Staff & Leadership at NYFA | New York Foundation for the Arts

NYFA Executive Leadership

Michael Royce

Chief Executive Officer

Michael Royce has been cited for his leadership from Crain's NY Business (2025, 2023, 2021), Politics NY (2024), the Observer Newspaper (2020), and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (2018). Michael is also a board member of ArtBridge, The Brodsky Center at PAFA, and committee member of CERF+. Previously, Michael was the President of Moynihan Station Development Corporation (Moynihan Train Hall), Director of Programming for the Theatre Development Fund, Deputy Director at the New York State Council on the Arts, and Director of Marketing for the Creative Arts Team.

Sarah Wilson

Executive Assistant

Sarah Wilson has worked in documentary and film production for National Geographic, PBS, Hulu, NPR, and the Smithsonian Institutions, and has produced a range of shorts and features for independent filmmakers. She comes to NYFA from being the communications coordinator for the environmental nonprofit Big Reuse. Sarah founded and ran the DIY community arts space in Gowanus called LifeWorld for 2 years, and is a part of a group of organizers who build solidarity with incarcerated people through a pen pal program which has grown in the last several years to include hundreds of people, supporting them in their job search and career building.

NYFA Development

Nichole Almanzar

Development Officer

Kim Andresen

Director of Development

Kim Andresen is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and holds the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) credential. Kim has worked with nonprofits across NYS for over 25 years, focusing on development, arts administration, content creation, and special events management. Prior to joining NYFA Kim held positions at Vassar College, Bardavon 1869 Opera House | UPAC, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (NYS DMO), and Lake Placid Center for the Arts. As a NYS-WBE certified consultant she has worked with dozens of organizations to secure the funding necessary to bolster their mission and realize their vision, and currently sits on the board of Upstate NY Women in Film & Television (UPWIFT).

Carolyn Lockhart Schoerner

Senior Development Officer

NYFA Awards and Grants

Sarah O'Connell

Director of NYFA Grants

Sarah O'Connell has over 12 years of experience working for mission-driven arts organizations with a focus on strategic program development for artist residencies, fellowships, and grants. Sarah currently oversees NYFA’s grant programs distributing unrestricted and project-based funding to artists based in NYC, New York state, and nation-wide. Previously, Sarah has held positions at The Museum of Modern Art, Artists Space, Eyebeam, The Center for Photography at Woodstock, and Light Work. Sarah has a passion for non-profit arts organizations and their ability to play a crucial role in artistic advancement. She is currently based in the Hudson Valley.

Raina Pahade

Program Associate NYFA Grants

Raina (they/them) is an arts organizer and interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, NY, who is passionate about supporting artists through accessible spaces focused on community, dialogue, and cultural connection. They bring expertise in exhibitions, programming, and community engagement to NYFA from past work with organizations and artists including West Windsor Arts Council, Devon Vander-Vort Art Advisory, Clockshop, and Seema Pandya’s studio. Raina's artistic practice explores gender, queer diasporic imagination, and the body within the South Asian diaspora. They hold a B.A. degree in Critical Theory and Social Justice and Studio Art from Occidental College, graduating summa cum laude with departmental honors.

Audrey Thao Berger

Senior Program Officer NYFA Grants

Audrey Thao Berger is a New York City based arts administrator and choreographer. With a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts, she is dedicated to fostering its growth and accessibility. Audrey brings extensive experience from her administrative roles at Sleep No More and the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, where she supported innovative programming and multidisciplinary artists. She holds a BA degree in Dance from the London Contemporary Dance School.

Mollie Quinlan-Hayes

Program Officer NYFA Grants

Mollie Quinlan-Hayes has worked with arts organizations across the country for over 30 years, as Deputy Director of South Arts, Assistant Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, a consultant and facilitator, and currently as the Rauschenberg Grants Coordinator for NYFA and as Fund Development and Program Officer with NCAPER, the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response. She developed and administers NYFA’s national Rauschenberg Emergency Grants which support artists to return to their creative practice after a crisis. She directed the national initiative ArtsReady since its inception following the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and now works to build the practice of readiness and response in the arts field.

