2028 Dance Levels 2 & 3

• Grant Consultant, Venn There Grants, 1 year
• Former Senior Manager of Grants at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Grant Writer at Maltz Jupiter Theatre 
• 10 years of grant experience 
• B.A. Editing, Writing, and Media from Florida State University 

• Program Director and Associate Professor, Dance Program, Florida Southern College
• Erin LaSala Phillips has worked as a free-lance choreographer throughout the U.S. and her choreography has been performed and recognized in numerous national and international dance festivals and venues, including the American Dance Guild Festival in NYC and the Your Move New Jersey Dance Festival.
• She has been an invited international guest artist at the 33 35 Dance Intensive at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus as well as is a guest artist at various universities, dance festivals, and dance intensives each year.
• Former Dance Education Coordinator at Kent State University and Director of the Jacksonville University Summer Dance Intensive, and instructor at several institutions including the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Winthrop University Summer Program.
• Co-author of “Dance and Culture” published by Great River Learning.
• 2021-2022 Featured Academic, Florida Southern College Vertex Magazine
• M.F.A. in Dance Choreography, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and B.A. in Dance Education, University of South Florida.

• Founder and Artistic Director, Karen Peterson and Dancers and “The Forward Motion Dance Festival and Conference of Physically Integrated Dance” (2018-2022)
•  25 works in the KPD repertory as lead choreographer
• Recipient of Knight Foundation Award, NEA and Funding Arts Network company Awards for “Forward Motion”; Lifetime Achievement Award from the New World School of the Arts; The Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alumni Entrepreneurial Award for performances at the Judson Church, NYC,  
• American Red Cross-Cultural Award; State of Florida: Citizens For Florida Arts and Artist Opportunity Award; Cultural Exchange Fund from APAP for international travel; Choreographic Fellowship Awards from Miami Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, DMC 2017, 2019; Choreographic Fellowship Awards from the Division of Cultural Affairs in 1995, 2005;
• a 2022 recipient for The Boston Conservatory at Berklee School of Music Alumni Achievement Awards for her “dedicated work in the field and contributions to society”; invitation to  join “Beyond Barriers, Boundaries and Beliefs” a national NEA funded physically integrated dance tour to Cleveland, Brooklyn and Miami with Dancing Wheels and Heidi Latsky Dance, June 2022
  

Throughout her career spanning almost two decades, Ashley Samuels, CFRE has overseen various aspects of fundraising for small and mid-size arts organizations and written grant proposals of all sizes, securing $1,000 up to $10 million. In January 2024, Ashley launched her own consulting business (AHS Nonprofit Consulting LLC) where she works with clients to develop sustainable fundraising strategies and plans, craft compelling grant proposals, establish mutually beneficial partnerships and sponsorships, and create impactful mission-focused fundraising events using strategies centered on stewardship and gratitude. Ashley has a dual B.A. in English Literature and Art History and a M.A. in Arts Administration from Florida State University. She leads an affinity group for fundraising consultants for her local Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter, is an active advocate and participant in her local arts community, and enjoys reading in her spare time. Ashley lives in Winter Springs, FL with two giant dogs, a small special needs cat, and her husband, Dan.