Board of Directors, Advisory Council, & Staff

Who is NEFA? Here is a list of the people on our staff and on our board and advisory council.

Board of Directors

A woman with short hair and a beaded necklace wearing a black jacket

Carrie Zaslow

She/Her/Hers
Chair
Providence Revolving Fund
Providence, RI
Read Bio
Head shot image of board member Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal; he is wearing a blue shirt and smiling.

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal

He/Him/His
Secretary
Lawyers for Civil Rights
Boston, MA
Read Bio
A man poses in front of a wall with text on it.

Frank Mitchell

He/Him/His
Treasurer
Cultural Organizer
New Haven, CT
Read Bio
A smiling black woman with dangling earrings and a blue shirt

Dawn Gibson-Brehon

She/Her/Hers
SUNY Purchase College
New Haven, CT/Purchase, NY
Read Bio
A white woman with dark and silver hair pulled back and wearing a light colored cowl neck sweater

Amy Hausmann

She/Her/Hers
Maine Arts Commission
Augusta, ME
Read Bio
John has short, reddish hair. He's a white man in glasses and a blue checkered shirt.

John Henry

He/Him/His
MarlinSpike, LLC
Natick, MA
Read Bio
Erinn has jawlength blonde hair and is a white woman. She smiles and wears a bright red blazer that matches her lipstick.

Erinn King, CFA

She/Her/Hers
Income Research + Management
Boston, MA
Read Bio
A woman of Asian descent with long wavy hair, wearing a black top and red earrings against a neutral background.

Angie Lane

She/Her/Hers
Red River Theatres
Concord, NH
Read Bio
a white woman with brown shoulder length hair wearing long green earrings and a polka dot shirt.

Susan Evans McClure

She/Her/Hers
Vermont Arts Council
Montpelier, VT
Read Bio
Chris has short dark, thinning hair and wears a blue and gray tie.

Chris Newell

(Passamaquoddy)
He/Him/His
Akomawt Educational Initiative
Mashantucket, CT
Read Bio
A man with short white hair, a yellow polo shirt and navy blazer

Chip Newell

He/Him/His
NewHeight Group
Portland, ME
Read Bio
Head shot image of board member Liz Shapiro; she is smiling and wearing a black and white graphic pattered jacket.

Elizabeth Shapiro

She/Her/Hers
Office of the Arts, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Hartford, CT
Read Bio
A woman with long dark hair, dark rimmed glasses, and a blue shirt

Adele Sicilia

She/Her/Hers
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
Concord, NH
Read Bio

Advisory Council

In a scarf, a bald man smiles.

David Howse

He/Him/His
Co-Chair
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
Read Bio
A woman smiles.

Liana Krupp

She/Her/Hers
Co-Chair
Krupp Family Foundation
Boston, MA/Venice, CA
Read Bio
A woman with long dark hair smiles up into the sun. She is wearing a purple and white blouse and large round earrings. Trees and sunny sky are in the background.

Rhonda Kay Alak Anderson

Iñupiaq - Athabaskan
She/Her/Hers
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Commission on Indian Affairs
Colrain, MA
Read Bio
Christal is a Black woman with forhead length curls and wears a brightly colored, printed blazer over a pink top.

Christal Brown

She/Her/Hers
INSPIRIT dance company
Vermont
Read Bio
A man in a plaid shirt playing the trumpet outside with trees in the background

Taylor Ho Bynum

He/Him/His
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH/Windsor, VT
Read Bio
A head shot of a woman standing in front of a brick wall. She wears a blue patterned top under a rust color blazer.

Shoshona Currier

She/Her/Hers
Bates Dance Festival
Lewiston, ME
Read Bio
Kara wears dark glasses and a necklace and has shoulder length brown hair.

Kara Elliott-Ortega

She/Her/Hers
City of Boston
Boston, MA
Read Bio
Stephanie smiles. She wears a red sleeveless dress and hoop earrings with red lipstick and long dark hair.

Stephanie P. Fortunato

She/Her/Hers
Global Cultural Districts Network
Providence, RI
Read Bio
a head shot of a young man with a beard wearing a white shirt. The backdrop is all black.

Orlando Hernández

He/Him/His
Performer, Teacher, and Writer
Providence, RI
Read Bio
A woman with brown curly hair wearing a black top, large silver earrings and an intricate silver necklace

Elizabeth A. Jabar

She/Her/Hers
Colby College
Waterville, ME
Read Bio
A head shot of awoman in a black suit jacket and pearls; the background appears to be a park.

