Ingrid Albrecht has a Fine Arts Degree from the American Academy of Art, and a MA and BS from Southern Illinois University. She is a nationally awarded artist and has taught workshops and classes globally. Her pieces were also recently exhibited at the Illinois Watercolor Society, the International Signature American Water Media Exhibition, and the National Watercolor Society.
Iliana Cardona is a Chicago-based mixed media artist whose work combines collage, paint, and found materials to explore themes of identity, memory, and everyday experience. Her practice is characterized by vibrant color, layered surfaces, and a strong sense of visual storytelling.
Iliana has been actively engaged in art since childhood and has continued to refine her skills through ongoing coursework, independent study, and workshops with artists from around the world. She brings this breadth of experience into the classroom, emphasizing both technical development and personal expression. In her workshops, Iliana focuses on creating an encouraging environment where participants can experiment with materials, build confidence, and develop a more intentional artistic practice.
Cate is a life-long dancer with over 30 years of experience, beginning with ballet/jazz in her hometown of Seattle. After her first swing dance lesson in college, she fell in love with social dancing and has spent nearly 20 years learning and teaching many genres including salsa, tango, swing, and bachata. Now calling Chicago home, Cate is excited to continue spreading her love of dancing in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Bradley’s a learning scientist, ethnographer, and coffee nerd. His dissertation (Northwestern, Learning Sciences) focuses on professional coffee roasters and how they learn to do their jobs. As part of his research, he designs learning environments based on his understanding of how professionals learn, translating findings from his academic work into things that everyday folks enjoy.
Amy and Dom have over 20 years of experience with plants and flowers. Dom, from Santa Barbara, CA, and Amy, from Wheaton, IL, met in 2011 at a Chicago flower boutique and married in 2016. Their combined talents have created a unique and dynamic brand.
Community involvement is important to them. They enjoy teaching floral workshops and sharing their knowledge of flowers, plants, gardening, design, and horticulture. They are honored to be part of the Northwestern Mini Courses.
Recently, they opened Botanik Culture, Inc. at 8112 Lincoln Avenue in downtown Skokie. This full-service luxury florist offers weddings and events, everyday flowers and plants, subscriptions, planters, plant maintenance, and small landscape projects. Visit them soon!
Steven Fischer is a two-time Emmy nominated filmmaker and Fulbright recipient. He is sought throughout Asia, North America, and Europe to speak on creativity. His film credits include the acclaimed animated documentary "Freedom Dance" with Golden Globe Award-winning actress Mariska Hargitay and "Old School New School," a personal study on creativity with Emmy-winning actor Brian Cox and Grammy Award winner McCoy Tyner among many other internationally acclaimed artists.
Since 2021, Steven has presented courses in acting, cartooning, video editing, and creative writing at Northwestern University's Norris Center.
Lizzie is a Chicago-based Ceramic Artist who equally enjoys learning, making, and teaching. She started her pottery journey in 2018 at Penguin Foot Pottery, and currently teaches both children and adults at Lillstreet Art Center and The Digs Chicago. Lizzie is enamored with the making process, and she is a firm believer that creating art is an essential part of the human experience. As an instructor, her goal is to teach the technical skills necessary to empower each student to develop and execute their own unique voice. Lizzie’s recent body of work explores soda firing and the way in which pots in the kiln and people in the studio influence one another. She has a successful small business selling her work as Feuille Ceramics—catch her at craft fairs all over the Chicagoland area!
A graduate of Northwestern, Mark Gruber has been teaching with Mini Courses for over thirty years. Mark is a local celebrity in the wine and spirits industry, and his students have returned time and again.
Anne Howard is a Northwestern alumna who teaches knitting at yarn stores and to small groups of children and adults. She has been teaching knitting mini courses since 2003. She enjoys making socks and pretend food, and admits to having a few long-term projects that she's been working on for years.
Dalton Huey is a graduate researcher in the life sciences. Raised in a Taiwanese household, he has over 10 years experience playing Taiwanese and Japanese (riichi) mahjong with family. He regularly teaches introductory lessons in Hong Kong mahjong throughout the Chicagoland area, and co-founded the TianHu Chicago Mahjong Club, focusing on education and guided play.
Shotokan Karate Mini-Course Margaret Lo, 3rd Dan Chicago Karate Club (“CKC”) has as its instructor Margaret Lo, 3rd dan of the Japan Karate Association. Lo sensei was born in Shanghai, China and came to the US as a child. She began Shotokan Karate training in Boston in 1988, and has been teaching karate since 1995. Lo sensei is dedicated to helping students improve intellect, strength and courage through karate. The CKC is a member of Shotokan Karate-do International, which is a US affiliate of the Japan Karate Association, the home of Shotokan Karate.
Patty Marfise-Patt, a native Chicagoan and practicing ceramic artist, received a B.A. in History from Northern Illinois University in 1986 and an M.Ed. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994. She began working with clay at age nine at the Chicago Park District’s Ridge Ceramics Studio on Chicago’s south side and has enjoyed playing in the mud ever since! Currently, Patty serves on the board of the Glenview Art League board and teaches ceramics at Lillstreet Art Center. She is currently exploring ways to incorporate technology into her work.
Lexi "Birdy" McKean is a East Coast-raised mixologist based out of Chicago for over 10 years. When they aren't making craft cocktails they can be found teaching hands on cocktail classes at Dearly Beloved, The Impact House, and other private and public spaces around the city.
