School of the Arts Staff

Meghan Merciers

 Dr. Meghan Merciers
Executive Director of the School of the Arts

Meghan Merciers is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a current resident of Florence, Alabama. She is Executive Director of the School of the Arts and Associate Professor of Music at the University of North Alabama. Dr. Merciers has a passion for education and interdisciplinary collaboration and believes these to be some of the most effective forms of arts advocacy. She is an active soloist and chamber musician and frequently performs recitals and lectures with her ensembles, Una Duo, Trio Leo, and Devil Sticks.

Dr. Merciers has toured internationally with the French-American Chamber Orchestra in Lyon, France, for a multilingual adaptation of Bernstein’s West Side Story; in clarinet trio in Assisi, Italy, at the 2013 International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest; and performed and lectured at numerous state, regional, and national conferences. She has endorsements as a Silverstein Pro Team Artist and Yamaha Performing Artist. Dr. Merciers earned all of her degrees in Music Performance, including a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University, a Master of Music from the University of New Mexico, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Her primary artist-teachers include Dr. Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Professor Keith Lemmons, Dr. Nikolasa Tejero, and Dr. Peter Temko. 

Contact Dr. Merciers: 
mmerciers@una.edu | P:256.765.4518
UNA Box 5115| 128 W. Tombigbee St. Florence, AL 35632 

 

Vanessa Borelly Vega

Vanessa Borelly Vega
Communication, Enrollment,
& Marketing Coordinator

Vanessa Borelly Vega specializes in Digital Marketing and Branding of events hosted by the faculty, staff, and students of the UNA School of the Arts, while also working with the SOTA team on recruitment strategies. She earned an English degree from Kent State University and multiple Marketing Certificates from Cornell University. Before her position at UNA, she worked with the Vice President of Student Affairs to create a more inclusive environment for the students at Wright State University. This included leading Multicultural Affairs conferences, helping facilitate the many Student Identity Centers on campus, and managing the student food pantry. In addition to UNA, Vanessa is an avid supporter of the marching arts activities, serving as Director of the Muscle Shoals High School Color Guard and the Social Media Manager of the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit.

Contact Vanessa: 
vborelly@una.edu| P:256.765.5122
UNA Box 5115 | 128 W. Tombigbee St. Florence, AL 35632
Monica Collier Monica Collier
Arts & Events Specialist

Collier is a Shoals native and the University of North Alabama graduate via Florence's former Coffee  High School. Although her Bachelor's degree is in History and Political Science, she boasts roughly two decades experience in local print media as an award-winning editor, designer, and writer. Most recently, she covered the community arts beat for the local newspaper.

 

Contact Monica: 
mecollier1@una.edu | P:256.765.4564
UNA Box 5115 | 128 W. Tombigbee St. Florence, AL 35632

Kayla Manzolillo

Kayla Manzolillo
Technical Director | Norton Auditorium

Kayla Manzolillo is a native of Alabama. She earned her B.A. in Theatre from Mississippi University for Women and went on to receive her M.A. in Theatre from Regent University. Although she has held many different titles in many different theatres, both professional and educational, the position of Technical Director here at UNA is definitely her most cherished.

Contact Kayla: 
kmanzolillo@una.edu| P:256.765.4651
UNA Box 5216 | Florence, AL 35632

 

Ethan Franks

Ethan Franks
Assistant Technical Director | Norton Auditorium

A graduate of the University of North Alabama, Ethan holds a Bachelor of Science in Music. He has performed in numerous ensembles at UNA, including the Marching Pride of North Alabama Marching Band, the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Studio Jazz Band, Collegiate Singers, Chamber Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Clarinet Ensemble.

Contact Ethan: 
efranks@una.edu| P:256.765.4651
UNA Box 5233 | Florence, AL 35632