Alyce Lee

She/Her/Hers
Boston, MA
Read Bio
A head shot of a man smiling, wearing a navy overcoat and sitting outside.

Jacob Padrón

He/Him/His
Long Wharf Theatre/The Sol Project
New Haven, CT
Read Bio
Melissa has long brown hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail. She wears a pearl necklace and big blue earrings.

Melissa Richmond

She/Her/Hers
West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts
Claremont, NH
Read Bio
A woman with long brown hair looks over her shoulder with a huge smile across her face

Madeline Sayet

(Mohegan)
She/Her/Hers
Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program; Arizona State University
Mystic, CT/Tempe, AZ
Read Bio
A man with glasses and a short beard wearing a yellow tie, white shirt, and caramel blazer, sitting in an office setting.

Lawrence Simpson

He/Him/His
University Heights, OH
Read Bio
Kerry has shoulder length brown hair, a gold beaded necklace, and hazel eyes.

Kerry Thompson

She/Her/Hers
Silent Rhythms, Inc.
Disability Rights Fund
Boston, MA
Read Bio

Staff

Jess wears glasses and has reddish, auburn hair. She smiles.

Jessica Wong Camhi

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Public Art
617-865-1850
jcamhi@nefa.org
Read Bio
A person leans in and smiles.

Falyn Elhard

They/Them/Theirs
Program Coordinator, New England Presenting & Touring
617-865-1829
felhard@nefa.org
Read Bio
A white man, in glasses, has a short red beard and wears flannel.

Steven Fenton

He/Him/His
Interim Chief Operating Officer
617-865-1844
sfenton@nefa.org
Read Bio
Jeffrey is a white person who wears eyeglasses and a baseball cap.

Jeffrey Lyons Filiault

They/Them/Jeffrey
Senior Communications Manager
617-865-1833
jfiliault@nefa.org
Read Bio
Indira is a Black woman in a bright blue blouse. She poses in front of city buildings.

Indira Goodwine-Josias

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Dance
617-865-1831
igoodwinejosias@nefa.org
Read Bio
A white woman with medium length straight blonde hair wearing a v-neck red top and subtle jewelry.

Kristin Gregory

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Dance
617-865-1838
kgregory@nefa.org
Read Bio
Cheri is a white woman with jaw-length brown hair. She wears a navy v-neck and poses in front of city buildings.

Cheri Opperman

She/Her/Hers
Senior Grants Manager, Dance
617-423-5610
copperman@nefa.org
Read Bio
A woman with brown bobbed hair wears a black and green jacket with yellow flowers

Adrienne Petrillo

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Regional Grants and International Exchange
617-423-1178
apetrillo@nefa.org
Read Bio
Woman with a scarf tied around her neck smiles softly.

Jane Preston

She/Her/Hers
Deputy Director, Programs & Co-Accessibility Coordinator
617-865-1835
jpreston@nefa.org
Read Bio
Leilani is a light-skinned woman, who wears a floral headband that holds back her long dark hair, thick framed dark glasses, and a floral shirt. She smiles and sticks her tongue out ever so slightly.

Leilani Ricardo

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Theater
617-865-1843
lricardo@nefa.org
Read Bio
Dee has shoulder length, curly, blond hair. She wears glasses and baby blue. She's a white woman.

Dee Schneidman

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Creative Economy
617-865-1826
dschneidman@nefa.org
Read Bio
Audrey is on a deck. She's smiling. She has long brown hair and wears a maroon dress.

Audrey Seraphin

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Regional Grants and Initiatives
617-865-1825
aseraphin@nefa.org
Read Bio
Sarah poses and smiles.

Sarah Silva

She/Her/Hers
Development Manager
617-865-1845
ssilva@nefa.org
Read Bio
a head shot of a woman smiling; the Boston skyline is in the background.

Abby Southwell

She/Her/Hers
Technology & Data Director
617-423-1271
asouthwell@nefa.org
Read Bio
Kelsey smiles in a striped shirt

Kelsey Spitalny

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, International Exchange
617-865-1847
kspitalny@nefa.org
Read Bio
Harold is a Black man. He wears a white cap with "Art" in place of the word "Marlboro" in a Marlboro cigarette logo.

