Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Cynthia Nava earned her BFA in Illustration from California State University, Long Beach. Cynthia is a teaching artist who loves to share her enthusiasm and love for art with her students. Her playful and colorful illustrations have been featured in various art shows and events in the LA area, and she has happily volunteered as a guest lecturer and industry advisor at the Communication Art Academy at Alexander Hamilton High School. Cynthia has illustrated published children’s books and is a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. Outside of the classroom, her hobbies include playing with her cats and taking her dog on long walks.
Leadership & Staff




George Garcia
EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Amy Cuenco
Director of Finance
Michael Sample
Co-Artistic Director




Amanda Edwards
Associate Director of Communications

Orlando Moreno
Outreach + Programs Manager
Eugenia Barbuc
Teaching Artist, Creativity Lab
Vincent Caldera
Programs Coordinator
Giselle Barrios
Programs Coordinator
Nancy Avila
Accounting Supervisor

Wendy Cruz
H.R. Generalist

Justin Izbinski
Grant Writer
Jackie Rivera
Development Operations Associate
Holly Le
Staff Accountant





Rebecca Tager
Teaching Artist, Ceramics
Board Officers

Jonathan Schreter
ChairBolton

Grant Withers
Vice ChairCapital Group

Patricia Brum
SecretarySnell & Wilmer, LLP

Sam Kunianski
TreasurerSK Consulting
Board Members

Kingsley Afemikhe
Xos Trucks
Eric Coleman
Television Producer
Malik Ducard
Pinterest
Peter Gal
Dreamworks
Brian Goldsmith
Lionsgate
Kapil Gupta
Boston Scientific
Jackie Harman
COYN
Brian Ishida
Pacific Western Bank
Jeffrey E. Jaeger
Standard Properties
Kevin Pleasant
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Darris Sherman
NBCUniversal
Tom Stillwell
Big Fish Consulting
Vanessa Walker-Oakes
Flintridge Preparatory SchoolThe Founders
- Bob Bates Co-Founder
- Irwin J. Jaeger Co-Founder
Founders Board Members
- Geoffrey Anenberg Creative Space
- Wallis Annenberg
- Kim Baer
- Bill & Tamara Bagnard
- Jon Basalone Trader Joe's
- Frank Baxter
- Craig Benell
- Alan Berro
- Cynthia Harnisch Breunig
- Al Brooks
- Marvin G. Burns
- Vera R. Campbell
- Ira Cohen
- Bob Davidson
- Sharon DeBriere
- Susan Emerling-Torres
- Mitchell Frank Spaceland Productions
- Bobbie Greenfield
- Crosby Haffner Synan Holdings
- Eugene L. Hernandez
- Douglas Hinchliffe
- Steve Hirsh
- Linda Hothem
- Paul C. Johnson
- Glorya Kaufman
- Laurie Konheim
- Melanie Lundquist
- Rick Madden Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- Michael Maltzan
- Jay Mangel
- Jeff Marine
- Silvia Marjoram American Business Bank
- Randy Miller
- Connie Moran-Romero
- Scott Morielli Graff Californiawear
- Anthony E. Nicholas
- Drew Planting
- Maura Rampolla
- Monica Rosenthal
- Joseph Sanford
- Martha Saucedo
- Steve Schoenholz Tempted Apparel
- William Schoenholz
- Eric Schotz
- Michael Schreter
- Bob Shearin
- Mithra Sheybani Attorney
- Mark Slavkin
- Beatriz Stotzer
- Katerina Tana
- Joni Topper JP Morgan Chase
Young Professionals Board Members
- Justin J. Garza The Dream Adopters
- Amanda Hovest KBDA
- Michael Khosravifard UX Design
- Toyin Moses Actress