Faculty

In 1975, Ron received a B.SC. Honors degree in Theatre from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, and in 1978, he graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama’s three-year acting course in London. In 2003, Ron graduated from American Intercontinental University with a master’s degree in education and Instructional Technology. He has worked at San Bernardino Valley College since 2007 to the present, teaching Introduction to Theatre and Acting Fundamentals I and II. During his tenure at SBVC, he directed URINETOWN and A FLEA IN HER EAR. From 2008 to 2021, he worked as an English teacher at Citrus Continuation High School in Fontana. 

Ron was a professional actor in the UK, Europe, and the US from 1978 – 2001. He performed at the Edinburgh Festival three times. In 1990, Ron won the Critics Award as part of the Official Edinburgh Festival with the one-man show, The Double-Bass, written by Patrick Süskind. In London’s West End, he appeared in Nuts, The Biograph Girl, and Lost in Yonkers. Television appearances include Young Patton in The Last Days of Patton and Film credits include the original Highlander. Ron qualified as a professional mediator in August 2021, and since then he has mediated hundreds of cases all over the United States.

Melinda is a full-time Theatre Arts Professor and Co-Chair of the Theatre Arts, Music, and Dance Departments at San Bernardino Valley College. Melinda holds a B.F.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D. in Theatre. A member of SAG/AFTRA, Melinda has appeared on stage and on film in the U.S., England, and Canada. She recently served as a member of the 31st Annual SAG Awards® Television Nominating Committee. Melinda is an award-winning playwright and director who has directed countless plays, musicals, showcases, improv shows, talent shows, radio shows, and filmed projects. In addition to Theatre and Entertainment, Melinda enjoys travel, fabric and needle arts, and spending time with her children, Brahm and Ariel.

Grace (Morrison) Samaniego is an actor and educator based in Los Angeles. She received her BA in Theater Studies from UC Santa Barbara, and her Master of Fine Arts in Acting from UC Irvine. She also holds a California state credential (Career Technical Education) and a diploma from Cornell University for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Grace teaches at AMDA Conservatory College, California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley, as well as several other prestigious institutions of higher learning in the Los Angeles area. Grace is also an award-winning professional actor, having acted in regional theaters such as South Coast Rep, Pioneer Theater Company, New Swan Shakespeare Festival, and others. She has appeared in over a dozen independent films, including those that have screened at Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Palm Springs Film Festival, Independent Filmmakers Showcase in Los Angeles, and many, many more.

When not acting or teaching, Grace enjoys cooking, being active, watching great movies and bad reality TV, Raiders football, and hanging out with her husband, and her pug mix named Louie."