Meet the Team

  • Dr. Reji Mathew (PhD, LCSW, REAT) is an award-winning expressive arts therapist specializing in integrative, neuroscience-informed approaches. She serves as a senior clinical social worker at the NYU Student Health Center’s Counseling and Wellness Services, and is a clinical instructor at New York University, Barry University, and Lesley University. Dr. Mathew holds advisory board positions with Daniel’s Music Foundation, Anti-Racist Art Teachers, the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA), Bridges – Center for Independent Living, and Disastershock.com. She is also a member of the editorial board for The Journal of Applied Arts & Health. In addition, Dr. Mathew is pursuing certification as a Registered Dance for Parkinson’s Assistant Instructor.

    Dr. Mathew’s advocacy focuses on expressive arts therapies, an evidence-based field that uses the arts as a foundation for healing, discovery, and change. Her practice spans multiple modalities, including visual arts, dance/movement, music, drama/theater, and writing/poetry. Her mission is to teach that “inner artistry” is not limited to the stage; by cultivating it, individuals can find hope and effective coping resources in everyday life. She specializes in using the expressive arts as multisensory tools for problem-solving, self-development, and personal growth.

  • Paola is a certified 200-hour yoga instructor, children’s yoga teacher, and Reiki Level II practitioner. Blending gentle movement, breath, and energy healing, she holds sacred space for others to reconnect with their inner light and a peaceful state of being. With a heart-centered and intuitive approach, Paola guides both children and adults on a path of self-discovery, healing, and spiritual connection.

  • Kim Rivers brings over 15 years of experience supporting families and advocating for youth as part of the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network. In her role as Training Coordinator at the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub, she has led workshops and programs that empower caregivers across the state.

    At Drama with a Twist, Kim supports our mission by developing trauma-informed parent advocacy workshops. Kim’s dedication, lived expertise, and empathetic communication build bridges between clients and services, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard.

  • New Jersey native Kilolo Kumanyika, uses her African American and Native American heritage, along with the love of world music and politics as a source of inspiration for her work. Being exposed to art at a young age as a member of the Montclair Art Museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, artworks by watercolorist Nat Bickerstaff, as well as working for artists such as Robert Blackburn and Philip Pearlstein fortified her interest in different media and perspectives.

    She received her BA degree in Graphic Design from Montclair State University with a particular focus on art history and architecture. As an interdisciplinary artist, she has included a variety of media such as watercolor, ink, printmaking, textile design, and beading appear in her work which ranges from the abstract to sculptural in nature.

    Her love of textile design comes through in the development of loose patterns on paper, where gouache is applied to increase the positive and negative space.

    It is not unusual to find found objects included in her work, when creating forms such as masks, figures, and headdresses with intricate beadwork. Kilolo has also honed her skills as a jewelry designer and potter.

    Kilolo has exhibited in a range of galleries such as Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, Pen and Brush, and WBGO (Jazz 88.3). Her work has also been published as the book cover of The Original Buckwheat by Tony Award winner Reg e. Gaines. After being introduced to Philip Pearlstein by a fellow printmaker, she worked as a figure model and studio assistant for Pearlstein for 17 years.

  • Interdisciplinary, Latina, queer artist Gwen Charles (b. 1975) was born in New York, and lives now Newark, explores the female experience in performance, interweaving sculpture, video and movement.

    As a community-minded educator, she is focused on tactile, processed-based methods and object based-learning to provide hands-on learning experiences for diverse learning styles to kindle the creative growth of students and mentees.

    In their tenure at the University of Connecticut, they have been trained in technical direction for dramatic arts, production design, and curatorship in visual arts. Afra also has a background as a gallery assistant manager in Tehran, where they worked closely with both emerging and established artists.

    In addition to their design work, Afra is the creator of the Creative Mindfulness workshop, developed in collaboration with the Center for International Students and Scholars. This program integrates community check-ins, mindfulness and art therapy practices, and wellness resources with the goal of fostering community connection and offering students a moment of slowing down within the fast pace of academic life.

    Their broader interests span mindfulness, art therapy, and storytelling, with a focus on amplifying international student experiences. Afra’s commitment to curiosity, creativity, and community impact shapes both their academic journey and their professional projects.

  • Shane (he/him) is a multi-hyphenate LA/NY-based artist, composer, educator and sound healer by way of New Jersey. Shane’s passion for learning earned him BA/MPA in Public Administration from Rutgers University-Newark and more recently a certification in Vocal Artistry & Music Production. While at Rutgers Shane co-founded a non-profit organization to uplift, and empower his community through human kindness and compassion. He loves performing and producing music, adventuring, dancing, wellness and most importantly giving back to his community through his artistic works.

  • Afra Hassan Pour (They/All) is the website designer for Drama with a Twist. They are a master’s student in Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut. Afra brings both creative and technical expertise to the site, combining their background in the arts with a passion for design and community engagement.

    In their tenure at the University of Connecticut, they have been trained in technical direction for dramatic arts, production design, and curatorship in visual arts. Afra also has a background as a gallery assistant manager in Tehran, where they worked closely with both emerging and established artists.

    In addition to their design work, Afra is the creator of the Creative Mindfulness workshop, developed in collaboration with the Center for International Students and Scholars. This program integrates community check-ins, mindfulness and art therapy practices, and wellness resources with the goal of fostering community connection and offering students a moment of slowing down within the fast pace of academic life.

    Their broader interests span mindfulness, art therapy, and storytelling, with a focus on amplifying international student experiences. Afra’s commitment to curiosity, creativity, and community impact shapes both their academic journey and their professional projects.

Back 2 The Future

  • Ricardo Peña brings decades of Therapeutic Activities and Music Therapy experience to his role as Marquis’ Vice President of Life Enrichment & Therapeutic Activities, Mid-Atlantic Regions (Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Florida). A Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Dementia Trainer, Ricardo oversees the Life Enrichment and Memory Care Departments at Marquis client centers. His music, theatre, visual arts, media arts and digital arts expertise and leadership help ensure that Marquis clients are following all regulatory programs guidelines and providing on-going person centered activities that are both meaningful and impactful to residents. Creative, revolving programs complement each center’s innovative-focused, person-centered approach. Previously, Ricardo served as the Regional Director for Windsor Healthcare Management LLC and as an owner and operator for Lyric Performing Arts Center; he also co-found and facilitates Bridges Intergenerational Program at the Montclair Arts Museum. Ricardo earned his degrees at City University of New York.

  • Malik Whitaker was born and raised in Newark, NJ. He is a published illustrator, educator and visual painter. Malik is also an accomplished muralist whose work can be seen on several buildings, churches and colleges throughout NJ. He specializes in portrait and figurative painting impressions through visual translation based on individualized customer needs. He has studied many forms of art; oil, watercolor, acrylic, pencil, charcoal and pastels. He currently is the owner of M-Print Art studios in Newark, where he continues to display his art while working on projects and mentoring students with disabilities. Malik is also currently a teaching artist with NIPAC, Studio Institute of New York and Studio Montclair and the owner of Cement Gallery.

  • Rachel Fawn Alban is a Newark-based museum educator and photographer. She organizes and teaches art workshops at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), The Jewish Museum, and Paul Robeson Galleries, focusing on school, access, and community engagement programs. She is also a photojournalist and portrait photographer, known for documenting public art. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across New Jersey, New York City, and nationally, including Portland, OR, and Denver, CO. Rachel creates large-scale photomurals inspired by community art-making, including The Golden Life in Newark, a collaboration with painter Armisey Smith, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. She holds a BFA in Art Education and Graphic Design and an MPS in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts.