About CBC

Megan McClelland, President

Megan McClelland is the President of the Corvallis Ballet Collective non-profit board and has danced ballet since she was 7 years old. She grew up dancing on Maui and has trained at Ballet West, Hawaii State Ballet, the Westside School of Ballet in LA, and in college at UC Irvine. Professionally, she is the Katherine E. Smith Professor of Healthy Children and Families at Oregon State University (OSU) where she serves as Endowed Director at the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families. Her research focuses on optimizing children’s development, especially as it relates to children’s health, well-being and school success. She is passionate about promoting healthy development through dance.

Krista Hendricks, Vice-President

Krista fell in love with dance at an early age, but relatively late compared to most dancers. She was 10 when she began taking dance classes at the local dance studio in her suburban Chicago hometown, Dancenter North, and progressed from her first class to dancing in many productions through high school. She was able to catch up to her peers by initially taking every class offered for her age/level but later focused mostly on ballet. She was able to spend some summers away at Milwaukee School of Ballet and Virginia School of the Arts, which was a great experience in building independence through doing what she loved. During college at the University of Illinois, she managed to find time to take an occasional ballet class, and even to squeeze in a few precious minutes to dance during Medical School and Residency at the University of Virginia.

It had been many years since she had danced when her daughter Kate became involved with the Nutcracker at the Regional School of Ballet. She decided to take a chance and do a drop-in class that December. Finding such a supportive environment for dancers of all ages, Krista was able to become involved again with Ballet here in Corvallis. She is hoping to combine her lifelong love of ballet with the goal of promoting the mental and physical health benefits that healthy (and fun) exercise provides for dancers of all ages. Krista is excited to play a role in bringing the Corvallis Ballet Collective to the community.

Emily Stevenson, Secretary

Emily first fell in love with dance at age 4, beginning her training in the Vaganova technique. Switching to study at the Regional School of Ballet when she was 14 years old gave her the ability to find her true love of dance and friendship. After graduating from high school, she moved to Idaho to attend college. There she received her Associates of Applied Science in Administrative Assisting and Office Management. During her time in Idaho, she attended as many ballet, modern and contemporary classes as her schedule allowed, even joining the Collegiate Dancers group for two seasons. Emily was able to be a part of the Regional School of Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker almost every year since 2012, and those are some of her fondest dance memories. She began teaching ballet in 2024 and has grown to love sharing the art of dance with her dear friends and students.

Deon Merten, Treasurer

Deon began dancing at the age of four at the Corvallis School of Ballet with Robert Irwin, and continued as a teenager with Tom Irwin. Today, she enjoys dancing with her family in the kitchen, while also playing a supporting role backstage during The Nutcracker. She is a graduate of Willamette University and soon will complete her Master’s in Counseling at George Fox University.

For the past 20 years, Deon has been dedicated to helping children and families in the communities where she’s lived, focusing on providing great educational opportunities. Currently, she teaches at Corvallis Leadership Commonwealth School, where she finds fulfillment in watching her students grow and thrive, while working closely with families to build an enriching academic community.

Deon is committed to supporting the development of healthy bodies, minds, hearts and relationships in the town she loves, and is excited to continue contributing to the community dance legacy through Corvallis Ballet Collective.

Allison Sissel, Member

Allison Sissel has a diverse background in fundraising, healthcare, and family life. With years of experience in fundraising for nonprofits, Allison has demonstrated a commitment to community service, philanthropy, and making a difference in the lives of those in the community. Her work with various nonprofit organizations has allowed her to hone her skills in donor relations, event planning, and strategic outreach, helping to secure the resources necessary to support essential programs.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Allison is a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, where she has provided compassionate care to patients, contributing to the hospital’s mission of delivering high-quality healthcare. Her 25 plus years nursing, has been shaped by her dedication to patient advocacy, providing comfort and support during some of life’s most challenging moments.

Allison has been married to husband, Tim for 18 years. Together, they have built a strong foundation of trust, and mutual respect, creating a supportive environment for their family. They are the proud parents of two children: Quinn, a passionate and gifted baseball player, and Karli, a driven ballet student. Balancing career and motherhood, Allison is an enthusiastic supporter of Karli’s passion for dance and Quinn’s love for baseball, actively participating in both the ballet and sports communities while encouraging their personal growth and development.

Through her work, her devotion to her family, and her ongoing commitment to improving the lives of others, Allison is a dynamic individual who continues to make a meaningful impact in both her professional and personal endeavours and local community.