Our Staff:

Meet the people who keep The Art Garage running.
  • A smiling middle-aged woman with glasses, wearing a blue and white patterned shirt, standing with her arms crossed in a store aisle.

    Kate Donelan

    Executive Director

    Kate leads The Art Garage with a deep belief that creativity belongs to everyone. With a BA in History and an MBA from Santa Clara University, and a career rooted in nonprofit and community-focused work, Kate is committed to growing The Art Garage's reach and impact across Denver.

  • Person with short dark hair and blue streaks, wearing a denim jacket with pins, crossing arms, standing in a workshop or hardware store.

    Melissa Scholl

    Director of Education

    Melissa's background in public education and her passion for art led her to The Art Garage, where she works to bring access to visual arts education to everyone.

    She spent 15 years in Denver Public Schools as a 6–12 Language Arts teacher and school administrator, serving differentiated classrooms in Pathways schools. Her background includes trauma-informed teaching, Crisis Prevention certification, and a strong understanding of supports and strategies for learners of all backgrounds.

    Melissa holds a Master's of Education and believes deeply in equity in the arts — and that every human can create. She also loves punk rock.

  • A woman with blonde hair and green eyes wearing a black shirt, smiling, standing in what appears to be a classroom or art space with shelves and colorful art supplies in the background.

    Elyse Lani

    Senior Program Manager

    Elyse sets our schedule and shapes the on-site programming that makes The Art Garage what it is. Her artistic creativity and love of drawing and mixed media brought her here in 2018. With a BFA and a deep drive to create meaningful experiences for our students, she's the engine behind so much of what happens in our studio.

  • A man with dark, wavy hair, glasses, and a beard smiling, wearing a gray shirt with buttons near the neckline, standing in front of a store display with various tools and equipment.

    Izaac Tafoya

    Program Lead

    Izaac orders all the supplies we use at The Art Garage, assists with classes, works with the Administrative staff and teaches!

  • Young woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a blue shirt and jeans, has tattoos on her arm, standing in front of a cluttered workshop or hardware store.

    Elena Niermann

    Operations Coordinator

    Lena (she/her) is a professional artist, activist and educator. She believes strongly in the healing power of art and community, and she loves being able to cultivate these values at the Art Garage. Usually found in the front office, Lena oversees day to day programming at the studio.

    Lena received a BA in Studio Painting and Psychology, and an Arts Entrepreneurship Certification from the University of Northern Colorado in 2021. Her personal art practice focuses on sustainability and adornment, including beaded jewelry and decor, painting, mixed media and sculpture.