Staff & Leadership

Serving artists and staffed by artists.

About NYFA Contact Us

With a dedicated board and a diverse staff—comprised largely of working artists from all disciplines—New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)’s impact is far-reaching with in-person programs and services, an international online presence, an ever-growing base in New York, and significant partnerships with other arts and cultural organizations, city and state government agencies, and academic institutions.

NYFA is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Increasing diversity is a key organizational priority; members of historically underrepresented and/or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to join our team.

Interested in working at NYFA? Open roles will be listed on NYFA Classifieds as they come available.

NYFA Executive Leadership

Fred Humphrey

Chief Operating Officer

As a native New Yorker, Fred Humphrey has spent his entire carreer in the non profit sector and worked or volunteered with some of the leading LGBT organizations in New York City. Before joining the staff at NYFA, he was Director of Finance and HR at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, where he also oversaw faclities. In addition to his role as Chief Operating Officer at NYFA, he respensents NYFA as a member of the Safety Net Coalition Steering Committee, serves on the Executive Committee of NCAPER and is an active on the boards of two cultural organizations.

Michael Royce

Chief Executive Officer

Michael Royce has been cited for his leadership from Politics NY (2024), Crain's NY Business (2023; 2021), the Observer Newspaper (2020), and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (2018). Michael is also a board member of ArtBridge and previously 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 and Communications

Nichole Almanzar

Development Officer

Kim Andresen

Director of Development

Kim Andresen is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, who 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 | Ulster Performing Arts Center, 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 small to mid-sized organizations to secure the funding necessary to bolster their mission and realize their vision.

Amy Aronoff

Senior Communications Officer

Amy Aronoff is a 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 press outreach. She is a photographer and baker who enjoys New York's many museums, galleries, and neighborhoods.

Carolyn Lockhart Schoerner

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.

Audrey Thao Berger

Program Officer NYFA Grants

Audrey Thao Berger is a Brooklyn-based arts administrator, community organizer, dancer, and teaching artist. With a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts, she is dedicated to fostering its growth and accessibility. Audrey's experience includes roles such as Assistant Company Manager of Sleep No More and Programs and Production Associate at The Brooklyn Arts Exchange. Additionally, she has taught creative movement to Pre-K and Kindergarten classes at PS 12, PS 107, and PS 242 in New York. Audrey 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.

Kendra Shiloh Russell

Program Associate NYFA Grants

Kendra Shiloh Russell is an arts administrator and visual artist based in Queens, 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. Kendra 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

Program Officer Fiscal Sponsorship

Daniel Nelson

Program Officer Fiscal Sponsorship

Daniel Tantalean

Film & Media Consultant Fiscal Sponsorship

Daniel Tantalean is an award-winning Latinx Producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to NYFA, Daniel was a 2023 Film Independent Producing Lab Fellow and producer of IN THE SUMMERS (U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, Sundance '24). He is a NALIP Latino Media Market Fellow, and was chosen for the prestigious 2024 Tribeca Creator's Market with his documentary REBEL WITHOUT A PAUSE. His work has been featured at top film festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, SFFilm, and Hot Docs. Daniel produced the award-winning short doc ALE LIBRE which has been distributed by The New Yorker.

NYFA Learning

Chelsea Goding-Doty

Senior Program Officer NYFA Learning, Leadership Initiatives

Chelsea Goding-Doty is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC, ACC) and Nonprofit Lifecycles consultant. Before joining NYFA, Chelsea worked with Kaneza Schaal as Managing Director to produce and tour works of opera and theater. She served as Managing Director at Gallim and Interim Director of Education at New York City Center. In 2010, she co-founded Harlem Arts Festival, a multidisciplinary performing and visual arts festival presented annually in Harlem, NY. Chelsea holds a BS in Arts Administration from Butler University. She is also a member of the Creative and Independent Producer Alliance.

Ju Hye Kim

Program Associate 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.

Kelly Olshan

Program Officer NYFA Learning, Career Advice and Training

Kelly Olshan is a NYC-based arts manager and artist with 8+ years of experience providing fiscal and educational resources for creative practitioners. At NYFA, she manages professional development programs for artists of all disciplines globally, including Artist as Entrepreneur and NYFA Coaching. As a reviewer, she is a frequent panelist for NYC Percent for Art Program and on the DOT Public Art Advisory Committee. She gives talks at art schools and institutions nationally, including SVA, RISD, and American University Museum. She holds a BFA in Painting from UNC Asheville and an MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University.

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 and Sales

Katerina Nicolaou

Account Manager NYFA Classifieds

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.

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

Antoinette Goldberg

Database Manager, Volunteer Portal

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.

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.

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

Caroline Black

Executive Director, Pollock-Krasner Foundation

Caroline Black is the Executive Director of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. Since 1997 she has overseen the PKF’s grant program, which awards grants to visual artists and arts organizations internationally. Since 1985, the Foundation has awarded $88 million to 5,000 artists in 80 countries. Black serves on the Board of Directors of the Artists’ Legacy Foundation, is a member of the Fund for Park Avenue’s Sculpture Advisory Committee and sits on the Advisory Committee of the Pollock-Krasner House & Study Center in Springs, NY. Black earned her MA in Art History from Columbia University and her BA from Connecticut College in New London, CT.

Leslie Boyce

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

Alessandra DiGiusto

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

Christopher Donini

Managing Director, The Raine Group

Michael Findlay

Director, Aquavella Galleries

Michael Findlay is a Director of Acquavella Galleries, which specializes in Impressionist, Modern and Post-War Contemporary art. Findlay directed one of the first galleries in SoHo, pioneering the work of artists like John Baldessari, Hannah Wilke and Sean Scully, and securing portrait commissions for Andy Warhol. Prior to Acquavella Galleries, he was a Senior Director at Christie’s. In 2022, he was appointed by President Biden to the State Department’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee. He has published two books, "Seeing Slowly—Looking at Modern Art" and an updated 10th anniversary edition of "The Value of Art."

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

Managing Director, CBRE Global Investors

Seth Levin

Co-Founder/Partner, LevinKong Team

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

Board Counsel

Jennifer A. Surprenant Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP

NYFA Advisory Council

Jonathan Schwartz Advisory Council Chair, CEO, ATELIER4

Kathleen Chalfant Actor

Liz Christensen Founder, Christensen Fine Arts

Ligia Cravo Senior Program Officer, The Hearst Foundation

Allison Duignan Manager of Arts and Culture Programs, Consolidated Edison

Jessica Keuskamp Executive Director, Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation

Kathleen O’Grady President, The O’Grady Foundation

Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas Program Director, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Marjorie Croes Silverman Psychologist, former Dean, Barnard College

Artist Advisory Committee

Martita Abril Choreography

Migdalia Cruz Playwriting/Screenwriting

Robert D’Alimonte Crafts/Sculpture

Alvin Eng Nonfiction Literature & Playwriting/Screenwriting

Ulises Gonzales Poetry, Fiction, & Nonfiction Literature

Shanti Grumbine Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts

Amir Hariri Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts

Steffani Jemison Video/Film

Tommy Kha Photography

Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa Fiction

Monteith McCollum Video/Film & Music/Sound

Joseph Morris Digital/Electronic Arts

Sarah Oppenheimer Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design

Yolanda Sharpe Painting

Wenhua Shi Interdisciplinary

Juan M. Usera-Falcon Folk/Traditional Arts

Ann M. Warde Music/Sound

Anna Warfield Crafts/Sculpture

Board Liaison:

Christopher Rudd Choreography