Staff bios
Administrative Staff
Sue Gall, Director
Sue has been with the UMHS Children’s Center since it opened in 1991. She has also held teacher and assistant director positions here, but she’s been our director since 2004. She has a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Siena Heights College. Sue has four awesome kids, Jason, Jamie, Jeremy, and Lindsey, and five super-awesome grandchildren, Addison, Jackson, Emerson, Ella, and Aiden.
Cathy Gorga, Program Director/School-Age Programs Director
Cathy was a teacher at UMHSCC from 2002-04 before earning her Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Social Work (Community Organizing) from the University of Michigan. She returned in 2006 in an administrative role to provide teacher and family support. Cathy loves to swim, eat candy, ride her bike, beat everyone at board games, play music, and play in general!
Diane Wellday, Administrative Assistant
Diane has worked in early childhood for 27 years, including many years as a teacher her at UMHSCC. She’s been with the center since it opened in 1991. Diane enjoys spending time with her grand-angels, her dogs and cats, and gardening. She loves greeting families every day!
Sarah Barry
Sarah has been working in early childhood for 10 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for five years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College and has taken courses in Special Education at Eastern Michigan University. Sarah enjoys providing the children with hugs, stickers, or just a warm good-bye at the end of the day before heading home to her two little ones!
Laura Whitford, Scheduling Coordinator
Laura has worked in early childhood for 15 years and has been with UMHSCC for 13 years.
Maureen Windel, Accountant
Maureen has worked in the accounting field for over 25 years. Formerly an employee of the management company, she has been involved with the center for 17 years. Now she is happy to be a full-time employee with UMHSCC. Maureen loves spending time with her family, especially her 10-year-old granddaughter. She enjoys entertaining, boating and road trips with her husband.
Teaching Staff
Honey Bunny Team
Heidi Coyne
Heidi has been working in early childhood for 18 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for one year. She is pursuing an Associate Degree in Child Care, along with working on a CDA certification.
Joelle Emery
Joelle has been working in early childhood for eight years, and this is her first year teaching at UMHSCC. She has a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Psychology from Tufts University.
Dana Federer
Dana has been working in early childhood for 31 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 16 years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Lisa Girbach
Lisa has been working in early childhood for 12 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for six years. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Math.
Kathy Periord
Kathy has been working in early childhood for 12 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for seven years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College
Rainbow Tot Team
Shawn Behnke
Shawn received her B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Eastern Michigan University. She earned her M.A. as a Reading Specialist (K-12) from Siena Heights University. Shawn currently maintains an Elementary Professional Teaching Certificate (K-8) with both an early childhood endorsement and a reading specialist endorsement. She has 15 years’ experience teaching in early childhood classrooms, including 5 years’ experience at UMHSCC. Shawn is the proud mother of 3 teenage children. The younger two are high school students and the oldest is a student at MSU. In her free time, Shawn shuttles her children to school activities, marching band activities and is an avid reader.
Patrina Gregory
Patrina has been working in early childhood for 16 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 11 years. She has taken courses in Child Care at Washtenaw Community College.
Marci Masserant
Marci has been teaching in early childhood for nine years. This is her first year at UMHSCC. She has taught preschool to third grade, and taught at Montessori schools for six years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with minors in Science, Social Science and Early Childhood Education from Eastern Michigan University. She obtained her Master of Arts in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Toledo University. Marci lives in Ann Arbor with her son, Colin. He is her greatest blessing. She enjoys going to the park, library and just hanging out with her son. She also likes to work out, read, write songs, and watch movies. She is happy to be working with the infants, staff and families at UMHSCC!
Cathi Spirko
Cathi has been working in early childhood related field for 16 years. She began working at UMHCCC in 1998 then left after two years to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University. In addition to social work classes, Cathi has credits in Elementary Education with a focus on Emotionally Impaired and worked with autistic children doing home behavior modification therapy. Cathi loves working in early childhood and feels it’s her calling that brought her back to U of M in January 2011. In her spare time, Cathi volunteers for programs at the Lincoln elementary school where her two children attend. She also holds a black belt in Jujutsu, teaches self-defense for women, and is looking into teaching martial arts for children.
