MEET OUR STAFF
Click on each staff member to view their bio.
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Founder & Executive DirectorDr. Patricia Newman
Founder & Executive DirectorDr. Patricia Newman is a Clinical Child Psychologist and the Founder and Executive Director of RESPECT. She also holds graduate degrees in Educational Psychology and Special Education. Dr. Newman is in private practice with Family Enrichment, Inc. and works as a Medical Consultant for the Nebraska Department of Disability Determinations. She is the recipient of several professional and community awards including the Y/WCA Tribute to Women Award for her work in the areas of Human Service and Community Advocacy; the Nebraska School Psychologists Association “Psychologist of the Year” award; the Cultural Adult Program Award from the United Way of the Midlands; the Leadership Award for Prevention of Domestic Violence Programming from the Y/WCA; and the Community Service Award from the Jewish Federation of Omaha. Dr. Newman was awarded the 2022 School Mental Health Champion Award at the Nebraska School Mental Health Conference. She is the playwright of two of RESPECT’s plays.
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Associate Executive DirectorPaige Brenneman
Associate Executive DirectorPaige earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2016 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she studied in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. During her time in college, she completed a service learning project with the Women’s Center for Advancement, serving as a group leader for the Girls Leadership Academy. Since joining RESPECT in 2017, Paige has deepened her expertise in nonprofit development and management. She is committed to continuing her professional growth within the organization and strengthening partnerships throughout the community.
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Program & Development ManagerCara Neufeld
Program & Development ManagerCara joined RESPECT in 2017, initially contributing her expertise to data entry and analysis. Over the years, her commitment to RESPECT as well as her communication and organizational skills, led her to take on more significant responsibilities. Now, as the Program and Development Manager, she is excited to take her place as an integral part of our team. Cara thrives on building connections, offering support, and providing encouragement to both her colleagues and the community we serve.
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Artistic DirectorMichele Phillips
Artistic DirectorMichele was born in New Jersey, raised in Omaha and is a graduate of UNO with a Bachelor of Arts/Dramatic Arts degree. She has acted and/or directed in nearly every theatrical venue in the metro. Michele teaches TV Screenwriting at UNO and is a teaching artist for the Nebraska Arts Council. In addition to workshops for WHY ARTS with special needs students, Michele teaches at two area middle schools in the OPS After-School Program for Brigit St Brigit Theatre Company. She is the resident playwright for RESPECT.
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Education and Training DirectorKathleen McGee
Education and Training DirectorFor more than 35 years, Kathleen Sorensen McGee has worked with, and on behalf of children and teens – as a classroom teacher, a trainer, an author and a public speaker. She has written more than 20 books and articles including Unmasking Sexual Con Games: Helping Teens Avoid Emotional Grooming and Dating Violence, Who’s Raising Your Child: Battling the Marketers for Your Child’s Heart and Soul and There are NO Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter, all published by the Boys Town Press. Kathie has presented workshops nationwide on bullying, teen dating violence, the influence of media, as well as sexual harassment and abuse. She earned both her BA and MA from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Lead Actor EducatorMike Hale
Lead Actor EducatorMy name is Mike Hale. I am originally from right outside of Pittsburgh. I came out to Omaha as an active duty airman. Before the Air Force, I attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania for Vocal Performance. Since leaving the Air Force I have found a home in the Omaha theater community. I live here in Omaha with my beautiful wife and two wonderful girls. The most recent production I was a part of was Escape to Margaritaville as Brick at Omaha Community Playhouse. I received Bill Bailey’s Debut Performance Award. I am very excited to work with the students who will one day be my daughters’ classmates.
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Actor EducatorSabrina Brown-Garretson
Actor EducatorHello all, I’m Sabrina and so excited to be a part of RESPECT and the amazing community work they do! I found a sense of purpose early on in acting as an elementary school student in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since then, I have kept theatre a central passion in my life. The power of the performing arts and its ability to engage, encourage, and enable people to step outside of their comfort zones, or perhaps into a version of themselves that feels complete, is a joy I love to be a part of in any capacity. Coming full circle, and getting the chance to inspire the next generation, while leading meaning conversations is a task I’m honored to be trusted with. -
Actor EducatorMatt Torczon
Actor EducatorAfter growing up in Omaha and graduating from Bennington High School, Matt attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles where he studied acting. It was here that he fell in love with theater. After graduating from The Academy in 2018, he was a part of the school’s third year company program where he performed in productions such as Boeing Boeing, A Doll’s House, and Richard III and received a certificate of advanced acting training. Once he finished school, he played in several short films and a couple of plays. In 2023, he returned to Omaha after spending a few years in Berlin, Germany. Since then, he played Logan Liebowitz in The Omaha Community Playhouse’s Production of Chicken and Biscuits, Little John in Robin Hood, and has worked on a couple of commercials. Matt believes theater can teach many important lessons, help people become comfortable with themselves, and present difficult topics in engaging, easier to digest ways.
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Actor EducatorDallas Nachtigall
Actor EducatorDallas is a multi-talented Visual and Performance Artist. Musical
theatre, community theatre, and show choir were among her first loves
growing up in Omaha, before going on to study Fine Arts at The
University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She spent six years home educating
diverse learners, putting special emphasis on the arts, emotional
regulation, and interpersonal skills. Since 2018, she’s run an online
art education business, coaching educators all over the globe on how
to include visual art practice in various educational settings. Dallas
is now excited to be acting and educating with RESPECT! She firmly
believes in the power of theatre as a vehicle for inspiration and
personal growth (for both performer and spectator), and is thrilled to
have this opportunity to be an agent of social change for the younger
generations.
