Meryl Epstein is a certified yoga instructor and educator with experience teaching yoga, art, and design classes. She has a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Master's degrees in Fine Arts and Graphic Design. Epstein has over 30 years of experience teaching at the college level and has held leadership roles such as Dean of Academic Affairs at The Art Institute of Phoenix. She is currently working towards her 500-hour yoga certification and teaches private and group yoga classes.

1. Meryl P. Epstein, Ed.D., M.F.A., meryl.epstein1@gmail.com
About me…
• Strives to inspire others through yoga and the creative process
• 200 RYT Certified Yoga Instructor and practicing yoga since 1982
• CPR and AED Certified
• Working toward 500 RYT with anticipated completion June 2015
• Serving private yoga clients since January 2014
• Teaching yoga classes since September 2014 specializing in teaching Basics, Gentle Flow,
Yoga Nidra (Deep Relaxation), Pre-Natal, Yin, Restorative and Creativity Workshops
• Experienced instructor of art/design/history (since 1984) with expertise in presenting to
large groups and making television appearances.
• While serving as the Dean of an art college, volunteered as an art mentor for Free Arts of
Arizona, starting the day with 15, four-year olds enjoying yoga and making art.
Education
CPR and AED Certified, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION BLS CURRICULUM FOR
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PARADISE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 5/15
300 hour Yoga Teacher Training toward 500 RYT in progress, THE AUTHENTIC YOGA
TEACHER TRAINING, DAVE’S ASTANGA YOGA, Scottsdale, anticipated completion 6/15
200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification, THE AUTHENTIC YOGA TEACHER TRAINING,
DAVE’S ASTANGA YOGA, Scottsdale, 1/14 (RYT 200 Yoga Alliance)
EdD in Educational Leadership, ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, Phoenix, 8/05
Doctoral dissertation titled, Retention Rates: Student Success Relating to Freshman Seminar
and Developmental Courses
MFA in Fine Arts (Photography), ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tempe, 12/87
BFA in Graphic Design, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, Urbana-Champaign, 5/84
Yoga and Related Teaching Experience
• PRIVATE CLIENTS, Phoenix and Flagstaff, AZ, January 2014 – Present – work with individual clients
on yogic breathing, postures as well as guided meditation such as Yoga Nidra
• SUMMIT HEALTH CLUB, Flagstaff, AZ, September 2014 – Present – teach Flow (all levels), Yoga
Nidra/guided meditation, Hot Yoga Flow, Yin, Restorative and Pilates classes
• DAVE’S ASTANGA YOGA, Scottsdale, AZ, October 2013 – April 2015 – taught
creativity/yoga/meditation workshops during yoga teacher training intensive workshops
• FREE ARTS OF ARIZONA – 1/06 – 9/07, on a weekly basis, volunteered as a mentor bringing art and
yoga to abused and homeless children
College Level Teaching Experience
• THE ART INSTITUTE ONLINE, Pittsburgh, January 2006 – June 2006 + August 2011 - Present
• THE ART INSTITUTE OF PHOENIX, Phoenix, June 2001 – June 2014
• Al Collins School of Graphic Design (currently named Collins College), Tempe, Fall 1998
• CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Chandler, Spring 1998
• GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Glendale, Fall 1993 – Spring 1995
• GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Phoenix, Fall 1994
• PHOENIX COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Phoenix, Spring 1988
• ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tempe, August 1984 – December 1987

2. Meryl P. Epstein, Ed.D., M.F.A., meryl.epstein1@gmail.com
Additional Employment Experience
THE ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH-ONLINE DIVISION, Spring 2006 + August 2011 – Present
Adjunct Online Faculty Member
Responsibilities:
• Enthusiastically facilitate online classes in graphic design and striving to inspire the students to exceed
their own expectations. Additionally, focusing on creating a collaborative supportive learning
environment in order to encourage the production of quality outcomes. Based upon my experience,
when a student feels s/he is a part of a creative community s/he is more likely to actively participate,
encourage her/his peers and produce quality work.
• Continually advance teaching and technical skills in order to provide quality learning experiences
for students. An example of this is using software to create video critiques of the students’ work.
This approach allows students to hear their instructor’s voice and enthusiasm for their work. This
level of engagement positively impacts student progress.
• Consistently meet deadlines, participate in department meetings, and take advantage of faculty
development training opportunities to advance online teaching techniques and strategies.
THE ART INSTITUTE OF PHOENIX, PHOENIX, July 2006 – June 2014
Dean of Academic Affairs
Responsibilities:
• Effectively developed and managed multi-million dollar annual academic affairs budget for the school,
including teaching salaries, cost of offering courses, educational supplies/resources and facility usage
and investments.
• Worked closely with the School President and management team to create effective strategic plans in
alignment with budgetary constraints as well as focused on future growth
• Partnered with the school’s Director of Finance to achieve financial goals and EBIDA.
• Served as the Chief Academic Officer for the school and responsible for leading the academic team to
insure students receive quality education and the school increases retention rates.
• Collaborated with all the departments within the school especially Admissions to help the school to
grow and flourish as well as provide product knowledge for new team members.
• Managed key metrics for the Academic Affairs department including Student/ Instructor ratios, facility
usage, teaching schedule and budget, student persistence, student credit load,and more.
• Led faculty and academic staff development for over 100 faculty members and 15 staff members.
• Ensured compliance with system rules, state regulations, and accrediting criteria.
• Oversaw the Library, Registrar, Academic Advising, and Tutoring Center in addition to the Academic
Team – Academic Directors and Faculty Members
• Implemented new initiatives including Faculty Titling and Sabbatical Programs, the school’s honor
society – Alpha Beta Kappa (ABK), and the quarterly Lead By Example Luncheon celebrating school
leaders – students, faculty and staff
THE ART INSTITUTE OF PHOENIX, PHOENIX, May 2001 – July 2006
Senior Academic Director of Graphic Design
Responsibilities:
• Provided leadership and vision in implementing curriculum that has a competitive advantage over
similar programs at other institutions.
• Initiated and implemented strategies to encourage student retention. Increased annual graphic design
student retention (for 2005) to 91.9% from 89.2% (for 2004). The AiPX graphic design program
retention rate (for 2005) was 4th within a system of 28 schools offering the same degree program.
• Hired, led, observed, and evaluated 24 graphic design faculty members.
• Prepared for and participated in three accreditation visits (Accrediting Council for Independent
Colleges and Schools (ACICS)).