Pam White
Pam has been working in early childhood 24 years and teaching at UMHSCC for 19 years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College as well as her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. In her spare time, Pam likes to cook and finding time to sit down with a good book!
Dancing Frog Team
Jill Bauer
Jill has been working in early childhood for 15 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for two years. She has taken courses in Child Care and Early Education at Schoolcraft College.
Brandy Logan
Brandy has been teaching at UMHSCC for 12 years. She is pursuing an Associate Degree in Child Care at Washtenaw Community College.
Krystyna Ozog
Krystyna has been working in early childhood for 18 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for seven years. She is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Child Development at Washtenaw Community College. She also did an Individualized Study Program at Eastern Michigan University with three minors: Art, Language, and Social Studies.
Janis Sargent
Janis has been working in early childhood for 23 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 17 years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Jyothi Varma
Jyothi has been working in early childhood for 15 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for four years. She has a Bachelor Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Biological Sciences, both from Osmania University.
Fuzzy Chick Team
Wesal Al-Khafaji
Wesal has been teaching at UMHSCC for 15 years. She is currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care at Washtenaw Community College. She earned a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification at WCC, as well as an M.A. in Guidance & Counseling from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Agricultural Science from Mosul University in Iraq. She has been married since 1990 and has two stepchildren and two stepgrandchildren. She loves her job working with toddlers!
Valerie Alexander
Valerie has been teaching at UMHSCC for two years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University.
Leah Davis
Leah has been working in early childhood for 22 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 15 years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College. Leah has been married for 18 years to her wonderful husband, Bryan. They have four awesome sons, Travis (17), Bryce (12), Patrick (7), and Cameron (2).
Shannon Grosshans
Shannon has been working in early childhood for 21 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for nine years. She has taken courses in Education and Early Childhood at Eastern Michigan University. Shannon is married to Dan Grosshans and has two children, Layne (eight) and Allie (four). She enjoys working with young children and watching them learn through everything they do!
Emily McCarty
Emily has been working in early childhood for 11 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for seven years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Jumping Monkey Team
Tanesha Conner
Tanesha has been working in early childhood for 19 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 12 years. She has a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Central Michigan University, as well as a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Michigan.
Cathy Daniels
Cathy has been working in early childhood for 30 years, including at a parent cooperative program at Stanford University. She’s been teaching at UMHSCC for 21 years – since it opened in 1991. She has a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from California Polytechnic State University and has taken several post-graduate Early Childhood courses at Eastern Michigan University. Cathy has a son who is a graduate of UMHS Children’s Center. He just completed a B.S. degree and is now working on a second Bachelor degree in Engineering.
Kim Pascoe
Kim has been working in early childhood for 27 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for six years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care & Development and an Associate Degree in Child Care & Special Education, both from Schoolcraft College.
LeeAnna Scott
LeeAnna has been working in early childhood for 13 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for six years. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Family Studies from Spring Arbor University. LeeAnna has a Bachelor of Arts in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University and an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Baker College.
Edward Yuill
Ed has been working in early childhood for 10 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for six years. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Michigan State University, as well as an Associate in Business Administration from Oakland Community College.
Bouncing Bear Team
Karyn Davenport
Karyn has been working in early childhood for 16 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for eight years. She has a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education from John Brown University, as well as an Associate Degree in Art from Delta College.
Lisa Kline
Lisa has been working in early childhood for 26 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for five years. She has a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification from Washtenaw Community College
Suzanne Pehrson
Suzanne has been working in early childhood for 26 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 18 years. She has a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, and she has taken courses in Child Care at Washtenaw Community College and Eastern Michigan University.
