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Norah Aldossary is an artist from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. She earned her BFA in Photography from Pratt Institute in New York in May 2026, with a minor in Museums and Gallery Practices. Her artistic practice explores memory, cultural heritage, archives, and the relationship between place and identity. During her time at Pratt, Norah worked as a photographer for an arts and culture magazine and participated in exhibitions that deepened her understanding of curatorial practice and the role of cultural institutions. These experiences broadened her perspective beyond photography, leading to an interest in exhibition-making, artistic leadership, and the ways art can shape cultural narratives and foster international cultural dialogue. Norah sees art as extending beyond gallery walls. She believes it is a form of cultural diplomacy, a bridge between cultures, and a powerful way to foster understanding across nations. Through the ARAD program, she aims to deepen her understanding of arts management and cultural leadership. As an artist, she plans to contribute to cultural initiatives that use art to encourage dialogue, promote cultural exchange, and deepen connections to Saudi culture and identity.

Deema Alnafisi is a recent History of Art graduate from Kuwait whose interests lie at the intersection of cultural heritage, arts management, and the global art market. After earning her BA (Hons) from Goldsmiths, University of London, where her dissertation examined Kuwait’s architectural heritage preservation, she gained practical experience through Christie’s London, contributing to provenance research, cataloguing, and preparations for major auctions, as well as through collaborative arts publishing and collection management projects. Drawing on her multicultural background and fluency in Arabic, English, and French, she is passionate about strengthening connections between international and regional arts communities. Through the ARAD program, she hopes to deepen her understanding of cultural leadership, institutional strategy, and the role of the arts in fostering sustainable and inclusive cultural ecosystems.

Antonia Capasso (she/her/hers)  is a native New Yorker who has always been guided by an unceasing sense of curiosity. After graduating from FIT with a Bachelor of Science, she went on to work in the field of apparel and textile production for more than 8 years. During this time, she continued her studies, graduating with an MA in Italian Literature in 2022. This opportunity allowed her to formally study the Italian language, a long time passion of hers. Since 2021, she has worked as the Administrator for the Department of Textile Conservation at The Met. In this role, she discovered her authentic path—a career in the arts. While enrolled in the ARAD program, Antonia hopes to learn more about the intersection of the arts and the community and how to continue to strengthen these connections while increasing diversity and accessibility. Antonia is also an avid reader, aspiring writer, animal lover and enthusiastic explorer.

Leyi (Sandy) Chen is a New York–based artist, curator, and entrepreneur working across fashion, design, and contemporary culture. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, her practice is grounded in material experimentation and interdisciplinary making. Her professional experience spans fashion design studios, the curation and production of emerging designer showcases, and NYFW runway presentations. She is also the co-founder and Creative Director of RABIES DOG, an independent New York jewelry brand. Sandy’s practice brings together artistic experimentation, curatorial thinking, and entrepreneurship to create new platforms for design and creative exchange.

Sijie Chen has been working in the art industry after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in 2020. From computer art design to film curation, she gained valuable experience in project and business management. Sijie started a media production company in her hometown, and she aims to transform it into a more sustainable and innovative business that encourages diversity and creativity. She looks forward to connecting with the ARAD cohort and contributing to the vibrant arts administration community.

Jude Choi graduated from New York University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance and a Minor in History. Throughout his time at NYU, Jude spent countless hours training to be a professional musician and public performer. Although experienced in performing all kinds of instrumental music, he specializes in the classical orchestral repertoire, such as Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, or Brahms. Furthermore, he has performed in renowned venues such as the Lincoln Center in New York City and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. As a musician, Jude hopes to move beyond the stage and behind the scenes and develop the skill set required to innovate new organizational strategies. This will allow him to participate in the creation of a new identity for the modern symphony orchestra that not only focuses on engaging local communities with classical music, but prioritizes educating local communities about classical music.

Avery Elledge (she/her) hails from sunny San Antonio, Texas, and is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University's Music Theatre and Arts Management program. Through her work as an actor and producer, she aims to make the arts more inclusive and accessible. Avery recently worked with the Company Management team at Manhattan Theatre Club (MÂ鶹ԭ´´), was part of Tessitura's Career Accelerator Program in Fall 2023, assisted with the operations of the San Antonio Film Festival, and collaborated with Playhouse Square's Communications team. She currently serves as the Associate Producer: Marketing Development Lead for Off-Broadway’s Out of the Box Theatrics (OOTB). Some of Avery's favorite credits include Beau the Musical (OOTB; 10 Drama Desk Nominations), Jaja's African Hair Braiding (MÂ鶹ԭ´´; 5 Tony Award Nominations), Poor Yella Rednecks (MÂ鶹ԭ´´), TRASH (PAC NYC / OOTB), Mary Jane (MÂ鶹ԭ´´; 4 Tony Award Nominations), and See What I Wanna See (OOTB). Avery is looking forward to continuing her education in the ARAD program at Â鶹ԭ´´.

Cynthia Feng is an artist and illustrator from China who graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) majored in Illustration. Having lived and studied in Baltimore and spent time in Japan, she has developed a cross-cultural perspective on art and creative practice.

