Health System Children's Center Staff

Administrative Staff

Holly Delgado, Center Director

Holly holds a master of arts degree in early childhood education, with a specialization in special education, from Northern Illinois University, and a bachelor's degree in therapeutic research and psychology from Central Michigan University. She has been an early childhood educator since 2008, working as a teacher, author, and presenter. Holly teaches as an adjunct professor, since 2015, at Madonna University. She has a State of Michigan teaching certificate in elementary K-5, with an endorsement in early childhood education. Holly is a certified trainer for Highscope Educational Research Foundation. She has been published nine times, in early education articles, research and resources. Holly joined the U-M Children's Centers in September 2020.

Kellie Chestler-Root, Program Director

Kellie holds a bachelor of science degree in child development with an early childhood concentration from Central Michigan University. She has presented at the local, state and national levels on a variety of early childhood education topics. She has assisted in teaching U-M Psych 307 students, as well as being the supervising teacher for a local university's student teachers. Kellie had seven years of prior experience working with children before joining the U-M Children’s Centers as a teacher in August 2011, and became the program director in August 2023.

Brigid Williams, Administrative Assistant

Brigid holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University. She also holds a State of Michigan elementary teaching certificate with a reading endorsement. Brigid joined the U-M Children’s Centers as a teacher in August 2011, and became an administrative assistant in August 2019.

Teaching Staff

Jill Bauer

Jill has taken courses in child care and early childhood development at Schoolcraft College. She had over 24 years of experience in early childhood education prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in May 2011.

Katrina Castelow

Katrina has taken courses at Washtenaw Community College in elementary education. She had over nine years of teaching experience prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in July 2010.

Courtney Cebula

Courtney has a bachelor of science degree in therapeutic recreation from Eastern Michigan University. She joined the U-M Children's Centers in June 2008.

Mariana Ciobanu

Mariana has a bachelor’s degree in science, as well as a master’s degree in moderate disabilities (pre-K through 8th grade) from American International College. She also holds degrees in general medicine and orthopedics. Mariana had over 17 years of experience as a teacher in public schools prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in 2016.

Tanesha Conner

Tanesha has a master of arts degree in professional counseling from Central Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree in general studies from the University of Michigan. She had 10 years of experience in early childhood education prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in 1998.

Shea Cook

Shea has a CDA in child development from Washtenaw Community College. She had five years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in February 2022.

Beth Czuj

Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University. She had more than 16 years of experience as a preschool teacher prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in January 2010.

Leah Davis

Leah has an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She brought 29 years of early childhood experience to our program when she joined the U-M Children’s Centers in August 1997.

Ashley Fausneaucht

Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in children and families from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and an associate’s degree from Jackson Community College. She had seven years of experience in early childhood education prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in April 2012.

Dana Federer

Dana has an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She had several years of experience in early childhood education prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in February 1997.

Amani Flowers

Amani is pursuing an associate’s degree in general studies from Washtenaw Community College. She had five years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in February 2022.

Karyn Flues

Karyn holds an associate’s degree in art, as well as a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from John Brown University. She had more than 30 years of experience as a preschool teacher before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in August 2004.

Anne Graham

Anne holds bachelor of science degrees in special education (cognitive impairments) and elementary education from Central Michigan University, with a minor in early childhood education. Anne had worked in early childhood education for five years before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in 2018.

Lisa Girbach

Lisa has taken many courses in education, focusing on early childhood and math, at Eastern Michigan University. She had been teaching for eight years prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in July 2007.

Patrina Gregory

Patrina has taken many courses in early childhood education from Washtenaw Community College, and had more than eight years of experience as a preschool teacher before she joined the U-M Children’s Centers in July 2001.

Kaia Houston

Kaia has an associate of science degree in elementary education from Washtenaw Community College. She had 7 years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in August 2021.

Ian Huerta

Ian holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Central Michigan University. He had one year of experience working with children prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in February 2017.

Bounthay (Bee) Inthaphone

Bee has an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She had four years of experience in early childhood education before she joined the U-M Children’s Centers in July 2009.