Harold Steward

They/He
Executive Director
617-865-1848
hsteward@nefa.org
Read Bio
Quita wears a wrap, a long necklace, and beaded earrings over a black turtleneck. Nakum is a light-skinned woman.

Quita Sullivan, JD

(Montaukett/Shinnecock)
nákum/they/she
Senior Program Director, Theater
617-865-1839
qsullivan@nefa.org
Read Bio
Joseph has red hair and wears thin-framed glasses. He smiles and has a moustache.

Joseph Sweeney

He/Him/His
Interim Finance Director
617-865-1841
jsweeney@nefa.org
Read Bio
Woman in green smiles in a studio space

Kim Szeto

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Public Art
617-865-1840
kszeto@nefa.org
Read Bio
Natalya is a white lady with long brown hair. She wears a red and off-white floral blouse and long dangly earrings.

Natalya Tausanovitch

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Creative Economy
617-865-1849
ntausanovitch@nefa.org
Read Bio
Sharon is a white lady with shoulder length brown hair with highlights. She's outside and she smiles in a maroon blouse with white polka dots.

Sharon Timmel

(currently on leave)
She/Her/Hers
Senior Development Director
617-865-1846
stimmel@nefa.org
Read Bio
Elizabeth, wearing a gold laurel necklace and plaid, smiles.

Elizabeth Timmerman

She/Her/They/Them
Senior Technology & Data Administrator
617-865-1828
etimmerman@nefa.org
Read Bio
Ann has long auburn hair. She's a white lady and she wears thick framed eyeglasses. She has gold earrings that dangle and a teal poncho.

Ann Wicks

She/Her/Hers
Communications Director & Co-Accessibility Coordinator
617-423-1390
awicks@nefa.org
Read Bio
A woman, with her hair pulled back, smiles.

Annie Yang-Perez

She/Her/Hers
Senior Executive Affairs & Special Projects Officer
617-423-1272
ayangperez@nefa.org
Read Bio
Sae has long black hair. She is an Asian woman in a cream blazer and v neck blouse.

Saejin Yoo

She/Her/Hers
Program Coordinator, Regional Initiatives
617-865-1834
syoo@nefa.org
Read Bio
A woman with short hair and a beaded necklace wearing a black jacket

Carrie Zaslow

She/Her/Hers
Chair
Providence Revolving Fund
Providence, RI
Read Bio
Head shot image of board member Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal; he is wearing a blue shirt and smiling.

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal

He/Him/His
Secretary
Lawyers for Civil Rights
Boston, MA
Read Bio
A man poses in front of a wall with text on it.

Frank Mitchell

He/Him/His
Treasurer
Cultural Organizer
New Haven, CT
Read Bio
A smiling black woman with dangling earrings and a blue shirt

Dawn Gibson-Brehon

She/Her/Hers
SUNY Purchase College
New Haven, CT/Purchase, NY
Read Bio
A white woman with dark and silver hair pulled back and wearing a light colored cowl neck sweater

Amy Hausmann

She/Her/Hers
Maine Arts Commission
Augusta, ME
Read Bio
John has short, reddish hair. He's a white man in glasses and a blue checkered shirt.

John Henry

He/Him/His
MarlinSpike, LLC
Natick, MA
Read Bio
Erinn has jawlength blonde hair and is a white woman. She smiles and wears a bright red blazer that matches her lipstick.

Erinn King, CFA

She/Her/Hers
Income Research + Management
Boston, MA
Read Bio
A woman of Asian descent with long wavy hair, wearing a black top and red earrings against a neutral background.

Angie Lane

She/Her/Hers
Red River Theatres
Concord, NH
Read Bio
a white woman with brown shoulder length hair wearing long green earrings and a polka dot shirt.

Susan Evans McClure

She/Her/Hers
Vermont Arts Council
Montpelier, VT
Read Bio
Chris has short dark, thinning hair and wears a blue and gray tie.

Chris Newell

(Passamaquoddy)
He/Him/His
Akomawt Educational Initiative
Mashantucket, CT
Read Bio
A man with short white hair, a yellow polo shirt and navy blazer

Chip Newell

He/Him/His
NewHeight Group
Portland, ME
Read Bio
Head shot image of board member Liz Shapiro; she is smiling and wearing a black and white graphic pattered jacket.