After several years of experience in illustration and visual design, she became increasingly interested in how arts organizations can connect artists, communities, and diverse audiences. She hopes to combine her creative background with arts administration through interdisciplinary learning. She looks forward to contributing to New York’s vibrant arts community while fostering greater cultural exchange between China, Japan, and the United States through the arts.

Anna Chiara Gargano is an Italian student who completed her undergraduate degree at King's College in London, where she discovered a love for film, contemporary art, and the stories that connect them. Along the way, she interned in the fashion and luxury industries, gaining experience in PR, marketing, and events while seeing the creative world from a business perspective. Anna is fascinated by how culture, storytelling, and strategy come together, and she can't wait to start the Arts Administration program and meet others who share a passion for the arts.

Andy Han is a designer and consultant from South Korea whose work explores the intersection of art and management. He earned a BFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, where he developed a strong foundation in visual communication, sustainable design, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Before joining Teachers College, Andy worked at a consulting firm, conducting organizational research, interviewing employees, and contributing to strategic planning initiatives. He has also designed educational programs and facilitated workshops. These experiences deepened his interest in how creative approaches can help organizations navigate conflict, strengthen communication, and foster more inclusive decision-making. At Teachers College, Andy is interested in management, arts education, and diversity. He hopes to develop programs and organizational systems that integrate art, design, and insights from the behavioral sciences to help people from diverse backgrounds participate meaningfully, collaborate effectively, and reach their full potential.

Clara Haymon graduated from Boston University in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Emotional and Behavioral Challenges in Schools. She has spent the last two years working and living in Boston and participating in the community theater scene around the city. Clara has worked both on and off the stage, from acting and singing to directing and working in box offices. She is overjoyed to be a part of the ARAD program and looks forward to expanding her knowledge in law in the arts and its history. In her free time, Clara enjoys reading, writing, and cooking.

Ziyi Huang graduated from Pratt Institute in 2024 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting. Since then, she has worked with galleries and arts organizations in New York and Shanghai, gaining experience in exhibition production, communications, and audience engagement. Moving between the perspectives of an artist and an arts administrator has made her more aware of the uncertainty artists face at different stages of their careers, especially when navigating limited resources, fragmented information, and the pressure to make consequential choices. She is interested in how arts organizations can create spaces for honest exchange and help artists gain greater clarity about their own paths. Alongside her work in the visual arts, Ziyi is an active DJ who has founded an independent radio platform and organized music events bringing together artists, musicians, and audiences across different cities. At Teachers College, she hopes to deepen her understanding of nonprofit management and organizational strategy while continuing to explore how cultural projects can remain thoughtful, sustainable, and open to different communities.

Destini Jackson is excited to join the Program in Arts Administration (ARAD) at Â鶹ԭ´´. She recently earned her bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Psychology from Clemson University, where she discovered a passion for museums, public engagement, and the arts. Her experience working at the Children’s Museum of the Upstate further strengthened her interest in creating engaging, accessible experiences for diverse audiences. During her time in the ARAD program, Destini hopes to deepen her understanding of arts leadership, nonprofit management, and cultural policy while preparing for a career in artist relations and arts administration. She looks forward to learning alongside her cohort and contributing to a more accessible and inclusive arts community.

Jie (Evelyn) Ji is an emerging arts administrator with a background in psychology and a strong interest in the relationship between art and human behavior. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from New York University, where she participated in research projects exploring art therapy and the psychology of drawing, focusing on how creative expression can reveal and shape individuals' self-concept. During her exchange semester in Florence, Italy, she studied photography while immersing herself in the city's museums, galleries, and artistic heritage. Through her interdisciplinary background, Evelyn hopes to bridge psychology, artistic practice, and curatorial work to create more human-centered cultural experiences.

Jinwen (Bella) Jia graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2026 with a BFA in Fashion Design. With a background in fashion design and experience in the fashion industry, she has developed skills in creative development, collaboration, and bringing ideas from concept to realization. Through her own practice as a designer, Jinwen became interested in how creative work is presented, shared, and connected with audiences. This experience led her to explore the broader ecosystem surrounding creative work, including arts marketing, audience engagement, and the role of cultural organizations in supporting emerging artists and designers. Through the ARAD program, she hopes to explore how arts organizations can build stronger connections between creators, institutions, and audiences.

Sarina Keswani has worked for various nonprofits across Los Angeles and San Diego, and I have a deep passion for the arts. I am an educator and a painter, and I currently work at The San Diego Museum of Art. Outside of this, I enjoy aerial dance, ceramics, and yoga.

Haneol Ko is from Seoul, South Korea, and earned a B.A. in Fashion Design from Kyung Hee University. While studying fashion design, she became interested in the broader systems that support artists, designers, and cultural institutions, leading her to pursue Arts Administration. Through design projects, student leadership, and an internship at a textile export company, she developed a passion for connecting creativity with strategic management. At Teachers College, she hopes to explore how arts organizations can adapt to an increasingly digital world while supporting creative communities. She is particularly interested in the roles of digital technology, visual communication, and cultural management in shaping the future of the fashion and arts industries. She looks forward to learning from a diverse community of peers and developing the research and leadership skills needed to contribute to the field. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in academia and advance innovative, sustainable practices in the global arts and fashion sectors.

