Faculty & Staff

Niánn Emerson Chase, B.A.

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Arizona State University, B.A. — English and Psychology; Graduate studies in Adult, Secondary, and Elementary Education.

Niánn has more than 40 years of teaching, counseling, and administration experience: 20 years’ teaching experience at elementary and secondary public school, Montessori, and community college levels; 23 years’ experience directing, writing curriculum, and instructing in private education for elementary, secondary, and adult ages. A published author of books and articles, Niánn is a life-long educator who, after obtaining her teaching certification, returned to her home on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, teaching there for fifteen years. Since her early childhood, with an explorer’s nature inherent in her ancestors Meriwether Lewis and Ralph Waldo Emerson, she has had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and the character of one who truly loves discovery and the adventure of life.

TiyiEndea DellErba

Liaison to Executive Director

School For Midwifery at Maternidad La Luz, El Paso, Texas

TiyiEndea has been with GSSU since 1996, bringing her background in midwifery, music and the arts from Austin, TX. She is an ordained Human-Rights Advocate and Liaison Minister. Her love for children and passion for their wellbeing and holistic development continues to drive her passion for child-centered education.

She advises and supports the teaching staff, applying progressive educational philosophies to the day to day classroom routines and physical environment, as well as overseeing the staff and scheduling. She oversees closely the Early Childhood Schools, providing continuous guidance with the dynamic and stimulating early foundational years of education. She supervises the Arts and Music programs and is very involved with counseling and mentorship placement for Middle and Secondary School Students.

Catahalas de Oliveira, B.A.

Principal and Administrative Coordinator.
School Programs Coordinator and Teacher for Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle School.

Colby College, Maine, B.A. — Education and Anthropology, with a focus in Human Development.

Catahalas was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She graduated high school from United World Colleges in Costa Rica, with training in youth leadership, sustainability, and peace and conflicts. She came as a teacher to GSSU in 2016. She currently teaches early childhood age students in a variety of subjects including language arts, literature, math, physical education, science, spiritual studies, yoga, dance, and Spanish. She is also a dance and yoga teacher and has many gifts in this area. Catahalas has participated in worldwide leadership training to the youth, such as Global Clinton Initiative, and Religions for Peace; she is a keen learner and researcher in holistic approaches to child development. She volunteered in several schools in Central and South America, teaching math, dance, and yoga to impoverished communities.

Catahalas is an ordained human-rights advocate and minister and also a former gymnast, contemporary trained dancer, and yoga instructor who loves to integrate movement while teaching academics. She loves languages and world cultures, and is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French, with skills in Hebrew. She also serves as an interpreter for Global Community Communications Alliance (GCCA), and as an IT specialist for GSSU.

Len’Mana Lee, Ed. D.

Senior Teacher and Teacher Trainer, and Teacher of Phases 2-6

University of Houston, Ed. D. — Curriculum and Instructional Design

University of Michigan, MA — Special Education

Valparaiso University, B.S. — Elementary Education with major in Social Science and minor in Fine Arts

Len’Mana has more than 45 years in education with experience in coordinating educational programs and designing curriculum. These years include her experience as Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Education at Pacific Lutheran University and Western Oregon State University and, most recently, more than 27 years coordinating programs and working with curriculum design for GSSU. Len’Mana designs and presents workshops for the continuing education of our school staff and parenting teams. She is also a teacher of visual arts, language arts, social science, math, cultural and research studies, children’s literature, and spiritual studies. She is presently teaching secondary math, algebra, social science, language arts, and Jr High levels.

She has more than 10 years of counseling and advising with additional experience in business, art, music, and writing. She is a published author of professional literature in her field. Len’Mana is also an ordained human-rights minister, a teacher at the University of Ascension Science and The Physics of Rebellion, an accomplished artist, a member of the Bright and Morning Star 50-voice choir, and plays the harmonium, tambura, piano, flute, and piccolo.

VesBein Lilly-Raymond

Administrative Coordinator and teacher of High School/Jr H. Programs.

University of Hawaii

VesBein first came to Arizona from Hawaii in 1996 with a background as a lifeguard and live-in nanny. VesBein has gained more than 25 years of training and experience in GSSU, and has skills and talents in the culinary, musical, language, and visual arts, that she loves being able to turn around and give away as a teacher. She incorporates various teaching modalities with the understanding of soul age, destiny purpose, and development of virtue. As a part of a school coordinator team, she facilitates group classes and independent study programs for both high school and younger students.

VesBein has found a sense of calling in working with children of all ages to discover and develop their interests, skills, and talents for the good of others and in service to humanity. She is also a Global Change Musician in the Starseed Acoustic Ensemble, a talented visual artist, an actress, and a mother of four.

DaMaeAn Steinhardt, B.A.

Physical Education Programs Coordinator and Teacher of Elementary Social Sciences

Duke University, B.A. – English

As our Physical Education Coordinator, DaMaeAn is presently teaching physical education and social science to elementary levels. He is also an experienced teacher of music as a trumpet instructor. He has had extensive experience in athletics, coaching in children’s sports camps and high school baseball, and general physical fitness.

DaMaeAn is also the trumpet player for the Bright and Morning Star Band (BMS Band) and the Bright and Morning Star 50-voice Choir and Orchestra.

O’Breean Mikael, B.A.

Teacher of Early Childhood Levels

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, BA. Hons - English and Drama
Trinity College of Music, London, Associate (ATCL) - Speech and Drama

O’Breean is a native of New Zealand . O’Breean loves to work with children of all ages, and currently teaches early childhood and elementary levels. She’s skilled in language arts, literature, math, social science, spiritual studies, and performing arts, as well as creating curriculum for other classes.

