Please welcome three new individuals to the School of Creative Arts family: Dr. Kathy Danko-McGhee, Mr. Jake Nolt, and Mr. Frank Duarte. Kathy will serve as Associate Professor and Program Director for both Pre-Art Therapy and Visual Art Education. Jake will serve as Assistant Professor of Animation. Frank will serve as the USF Director of Bands, including both Marching Band and Concert Band.
Dr. Kathy Danko-McGhee
Associate Professor and Program Director of Pre-Art Therapy and Visual Art Education
A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan University, Kathy earned her master’s degree from Indiana State University and her doctorate from Ohio State University. Dr. Kathy Danko-McGhee recently served as Chair for Teacher Education & Human Services at Owens Community College. Prior to that, she was the Director of Education at the Toledo Museum of Art and led the museum’s efforts to be at the forefront of teaching visual literacy. Her books—including The Aesthetic Preferences of Young Children (2000) and The Impact of Early Art Experiences on Literacy Development (2007)—have become the basis for early childhood art education programs both here and abroad.
Mr. Jake Nolt
Assistant Professor of Animation
Jake Nolt specializes in 3D modeling, animation, and video game design. Jake currently holds an MFA in Art with a focus in Digital Art from Bowling Green State University and a BS in Game Art and Design from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. With over a decade of experience in games and animation, Jake has worked on projects utilizing Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, XBox Kinect, Leap Motion, mobile platforms, touch overlay systems, transparent LED displays, and interactive installations. He is also the proprietor of a small indie game studio and has released several titles on multiple platforms.
Mr. Frank Duarte
Director of Bands
A native of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Frank earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music from Fullerton College, a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Music Degree in Composition from Butler University. As a composer, Frank has had works performed throughout the United States (North Carolina, Texas, Indiana, California, Utah, Alabama), Japan (Kyoto, Seto, Nagoya), Greece, and the Republic of Colombia by professionals and secondary, collegiate, and community ensembles. Frank has also served as a guest conductor throughout California, Indiana, Colombia and Japan. Most recently, Frank has served as a Teaching Fellow at Butler Community Arts School (BCAS).