American Repertory Ballet Announces New Administrative Employees, Cathleen Palace and Samantha Schugardt

American Repertory Ballet is pleased to announce the addition of two administrative employees. Cathleen Palace has joined the organization as Director of Development and Samantha Schugardt as Education and Community Programming Manager.

A passionate and driven fundraising professional, Ms. Palace joined American Repertory Ballet this month. Prior to joining ARB, she garnered significant development experience while serving at Rutgers University, Monmouth University and, most recently, New Jersey City University. During her tenure in higher education fundraising, Ms. Palace was responsible for major and planned gift strategy and solicitation, enhancing donor cultivation and stewardship activities, increasing communication with internal and external constituencies relative to development and supporting the advancement of the universities' priorities and holistic development efforts. Her relationships with donors and assistance in helping them realize their philanthropic goals resulted in five-, six-, and several-figure gifts. Ms. Palace began her career in development in Newark, N.J., at Philip's Education Partners (formally St. Philip's Academy) as the Director of Communications and Grants.

"I'm thrilled to join ARB as its Director of Development," says Palace. "I was introduced to fundraising as a student intern right here at the Ballet more than a decade ago, and it's such a special opportunity to be able to return at such an exciting time to lead ARB's development efforts. I cannot wait to get started."

Ms. Palace holds a B.A. in Journalism from Rider University and an M.A. in Media Studies from Syracuse University. She resides in Howell, N.J., with her husband Michael and their son Colin.

Samantha Schugardt holds a B.A. from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With dual majors in Theatre Arts and Dance she also obtained concentrations in Arts Education & Management and Choreography Design. Ms. Schugardt also earned credits in the Hospitality Management department working in Special Event Planning. Her passion for the arts began at an early age after being enrolled in her first ballet class. Schugardt has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, modern, hip hop, Irish step and contemporary. She introduced musical theatre to her resume in high school by being recruited for the drama department and following the Fine Arts track.

Ms. Schugardt has worked with PTPA, Little Theatre of Wilkes Barre, Pa., The Music Box Dinner Playhouse, The Nuangola Theatre at the Grove, KISS Theatre Company, Act Out Theatre Group among others. She created and instructed a Kids at Kings youth performing arts program for Kings College, Wilkes Barre, Pa., coached at the Lil Lionettes Summer Camp at Penn State University, High Acres Campus, Hazleton, Pa., and was the lead instructor/director of the Theatre and Performing Arts course for Wilkes University, Upward Bound Summer Intensive, Wilkes Barre, Pa.

"I am pleased to join American Repertory Ballet as the Education and Community Programming Manager," says Ms. Schugardt. "I look forward to combining my love of the performing arts with youth education, and am equally excited to be a part of the New Brunswick Arts Community and am looking forward to residing in New Jersey!"

American Repertory Ballet's mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and beyond through artistic and educational programs, presented by a financially responsible organization.

For more information about American Repertory Ballet please visit: www.arballet.org

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