Jill Priest earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and the Master of Fine Arts in Choreography and Performance from Texas Woman’s University.  Prior to joining the faculty at UCO, she founded and directed Tulsa Contemporary Dance Theatre, presenting work at the Living Arts New Genre Festival, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Nightingale Theatre.  For four years, Jill served as Dance Program Coordinator at Northeastern State University and Artistic Director of the GoVertigo Dance Company.  As a passionate dance educator, she was co-creator of the original children’s ballet, “Dance of the Night Fears”, with composer and Enid Symphony Conductor, Douglas Newell.  She has been invited to set works for Stephen F. Austin State University, Enid Symphony Orchestra, Perpetual Motion Modern Dance Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation.  Last year, Jill served on the Dance Content Advisory Committee for the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and toured as a facilitator for Artcore Residencies at Tulsa area public schools.   Jill and her husband, Michael, are the proud parents of Quinlan, Grady and Margo.