Zara Koroma is a Los Angeles native who graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Comparative Literature and a B.A. in Rhetoric (Narrative and Image). As an undergrad, she became passionate about designing inclusive spaces within her local arts community. This led her to student leadership positions such as Co-Founder/Marketing Director of DIASPORA, a safe space for Black students to creatively express themselves, and Concerts Manager of SUPERB Productions, where she planned free and accessible shows for the student body. Zara was also a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow whose research, Authorial Afterlife: Reimagining Black Women's Authorship in the Wake, focused on the relationship between authorship, identity, and Black women’s artistic practices. During her senior year, Zara was sponsored by the Townsend Center for the Humanities to be the Educational Programs Intern at the Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB). Following graduation, she learned more about how arts administration can serve as a tool for social change as a Programs and Events intern at Arts for LA. Zara is excited for her studies within ARAD where she can learn more about how she can advocate for marginalized artists, produce creative spaces of belonging, and enrich cultural dialogues through her role as an Arts Administrator.

Tibor Lazar graduated cum laude from Hunter College in 2023 with a BA in Theatre. He grew up in upstate New York then moved to the city. He has been interested in the visual and performing arts from a very young age. His first job in the arts was at Art Omi (Ghent, NY) an educational art camp for children and young adults. He added to his resume as an Associate Creative Director working at Sims Contemporary, a gallery in Chelsea, NYC. He also co-founded the Torch Ensemble (NYC), a theatre collective which took multiple off-broadway plays to Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. He is most interested in how building community empowers artists to create and grow, as well as the financial necessities for those communities to flourish. His other interests include acting, film, and art history. He is excited to start the development of his Art Administration skills at Columbia Teacher’s College – to gather the experience needed to help artists achieve their goals and help institutions make art more accessible.

Annika Lee was born and raised in Taiwan and graduated with First-Class Honors in Fine Arts from Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London, in 2024. Beginning her journey as a practicing artist, she quickly expanded into contemporary art criticism, antique dealership, gallery operations, and community-driven initiatives. Driven by a desire to examine how art is encountered, valued, and sustained, she aspires to become a transformative arts leader, bridging cultural strategy, visibility, and public accessibility. She aims to ground her practice in strategic and financial management to strengthen the ecosystem connecting artists, institutions, and communities.

Jasmine Li is an arts professional whose upbringing across Asia, North America, and Europe has shaped her interest in cross-cultural exchange. She graduated from the American University of Paris with a B.A. in Global Communications and minors in Art History and Socio-Cultural Anthropology. Most recently, Jasmine spent two years with the American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie in Paris, working in fundraising and communications. Her previous work with galleries, art fairs, and the commercial art sector has also offered her perspectives on both the institutional and market sides of the art world. Through the ARAD program, Jasmine hopes to deepen her understanding of how cultural institutions navigate these questions while developing the managerial and policy knowledge necessary to advance provenance and restitution work. Ultimately, she hopes to contribute to more thoughtful cross-cultural dialogue around art heritage.

Youran Li graduated from Syracuse University in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Management, earning Summa Cum Laude. Her academic focus centered on audience engagement and operational strategies for performing arts venues, bridging communication between theaters and their communities. During her undergraduate studies, she gained hands-on experience as a house manager for over a year. She also interned in the development department of a regional theater, assisting with fundraising initiatives and audience outreach campaigns. Beyond the stage, Li is an avid photographer with a passion for instant and analog formats, particularly Polaroid and film, which she uses to capture candid moments and behind-the-scenes narratives. She now seeks to expand her expertise beyond performing arts through the ARAD program, aiming to integrate visual and performing arts management and explore cross-disciplinary leadership in cultural institutions.

Hahree Lim is a graphic designer and creative professional from Seoul, South Korea. She graduated from Northeastern University with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Brand Management. Through her experiences in graphic design and creative marketing, including her work at The TJX Companies, she developed a strong interest in the ways visual communication and storytelling can shape how people connect with brands and communities. Her passion for art, design, and cultural experiences has led her to pursue the intersection of creativity and arts management. Through the ARAD program, she hopes to expand her understanding of the arts from both creative and organizational perspectives and explore how thoughtful branding, marketing, and design can help cultural institutions engage broader and more diverse audiences. In the future, she hopes to build a career that brings together her creative background and her interest in arts administration to create meaningful and accessible experiences in the arts.

Jianing Lu previously earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her practice and professional interests focus on contemporary art, curatorial research, cross-cultural communication, and exhibition production. Through her experiences in galleries, artist studios, and contemporary art organizations, she has supported artist research, exhibition coordination, open calls, artist communications, social media and website production, and public-facing writing. Her work bridges creative practice and arts administration, with a focus on supporting contemporary artists and expanding dialogue between Asian and international art communities.

Youyou Lu is completing her BFA in Film and Television at New York University, with minors in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Alongside her studies in film and storytelling, she has gained hands-on experience at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai West Bund Museum, and China Media Group. Working across museums, live performances, and media productions, she discovered that she is most drawn to the people and work behind artistic projects, including supporting artists, coordinating performances, and creating engaging audience experiences. This inspired her interest in artist management, live performance management, and the broader field of arts administration. In the ARAD program, Youyou looks forward to exploring different areas of arts administration and learning how creative and effective management can better support artists and cultural organizations.

