Dr. Nelson is the Founding Executive Director of InnOVATION Arts Academy. Previously, she founded the Academy for Creative Excellence Preparatory program and Broadway Bound Summer Camps at the University of Kentucky, where she completed her DMA in vocal performance. Dr. Nelson has prepared children's ensembles to perform for former president Bill Clinton (Lexington Sight and Hearing Event) and Laura Bush (St. Mark's School Literacy).  She also served as the Youth Performance Corps Director for the World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies in 2010.  She currently works as a performance coach for professional child actors, and many of her students (Emily Hoder, Audrey Bennett, Brooklyn Shuck, Kyla Carter) have landed roles in Broadway productions and tours. She earned her undergraduate degree in music education (University of Regina) in 2001, and has been teaching youth and children in the performing arts for over 20 years. At InnOVATION Arts Academy, Dr. Nelson serves as an administrator, producer, director and music director.  Dr. Nelson believes in developing students as 360 degree performers, offering them training in every aspect of the theatre.  She invests in her students holistically as people and as artists, and is committed to their long-term development and training.  Dr. Nelson works with young performers in Lexington, New York, LA, and Florida, specializing in voice, acting and audition techniques.

Jack McIntyre is a proud native Lexingtonian who has been performing since he was five years old. He attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (1990-1994) where he played soccer, competed on the speech team, and performed in many shows in the theatre program. Upon graduation he studied theatrical arts at the North Carolina School of the Arts (1994-1997) and The HARTT School (1997-2000). While at The HARTT School he had the opportunity to study abroad in England as an integral part of his classical training. He received a B.F.A. as part of the inaugural graduating class of the HARTT Theatre Program in 2000. Jack has also been certified in many stage combat disciplines by the Society of American Fight Directors. He has worked professionally in New York and Los Angeles and has extensive credits including performing in numerous productions with Lexington Shakespeare in the Park. He has been involved with teaching, directing, and mentoring young actors for over 20 years through Broadway Bound, ACE Academy, InnOVATION Arts Academy, and Paul Laurence Dunbar's theatre program. He teaches physical acting, mask work, script analysis, Shakespeare techniques, and stage combat. He has directed InnOVATION productions including James and the Giant Peach, Mean Girls Jr, Finding Nemo Jr, Elf Jr, Disney Dare to Dream, and he was an associate director for Hadestown High School Edition. Jack also works with children with special needs at Paul Laurence Dunbar. He has been a paraeducator with Fayette County Public Schools since 2002 and was a certified teacher for two years. He received his M.F.A. focused in Special Education from Georgetown College in 2014. Jack is grateful to be a part of the InnOVATION Arts Academy and he truly loves sharing his experience with such wonderful young artists.

Charlize (Charli) O’Dell is a University of Kentucky graduate with a B.A. in Dance. With a longtime passion for musical theatre choreography, Charlize brings 8+ years of experience to share with the Innovation community. Charlize is formulating a new dance educational program at Morton Middle School in Lexington as she serves as their dance instructor. As a choreographer, Charlize has worked with many educational, community, and professional companies within the Central Kentucky area. Some of her favorite works include: Shrek: The Musical (Bryan Station High School), SIX: Teen Edition (Gateway Regional Arts Center), and Hairspray (FCPS District-Wide). Charlize holds a strong belief that the arts change lives and cannot wait to continually share her passion with the Innovation Arts Academy community. 

Christina has always had a passion for creating and art-making. She graduated in 2015 from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Art Education and Art Studio. After graduation, she taught Art at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School for 6 years. In the summer of 2023, she was a Wardrobe Apprentice at The Lexington Theatre Company (The Lex) and fell in love with theatrical costuming in their productions of The Sound of Music and Memphis. She also worked as Stitcher and Dresser for The Lex’s productions of White Christmas, A Christmas Story, 42nd Street, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and A Christmas Carol. She is now working as the Associate Program Coordinator for InnOVATION and is also InnOVATION's Costume Designer. Some of her favorite shows she's costumed are Seussical (her very first show with InnOVATION), Mean Girls, and Hadestown Teen Edition. In the future, she hopes to continue costuming future shows with InnOVATION and The Lex, as well as teach sewing and costuming classes. Christina is so thrilled to be a part of the InnOVATION team!

Courtney Smith is a proud graduate of the University of Kentucky(Theatre BA) and has had an immense passion for music and theatre since childhood. Some of her past credits include Dorothy(Wizard of Oz), Ilona(She Loves Me), Euterpe(Xanadu), Pilar(Legally Blonde), Lucinda(Into the Woods), and Marty(Grease). She also has an extensive choral background, including her the University of Kentucky Treble Choir, University of Kentucky Chamber Choir, University of Kentucky Choristers, University of Kentucky a cappella group Bluenote, and has been accepted into, attended, and performed at the KMEA(Kentucky Music Educators Association) and ACDA(American Choral Directors Association) conferences on multiple occasions. Beyond theatre, she writes poetry and short stories, draws, paints, and works for the state health cabinet. She loves working with innovation and seeing the kids grow and achieve so much has filled her life with so much joy! She can’t wait for the upcoming season and hopes to be a positive, kind, and accommodating force for the program!

