Staff

Misha Michel is a native of Miami, Florida. She holds a BFA in Dance from Florida State University and is a member of the Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Misha trained under the direction of Maribel Fruitstone and Traci Young-Byron as a member of the Young Contemporary Dance Theatre (YCDT). As the YCDT SUPAStarz captain, Misha was featured on two Lifetime series, Step It Up and Bring It!. Professionally, she attended intensives with Alvin Ailey, Abraham In Motion and the Summer Leadership Institute as well as toured internationally as enrichment staff on the MSE Preziosa Cruise line. She has also performed for Ann Carlson, Millicent Johnnie, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Anthony Burrell and more.

Mfoniso Akpan has trained extensively in tap, ballet, jazz, modern, African dance and step. While attending the State University of New York at Stony Brook, she majored in biochemistry and cultivated her stepping skills as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Mfon began her training at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Apollo Theater, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Lincoln Center. Mfon toured with the off-Broadway show “Hoofin’ 2 Hittin,” where she was a featured stepper and dancer.

As Executive Director for Step Afrika!, Lamar Lovelace is responsible for the organization’s strategy and operations, leading its staff, programs, and the execution of its mission. Working closely with Step Afrika!’s board of directors, he spearheads fundraising, marketing, operations, and long-range planning for the organization. He brings deep expertise from academia and has managed the organization’s humanities-based partnerships.

In July 2017, Lamar joined Step Afrika! as Deputy Executive Director, where he oversaw the dance company’s communications and marketing strategy, fundraising efforts, and financial operations. Previously, Lamar spent 8 years at Columbia University as Assistant Director in the Office of Community Outreach and Education and Director of Public Programs and Events. At the New York City-based campus, he managed community-based partnerships and special events and produced large-scale, humanities-based programming opportunities to engage students, faculty, and staff.

At Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lamar was Director of Cultural Affairs and Student Engagement, where he created arts-based social justice programs and exhibitions. He holds Master’s degrees in Arts Management and Oral History from Carnegie Mellon and Columbia, respectively, and a BA in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Lovelace is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

With over 20 years of experience in arts administration and a lifetime in the performing arts, Pascha Barnwell brings a wealth of knowledge and know-how to her position as Company Manager for Step Afrika!. A native of California, Pascha spent most of her childhood overseas in Europe where she began her dance training, rooted in classical ballet, at just three years old. After attending Howard University, she studied at The Ailey School in New York and performed with several professional contemporary dance companies in both New York and the DMV. While no longer an active performer, Pascha finds great joy in facilitating the arts in communities and being able to inspire the next generations through performance and teaching opportunities.

Margo Cunningham is a seasoned marketing professional with over a decade of experience in the arts sector. As Senior Marketing Manager for Step Afrika!, she leads the organization’s digital strategy and brand development. Since joining the Company in 2022, Margo has served as the Project Manager and Bloomberg Technology Fellow for Step Afrika!’s 30th Anniversary Timeline, spearheading the digitization of the company’s archive and creating an interactive platform to celebrate its history. Her expertise in managing large-scale marketing campaigns and collaborations with public relations partners has significantly elevated Step Afrika!’s domestic and international profile.

Margo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Economics, and Communications from McGill University and a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She has previously contributed her skills to organizations such as New York Live Arts, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and Levine Music, consistently driving visibility and engagement for arts institutions through innovative marketing strategies.