Katherine Ma is a visual artist and photographer from Shanghai, China. She earned her BFA in Photography from Parsons School of Design. With a background in both visual art and fashion, Katherine has worked across galleries, independent brands, and creative studios. These experiences have shaped her interest in the intersection of art, communication, and cultural management. Through her graduate studies, Katherine hopes to explore new ways of supporting visual artists, connecting creative practices with broader audiences, and developing sustainable opportunities for artists across different cultural contexts.

Ava Marshall hails from Houston, Texas and currently works as Coordinator of Pro Bono and Summer Programs at the Oficce of Public Interest/ Public Service Law and Careers at Columbia Law School. Before this, Marshall served as a Lead Teacher in the Bronx, where she developed and implemented culturally responsive curricula to support the academic and social growth of her students. Her dedication to youth development is further evidenced by her tenure as the Programs Director at The Homegirl Project, a collaborative organization dedicated to femmes of color. In this role, Ava led planning and creative programming, including the production of large-scale initiatives such as the "Poetry in Isolation" livestream and various fundraising campaigns for community relief. She successfully managed organizational logistics, stakeholder communications, and mentorship outreach, consistently fostering inclusive spaces where young people could engage with the arts and community-building. Ava graduated summa cum laude from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a concentration in Arts Education and Black Studies. A recipient of the Clyde Taylor Award for Distinguished Work in Africana/African American Studies, her academic research investigates how arts-based practices serve as critical tools for liberation and identity formation. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Arts Administration at Columbia University.

Nataly Meital Manor is a curator, artistic director, and cultural entrepreneur. She holds both a BA and an MA in Art History from Tel Aviv University and has worked across commercial galleries, museums, and nonprofit organizations. Since 2020, she has served as Artistic Director and Curator of Studio of Her Own, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting gender equality and diversity in the arts. Her work focuses on developing community-based programs, supporting artists from underrepresented communities, and building partnerships that connect contemporary art with social impact. Alongside her work at Studio of Her Own, she has co-founded cultural initiatives and arts organizations that strengthen local cultural infrastructure and expand access to contemporary art. Through the ARAD program, she hopes to deepen her expertise in nonprofit management, financing, and cultural policy while exploring innovative and sustainable models for inclusive, community-centered cultural institutions that foster cross-cultural dialogue.

Shyteek McLeod is an actress, playwright, and director known for her exceptional talent, leadership, and commitment to transformative storytelling in the arts. With a BFA in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts, Shyteek delivers compelling performances both on stage and on screen. She was honored with a full tuition leadership scholarship through the Posse Foundation, reflecting recognition from industry leaders. Additionally, Shyteek has extensive arts administration experience through leadership roles. She served as “Acting Representative”, transitioned to “President” and in her final year as “Student Trustee” to the Board of Trustees with the CalArts Student Union, she represented student voices, closed communication gaps between administration and students, and advocated for policy reform that centered students.

Zean (Quintus) Ni is a filmmaker, exhibition organizer, and arts administrator from Shanghai, China. He received his B.F.A. in Film from the School of Visual Arts (SVA), where his practice expanded beyond filmmaking into curating public programs and building creative communities through the arts. After graduation, Quintus co-founded an independent arts platform in New York that brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences through exhibitions, screenings, and interdisciplinary cultural events. His work focuses on creating spaces where artistic practice, public dialogue, and community engagement intersect, believing that exhibitions are not only places to display artworks but also platforms for meaningful human connection. At Teachers College, he hopes to further explore the relationship between artistic practice, cultural institutions, and public engagement through the Arts Administration program. He is particularly interested in how arts organizations can create more accessible, collaborative, and socially impactful cultural experiences. Rather than simply organizing exhibitions, he hopes to build sustainable cultural platforms where artists, filmmakers, and audiences can meet, collaborate, and grow together across different communities and cultural contexts.

Kate Pinchiaroli graduated cum laude from Colgate University in 2020 with a major in Economics and a minor in Political Science. She grew up in Westchester County, New York, where over a decade of competitive dance and community theater at her hometown dance studio instilled a lifelong devotion to the arts. Kate began her career in consulting at Ernst & Young, and later spent over four years at Blackstone within the Credit and Insurance group on the Capital Markets and Bank Relations team. At Blackstone, she focused on raising and negotiating debt financing solutions across private and public markets. Even as she built her career in finance, her deepest sense of purpose remained rooted in creative spaces. She has served on the Brooklyn Museum’s Young Leadership Council for the past two years, and is now at the leader level, where she is involved in planning the Brooklyn Artists Ball After Party. Through the ARAD program, Kate seeks to bridge her finance experience with her passion for the arts, working to sustain arts institutions and artist residency programs, preserve cultural narratives, and uplift artistic communities.

Dorothea (Yuyan) Qin, born and raised in Nanjing, China, brings together art history, sociology, and cultural institutions to explore how art shapes public life. She earned her B.A. with honors in Art History and Sociology from Grinnell College, where she developed her interests through museums, nonprofit organizations, and interdisciplinary research. Throughout her undergraduate years, Dorothea explored the arts from multiple perspectives—as a curator, museum educator, development intern, arts advocate, and researcher. She served as a curator and museum educator at the Grinnell College Museum of Art, developing exhibitions and public programs that fostered dialogue between artworks and diverse audiences. She also interned in the Development Department at the Denver Art Museum, supporting donor research, stewardship, and fundraising initiatives, and at Americans for the Arts, where she contributed to national arts advocacy and civic engagement projects. Earlier, she worked with nonprofit organizations in Jordan and the United States on initiatives focused on accessibility, education, and community engagement. Her work has examined topics ranging from media representations of Asian Americans to contemporary East Asian artists whose participatory practices draw on Buddhist philosophies of emptiness and interdependence. As she begins the ARAD program, Dorothea hopes to deepen her understanding of arts leadership, philanthropy, and cultural strategy. Ultimately, she seeks to build a career connecting research, philanthropy, and museum practice, expanding the ways cultural institutions create lasting public value.

