FACULTY BIOS
Anaid Guiterrez- Art 1 & Intermediate Art 2
Anaid Gutierrez is a multidisciplinary artist and educator with over two decades of experience in the fine arts. She began her artistic journey studying Fine Arts at Centro de Educación Diego Rivera and continued her training in Set Design at Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral. Her professional path spans painting, drawing, sculpture, design, character creation, and body art, with a strong foundation in classical techniques as well as contemporary approaches.
Since 2000, Anaid has worked as a freelance artist, creating original works for exhibitions, theatrical productions, fashion, and the entertainment industry. She has also dedicated more than a decade to teaching art to students of all ages, from beginners discovering the joy of drawing to advanced teens exploring painting, composition, and design.
Anaid’s teaching philosophy centers on nurturing creativity, confidence, and technical skills. She believes every child has a unique artistic voice and encourages students to explore color, form, and storytelling through their art. Her classes are known for blending classical fundamentals with hands-on projects that engage curiosity and spark imagination.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Anaid creates inclusive and welcoming classrooms where students from diverse backgrounds feel supported in their creative growth. Her extensive experience working with young artists in painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media has made her a sought-after instructor in both private and group settings.
Taylor S. Goethe - Character Design: Sketching and Drawing
Taylor is a 2D animator, comic artist, and director with a passion for education. She received her BFA from RIT in Film and Animation, then her MFA from UCLA in Film, Television, and Digital Media. In grad school, Taylor operated her own studio business and had several notable clients, including ESPN, Black Lives Matter, and Netflix.
She was a gallery educator at the Hammer Museum and volunteered at Americorps to help with the literacy crisis. Taylor is an experienced educator who has taught arts and crafts, cinema history, figure drawing, visual storytelling, podcasting, and so much more. She is currently pursuing her second Master's degree in Art Education at PennWest to further her teaching skills and conduct research on art-centered curriculum. She is a connoisseur of all things nerdy, weird, or scary and loves Batman.
Aaron J. Goins - Animation & Media Arts
Aaron Goins is a distinguished artist and animator celebrated for his mastery of 2D animation and visual effects. With a strong educational foundation from the Art Institute of California and Otis College of Art and Design, Aaron's creative journey reflects his profound dedication to bringing imagination to life. His versatile talents extend beyond traditional art into music production and game development within the Fortnite ecosystem.
Committed to fostering artistic growth in others, Aaron has devoted over eight years to teaching both children and adults in classroom and private settings. His exceptional ability to convey the fundamentals of media art and animation has profoundly influenced the next generation of creators. Aaron's career embodies the perfect blend of artistic innovation and educational excellence that LIA aims to provide its students.
Mengxi Yang - Animation (In-Person & Remote)
Mengxi Yang is an animation artist and educator based in Los Angeles. She has been making animation since 2013, with an interest in experimental storytelling. Her works incorporate hybrid techniques, including stop motion, archive video, collage, drawing, and installation. She received her MFA from California Institute of the Arts in 2020 and has been teaching for youths from grade school to college level since 2019. She has one cat and one gecko, and loves going to local grocery stores.
Abigail Keiser - Dance - Workshop Instructor
Abigail has always had a passion for dance since she was a young girl. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old in all different styles, including jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, polynesian, ballroom, and hip-hop. As Abigail got older, she took pride in dancing for her studio's competitive team for 6 years. Abigail has always loved the stage and performing, as well as everything that goes along with it, including the fun costumes and stage makeup.
She found a passion for teaching dance quickly. After she turned 15, she assisted with all different styles and loves helping the kids learn and find a passion in dance. Her favorite part of teaching is watching the kids flourish and find their favorite styles, like she did when she was young. Abigail has committed the last 4 years to teaching children in dance in all different places, such as elementary schools, gymnastics gyms, and dance studios. She is very excited to help the students of LIA find their love for dance in many different ways.
Camaron Steen - Dance
Camaron Steen is a versatile and dynamic dancer with over 10 years of experience, trained extensively in all styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and more. While his foundation is well-rounded, he has carved out a strong identity in the world of hip hop and fundamental freestyle, where his passion, musicality, and individuality truly shine. His ability to merge technique with raw expression allows her to command the stage with authenticity and power.
Known for his deep understanding of hip hop culture and freestyle foundations, Camaron brings both skill and soul to every performance and cypher. He continues to grow as an artist by training, teaching, and performing across various platforms, pushing boundaries while staying true to the roots of the styles he represents. Whether in choreography or freestyle, he moves with intention, always aiming to inspire and connect through dance.
TBA - Youth Acting Instructor
Coming soon!
Jung A. Cho - Piano & Theory (In-Person)
Jung A. Cho is an accomplished pianist and devoted music educator with nearly three decades of experience. Since 2005, she has led a private piano studio in Palmdale, California, teaching performance and theory to students of all ages. Many of her students have excelled in Certificate of Merit evaluations and regional competitions such as SYMF and SCJBF. She has been an active member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California since 2013 and studied as a piano major in an undergraduate music program in South Korea, earning multiple merit-based scholarships. She also pursued further music coursework in the United States in areas such as music history, theory, and keyboard harmony.
In addition to her private instruction, Ms. Cho has performed as a soloist with orchestra in works such as Mozart’s Piano Concertos and has taught at a music academy in South Korea. She continues to bring a rich background as an accompanist and performer through extensive collaborations with Antelope Valley College, the Antelope Valley Union High School District, and various local churches and community organizations. This versatility enriches her teaching, allowing her to prepare students for both solo and collaborative performance. With her broad musical knowledge, academic dedication, and passion for nurturing young musicians, she continues to inspire students to grow with confidence, discipline, and artistry at the piano.
Hilary Alas - Voice & Group Music
Hilary is a dynamic and enthusiastic addition to the Laity Arts Institute family! She built her strong artistic foundation with a BM in Vocal Performance from California Baptist University (and an AA in Music from AVC). Currently, she's channeling that dedication toward earning her Single Subject teaching credential at Cal State Bakersfield, proving she's serious about both performance and education.
When she's not diving into her studies, you can find her shining on stage. For the past three years, Hilary has been a proud fixture at PRT, the local community theatre company, lending her talents to productions like Into the Woods, Sister Act, Seussical, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, and many more. When she takes a break from the spotlight, she keeps her energy high by playing a spirited game of tennis and spending quality time with friends and family. She's incredibly excited to join the team and can't wait to make music and create art with the students!
Mandy Hong - Piano & Theory (Online)
Mandy Hong is a talented Contemporary Pop/Jazz singer and keyboard player. Born in Beijing, China, she began playing classical piano at the tender age of four. At 18, Mandy discovered Jazz piano while attending The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where she studied under some of the best-known Jazz educators. She has worked with designers and artists to compose music for fashion runways, animations, and independent films.
Mandy began her professional music training at six years old in one of China's most prestigious choirs. She toured the world, lending her vocals to commercials and theme songs for movies, including the choir part in the theme song for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Last year, Mandy completed her Jazz Master's Degree at the esteemed California Institute of the Arts.