Age : 58
Residence : Point Breeze
Family : Husband, Eric; daughters, Meagan, 24, and Caitlin, 22
Occupation : University of Pittsburgh dance educator
Education : Bachelor's degree in dance performance, University of Utah, 1974; master's degree in education, University of Pittsburgh, 1976
Background : Gillis-Kruman has taught dance at Pitt for 33 years. Among other duties, she advises the Dance Ensemble, a university dance-performance group, and coordinates the dance minor program, where she teaches dance, dance-related courses and yoga in the undergraduate program.
Noteworthy : The Arts Education Collaborative recently appointed Gillis-Kruman to a three-year term on its advisory council. The group is dedicated to strengthening education by making the arts central to learning through collaboration, research and advocacy.
Quote : "I'm excited because (the collaborative) wants to work on a dance project where we can show teachers how to incorporate dance into the curriculum. We need dance as an art form. I can't think of any other art form that children enjoy more than dance. ... The boys will do the regular sports, but most girls just want to dance. Why shouldn't all students get a chance to do that?"
