MAAE Leadership

Dr. Cynthia Williams Phelps holds a Ph.D. in Music Education, with an emphasis in learning, teaching, and curriculum, from the University of Missouri. Dr. Phelps teaches graduate courses in music education online at the University of Missouri.  As a music teacher educator, university supervisor, public school music educator, and choral/instrumental performer, she cultivated a unique perspective for the importance of fine arts advocacy and arts integrated learning communities. Dr. Phelps has collaborated with Literacy and Art Education specialists in teaching expressive arts projects, developed integrative course materials, and presented arts integration workshops at state and national conferences. 

Kyna Iman a Missouri lobbyist, has an unusual name, pronounced Ki-na I-mahn. Since 1993, Kyna has run her own one-person lobbying firm, Kyna Iman LLC. The one person is her, and it’s how she likes it.  Iman went to William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., where, unlike some of her colleagues at the Capitol, she did not study political science or law; she was an English and communications Major, who minored in dance. She's worked with the Arts Council,  since 1988, and now represents a wide variety of issues related to arts, education and health including Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, Missouri Citizens for the Arts, Gifted Association of Missouri,  American Red Cross, the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA), Missouri Southern State University, Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association, among others. 

Sarah Serio, MAAE's Director of Marketing and Communications,  is a nationally exhibiting printmaker residing in southwest Missouri. She received degrees in fine art and graphic communication. She is active in her area arts community. Contact Sarah at  communication@moaae.org

Vicki Bean is retired visual arts educator who coordinates this massive project for MAAE and MAEA each year. Vicki has taken on a number of leadership roles thorughout her career including President of MAEA, Advocacy Chair, District and Division representative and more. She has served the Alliance in several ways including a seat on the Advisory Council. She was named the National Secondary Art Educator of the Year and National Western Regional Art Educator of the Year in (both in 2015.) Among her duties as exhibit chair, Vicki not only collects the student art and distributes it for selection, but also oversees the student recognition, the duplication and the display of the work in the Senate Hallway at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City. In addition, she has overseen the distribution of copies of the selected prints to the Missouri Senators who chose them, and has also brought visual displays to MAEA conferences to celebrate this work.Learn more about this annual project here.

Phyllis Pasley - Master in Art of Teaching , Webster University, Bachelor of Science in Education (Elementary)  and Bachelor of Music Education (K-12 Vocal) from University of Central Missouri. Retired after 34 years in public school teaching from Pattonville School District  July 2019, where she spent the bulk of her tenure as a K-5 General/Vocal Music specialist at Willow Brook Elementary. Her teaching experience also included long-term sub positions at Duchesne Catholic High School and St. Louis Public Schools. Phyllis has served on boards and commissions for the Creative Motion Alliance, and the Maryland Heights Cultural Arts Commission. She has worked closely on a series of benefit concerts for the Branson Regional Arts Council and Neighbors and Friends of Table Rock Lake. Married to Tom since 1985, the couple reside in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Phyllis began training in January 2020 with Ben Martin and assumed the executive director role July 1, 2020.