Tanit Rahmoun is an Economics graduate from the University of Bristol. Originally from Paris, she has spent her university years balancing academic study with hands-on experience in arts production across France and the UK. She is hoping to learn how to bridge the gap between economics and the creative world within the ARAD program at Columbia.

Infiniti Robinson is excited to pursue her MA in Arts Administration to deepen her understanding of processes that prioritize art making and art analysis in educational programs. She graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego, where she double majored in Art History and Sociology. During her undergraduate studies, her background in Art Historical Research inspired an independent research project which used qualitative methods to analyze the efficiency of Non-Western arts programming at her school. Her research was recognized and motivated a nomination and receipt of the SUNY Chancellor's Award in Student Excellence. Since completing her undergraduate studies in 2024, Infiniti has worked in various non-profit settings, including administrative, coordination, and archival and research positions. Through a position working part-time as a mentor and coordinator to an arts administration-based internship program in NYC, Infiniti ensures that Teachers Colleges' programming will provide the analytical and theoretical frameworks that will inform the student-oriented programming centered on creation she hopes to produce in the near future.

Waseem (Wes) Shakhshir is a developing Palestinian musician, audio engineer, and arts professional whose work bridges the arts, education, and cultural leadership. Originally from Palestine, he earned his Bachelor of Music in Sound Engineering and Arts from William Paterson University of New Jersey, where he combined his passion for music with technical expertise in recording, mixing, mastering, production, and artist development. He has worked across recording studios, live events, and arts education as an audio engineer, producer, music teaching artist, performer, and event production professional. These experiences have reinforced his belief that strong arts organizations are essential to sustaining artists, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding access to the arts. At the ARAD program, Wes is excited to deepen his understanding of and research in arts administration and cultural policy. His long-term goal is to develop sustainable cultural infrastructure that empowers artists, preserves Palestinian musical heritage, and fosters international collaboration through the arts.

With a fervent passion for the art world, Yuqian Shi earned her B.A. in Art History with a minor in Art from Pepperdine University. Through a marketing internship at Louis Vuitton and multiple curatorial projects, she discovered that sustaining and leading artistic enterprises in the 21st century requires fluency in both the language of the arts and the language of the spreadsheet. It is this conviction that drew her to the ARAD program, where she is eager to build the practical, skill-based foundation needed to bridge creative vision and strategic management. Her long-term goal is to open her own gallery, and she believes the program's training will be instrumental in bringing that ambition to life.

Jiayi (Irene) Song is a production designer, aspiring curator, and researcher who graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor's degree in Film and Television Production, specializing in production design and editing. Throughout her professional and practical journey, she has contributed to a wide range of film projects across diverse genres as a production designer, developing her understanding in leadership, creative problem-solving, and collaborative skills through managing various production art teams. Her experience spans exhibition planning, curatorial research, content development, interpretive writing, spatial and lighting design, and audience analysis, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of both the conceptual and practical dimensions of curation. Beyond practical projects, she published a paper in the 5th International Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture Development, examining collaborative strategies between public and private art institutions to strengthen the social role of art and foster a sustainable balance among artistic creation, academic research, the art market, and public engagement. Through her graduate studies, Irene aims to develop projects and research that integrate art more meaningfully into everyday life, expanding its accessibility, social impact, and transformative potential.

Jiera Sheng is from Beijing, China and holds a B.A. in Economics at New York University, with a minor in Studio Art. She developed a strong interest in the intersection of art, institutions, and public experience, and gained hands-on experience in the art world through internships at China Guardian and Christie’s Hong Kong, where she worked on catalog research, auction preparation, and preview support. Having lived in China, Canada, and the United States, Jiera brings an international perspective to questions of how museums and other cultural institutions connect with different audiences. Her visits to institutions such as Art Basel Hong Kong and other museums  deepened her interest in how art is presented, interpreted, and made meaningful to the public. Now pursuing an M.A. in Arts Administration at Â鶹ԭ´´, she looks forward to expanding her understanding of arts administration across both nonprofit and commercial sectors, and to building a career that helps create thoughtful and accessible cultural spaces.

Harry Sukonik is the Co-Founder and Director of Finance at Emerging Artist Resources (EAR), supporting independent artists and arts organizations. Before joining EAR, he served as Fiscal Sponsorship Associate at Pentacle, managing the Foundation for Independent Artists and working closely with a wide range of dance companies and artists. Harry graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University as a Sandra Hittman Scholar, earning a BFA in Dance and a minor in Sociology . In addition to his administrative work, he performs as a freelance dancer with The Metropolitan Opera, Jane Comfort & Co., and Jennifer Muller/The Works.

