People Directory

Photo of Jessie Wightkin Gelini Jessie Wightkin Gelini Chef Instructor
504-940-2858

Jessie is a native New Orleanian and a alumni of the Dance Department here at NOCCA. Jessie’s passion for food brought her to the University of Alabama where she studied Culinary Anthropology. She began her culinary education at the prestigious Commander’s Palace where she started at their shrimp peeler and after four years left as the Pastry Chef.…

Photo of Philip Wingerter Philip Wingerter Technical Director
Photo of Dr. Russell Wolfe Dr. Russell Wolfe 12th Grade Sciences

Dr. Russell Wolfe moved to New Orleans in 2007 from Nebraska, where he studied Physics, Biology, and Mathematics. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University for research focused on understanding how stem cells respond to the physical forces that occur during large-scale bioprocessing. While at Tulane, he also taught hands-on undergraduate engineering courses in robotics, electronic circuits, and medical device design, in addition to mentoring undergraduate students in research practices, public presentation, and professional career development.…

Photo of Andy Young Andy Young Creative Writing Faculty
(504) 940-2819

Andy Young is the author of four chapbooks, including John Swenson Dynamicron, forthcoming from Dancing Girl Press, and a full-length poetry collection, All Night It Is Morning (Diálogos Press, 2014). Her poems, essays, and translations have been published in places such as Prairie Schooner, Southern Humanities Review, Ecotone, and the Norton anthology Language for a New Century.…

Photo of Raina Zelinski Raina Zelinski 9th Grade Humanities

Ms. Raina Zelinski is a life-long New Orleanian, transplanted from Northern Canada when she was but 5 years old. After studying political science at Tulane University, she received a BA in English from the University of New Orleans and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in English (2010) as well as a Master’s Degree in Teaching Secondary English (2015).…

Photo of Dan Zimmer Dan Zimmer Theatre Arts: Chair, Theatre Design: Assistant Chair, Design
(504) 940-2871

Mr. Zimmer received his formal training in design and technical direction from New York’s Studio and Forum of Stage Design.  He has worked on productions for the New Orleans Ballet, Delta Festival Ballet, Le Petit, Rivertown Repertory Theatre, and the Contemporary Art Center.

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