Elizabeth Shapiro

She/Her/Hers
Office of the Arts, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Hartford, CT
Read Bio
A woman with long dark hair, dark rimmed glasses, and a blue shirt

Adele Sicilia

She/Her/Hers
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
Concord, NH
Read Bio
In a scarf, a bald man smiles.

David Howse

He/Him/His
Co-Chair
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
Read Bio
A woman smiles.

Liana Krupp

She/Her/Hers
Co-Chair
Krupp Family Foundation
Boston, MA/Venice, CA
Read Bio
A woman with long dark hair smiles up into the sun. She is wearing a purple and white blouse and large round earrings. Trees and sunny sky are in the background.

Rhonda Kay Alak Anderson

Iñupiaq - Athabaskan
She/Her/Hers
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Commission on Indian Affairs
Colrain, MA
Read Bio
Christal is a Black woman with forhead length curls and wears a brightly colored, printed blazer over a pink top.

Christal Brown

She/Her/Hers
INSPIRIT dance company
Vermont
Read Bio
A man in a plaid shirt playing the trumpet outside with trees in the background

Taylor Ho Bynum

He/Him/His
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH/Windsor, VT
Read Bio
A head shot of a woman standing in front of a brick wall. She wears a blue patterned top under a rust color blazer.

Shoshona Currier

She/Her/Hers
Bates Dance Festival
Lewiston, ME
Read Bio
Kara wears dark glasses and a necklace and has shoulder length brown hair.

Kara Elliott-Ortega

She/Her/Hers
City of Boston
Boston, MA
Read Bio
Stephanie smiles. She wears a red sleeveless dress and hoop earrings with red lipstick and long dark hair.

Stephanie P. Fortunato

She/Her/Hers
Global Cultural Districts Network
Providence, RI
Read Bio
a head shot of a young man with a beard wearing a white shirt. The backdrop is all black.

Orlando Hernández

He/Him/His
Performer, Teacher, and Writer
Providence, RI
Read Bio
A woman with brown curly hair wearing a black top, large silver earrings and an intricate silver necklace

Elizabeth A. Jabar

She/Her/Hers
Colby College
Waterville, ME
Read Bio
A head shot of awoman in a black suit jacket and pearls; the background appears to be a park.

Alyce Lee

She/Her/Hers
Boston, MA
Read Bio
A head shot of a man smiling, wearing a navy overcoat and sitting outside.

Jacob Padrón

He/Him/His
Long Wharf Theatre/The Sol Project
New Haven, CT
Read Bio
Melissa has long brown hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail. She wears a pearl necklace and big blue earrings.

Melissa Richmond

She/Her/Hers
West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts
Claremont, NH
Read Bio
A woman with long brown hair looks over her shoulder with a huge smile across her face

Madeline Sayet

(Mohegan)
She/Her/Hers
Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program; Arizona State University
Mystic, CT/Tempe, AZ
Read Bio
A man with glasses and a short beard wearing a yellow tie, white shirt, and caramel blazer, sitting in an office setting.

Lawrence Simpson

He/Him/His
University Heights, OH
Read Bio
Kerry has shoulder length brown hair, a gold beaded necklace, and hazel eyes.

Kerry Thompson

She/Her/Hers
Silent Rhythms, Inc.
Disability Rights Fund
Boston, MA
Read Bio
Jess wears glasses and has reddish, auburn hair. She smiles.

Jessica Wong Camhi

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Public Art
617-865-1850
jcamhi@nefa.org
Read Bio
A person leans in and smiles.

Falyn Elhard

They/Them/Theirs
Program Coordinator, New England Presenting & Touring
617-865-1829
felhard@nefa.org
Read Bio
A white man, in glasses, has a short red beard and wears flannel.

Steven Fenton

He/Him/His
Interim Chief Operating Officer
617-865-1844
sfenton@nefa.org
Read Bio
Jeffrey is a white person who wears eyeglasses and a baseball cap.

Jeffrey Lyons Filiault

They/Them/Jeffrey
Senior Communications Manager
617-865-1833
jfiliault@nefa.org
Read Bio
Indira is a Black woman in a bright blue blouse. She poses in front of city buildings.

Indira Goodwine-Josias

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Dance
617-865-1831
igoodwinejosias@nefa.org
Read Bio
A white woman with medium length straight blonde hair wearing a v-neck red top and subtle jewelry.

