The Arts at Peddie

Marilyn Anker has been a member of the Arts Department since 1998. Serving as coordinator of cultural events, Anker’s responsibilities include managing ticket sales and promotion for arts events at Peddie, assisting with stage productions and organizing student trips to Broadway each term. An avid cyclist and Ironman triathlete, Anker was an active chaperone for 23 Sophomore Bike Trips between 2004 and 2022.

Originally from upstate New York, Joyce Chen earned her B.F.A. and M.A.T. degrees from Rhode Island School of Design in 2013 and 2014. Before coming to Peddie in 2017, Chen student-taught in public schools in Providence, Rhode Island and taught high school art in Newark, New Jersey. Having taught visual arts in remote and hybrid situations, Chen became interested in improving online learning. As a result, she returned to school in 2022, completing her M.S. in education the following year in learning sciences and technology from the University of Pennsylvania. In her spare time, Joyce enjoys frequenting museums and arts events.

Mark Cirnigliaro joined Peddie’s Theater Department in 2018, after previous work as a director, teaching artist and adjunct professor in various theater and university settings. Cirnigliaro revised the Theater Foundations class to be more holistic in its approach to theater as an art form, including puppetry, directing, design and play writing. He also revised Advanced Acting to be driven through Uta Hagens’ approach to acting. Cirnigliaro has had world-renowned playwrights teach master classes in playwriting, and Broadway stars teach master classes in Musical Theater. In addition, Mark has created a new puppetry class where students build and perform with their own puppets, and a set design class where students learn the art form and get to design one of Peddie’s main stage productions. He is the advisor for Art-Ivism, Drama Club, Dumbledore’s Army and Magic Club. Cirnigliaro oversees the Peddie Declamation Contest, Spring Play, Winter Musical and The Reeves Speaking Contest. He resides on campus with his family and is part of the Potter South Dormitory faculty team.

Craig Dale P’24 joined Peddie’s Visual Arts Department in 2019 after a long professional career as a freelance photographer and exhibiting artist. Dale has taught photography and color theory to graduate and undergraduate students at the Academy of Art San Francisco, and design thinking to undergraduate students at the New School for Architecture and Design. He received his Associate of Arts from Cabrillo College, his Bachelor of Arts in photography from Brooks Institute, and his Master of Fine Arts in visual art from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Dale earned his teaching credential from New Jersey City University, and is currently doing post-graduate work focused on visual literacy at the University of Rhode Island. In addition to his teaching obligations, Dale is an advisor for Peddie’s Film Club and Pics at Peddie. He is also the assistant technical director for theater set crew, and is proudly the AP Studio Art teacher. He is a member of the Kaye North Dormitory faculty team and lives on campus with his daughter.

Zachary Krieger joined Peddie’s Music Department faculty in 2014. In addition to accompanying and coaching the Musical Theater class, Krieger directs the Acafellas and the Peddie Singers. He also coordinates music for chapel services.

Claudio Middleton P’18 ’21 ’25 joined Peddie in 1999. He graduated with degrees in architecture and art history from the Catholic University of Valparaiso and was previously employed as a lecturer and project director in Chile. In addition to teaching Spanish, Claudio also developed Peddie’s current Architecture Program. He supervises Peddie’s ESL team, which he initiated and developed along with a community leader in Hightstown. Middleton shares dorm duty in Caspersen Dormitory and resides on campus with his wife and three children.

Catherine Robohm Watkins joined Peddie’s Visual Arts Department in 1989. Prior to serving as director of visual arts, Catherine was Arts Department chair, Mariboe Gallery director and coached girls volleyball. She holds an art degree from Yale University and a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University. Watkins also shares supervision of Peddie Arts Center, Peddie Culture Bus and serves as an academic advisor. She resides on campus with her husband, Paul Watkins.

Alan Michaels joined the Peddie community in 1998. He currently serves as chair of the Arts Department and director of music. He also continues to perform on Broadway as a professional musician. Alan and his wife live on campus and have three children.

“Students in the arts develop fundamental life skills. From time management to organization, students, through art, become better in every subject. Music and the arts do that.”