Kimberly Kimbrell

Kim has an associate of applied science degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She had more than 12 years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in August 2021.

Vicki Knight

Vicki has a bachelor of science degree in child development from Central Michigan University. She had five years of experience in early childhood education prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in January 2021.

Brandy Logan

Brandy has taken many courses in child care from Washtenaw Community College, and attended many diverse trainings. She had four years of experience teaching in early childhood education prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in January 2002.

Kristie Luther

Kristie has an associate’s degree in education from Schoolcraft College, and she has taken many courses in early childhood education and child development at Western Michigan University. She had six years of teaching experience before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in June 2019.

Mary Maloney

Mary has an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College, and has taken many courses in early childhood education and literature from Eastern Michigan University. She had 12 years of teaching experience before she joined the U-M Children’s Centers in August 2006.

Marci Masserant

Marci holds a master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from the University of Toledo, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an early childhood endorsement from Eastern Michigan University. She had eight years of teaching experience before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in August 2012.

Emily Masson

Emily has an associate’s degree in applied science-early childhood education from Monroe Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Toledo. She had six years of experience as a preschool teacher prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in January 2019.

Emily McCarty

Emily holds an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College, and had five years of experience as a preschool teacher before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in October 2005. 

Elizabeth (Lisa) Olson

Lisa has a bachelor of general studies degree from Eastern Michigan University, as well as an associate of applied science degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She had 16 years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in August 2021.

Krystyna Ozog

Krystyna has an associate’s degree in child development from Washtenaw Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in individualized studies from Eastern Michigan University. She had six years of experience in early childhood education before she joined the U-M Children’s Centers in August 2005.

Ashley Pascoe

Ashley has a liberal arts degree from Schoolcraft College, and a bachelor's degree in history from Eastern Michigan University. Ashley had five years of experience working with children before joining the U-M Children's Centers in May 2016.

Kim Pascoe

Kim holds two associate’s degrees, in child development and special education, from Schoolcraft College. She had 18 years of teaching experience before she began teaching with the U-M Children’s Centers in October 2007.

Shauna Paulson

Shauna has a bachelor’s degree in Asian studies from the University of Michigan, and a teaching of English as a foreign language certificate from the Asian College of Teachers. Shauna had three years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children’s Centers in May 2022.

Kathy Periord

Kathy has an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She had been teaching in early childhood education for seven years before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in September 2006.

Trisha Pickett

Trisha holds a master’s degree in social work from West Virginia University and a bachelor’s degree in family studies and psychology from Central Michigan University. She holds a State of Michigan teaching certificate with endorsements in English language arts and early childhood education. Trisha began teaching with the U-M Children’s Centers in March 2015. 

Lisa Raine

Lisa has an associate’s degree in child development from Washtenaw Community College. She had 20 years of early childhood education experience before she began teaching with the U-M Children’s Centers in September 2007.

Chihiro Rydberg

Chihiro has an associate of applied science degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She had 20 years of experience working with young children prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in August 2021.

Nancy Thorp

Nancy has a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Eastern Michigan University. She had six years of early childhood education experience before joining the U-M Children’s Centers in August 2005.

Jyothi Varma

Jyothi holds two bachelor’s degrees, in education and biological sciences, from Osmania University. She had seven years of experience in early childhood education before she joined the U-M Children’s Centers in October 2007.

Varsha Vijayakumar

Varsha has a CDA in child development from Schoolcraft College, a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women (affiliated with the University of Madras), and a master of science degree in counseling and psychology from the University of Madras. Varsha had 7 years of experience working with children prior to joining the U-M Children's Centers in October 2021.

Diane Wellday

Diane has attended many courses and trainings in early childhood education and child development. She focuses her training on play-based curriculum, and is a master storyteller. Diane has also taken courses on problem solving and critical thinking. Diane began teaching with the U-M Children’s Centers in September 1991.

Pamela White 

Pam has an associate’s degree in child care from Washtenaw Community College. She began teaching with U-M Children’s Centers in December 1993.

Edward Yuill

Ed has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Michigan State University, and an associate’s degree in business administration from Oakland Community College. He joined the U-M Children’s Centers in April 2007.