Logan Wilkerson from Jacksonville, FL has been training in the arts for over two decades. Prior to college, she trained in pageants, dance, theatre, and aerial silks. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre from Morehead State University. While in college, she had a strong focus on Theatre Education, working with The Little Company on 2 theatrical tours, 5 summers as a Teaching Artist for Shooting Stars YouTheatre, and taking several classes in the Theatre Education program at MSU. She most recently directed Snow White and Mary Poppins for Shooting Stars YouTheatre. Logan received an Undergraduate Research Fellowship where she worked as Box Office Manager for the Lucille Caudill Little Theatre. Recent acting credits include Olympe De Gouges (The Revolutionists), Edgar Allan Poe (MisterE of Imagination), Peppermint Patty (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown).

Danielle fell in love with theatre at the age of five after performing in the Music Man in Woodford County, leading to a childhood of performing shows all over the Bluegrass. After earning her Musical Theatre degree at Berry College in Rome, GA, she earned a contract with the California Theatre Center, allowing her to tour professionally all over the west coast. She returned to Lexington in 2010 and transitioned into teaching, earning her certificate for K-5 at Asbury University. More recently, she has also been able to focus on directing and giving back to the younger theatre generation through various outlets. Favorite performance credits include: The Secret Garden (Mary Lennox), The Tempest (Ariel), and Bus Stop (Elma). She recently directed: You Can't Take it With You, The Curious Savage, Charlotte's Web, and Father of the Bride. Danielle loves teaching acting classes and sharing her passion with all of these wonderful Innovation students.

Matthew T. Burney was born and raised in NY, but relocated to Lexington, Kentucky at the end of 2019. He is the Founder of The Artist’s Clinic, where their mission is to develop the artist holistically, not only in their craft, but also character. We provide them with community to help them heal and grow into their craft with others that want to do the same. We build up artists who authentically show up as themselves everyday, and feel safe while doing so without being judged. Matthew T. Burney is a trained actor with two degrees: an Associates degree in performing arts, studying at Dutchess Community College, and a Bachelor’s degree in musical theater, concentrating in acting at Long Island University-Post Campus. Additional to training in the arts, he has been working in childcare for 15+ years. Matthew now enjoys teaching students principles he has learned in his journey, adults and children, that he wishes he had the opportunity to learn at such a young age. Mr. Burney is also a model, dancer, traveling Spoken-Word poet, and playwright. He thoroughly enjoys sharing his gifts with the next generation!

Isaac Jones (he/him) is a Lexington, KY–based composer, director, and music educator with over a decade of experience in theatre, composition, and arts education. A graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Music, he spent nearly a decade teaching chorus and guitar in Fayette County Public Schools and continues to work with local schools as an accompanist, vocal coach, and choreographer. Isaac has music directed numerous productions throughout Central Kentucky and recently returned to the stage as an actor in 2025 after several years away. In addition to his theatre work, he serves as a section leader in the Beaumont Presbyterian Church choir and composes original music for games and multimedia, blending orchestral, ambient, and world influences with adaptive audio and interactive sound design.  

Colleen Ireland comes from the Garden State of New Jersey. She has performed throughout the United States and internationally, showcasing her talents in a variety of styles of dance. Highlights of her professional career include sharing the stage with Andrea McArdle who played Annie in the original Broadway cast; As a professional dancer, Colleen starred as Cleopatra at Caesars Palace in Atlantic city, New Jersey and opened for The Apprentice in Atlantic city. Mrs. Ireland has shared her love of dance showing love in orphanages in Russia, China, and Jamaica. She has taught dance and has choreographed for the Northern Kentucky Theatre and Dance Department, The Cincinnati Ballet Academy and the School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Lexington, KY. Colleen holds her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Northern Kentucky University. She has spent summers training at the Boston Ballet and Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi.

Bella Mancuso is a recent Belmont University graduate, receiving her BFA in musical theatre and a minor in education. Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, she is so excited to be back to teach the next generation. Bella has been an educator at Missoula Children’s Theatre, Nashville Children’s Theatre, and Kentucky Shakespeare. Recent credits include Constance in "Ride the Cyclone", Jack’s Mother in "Into the Woods", and Woman 2 in "Starting Here, Starting Now".

Dakara Cooper is an undergraduate student at the University of Kentucky majoring in Theatre with a Musical Theatre Certificate. She was recently on the last season of American Idol as well as the University of Kentuckys production of “Shakespeare in Love”. Her past in music directing with Mary Joy has shown her love for music and teaching, and she is excited to continue sharing her passion with others.