The Music Institute of Chicago board, administration and faculty work hard to further the Music Institute of Chicago mission while dealing with the day-to-day needs of those we serve. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas, questions or concerns.

Main Administrative Office
622 Davis Street, 4th Fl
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847.448.8308

Administration

Office of the President

Shalisa Kline Ugaz

President and Chief Executive Officer

Barb Schneider

Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships

Community Music School

Emily Abraham

Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs

Clem Leek

Music Production Faculty
Senior Director of Academic Operations; Campus Director, Winnetka

Dr. Marie Alatalo

Piano and Musicianship Faculty
Campus Director, Chicago

Patrick O'Malley

Recorder Faculty (Suzuki)
Campus Director, Evanston

Rae Harris

Enrollment Administrator

Hana Marek

Campus Director, Lake Forest

The Academy

Sue Polutnik

Academy Executive Director
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

James Setapen

Academy Director and MIC Conductor-in-Residence
Academy Director

Ari Barack Fisher

Academy Coordinator and Orchestra Manager

Development

Jennifer Bienemann

Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Luis Romero

Development Coordinator

Em Couling

Manager of Development Services and Engagement

Linden Leman

Annual Fund and Donor Communications Manager

Marketing and Communications

Jennifer Hanson

Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Erin Fusco

Director of Marketing and Communications

Vanesa Elias

Social Media and Content Coordinator

Nora Takagi

Programs and Publications Coordinator

Finance

Marcia Rubin

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Tyra Holloway

Payroll Specialist

Rose Vakili

Registration and Billing Manager

Operations

Sue Polutnik

Academy Executive Director
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Jerry Wojcik

Facilities Manager

Ntiva IT Support

IT Support Team

Community Engagement

Matt Boresi

Director of Special Initiatives

Campus Support Staff

Maria Alfaro

Administrative Assistant, Evanston Campus

Mary Buckingham

Office Manager, Central Administration

Severin DuSell

Administrative Assistant, Winnetka Campus

Al Loss

Music Production Faculty
Administrative Assistant, Lake Forest Campus

Nichols Concert Hall

Kevin Harrison

Director of Operations, Nichols Concert Hall

Eric Desnoyers

Associate Director of Operations, Nichols Concert Hall

Faculty

Davis King

Violin & Viola Faculty

Deborah Knowles

Percussion Faculty (Jazz)

Paula Kosower

Academy Coach

Bill Kronenberg

Violin Faculty (Suzuki)

Cindy Lam

Faculty

Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff

Viola Faculty; Academy Chamber Music Faculty

Philip Lee

Cello Faculty, Suzuki Faculty

Dr. Soo Young Lee

Piano & Chamber Music Faculty

Dr. Jeong Min Lee

Piano Faculty (Suzuki)

Dr. Xiaomin Liang

Piano faculty

Dr. Cheryl Lim

Piano Faculty (Suzuki)

Jasmine Lin

Violin Faculty

Dr. Dorothy Jean Lloyd

Voice Faculty

Weiwen Ma

Music Institute Piano Faculty; Academy Piano Faculty

Timothy Mah

Piano Faculty

Debbie Masloski

Academy Music Theory Faculty

Mark Maxwell

Guitar Faculty

Jennifer McCormick

Voice & Musikgarten Faculty

Sarah Montzka

Violin & Viola Faculty (Suzuki); Associate Director Barston Suzuki Center

Ann Montzka Smelser

Barston Suzuki Center Violin Teacher Training Faculty

Board of Trustees

Trustees

  • Timothy Patenode, Chair
  • Alexandra C. Nichols, Chair Emerita
  • Hans Germann, Treasurer
  • Barbara Sereda, Secretary
  • Carlos R. Cardenas, Vice Chair
  • Shiraz Kotte, Vice Chair
  • Lee Anne Stoddart, Vice Chair
  • Saurab Bhargava
  • Paul Brourman
  • Daniel Hahn
  • Courtney Holohan
  • Yana Nedvetsky
  • RenĂ©e Parquette
  • Jim Stone
  • Ross Updegraff
  • Zalman Usiskin
  • Audra Wilson
  • Florian Zettelmeyer

Life Trustees

  • John J. Berwanger
  • Mitzi Freidheim
  • Kay Mabie
  • Brooks Morgan
  • Rachel Barton Pine
  • Priscilla F. Richman
  • William N. Topaz
  • Scott Verschoor

Honorary Board

  • Robert Chen
  • Roberto Diaz
  • Peter Dushkin 
  • John and Fran Edwardson
  • James Ginsburg
  • Wu Han
  • Jennifer Koh
  • Nina Kraus
  • Cathy and Bill Osborn
  • Marcus Roberts
  • Deborah F. Rutter 
  • Scott and Nancy Santi 
  • Rick and Cate Waddell

ex-officio trustees

  • Christopher Rintz
  • Shalisa Kline Ugaz
Board Members at the 2025 Annual Gala