts Academy in August of 2007 where she worked as an administrative assistant in the Academy office. She transferred to the Admission Office in July of '09. Janette lives in Idyllwild with her husband Mike. She has two children and three grandchildren.
Marketing and Communication
Darren Schilling Director of Communication B.S. Marketing, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri. Darren worked for The Walt Disney Company for 14 years where he began his career as a Skipper on The Jungle Cruise as part of the Walt Disney World College Program. He subsequently was chosen as one of four Americans to represent the United States in the World Showcase Fellowship Program at EPCOT Center. Following the Park experience he moved to Walt Disney Consumer Products where his work in Training and Development of both retail and corporate staff was an integral part in the U.S. and European expansion of The Disney Store. In 1999, he was recruited to join the internet startup eStyle, Inc., better known as babystyle.com. At babystyle.com he created the customer service function that included a 24-hour call center and a staff of 3 0 call center representatives. In 2002, Darren began working as Director of Public Relations for the Idyllwild Arts Foundation and was then named Director of Marketing in 2005. He oversees and manages the marketing, public relations, website, graphics and promotional materials for the Academy & Summer Program.
Vance Blaettler Senior Graphic Designer, Print Bachelor of Arts Degree, San Diego State University. While working in civil engineering, Vance began his Idyllwild Arts experience in 1980 teaching multiarts classes in the Idyllwild School Of Music And The Arts summer program. As a charter member of ISOMATA’s Family Camp, he has taught batik, stained glass, woodcarving and now, stone carving. During 1996, Vance became a full-time member of Idyllwild Arts, teaching sculpture, printmaking and computer graphics for the Academy and working for the Marketing Department. Currently he is Director of Design and Graphics, responsible for much of the on-campus publications and photography. In addition to his professional resume, Vance has traveled the world extensively. In his adventures he has cruised the Amazon River on a banana boat and waded through crocodile infested swamps in Costa Rica.
Mary Metcalf-Collier Director of Web Communication B.A. Cinema and Photography, minor in Visual Communication, Southern Illinois University. Mary began with Idyllwild Arts in November of 2005. Originally, from New Mexico, Mary has worked as a Photojournalist, Photography Assistant, Admission Associate and is Co-Owner of Siren Bicycles and The Hub Cyclery and the Web Manager at Idyllwild Arts. In this position, Mary maintains the Idyllwild Arts website and also photographs events on campus and does graphic design work for the school. Mary is also an endurance mountain biker competing in 24 hour and multi-day events to include her most recent accomplishment – first woman to race the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (longest mountain bike race in the world) from Banff, AB, Canada to the Mexican border (2,745 miles.)