Spirits and cocktails to them aren't just a recipe for a good time, but rather a celebration of culture around the world throughout history.
Inna Melnikov has a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and is National Board certified by the NCCAOM. She has been teaching with Mini Courses for the past 12 years!
Tomoyasu Nakano completed his BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2021. His works focus on expanding his craftsmanship skills with ceramics, screenprint, and mixed media. Nakano enjoys expanding his artistic skills to incorporate other mediums into his art practice and considers the process of art-making as a path connecting with larger communities in the vast world of art.
Tomoyasu Nakano was awarded the Bank of America Scholarship and the SAIC Presidential Scholarship to complete his BFA.
Dennis Nguyen is a Chicago based Social Worker dedicated to serving Queer BIPOC through anti-racist community work. His passion is exploring how intersectionality affects our experiences and helping others through counseling, mahjong, community building, and workshops. Dennis identifies as a cis queer Southeast Asian male.
Tom Rosenak is a senior consultant with over twenty-five years’ experience in leadership communication with a focus on the persuasive arts of sales, presentation, executive presence, and influence without authority. He works with clients to expand business performance through relationships, influence, and communication strategies. Tom is the author of Your Momentum Playbook – How to get unstuck and release greater flow personally and professionally. Tom’s coaching style is engaging, constructive and encouraging while ever challenging the participant to improve. He has broad client experience, from small not-for-profit, to Fortune 500 firms.
Larry Schwartz is a 27-year Billiards Digest monthly columnist and an author of 8-Ball Handbook for Winners. He has also been selected as top 150 players for the International Pool Tour, is 7 year live action pool commentator, had a cameo appearance in the movie The Color of Money, and was a 1st place North American 8-Ball Championship for 3 consecutive years along with many other Championship titles.
Rebekah has been cross-stitching for twenty years, completing projects ranging from one-nighters to a cross-stitched landscape that took six years to complete. She loves teaching others about what she considers the most accessible, customizable, and easy-to-learn craft! When not cross-stitching, Rebekah continues to be a lifelong learner – having recently completed the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises program at NU and regularly takes both piano and sewing lessons. Rebekah works in the Department of Communication Studies as the Undergraduate Program Administrator, where she has worked for six years. Additionally, Rebekah is the 2022-2023 Association of Northwestern University Women President.
A native Singaporean, Sylvia was a ceramic apprentice at Jono Pandolfio studio in New Jersey, and a ceramic instructor in Singapore. Her artwork includes sculptural and functional wheel-thrown pieces, all largely inspired by nature and animals. She is also the graduate assistant for arts and programming at Norris University Center. She holds a BS and MS in mechanical engineering with a minor in Art and is currently a PhD student at Northwestern's mechanical engineering department.
As an Etiquette Consultant with over 20 years of experience as a communications professional, a mentor for girls and with extensive experience in pageantry, Krystal is passionate about empowering individuals to cultivate confidence, poise, and social grace. With a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Psychology, she combines a deep understanding of human behavior with communication skills to help clients refine their personal and professional presence through interactive etiquette sessions. Her approach is tailored to instill self-assurance and polished manners in every aspect of life. Krystal is a Chicago native that enjoys creating memorable experiences with poise, confidence and purpose!
Christine Wolf is an author, trauma-informed memoir coach, and developmental editor. Her work has been featured on CNN and HuffPost Live, in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Runner’s World,ChicagoNow, and others, and on live storytelling stages including The Moth, which named Wolf a Chicago StorySLAM champ. She’s the co-author of Politics, Partnerships, & Power (Master Wings Publishing, 2023), a biography about NU Law alumnus U.S. Rep. Ralph E. Church and his wife, U.S. Rep. Marguerite Stitt Church — one of the first fifty women elected to Congress. Wolf founded Writers’ Haven Evanston, a coworking space for women writers, as well as the Write to Heal Workshops & Retreats. When not working, Christine’s typically training for the next Chicago Marathon or stealing moments to write her own memoir of sisterhood lost and found. More at Writers’ Haven by Christine Wolf on Substack.
Peter Wujcik is a Licensed Deaf Interpreter, American Sign Language Instructor, and Theatrical ASL Director, born to Deaf parents. His ASL teaching credits include: Currently ASL Instructor, Teacher Assistance and Tutor at Columbia College Chicago since 2014, (8) years at Bell Elementary School, (5) years at the Art Institute of Chicago, and (14) years at City Colleges of Chicago (Wright College, Harold Washington and Olive-Harvey). He acted as Emcee for the 100 years celebration of the Chicago Chapter of the Illinois Association for the Deaf in 2008. His past theater experience includes ASL Consultant (for both actors and interpreters) for Bell School`s production of GUYS AND DOLLS JR and for Steppenwolf Theater`s THE WHEEL, TRIBES, THE WAY WEST, THE QUALMS, NIGHT ALIVE, THE HERD, GRAND CONCOURSE, and CONSTELLATIONS. Also Sign Language interpreting for DePaul Reskin Theater`s PROSPERO`S STORM, THE KID WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT, CINDERELLA: THE REMIX and JUNIE B JONES IS NOT A CROOK, and Eclipse Theater Company`s THE LITTLE FLOWER OF EAST ORANGE.