Nancy Thorp
Nancy has been working in early childhood for 18 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for eight years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Eastern Michigan University, and she has taken courses in Nursing at Schoolcraft College.
Llamas in Pajamas Team
Kadesha Baker
Kadesha holds a BSW from Eastern Michigan University. She studied early childhood development at University of Detroit Mercy and received a CDA at Washtenaw Community College. Kadesha has over 20 years of preschool teaching experience (seven years at UMHSCC from 2001-2007). Kadesha is returning to UMHSCC after a four-year hiatus from the classroom. She created a multicultural preschool program entitled “Multi-Culti Time” which she taught once a week to the Lemur class room in 2010. Kadesha is also a multicultural curriculum trainer and facilitator and conducted diversity training & team building workshops for preschool teachers. During her social work internship at Eastern Michigan University’s Autism Collaborative Center, she developed a play-based program for children with early signs of autism spectrum disorders entitled “P.S. Fun.” “P.S. Fun” is still up and running every other Saturday at EMU’s Autism Collaborative Center. She lives in Ann Arbor with her teenage son, who is a freshman at Pioneer High school.
Katrina Castelow
Katrina has been teaching at UMHSCC for seven years. She has taken courses in Elementary Education at Washtenaw Community College.
Kathleen Gubacz
Kathleen has been working in early childhood for 17 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for eight years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Hilary Patalidis
Hilary has been working in early childhood for 11 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for seven years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Giggling Gecko Team
Dalaney Gill
Dalaney graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, majoring in Elementary Mathematics with a minor in Integrated Group Science. She has been teaching at UMHSCC for three years. She also has a State of Michigan Elementary Teaching Certificate and is a member of MEA. Dalaney lives in Ypsilanti with her husband. She enjoys the lake in the summer and the ski slopes in the winter!
Lynn Holland
Lynnie has been working in early childhood for 24 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 15 years. She has her Child Development Associate (CDA) and is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College. Lynnie has presented at regional, state, and national early childhood conferences on Digital Photography in Early Childhood Classrooms.
Tiffany Kitson
Tiffany has been working in early childhood for 13 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for eight years. She has a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; and has taken courses in Child Care at Washtenaw Community College. Tiffany has been married for 10 years and has two children and a dog, Mazie. She lives in Pinckney.
Lynn Yurkunas
Lynn has been working in early childhood for 12 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for eight years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College, as well as her Child Development Associate (CDA) certification.
Leaping Lemur Team
Tanara Abner
Tanara has been teaching at UMHSCC for nine years. She has taken courses in Child Care at Washtenaw Community College and courses in Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan University.
Carolyn Baker
Carolyn has been teaching at UMHSCC for 11 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Parks Management from Eastern Michigan University.
Courtney Boik
Courtney has been teaching at UMHSCC for four years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Eastern Michigan University.
Beth Czuj
Beth has been working in early childhood for six years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for three years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University.
Support Staff Team
Joy Gonyo
Joy has been teaching at UMHSCC for 14 years. She is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Bounthay (Bee) Inthaphone
Bee is a graduate of Washtenaw Community College with an Associate of Applied Science as a Child Care Professional. She had over four years of experience working with young children before joining our program. Bee has been teaching with the UM Early Childhood Programs since August 2009.
Mary Maloney
Mary has been working in early childhood for 24 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 6 years. She has an Associate Degree in Child Care from Washtenaw Community College.
Lauren Nilsson
Lauren has been working in early childhood for 10 years and has been teaching at UMHSCC for 2 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University. Lauren is married and had her first baby earlier this year, a son named Liam.
Matt Smith
Matt has been teaching at UMHSCC for 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Michigan State University, and he completed coursework at Eastern Michigan University towards a Teaching Certification.
Michelle Smith
Michelle has been working in early childhood for 19 years, and has been teaching at UMHSCC for five years. She has an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Eastern Michigan University; a B.S. in Child Development from Madonna University; and an Infant / Toddler Teaching Credential from the American Montessori Society.