O’Breean has a passion for education and enjoys the journey that unfolds in the classroom with the students when you get in the learning zone together. O’Breean is an ordained minister, a teacher in the University of Ascension Science and the Physics of Rebellion, and an actor, director, and playwright with the Global Change Theater Company. She is also a mother of three children who were her personal trainers in becoming a teacher.

PiSeen Francis

Head Teacher of Middle School

Henry Ford Community College and University of Michigan Dearborn campus

PiSeen is presently teaching middle school and secondary cross age science and history and geography; she previously taught preschool in the areas of life science, music, language arts, and cross age math and has 10 years' experience teaching elementary language arts and bioregional activism. She is also on the Avalon Organic Gardens and Agricultural staff for gardening mentorship training including seed saving, organic gardening, and she manages a dairy goat herd.

While attending Henry Ford Community College and University of Michigan Dearborn campus she became the Fellow at the Environmental Interpretive Center and took courses in environmental studies, environmental education, and interpretive studies gaining six years' urban service experience. PiSeen is a human rights advocate, an aspiring singer song-writer, painter and enjoys inspiring her students' artistic talents as well.

Blue Evening Star Vasvary

Teacher of Elementary and Middle School Levels – Language Arts, Creative Writing, and Spiritual Studies

Blue Evening Star presently teaches Elementary spiritual studies and language arts although has taught cultural studies, social sciences, music and coordinated outings and field trips for elementary levels for many years. She has more than 35 years’ experience teaching pre-school to adult levels and has a gift for storytelling and Native arts and crafts. She is also a third-degree Reiki practitioner and teacher. Blue Evening Star founded Living Shelter Crafts and is an internationally known designer and builder of tipis and yurts, and a published author.

Keea Raymond

Band Director, Teacher of Music and Woodshop, and Construction Mentor

Attended Brigham Young University

English teacher in Korea. Has gifts in the areas of storytelling, art, and loves providing many outdoor and creative building activities for students of all ages.

Keea oversees the apprenticeship program for highschool students in construction, and pottery craftsmanship.

L’aFar Harding

Band Director, Teacher of Music and Physical Education, Landscaping Mentorships.

L’afar is a GSSU Alumni. He has many talents, including being a musician, trumpet player, and singer in the 50 voice Van of Urantia’s Bright and Morning Star Choir and Orchestra. He has many skills in landscaping, and oversees immersions and mentorships in this area.

Asai Lohmann

Teacher of Music, Digital Music, and Science

Menelik Hume

Teacher of Visual Arts, and Construction Mentor

Anoka Technical College and Luverne Vocational Technical Institute

Menelik founded and directed “Silent Artists,” working with adults and children for three years, and was a designer of communities for artists and spirituality in both France and the U.S. Menelik also studied Business Management, Architecture, and Building Construction at Anoka Technical College and Luverne Vocational Technical Institute while managing his own studio working with clay, paints, and wood for more than 20 years.

At GSSU Menelik is presently teaching in the area of creative arts with elementary age students. Menelik works for Earth Harmony Builders which requires fine detail in construction and painting. He mentors students interested in construction and is a member of the 50-voice Bright and Morning Star Choir and Orchestra.

VarNaNae Wingfield

Instructor for Horsemanship and Equestrian Training

University of New Hampshire

VarNaNae did university studies in animal training and management at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester, New Hampshire. She trained in the U.S. military in naval aviation as an aviation electronic technician fixing radar equipment for five years. She also worked for Winehardt Trained Animals, a private company, training tigers and lions for movies and commercials. She was an equestrian and horse trainer for more than 20 years. She worked at the L.A. Zoo in California and Benson Wild Animal Park in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Presently, VarNaNae is using her skills as an Equestrian and horse trainer to care for the horses at Avalon EcoVillage. She also gives lessons in Horsemanship to students attending GSSU. VarNaNae is developing her skills as an artist and musician. She is a talented singer not only as a soloist, but also using her voice in the 50-voice Bright and Morning Star Choir and Orchestra.

Jahlandon Michael Viviano

Teacher of Elementary Levels

Originally from Greater Philadelphia, Jahlandon got his degree from Penn State - Abington. He has worked with Habitat For Humanity and as an agricultural volunteer in Arizona, West Virginia, Virginia, and California as well as working in Philadelphia for developmentally disabled adults, and in a respite program for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Jahlandon enjoys nature, sports, and philosophy. He enjoys teaching many subjects. He is an avid sports player, and is gifted teaching in this area.

Dalina Gracia

Area of Expertise: Herbology & Sustainable Agriculture Programs

GenaVein Schwartz

Area of Expertise: Culinary Arts

Ausmaminae Wonson

Areas of Expertise: Framing, Culinary Arts, and Glass Mosaics

Savijaveh Wonson

Area of Expertise: Graphic Art & Design

Antarae Mannina

Area of expertise: Natural Gardening

MaHuSeen Kay

Area of Expertise: Construction

HygiEia Bennett, MD

Areas of Expertise: Sewing, Culinary Arts, Cake Decorating

Marayeh Cunningham, Ph.D.

Administrative Counselor

University of Texas, Ph.D. — Psychology, Who's Who of American Women

Executive Director of Soulistic Hospice; she is a psychologist experienced as a Medical Staff Coordinator and Counselor with more than forty years’ experience in individual and group psychotherapy, psycho diagnostic testing, and supervision and coordination of professional staff.

Ala’Di Goodman, RN, CHPN

Christchurch Polytechnic, New Zealand

Assistant Director for Soulistic Hospice; she received her nursing diploma from Christchurch Polytechnic, New Zealand. She has fifteen years’ experience in New Zealand, New York, Texas, and Arizona and is a third-degree Reiki practitioner. She is a singer, musician, and songwriter.