Kristin Gregory

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Dance
617-865-1838
kgregory@nefa.org
Read Bio
Cheri is a white woman with jaw-length brown hair. She wears a navy v-neck and poses in front of city buildings.

Cheri Opperman

She/Her/Hers
Senior Grants Manager, Dance
617-423-5610
copperman@nefa.org
Read Bio
A woman with brown bobbed hair wears a black and green jacket with yellow flowers

Adrienne Petrillo

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Regional Grants and International Exchange
617-423-1178
apetrillo@nefa.org
Read Bio
Woman with a scarf tied around her neck smiles softly.

Jane Preston

She/Her/Hers
Deputy Director, Programs & Co-Accessibility Coordinator
617-865-1835
jpreston@nefa.org
Read Bio
Leilani is a light-skinned woman, who wears a floral headband that holds back her long dark hair, thick framed dark glasses, and a floral shirt. She smiles and sticks her tongue out ever so slightly.

Leilani Ricardo

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Theater
617-865-1843
lricardo@nefa.org
Read Bio
Dee has shoulder length, curly, blond hair. She wears glasses and baby blue. She's a white woman.

Dee Schneidman

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Creative Economy
617-865-1826
dschneidman@nefa.org
Read Bio
Audrey is on a deck. She's smiling. She has long brown hair and wears a maroon dress.

Audrey Seraphin

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Regional Grants and Initiatives
617-865-1825
aseraphin@nefa.org
Read Bio
Sarah poses and smiles.

Sarah Silva

She/Her/Hers
Development Manager
617-865-1845
ssilva@nefa.org
Read Bio
a head shot of a woman smiling; the Boston skyline is in the background.

Abby Southwell

She/Her/Hers
Technology & Data Director
617-423-1271
asouthwell@nefa.org
Read Bio
Kelsey smiles in a striped shirt

Kelsey Spitalny

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, International Exchange
617-865-1847
kspitalny@nefa.org
Read Bio
Harold is a Black man. He wears a white cap with "Art" in place of the word "Marlboro" in a Marlboro cigarette logo.

Harold Steward

They/He
Executive Director
617-865-1848
hsteward@nefa.org
Read Bio
Quita wears a wrap, a long necklace, and beaded earrings over a black turtleneck. Nakum is a light-skinned woman.

Quita Sullivan, JD

(Montaukett/Shinnecock)
nákum/they/she
Senior Program Director, Theater
617-865-1839
qsullivan@nefa.org
Read Bio
Joseph has red hair and wears thin-framed glasses. He smiles and has a moustache.

Joseph Sweeney

He/Him/His
Interim Finance Director
617-865-1841
jsweeney@nefa.org
Read Bio
Woman in green smiles in a studio space

Kim Szeto

She/Her/Hers
Senior Program Director, Public Art
617-865-1840
kszeto@nefa.org
Read Bio
Natalya is a white lady with long brown hair. She wears a red and off-white floral blouse and long dangly earrings.

Natalya Tausanovitch

She/Her/Hers
Program Manager, Creative Economy
617-865-1849
ntausanovitch@nefa.org
Read Bio
Sharon is a white lady with shoulder length brown hair with highlights. She's outside and she smiles in a maroon blouse with white polka dots.

Sharon Timmel

(currently on leave)
She/Her/Hers
Senior Development Director
617-865-1846
stimmel@nefa.org
Read Bio
Elizabeth, wearing a gold laurel necklace and plaid, smiles.

Elizabeth Timmerman

She/Her/They/Them
Senior Technology & Data Administrator
617-865-1828
etimmerman@nefa.org
Read Bio
Ann has long auburn hair. She's a white lady and she wears thick framed eyeglasses. She has gold earrings that dangle and a teal poncho.

Ann Wicks

She/Her/Hers
Communications Director & Co-Accessibility Coordinator
617-423-1390
awicks@nefa.org
Read Bio
A woman, with her hair pulled back, smiles.

Annie Yang-Perez

She/Her/Hers
Senior Executive Affairs & Special Projects Officer
617-423-1272
ayangperez@nefa.org
Read Bio
Sae has long black hair. She is an Asian woman in a cream blazer and v neck blouse.

Saejin Yoo

She/Her/Hers
Program Coordinator, Regional Initiatives
617-865-1834
syoo@nefa.org
Read Bio

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