Irene Tatsi graduated from Wesleyan University in 2026 and double majored in Art History and the College of Letters (an interdisciplinary program of philosophy, history, and literature). She comes from Greece and Cyprus, two places that ignited her fascination with representation, interpretation, and the art market. During her undergraduate degree, her senior thesis, Visualizing the AIDS Epidemic: Sex Education and the Struggle of Representation, which received high honors, explored how visual language and rhetoric shape history and its understanding. Her position as the Public Collection Intern for the Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery shaped her understanding of the importance of collections stewardship, public engagement, and the role institutions play in shaping cultural heritage. Through the ARAD program, she aims to deepen her understanding of the relationships between art, institutions, and the market, whilst engaging with all dimensions of the field with the ultimate goal of contributing to a more accessible and thoughtful art world.

Olivia Sonne Thaning is from Copenhagen, was raised in Sydney and studied in Amsterdam. She recently completed her bachelor’s in Art History at Leiden University, with a minor in Business Administration. She is passionate about modern and contemporary art, and has an interest in art market studies. During her study, she interned as an Exhibitions and Curatorial Assistant at a contemporary art foundation in Amsterdam. Her responsibilities included curating exhibitions, developing public programmes, coordinating galleries and private collectors, and foundation research. She worked with artists from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines including film, performance, installations, painting, new media and more. For the past three years, she has volunteered for Museumnacht, where she organised social events at museums across Amsterdam, including the Van Gogh Museum. Olivia is eager to start the Arts Administration master programme to deepen her knowledge about art business.

Jingyi (Jenny) Wang graduated from Duke Kunshan University and Duke University with dual degrees in Media and Arts, with a focus on the Creative Practice Track. She most recently served as a Masterclass Program Intern at the 16th Beijing International Film Festival, where she led two international masterclass events featuring Juliette Binoche and Richard Curtis—developing event scripts and discussion frameworks, liaising with international guests in English, and overseeing on-site production and VIP hospitality. Her previous experience spans post-production at China Central Television, casting and on-set coordination for a Bilibili music variety show, and serving as principal saxophonist with the DKU Orchestra. Beyond her arts practice, she conducted neuroscience research on music-induced emotional regulation, equipping her with a unique interdisciplinary lens to analyze and design audience-centered experiences—an approach she sees as critical to producing impactful live events. At ARAD, Jingyi seeks to deepen her expertise in cultural policy, arts marketing, and audience development, with the goal of producing and managing large-scale cultural events that forge meaningful connections between artists and diverse public audiences.

Zixi (Frida) Wang is a designer and creative professional whose work bridges artistic practice and cultural management. She received her BFA in Fashion Design with a minor in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, where she explored storytelling through materiality, wearable objects, and spatial experiences. Beyond her studio practice, Frida has worked across contemporary art, fashion, and brand communications. Her experiences supporting artists, collaborating with galleries, and contributing to international marketing projects have inspired her passion for connecting creative practice with public engagement and cultural institutions. Frida hopes to build meaningful connections between artists, museums, galleries, and communities. She is interested in developing innovative cultural programs that broaden public access to the arts while supporting emerging creative voices.

Ella Wickham was born and raised in New York City, where museums, theaters, and performance spaces shaped her earliest understanding of art as a public good. A Film & Media Studies major at Columbia University (CC '25), she spent four years studying media theory, history, and the societal impact of storytelling. For the past three years, she has worked at The Public Theater, an experience that deepened her interest in how cultural institutions serve their communities. She has also worked in documentary development, entertainment marketing, and new musical theater workshops. Through her graduate studies in Arts Administration at Teachers College, Ella hopes to deepen her understanding of cultural management and learn new models for inclusive, community-driven arts leadership.

Cameron Williams graduated from Wesleyan University in 2023 with a double major in History and College of Social Studies, where she earned honors for her undergraduate thesis. She is a lifelong artist, Cameron has been painting since childhood and is passionate about the role of the arts in strengthening communities and expanding access to cultural experiences. She enjoys working with oil paint, oil pastels, and charcoal. She brings a multidisciplinary background in commercial real estate finance, marketing, and community engagement, with experience as an Assistant Vice President and Commercial Real Estate Underwriting Analyst at M&T Bank and as Social Media Marketing Manager for Senior Helpers Westchester. Her commitment to service is reflected in her work supporting nonprofit initiatives, promoting financial literacy, and advancing programs that improve the well-being of older adults. At Columbia, Cameron looks forward to combining her business expertise with her artistic passion to develop innovative strategies that support artists, cultural institutions, and the communities they serve.

Yifan Wu is an art educator, content creator, poet, and emerging art administrator based in New York City and Shanghai. She recently graduated from New York University, double majoring in Art History and Psychology. She is dedicated to increasing the visibility of women artists and artists of color. She runs a personal RedNote account and an educational Instagram account “Her Art Index,” where she shares accessible art history and highlights overlooked artists. She has also worked at RIVAA, a nonprofit gallery supporting the local artist community of Roosevelt Island, and the Skyscraper Museum, a nonprofit museum dedicated to the urban and architectural culture of NYC. Beyond fine art, Yifan also directed NYU GALA 2026, an integrated performing arts production with 100+ crew and 800+ attendees.