Kenny Shiloh Russell

Program Officer NYFA Grants

Kenny Shiloh Russell is an arts administrator and visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. With an artistic practice deeply rooted in community and cultural exploration, they have a passion for supporting artists at all stages of their careers. Kenny holds a BS in Textile Development from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and their exhibition history as a photographer includes group exhibitions at Columbia University, Living Room Gallery, and Thames Art Center.

NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship

Alicia Ehni

Senior Program Officer Fiscal Sponsorship

NYFA Learning

Ju Hye Kim

Program Officer NYFA Learning

Ju Hye Kim is an arts administrator and cultural producer based in NYC. At NYFA, she co-administers professional development programs that support leadership growth in the arts field and foster community--including the Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program and Emerging Leaders Program. Previously, she curated events and programs for youth and families at Richmond Symphony including the launch of RSSoM, an online platform fostering musical connections for all ages. She has a passion for supporting non-profit arts organizations and creating spaces for all types of artistic expression.

Ya Yun Teng

Program Officer NYFA Learning, Immigrant Artist Program

Ya Yun Teng is a cultural producer and arts administrator with a passion for advancing underrepresented narratives and creating inclusive cultural spaces. At NYFA, she designs programs, connects resources, and builds partnerships to support immigrant artists. Previously, she has designed, advised, and presented cross-cultural programs for Flushing Town Hall, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Asia Society, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. She served as panel reviewer for Queens Council on the Arts, Brooklyn Council on the Arts, and OneBeat, and is an alumni of Coro NY’s Immigrant Civic Leadership Program.

NYFA Classifieds

Amy Aronoff

Content Strategist

Amy Aronoff is a senior communications strategist with more than 15 years of experience helping arts and culture organizations raise their public profiles and reach new audiences. Amy manages projects both large and small, collaborating with colleagues across and outside of NYFA, with a keen eye on clarity, consistency, and design. Her expertise ranges from content design, writing, and editing to social media, email marketing, and media relations. She is a photographer and baker who enjoys New York's many museums, galleries, and neighborhoods.

Antoinette Goldberg

Sales & Data Manager

Antoinette has extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations such as Clean Water Action, CARE, and the Global Woman P.E.A.C.E Foundation, where she successfully integrated data management and outreach strategies. She has also worked with The Advance Group, gaining valuable insight into the consulting side of nonprofit and political campaigns. With a BA degree in Journalism and Media Studies, Antoinette is deeply committed to the intersection of art and activism, using both creative expression and data-driven approaches to amplify social causes.

Katerina Nicolaou

Director of NYFA Earned Income

Katerina Nicolaou has 7+ years of experience in marketing for the arts. She has worked within the marketing teams of various arts organizations in New York and Italy, as well as on the digital marketing consulting side for clients in the arts. During COVID-19, she dedicated some of her time to lead outreach music programs for isolated and vulnerable communities. She received her BBA degree in International Business, Marketing, and Communications from CUNY Baruch College in NY and her MA degree in Arts Management from SDA Bocconi in Italy. In her free time, she enjoys studying vocal jazz, learning latin dances, and trying to keep her gazillion plants alive.

Andrea Pilman

Account Manager, NYFA Classifieds

Andrea Pilman is an Account Manager with NYFA Classifieds, partnering with arts and nonprofit organizations to meet their hiring and visibility goals. She brings 15+ years across customer success, communications, and development at mission-driven organizations including Idealist, GiveLively, Brooklyn Community Foundation, and Phoenix Charter Academy Network. Andrea is known for clear, audience-first messaging, data-informed campaigns, and engaging trainings and workshops. She holds an MA degree in Elections & Campaign Management from Fordham University. In her free time, she’s a mom of two and runs a sustainable fashion resale and styling business.

