Karen Wellman

Title Senior Counselor

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Karen graduated with a BA in Art, with a concentration in Painting, and focus in Art History, from Cleveland State University. Karen has worked at several galleries in the Cleveland area, then at the Cleveland Museum of Art in the Development Department, before starting in the Admissions Office at CIA in the Fall of 2008. Over the past several years, she has participated in local group shows, including St. Clair Superior Development Corporation’s Public Art Projects and Sparx City Hop; as well as having attended numerous gallery openings and museum events, and supporting the local arts scene. Karen values the Cleveland artistic community, and helping students prepare for the admissions/portfolio prep process for admittance into the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Thomas Green

Title Associate Director, Admissions

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Degree BA, Ohio State University

Thomas Green, Associate Director of Admissions, works primarily with transfer students and international students. Thomas has worked in visual arts higher education for more than 20 years and has served as a juror at several arts competitions and exhibitions during this time. He is an avid photographer and a freelance graphic designer. Thomas enjoys visiting Cleveland museums and photographing the city and Lake Erie. He has a BA from Ohio State University.

Bennett Overmyer

Title Assistant Director of Admissions

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Bennett Overmyer was raised in Columbus, Ohio before moving to Pittsburgh for her higher education. She attended the University of Pittsburgh and received her BA in English Literature and Classical Humanities. After graduating, she was offered a position with Teach For America and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After teaching Language Arts for two years, she decided to chase her passion and became an Art teacher. While teaching was rewarding, Bennett felt that Art was an under-supported subject and she sought to increase funding through several non-profit campaigns with the Center For Arts-Inspired Learning. Her love of art and experience in education encouraged her to consider a career in higher education, assisting students in achieving their artistic dreams. When not at work, Bennett is visiting galleries, negotiating peace talks between her pets, and slowly eating her way through Cleveland.

Samantha Moran

Title Admissions Counselor

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Samantha Moran (she/her) was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Samantha Graduated from Kent State University with a degree of Art Education and a minor in Fine Arts Painting. Samantha values education and displays enthusiasm helping students with all aspects of the college admissions process. Prior to working for the Cleveland Institute of Art as an Admissions counselor, Samantha applied her passion for teaching art to students of all ages in Olmsted Falls. She also spent many of her summers teaching and coaching sailing in the Cleveland area. Outside of work, Samantha spends much of her time exploring museums in University Circle, sailing on Lake Erie, and creating new works of art.

Davon Brantley

Title Admissions Counselor

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Degree BFA, Cleveland Institute of Art

Davon Brantley (he/him), based in Cleveland OH, graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art obtaining his BFA in Drawing. After graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2018, Davon wanted to completely immerse himself in what it is like to be an “Artist,” going into teaching, curating, exploring different mediums (outside of drawing and painting), exhibiting his work and mentoring emerging artists. While gaining these experiences, Davon’s goal is to change people’s perception about what it means to choose art as a career and to live from that career. Being able to show people the many paths that you can take in order to get to where you need to be!