Cynthia (Yingtian) Xia received Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis University, where she earned double bachelor's degrees in Art History and Business. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she investigated how artistic research and business thinking can collaborate to benefit museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. She gained practical experience through internships in commercial art and art media, where she worked on exhibition communications, editorial projects, and audience engagement initiatives. These experiences fueled her desire to make art more accessible through effective management, communication, and public programming. As a student in Columbia University's Arts Administration (ARAD) program, she hopes to expand her knowledge of cultural leadership while also learning how institutions can better connect with diverse audiences in an ever-changing global arts landscape.

Gloria Zhang is an artist who graduated with a B.A. in Studio Art at American University in 2026. Her artistic practice combines drawing, collage, and community-based visual arts, with a focus on designing visual projects that invite others to look at their own environments differently. Through internships in the creative and cultural sectors, she developed interests in arts leadership, audience engagement, and the intersection of visual storytelling, digital strategy, and community participation. In 2026 fall at teachers college, she hopes to build organizations where emerging artists are paid fairly and can experiment, where young people from migrant and low-income backgrounds feel that art spaces genuinely belong to them, and where decisions are guided not only by ticket sales or media buzz but by the depth and diversity of community relationships.

Jessica Alexander is thrilled to be joining the ARAD program to deepen her knowledge and understanding of our arts systems. She is currently working as a freelance arts administrator, collaborating with choreographers to support logistics, funding, and strategic planning. After graduating from Purchase College with a BFA in Dance, Jessica worked as a dancer for choreographers including Kayla Farrish and Annie Rigney, produced outdoor performances in Durham, NC, and taught Pilates to group and private clients. During her time in the ARAD program, Jessica is hoping to better understand how she can help strengthen regional arts ecosystems to support opportunities, sustainability, and community.

Soobin Bae is an arts professional from Seoul, South Korea. After graduating from Wellesley College with degrees in Art History and Chinese Language and Literature, she has garnered experience at various companies within the art industry, including Sotheby's New York and Perrotin Hong Kong. Her most recent role involves serving as a liaison for a diverse roster of artists from several parts of the world, specifically Los Angeles, New York, Seoul, and Stockholm. Passionate about bridging cultural gaps, she aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between the arts and management through the ARAD program. Her goal is to apply this knowledge to foster the creation of vibrant and sustainable art communities. She is committed to cultivating global relationships, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and diversity.

Yanzhi (Leah) Chen graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts, concentrating in Psychology and Art History. She has held various roles in nonprofit and commercial art settings, including operations assistant at neooold gallery, participation in Salone del Mobile 2025, and organizing artist residency programs focused on China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Her experiences across Shanghai, Hangzhou, and international platforms have shaped her belief in the value of artistic diversity and cross-cultural creativity, strengthening her commitment to fostering inclusive, collaborative spaces in the arts. ARAD represents an important next step for Leah. She is eager to explore new models of cultural engagement that support both artists and communities and is passionate about promoting sustainable, cross-cultural collaboration through arts leadership and innovation. She also looks forward to deepening her knowledge of legal and business practices to better support arts leadership and advance global dialogue in the contemporary art world.

Elizabeth Craig graduated from New York University in 2023 with a double major in History and in Global Liberal Studies with a concentration in Arts, Texts, and Media; she also minored in French. She was awarded a Dean’s Global Research Grant for her senior thesis, The Met Versus the British Museum: Western Hegemony and the “Universal Museum.” She has worked in a variety of arts institutions, including at a contemporary art gallery in Paris, France, and at an art museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma; she has also worked as a Program Specialist designing arts-related curricula for after-school programs in Hanover, New Hampshire. These experiences have made her passionate about accessibility in the arts, and her goal is to use her ARAD degree to help design welcoming, accessible arts spaces that are well-integrated into their surrounding communities. By breaking down the social rules and barriers that can make cultural institutions feel unwelcoming or exclusive, she hopes to help create arts spaces where everyone can feel a sense of belonging. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys painting, cooking, sending letters to friends, and attempting to solve New York Times crossword puzzles.

Meiqi Di graduated from Communications University of Zhejiang in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in arts, majoring in Broadcast Announcing & Anchoring Art, ranking first in her class. Deeply passionate about music, she built on her piano background by learning the violin and guitar, performing as a violinist with the university symphony orchestra. Her musical journey inspired her to pursue a career in media and music. During her undergraduate studies, she interned at Zhejiang TV and Hangzhou TV, contributing to top-tier music programs and large-scale concerts as an assistant director. Her responsibilities included artist marketing, on-site coordination, and production planning. From discussing musical arrangements with artists to managing stage design and coordinating with live bands, she gained extensive practical experience. She now looks forward to expanding her expertise through the ARAD program and collaborating with artists across disciplines to explore new possibilities in the arts.

Yiting (Cici) Du (she/her) is a recent graduate of DePauw University, majored in Communication with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She has completed internships at Believe Music, Taihe Music Group, and Musicfans Culture and Arts, focusing on digital marketing, copyright clearance, and artist development. Passionate about discovering new talent and creating cross-cultural experiences, she is particularly interested in exploring interdisciplinary approaches to the arts. She hopes to develop creative programs that blend music with other art forms and foster meaningful connections between artists and audiences. At Â鶹ԭ´´, she looks forward to expanding her understanding of arts administration across both nonprofit and commercial sectors, and contributing to initiatives that support diverse, innovative artistic voices.