Leah Rosenfeld

Sales Manager, NYFA Classifieds

Leah Rosenfeld (she/her/hers) joins NYFA with over 5 years of experience in auction houses and galleries. She previously worked at Christie’s in the American Art department and the Prints and Multiples department, where she built strong relationships with clients to drive sales. As a specialist in the Prints and Multiples department, she served as Head of Sale for mid-season auctions, overseeing client communications, sale administration, and marketing. Leah graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History.

NYFA Finance & Administration

Michael Bailey

Finance Associate/Office Coordinator

Alan Lamb

Finance/Fiscal Sponsorship Officer

Rusha Rahman

Senior Finance Officer

Sebi Vitale

Director of Finance/Administration

Sebi has over 30 years of accounting and financial management experience. He provides oversight of NYFA's financial operations, which includes accounting, budgeting, auditing and financial reporting. His tasks also include the management of NYFA's annual audit, filing of the 990, CHAR500, and form 5500. Sebi works closely with the CEO, COO, and NYFA Directors, while providing support to the various NYFA programs. He also serves as the liason to the Board's Finance Committee. Prior to joining NYFA in 2010, Sebi was a New York State government employee, where he supported various economic, job creation, and real estate development projects.

Technology

Mohammad Usman

Director of Technology

Consultants

Zahra Banyamerian

Curatorial Affairs

Peter Cobb

Senior Advisor NYFA Learning

Peter Cobb is a jazz saxophonist, attorney, and long-time arts administrator with significant experience in fundraising and strategic planning. He is passionate about arts entrepreneurship, music, his wonderful wife Carianne and their two dogs, and all Boston sports teams.

Kaija Groom

NYFA Learning

Kaija Groom is a program manager and community builder based in New York City. At NYFA, she supports the Immigrant Artist Program by contributing to the monthly Immigrant Artist Newsletter and assisting with the logistics of NYFA Learning programs and workshops. Kaija is passionate about supporting artists, cultural workers, and immigrants through community building and resource sharing.

Gretchen Kraus

Freelance Designer

In Memoriam

Ryan Hudak

Board of Directors

Sarah Young O’Donnell

Chair

Director, ENM Holdings Limited

Sarah Young O’Donnell is a retail industry veteran, having spent much of her career in Asia, most recently as CEO of Seibu department stores and the Beauty Avenue chain in Greater China as well as corporate director of ENM Holdings Ltd in Hong Kong. Now NYC-based, she advises retail and consumer businesses globally. She currently serves as Board Chair of the National Eczema Association and is active in Planned Parenthood of Greater New York and the Wellesley Business Leadership Council. She is a longstanding student and supporter of the arts across disciplines and strongly believes that there is no more important arts organization than NYFA!

J. Wesley McDade

Vice Chair

Managing Director, Corporate Communications, Morgan Stanley

Alexandra Chasin

Secretary

Writer and Associate Professor, Literary Studies, The New School

Myrna Chao

Treasurer

Managing Director, Willis Towers Watson, Ret.

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh

At Large

Writer

Marc J. Jason

Immediate Past Chair

Senior Counsel, Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP, Ret.

A retired attorney, Marc spent his career litigating trademark, copyright and patent cases. His passion for the arts led him to NYFA, where he has been on the Board since 2013. Marc has a BA in French Literature from Brown and a JD from Georgetown.

Joe Baker

Co-founder, Executive Director, Lenape Center

Leslie Boyce

Multi-Disciplinary Artist and Creator of CHOREOTOGRAPHY (R), CTM

Alessandra DiGiusto

Head of CSR Americas and Executive Director, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation

Nick Donias

Executive Director, Structured Finance, SMBC

Christopher Donini

Managing Director, The Raine Group

Lesley-Anne Gliedman

Angela Henry

President, Grace Angela Henry, Inc.

Angela Henry is professionally active in nonprofit recruitment and governance; philanthropic administration; community and educational promotion and engagement; and the performing arts. Under the stage name of Grace Angela Henry, Angela has appeared on film and stage and is especially known for historic graveyard tours, her portrayals of Sojourner Truth, and as a popular MC and auctioneer for nonprofit galas. She is an accomplished voice actor on Audible.com, film, and international walking tours. Angela is the former board chair of Arts Mid-Hudson in New York.

