Elia Pfaff Tankersley, M.Ed

Program Coordinator of Teacher Education
ekpfaf@gmail.com

Education

  • Master's Certificate Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Denver
  • Master's in Education Curriculum and Instruction, University of Colorado at Denver
  • Bachelor of Arts History and Marketing, The College of William and Mary

Personal Interests

I love reading, traveling and spending time outdoors.

Family

My husband Sean and I love calling this beautiful valley home with our son, Max, and our golden retriever, Ranger.

Fundraiser will support CMC preschool's tuition assistance and operating expenses

Mini College students

From left, CMC Mini College students Viviana Cruz-Monge, Cataleya Ramos and Mae Causey are ready for the Great Goose Chase Scavenger Hunt fundraiser on May 1.

The Colorado Mountain College Children’s Mini College will hold the Great Goose Chase, a virtual photo scavenger hunt this Saturday.

After receiving a list of scavenger hunt items precisely at 10 a.m., teams will have two hours to find and photograph themselves and their goose cutout (issued after purchasing your ticket) with each object they locate. This is a virtual photo scavenger hunt so anyone can play – anywhere, from Glenwood Springs to anywhere in the state and throughout the country.

The team that earns the most points will win a first prize package including a three-night stay at a Glenwood Springs riverfront condo, tickets to Glenwood Canyon Adventure Park and Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Second and third place finishers will receive prizes as well.

Proceeds benefit early childhood education programs at CMC’s Children’s Mini College.

Tickets for each team, which can have unlimited members, are $40, and are available at http://colomtn.me/goose-chase. The fundraiser event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 1.

For more information, contact CMC Mini College Director Joan Chovanec at 970-945-2446.

David Chimovitz

David S. Chimovitz

Professor, Communication/Humanities
970-947-8168 | dchimovitz@coloradomtn.edu

Education

  • B.S. Speech Communication, Northern Michigan University
  • M.A. Communication,University of Maine-Orono

Awards

  • 2020 Faculty of the Year - Rifle

Professional Associations

  • Western States Communication Association-Lifetime Member

Professional Interests

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Mediation
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Argumentation
  • Post-Structural analyses of contemporary social issues

Personal Interests

Professor Chimovitz loves to snowboard on a brilliant day of lofty powder. He also plays guitar and still plays the Gibson Challenger he bought when he was 15 years old. A novice dirtbiker, he loves to roam the BLM land on the Western Slope. As a student centered faculty member, Professor Chimovitz plays a role in Co-Advising the Spring Valley Student Government and works to help students develop leadership communication skill and experience.

Sopris Theatre Company rehearsal

From left, Midge Glidewell, Mary San Miguel, Colton Grove and Kestra Arrington block out a scene for “Rogues’ Gallery,” Sopris Theatre Company’s first virtual production of 2020-21, Nov. 6-15. The company is adopting new techniques such as green screens and physical distancing as they rehearse for the new season.

Sopris Theatre Company introduces innovative season

By Kristin Carlson

Making theater in the time of COVID-19 is challenging, but the staff and students of Colorado Mountain College’s theater program are committed to engaging audiences with an unconventionally exciting season.

Brad Moore, theater operations manager of Sopris Theatre Company and adjunct instructor, explained that the upcoming slate of shows has been chosen mindfully, to ensure that every piece can be performed virtually or live, by physically distanced actors following all safety guidelines. As in past years, cast and crew are selected from among CMC students and community members.

“This season we’re revisualizing what we’re doing,” said Moore. “We’re doing some improvising, thinking in new ways and reevaluating our programming.”

Right now, only Moore’s theater production students are meeting in person, distanced and wearing masks. “We also have face shields, gloves, and a system for hand-washing and disinfecting shared areas,” Moore said.

In addition, production management duties now include cleaning and disinfecting props and costumes, as well as attaining necessary duplicate props to support the illusion that actors in distanced, virtual settings are in the same space.

The season opens with “Rogues’ Gallery,” featuring 10 unique character monologues, allowing actors to maintain physical distance as only one speaker is onstage at any given moment. Other shows include a compilation of three short comedies called “Three Viewings” and the fast-paced relationship knots of “The Nina Variations.”  Both offer ample casting and performance flexibility to address shifting COVID-19 concerns.

When, and if, live shows move forward, audience safety will be paramount. “We’ve designed a traffic pattern in and out of the theater to maintain distance,” said Moore.  “There will be no intermissions. People will usher, but no one will be allowed to congregate in the lobby.” In addition, distanced volunteers will help take temperatures and hand out masks to patrons who don’t have them.

One silver lining for this year’s productions is that audiences won’t be limited to those living within driving distance of the Roaring Fork Valley, but can include viewers throughout the seven-county CMC district, and farther beyond, who can now “go” to the theater virtually.

Moore is impressed by the way his students are adapting. “They realize it’s a privilege to be together and making art,” he said.

Sopris Theatre Company at CMC: 2020-21 season schedule

“Rogues’ Gallery” by John Patrick Shanley

Ten bizarre, explosive and darkly humorous monologues from this Pulitzer winner, about the absurdity of being human

November 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7 p.m.

November 8, 15 at 2 p.m.

“Three Viewings” by Jeffrey Hatcher

Three dark comedy shorts set in a Midwestern funeral parlor

February 19, 20, 26, 27 at 7 p.m.

February 21, 28 at 2 p.m.

“Nina Variations” by Steven Dietz

An homage to Chekhov’s “The Seagull” that examines one couple’s fiercely funny romantic entanglements in 43 variations

April 9, 10, 16, 17 at 7 p.m.

April 11, 18 at 2 p.m.

Student workshop productions

Original works by CMC theater students

April 29 at 7 p.m.