Phylise Smith received her M.A. in Dance form UCLA. She has taught at Pierce, Los Angeles Harbor, Valley, Orange Coast College and Scripps College before coming to College of the Canyons in 1988. A specialist in West African Dance, Phylise has performed solo and with her dance group, the Serakumbli Project, throughout Southern California. Under Phylise's direction, the group received Multi-Cultural Arts Grants sponsored by the California Arts Council form 1994-2001. Phylise has also taught and performed at the University of Capetown in South Africa. Phylise says her goal as College of the Canyons Dance Chair is to "bring dance and the arts" to everyone.