Rocky Mountain Arts Association Staff

Dr. Chipper Dean
Executive Director 

Dr. Chipper Dean joined Rocky Mountain Arts Association (RMAA) as Executive Director in the summer of 2025. Dr. Dean comes to RMAA from the National Institutes of Health, where he served as a Program Director at the National Cancer Institute, coordinating research efforts in behavioral health (mental health and substance use), LGBTQ+ health, health equity and social determinants of health, and cancer control and population sciences. He also served for seven years as Director of Production for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, where he started as a singing member in 2012. Dr. Dean served two terms on the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) Choruses Board of Directors, and continues to serve as Production Manager for the quadrennial GALA Festival and annual GALA Leadership Symposium.
Dr. Dean began directing church choirs as a teenager, while serving as drum major of his high school band, and continued to play French horn, sing bass, and conduct bands and choirs while pursuing a career as a developmental-health psychologist. He has a Bachelor of Science in psychology (minor in music) and Master of Science in mental health counseling from Stetson University in his native DeLand, Florida, a PhD in educational and developmental psychology from Columbia University in the City of New York, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology and public health at the University of Washington in Seattle. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his seven-year-old rescue mutt Asher, running (outside only, please), and learning as much as he can about the beauty of Denver and Colorado.

Rocky Mountain Arts Board of Directors

If you have an interest in serving on our Board of Directors, please contact info@rmarts.org for more information.

Marcus E. Turner

Board President (2022-Current)
Lone Tree Arts Center

Marcus E. Turner’s career in the arts has spanned several organizations and areas. After receiving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music, Marcus moved into administration, marketing, fundraising and higher education at such institutions as the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the University of Denver, Northwestern University, and SCFD. Currently, Marcus leads marketing, communications, and audience services at Lone Tree Arts Center. When not working, Marcus can be seen on local stages as an actor or as a musician.

mturner@rmarts.org Save

John Hess

RMAA Vice-Chair (2022-Current)
JPH Sports & Entertainment

 

A Colorado native, John Hess (he/him),  currently operates JPH Sports and Entertainment, an event production and consultancy agency in Denver.  Prior, he served as Events Sales and Business Manager for the Denver Center for Performing Arts,  to joining the DCPA, in addition to a 13-year career in professional sport and entertainment production where he oversaw the in-stadium entertainment and game presentation for multiple teams and league events.  John sung with DGMC for years, and now serves the organization as a board member.

Stephen Hutt

Board Member (2021-Current) – Treasurer
Assistant Professor, University of Denver

Stephen is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Denver. His research sits at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI),  Affective Computing, and Education with a special emphasis on supporting students from typically under-represented groups.  Stephen is originally from the UK but completed his PhD at the University of Colorado Boulder, during which time he also sang with DGMC.

stephenhutt@rmarts.org

Natalya  Cruz-Teixeira

Board Member (2022-Current)

Natalya (she/her) currently works for

the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus as an HR Manager. She has a degree from Smith College and also has a background in higher education and nonprofit sectors. Originally from the Boston area, Natalya has lived in Denver for over five years. She has been involved in the performing arts since elementary school and has been singing with the Denver Women’s Chorus since 2019. In addition to her HR experience, Natalya has a passion for DEI work, which she brings to DWC and RMAA.

Austin Roberts

Board Member (2025-Current)
Client Relationship Consultant, U.S. Bank

A Michigan native, Austin moved to Colorado in 2019 and started his career in banking in 2021 with U.S. Bank.  He is passionate about arts, DEI and giving back to the community. He is a founding member of the Denver chapter of the Spectrum LGBTQ+ Employee resource group within U.S. Bank, helping to support bank employees and the communities they serve. Austin grew up loving arts and acts of expression and was a member of the band in high school.  He is excited to bring his knowledge and skills to RMAA.

Ryan Montoya

Board Member (2022 – Current)
Prologis

A native of New Mexico, Ryan has lived in the Denver community for the last 15 years. Ryan grew up in the arts and played in band through high school. He is also passionate about giving back to the community. Currently, Ryan works as a senior manager at Prologis, focusing on Technical and Functional training.

Matthew R. Nilsen

Board Member (2024-Current)
Associate,  Real Estate Department of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

An experienced urban planner andmunicipal government consultant, Matthew focuses his legal practice on land use, real estate development, and government relations. Originally from the East Coast, Matthew has lived in Denver for over eight years. He is a “theatre kid” at heart and has been involved in the performing arts since childhood, with a focus on vocal performance and musical theatre. He also previously served as Marketing Director for the Denver Brass, a Colorado-based ensemble.

Emily Flemming

Board Member (2024-Current)

Senior Pastor, Christ Church United Methodist

Passionate about music, theater, social justice, business, and theology, Emily has pastored Christ Church since 2021 and is excited to join the RMAA Board. As an ordained pastor with 17 years of church leadership,she also brings HR, sales, and marketing expertise from earlier careers in education, legal, and executive search. With Southern charm (hailing from South Carolina), Emily has called Colorado home since 2011. She works to make connections across community, cultural, and religious divides and serves as Finance Chair on the Board of the CU Boulder Wesley Foundation.

Victoria “Tori” Short

Board Member (2024-Current)

Dr. Short (she/her) is originally from a small town in Eastern Kentucky. She has a doctoral degree in Leadership from the University of Cumberlands with an extensive background in nonprofits, research, grants administration, and local and state governments. She currently works for the City of Westminster as a Senior Management Analyst. She has been involved in the performing arts since she was five years old, and had been singing with the Denver Feminist Chorus since her move to Colorado in 2023. She is passionate about social justice, advocacy for DEI, and queer joy through resistance.

Elisabeth Doherty

Board Member (2024-Current)
Elisabeth (she/they) grew up in California but has called Denver home for the past 18 years. She has been singing since joining her first choir at age nine and has sang in professional and community choruses since, with a brief hiatus after her twins her born. One of the best decisions of her life was joining the Denver Women’s Chorus in 2019. Elisabeth brings nine years of nonprofit management and marketing experience and currently is the Associate Vice President of Brand for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She has also been actively involved in the Society’s DEI work, including leading the LGBTQIA+ employee resource group. 

Sean Montoya

DGMC President (2025-Current)
A Colorado native, Sean Montoya (he/him) manages ADA-Title 1 compliance for the CO Dept. of Labor and Employment on their HR Employee Relations team. He joined DGMC for their 40th season in 2021 and was elected president of the chorus in February 2025. He has a BA in English from CU Boulder and a MS in HR Administration from the University of Denver. He also serves on the Denver Public Library Commission, a mayoral appointment to an 8-member governance board for the 27-branch metro library system. He is also an active volunteer and fundraiser for AIDS/LifeCycle in California and ICRME in Denver.