3. Meryl P. Epstein, Ed.D., M.F.A., meryl.epstein1@gmail.com
• Managed academic programs to provide a quality education that meets or exceeds industry standards.
Involvement with industry professionals and organizations lead to becoming the first Arizona AIGA
Fellow (awarded in Fall 2007, after becoming the Dean of Academic Affairs).
• Managed key drivers such as student/instructor ratios and instructional costs and evaluated statistical
data in relation to student retention and other school initiatives.
• Taught a variety of visual art courses within the school including Fundamentals of Design, Layout
Design, and Package Design.
SCOTTSDALE CULTURAL COUNCIL, Scottsdale, December 1998 – May 2001
Graphic Design Manager
Responsibilities:
• Supervised the graphic design for Scottsdale Center for the Arts, the Scottsdale Museum
of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale Arts Festival and designed collateral and signage for the
Scottsdale Cultural Council.
• Managed the graphic design budget for a variety of projects for the Center for the Arts and Museum.
• Supervised the work of the staff graphic designer, copywriter, off-site designers and vendors.
• Established and implemented the corporate graphic design standards of the organization.
• Designed graphics for exhibits within the museum and center.
ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER, Phoenix, April 1996 – December 1998
Design Manager and Senior Graphic Designer
Responsibilities:
• Directed the graphic design of 33,000 sq. ft. of exhibits plus interior and exterior graphics, and the
collateral materials for the new Arizona Science Center, working within the Center’s expansion
budget of 17.6 million dollars.
• Managed the in-house staff graphic design and production staff and coordinated the efforts of more
than 40 vendors – from illustrators to metal etchers.
• Established the corporate graphic design standards of the Center – for exhibits, collateral and signage.
• Collaborated with the exhibit designers to conceptualize and design many of the exhibits.
• Created a design implementation system in order to produce the large volume of design required to
open the Science Center on time and within budget.
• Art directed and/or designed a wide range of museum related projects including advertising, large
banners, interactive computer exhibits, signage, graphic panels, painted and digital murals, visual
identities for the exhibit halls, and communication materials.
Professional Awards
• ACICS HONOR ROLL SCHOOL
The Art Institute of Phoenix was recognized in 2009 as an Honor Roll School by ACICS (Accrediting
Council for Independent Colleges and Schools) and was granted eight years of accreditation.
• AIGA FELLOW
This first AIGA Fellow awarded (September 2007) by Arizona AIGA in recognition for dedication to
the field of Graphic Design through education and professional design work in the industry.
• GOLD STAR OF EXCELLENCE 2003
Entry: Teen Week (The Art Institute of Phoenix) Category: Best Practices
Awarded at the Conference of Arizona Post-Secondary Schools
• AZTEC GOLD AWARD 2000
Entry: Scottsdale Arts Festival Program (Scottsdale Cultural Council) Category: Best Event Program
Awarded at the Arizona Festivals and Events Association Conference
• GOLD QUILL AWARD – 1998
Entry: Grand Opening of the Arizona Science Center Category: Multi-Audience Communication
Awarded by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

4. Meryl P. Epstein, Ed.D., M.F.A., meryl.epstein1@gmail.com
• SILVER QUILL AWARD – 1998
Entry: Grand Opening of the Arizona Science Center Category: External Campaigns
Awarded by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
• DIBNER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSEUMS – 1996
Entry: Theodore Roosevelt Dam and Desert Bloom Exhibit, Arizona Historical Society
Awarded by the Society for History of Technology
Professional Affiliations and Community Participation
• YOGA ALLIANCE, RYT 200 Member
published profile available through teacher directory
https://www.yogaalliance.org/TeacherPublicProfile?tid=116539
• LINKED IN - profile available at:
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?locale=en_US&trk=prof-0-sb-preview-primary-button
• ALPHA BETA KAPPA, Honor Society of The Art Institute of Phoenix, Charter Member – 3/09
led induction ceremony with School President to welcome new honor society members
• AIGA – The American Institute Graphic Design – attend meetings and events
• PHOENIX ADVERTISING CLUB– attend meetings and events
• FREE ARTS OF ARIZONA – 1/06 – 9/07, on a weekly basis, volunteered as a mentor bringing art to
abused and homeless children
References
CHERYL OLIVER
Owner
The Authentic Yoga Teacher Training
Dave’s Astanga Yoga
480-216-2602
authenticyogatt@gmail.com
ROBERTA HANCOCK
Art Advocate/Illustrator
602-723-1653
artadvocate@cox.net
GINE THOMES-COTTER, ED.D.
Former Regional Specialist and Vice President of Academic Affairs
The Art Institutes
602-508-1774
gine1@cox.net
NANCY DALLETT
Academic Associate
Public History Program
Arizona State University
480-990-3681
nancy.dallett.@asu.edu