Staff & Board - Union Project

Jeffrey Dorsey

(he/him/his)

Executive Director

jeffrey@unionproject.org x226

Jeffrey is a compassionate leader, collaborator, community builder, and activist. He loves being at Union Project because he gets the opportunity to practice all of these qualities everyday. He is grateful to work with people who are also actively working toward positive change in their lives and communities. When he isn’t at UP you will find him walking in nature, meditating, playing soccer, or making paintings as social commentary.

Michelle Clesse

(she/her)

Director of Engagement

michelle@unionproject.org x229

Michelle is an engagement escalator, data junkie, spreadsheet fanatic, and visual artist. She believes clay can and should be used to unite people and build empathy. She is dedicated to making sure everyone has the chance to explore clay. Outside of UP, Michelle really enjoys baking, lifting weights, and making spreadsheets to track all sorts of nonsense.

Amélie Peyroux

(they/them)

Interim Arts Education Assistant – Outreach & Custom Programs

amelie@unionproject.org

Amélie is an arts educator with a passion for making the arts accessible to all children and learners. They believe that art is a tool for exploring and processing our emotions and relationships to the world around us. They have taught children in four different languages across three countries! When not at Union Project, they love gardening, fostering animals, and exploring the wilderness.

Emily Ventura

(she/her)

Interim Arts Education Assistant – Classes & Workshops

emily@unionproject.org

Emily is an experienced arts educator in the Pittsburgh community with a particular love for teaching sculpture and ceramics. She strives to help develop and innovate safe virtual and in-person programming with us at Union Project in this time of challenge and change. When not at Union Project, Emily loves to learn new things, and her latest obsession is gardening. She enjoys growing plants like mint, chamomile, and lavender so she can use them to make homemade tea.

Rebecca McNeil

(she/her/hers)

Shared Chief Financial Officer, Arts Finance Cohort

rmcneil@artscohort.org

Rebecca is a number genius and uses budgets to tell stories. She’s basically the Tolkien of excel. Rebecca comes to Union Project through her shared role with The Arts Finance Cohort members including Contemporary Craft, New Hazlett Theater, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Union Project. Rebecca is a classically trained clarinetist with a degree in performance and plays clarinet with a local community ensemble and loves vegan treats.

Sam Laffey

(she/her)

Marketing Coordinator

sam@porterloves.com

Sam is a writer, designer, artist, social media addict, and marketer dedicated to supporting artists and small arts organizations. She loves working with Union Project because we are always looking for ways to push ourselves to build a more empathetic and equitable community through the arts. We’re never “done.” Sam has two dogs that run her life, is obsessed with the color green, and watches way too much TV.