Eunbi Kim

Concert Pianist and Cofounder, bespoken

Pianist Eunbi Kim creates intimate experiences that transcend the conventions of the piano recital. A winner of the 2023 Astral Artists National Competition, her credits include solo programs at the Kennedy Center, a concert-meditation performance at Lincoln Center, and a TEDx Talk. She has been noted for her “creative curiosity and fearless experimentation” (New York Public Radio). Kim’s recent album debuted at #2 on Billboard Classical Charts. Titled “It Feels Like,” the album deals with themes of childhood, family and memory. Eunbi is co-founder of bespoken, a mentorship program for female-identifying and non-binary musicians.

Mary Lang

Founder and Managing Partner, Shadowbox Logistics

Seth Levin

Co-Founder/Partner, LevinKong Team

Ricardo Maldonado

Artist, Poet, and Translator

Laura Montross

Vice President, Communications, Brookfield Properties

George Mueller

Partner, KKR

Dr. Jack Rosenberg

Artist; Chair, CT Arts Council; and Chair, CT Arts Foundation

Christopher Rudd

Artistic Director, RudduR Dance

Justin Tobin

Founder, Gather Inc.

Carmelita Tropicana

Artist

Luis Valderas

Artist, Bishop & Valderas LLC – Large Scale Print Makers, Arts Consultants

Luis Valderas is represented in the permanent collections of the University of Texas at San Antonio, Arizona State University, Art Museum of South Texas, and the San Antonio Museum of Art. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Anthropology at University of British Columbia (MOA); Medellin Museum of Art, Colombia; the Queens Museum; and others. He co-founded and produced "Project: MASA I, II,III, IV & V"—a national group exhibit featuring Latino artists and focusing on Chicano identities. He also co-founded The A3 Press and Bishop & Valderas, LLC, a large-scale printmaking community engagement collaborative and production house.

Elizabeth von Habsburg

Managing Director, Winston Art Group

Nina Yankowitz

Visual Artist

NYFA Board Advisors

Jennifer A. Surprenant Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

NYFA Advisory Council

Jonathan Schwartz Advisory Council Chair, CEO, ATELIER4

Diana Al-Hadid, Artist

Kathleen Chalfant Actor

Liz Christensen Founder, Christensen Fine Arts

Ligia Cravo Senior Program Officer, The Hearst Foundation

Coco Fusco, Artist and Professor at The Cooper Union

Janice Haggerty, Trustee, Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation

David Henry Hwang, Playwright/Screenwriter/Librettist

Jessica Keuskamp Executive Director, Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation

Mira Nair, Film Director

Kathleen O’Grady President, The O’Grady Foundation

Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas Program Director, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Isabel Sandoval, Filmmaker

Artist Advisory Committee

Martita Abril Choreography

Crystal Z Campbell Film/Video

Migdalia Cruz Playwriting/Screenwriting

Alvin Eng Nonfiction Literature & Playwriting/Screenwriting

Ulises Gonzales Poetry, Fiction, & Nonfiction Literature

Shanti Grumbine Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts

zakia henderson-brown Poetry

Samantha Jacobs Folk/Traditional Arts

Tommy Kha Photography

Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa Fiction

Qasim Ali Naqvi Music/Sound

Kameron Neal Digital/Electronic Arts

Sarah Oppenheimer Architecture/Environmental Design & Craft/Sculpture

David Sandlin Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts

Yolanda Sharpe Painting

Juan M. Usera-Falcon Folk/Traditional Arts

Brigitta Váradi Interdisciplinary

Ann M. Warde Music/Sound

Anna Warfield Crafts/Sculpture

Letha Wilson Photography

Board Liaisons:

Leslie Arlette Boyce Interdisciplinary

Christopher Rudd Choreography