News: State Street Ballet elects two new board members

State Street Ballet would like to welcome its two newest board members: Thiep Cung and Jennifer Deacon.

Thiep (sounds like "tip") is CEO of the Warner Group Architects, Inc. located in Montecito, California. Thiep is a licensed Architect in the State of California and an active member of the American Institute of Architects. As Principal Designer, Thiep is responsible for all aspects of design for the Warner Group's high-end residential and country club projects. The Warner Group Architects are honored to have been selected four times by Architectural Digest for The AD 100, their exclusive listing of the world's top 100 architecture firms, including the 2002 'Legends', 2004 and 2007 issues. In May of 2007, the premier edition of The Robb Report Luxury Homes Design Directory honored The Warner Group Architects as one of the top 30 firms in the world.

Jennifer, a native of Santa Barbara, is the Assistant Dean of Development for the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara. Since 1997, Jennifer has
designed and implemented several development programs at UCSB, serving as the Assistant Provost for Development for the College of Creative Studies, Director of Development for the University Libraries, and Assistant Dean of Development for Social Sciences. She is a Vassar College alumna and holds a New York State teaching credential in Social Sciences. Jennifer is married and has two sons.

When asked how she become involved with dance, Jennifer replies:

"My introduction to dance began in 6th grade cotillion classes at the Music Academy of the West with Ken and Mia Ota. But it was not until I attended Vassar, and became a member of the varsity fencing team, that I discovered ballet, a required weekly training component. I quickly discovered how physically demanding ballet is, and how complex and exhilarating it is to couple music with disciplined movement. I am in awe of the talent State Street Ballet has assembled. Through my involvement on the board I hope to invite more people to experience the exhilaration of professional ballet."

Welcome Jennifer and Thiep!