Jinglin (Lynn) Guo is a multidisciplinary artist and emerging arts administrator from Qingdao, China. She earned her BFA in General Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she focused on abstract painting and emotional expression rooted in nature and personal experience. Beyond the studio, she has worked across curatorial, cultural, and spatial planning roles—including museum exhibitions, urban design projects, and brand research—building a diverse understanding of how art connects with space, audience, and society. In Fall 2025, she will pursue an MA in Arts Administration at Columbia University, where she aims to integrate artistic insight with leadership in cultural institutions.

Michelle Ha graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting. Eager to expand her perspective beyond the studio, she immersed herself in diverse experiences throughout her undergraduate years. During her studies, Michelle interned across a wide range of settings, from artist studios to galleries and major art fairs, including experiences at Gladstone Gallery, Art Basel in Basel, and Dior. She also participated in a collaboration for the Lady Dior Art Project. At Â鶹ԭ´´, Michelle aims to pursue innovative strategies for embedding art into the fabric of everyday life, aspiring to shape dynamic cultural experiences and contribute meaningfully to the evolution of the visual arts landscape.

Yuyang (Rebecca) Hu graduated from New York University Shanghai with dual bachelor’s degrees in Interactive Media Arts and East Asian Studies, minoring in Art History. Studying and researching experiences across China, North America, Central Europe, and the Middle East, Yuyang deeply engaged with local art and cultural communities. She later developed a strong commitment to cross-cultural dialogue and the role of the arts in shaping public understanding. In addition to producing original projects as a digital artist and heritage researcher, she has worked for the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai and other leading galleries, gaining firsthand experience in curatorial strategy and audience engagement. These experiences have shaped her goal of bridging the gap between artistic or academic production and broader publics by translating complex ideas into compelling, accessible formats. Joining the ARAD program, Yuyang is eager to deepen her understanding of the business and management dimensions of the arts. She aims to develop the strategic and leadership capacities needed to promote and commercialize digital art and academic projects, and to contribute to the value creation of the global cultural sector.

Lindsay Jiang is a professional singer, content creator, and entertainment marketer from Chicago, with a background in vocal performance and arts strategy. She holds dual degrees in Performance and Music Business/Marketing from Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, she managed global media and digital engagement initiatives, amplifying student voices worldwide. Rooted in R&B, jazz, and soul, Lindsay’s music reflects her Chinese-American identity and passion for storytelling. She has performed across the U.S. and China and collaborated with cultural institutions on arts event planning and community projects. Currently, she creates original content and supports emerging artists through studio initiatives. Now pursuing an M.A. in Arts Administration at Â鶹ԭ´´, Lindsay looks forward to collaborating with peers and joining the Â鶹ԭ´´ community to contribute her voice, vision, and energy toward shaping inclusive and globally relevant cultural spaces.

Adele Zhou is from Beijing, China, and graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Art History and Anthropology in 2021. She has interned at the National Museum of China, Shanghai Himalayas Art Museum, and has also worked on curriculum and product design in the art history team for an education company. She has also volunteered at multiple exhibitions and organizations during her spare time to learn more about artists and administrators who are in practice. Adele looks forward to exploring methods of bridging intercultural communications and dialogues through the arts in the Arts Administration program.

Xintong (Christy) Li is an emerging curator from Beijing, China, whose work lies at the intersection of art, politics, and community practice. She graduated from Pitzer College in 2024 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Studio Art, concentrating on photography. Christy has contributed to both nonprofit and commercial art spaces, including Pitzer Art Galleries, Yiwei Gallery in Venice Beach, and WhiteBox in New York. Across these roles, she supported curatorial projects, exhibition production, and grant writing. Her curatorial interests center on alternative and community-based spaces—she has curated exhibitions at Joy Museum in Beijing, a tea shop in the 798 Art District, and most recently, a bodega in New York’s Lower East Side. She currently works with American abstract expressionist painter Natalie Edgar, conducting archival research and managing the legacy of sculptor Philip Pavia. Deeply committed to building sustainable, community-driven art initiatives, Christy focuses on uplifting BIPOC artists and expanding public access to cultural resources. She is excited to join the ARAD program and deepen her understanding of the business side of the arts as she continues to grow her curatorial practice.

Bolin Liu graduated from the Middle School Affiliated to China Conservatory of Music, where she studied classical and traditional Chinese percussion with Shanlin Jiao. She later earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, majoring in Music Business and specializing in classical percussion with Richard Flanagan. She has toured with school ensembles to Singapore, Macau, and Hong Kong, and received multiple Gold Awards in the PAS·China Marimba Solo Competition. During her undergraduate studies, she interned at Beijing Comprehensive Art&Culture Communication Co.Ltd. Her work involved stage productions across genres including classical symphonic music, traditional Chinese music and folk songs, drama and Chinese dance. Beginning in 2022, Bolin took on a leadership role in the publicity efforts for large-scale performance projects. Bolin is passionate about using modern platforms to amplify traditional arts and is deeply interested in the relationship between cultural expression and audience engagement. She looks forward to learning from the exceptional faculty and peers in the ARAD program and contributing meaningfully to the field of arts administration.

Smonica (Si Ming) Lin graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and a minor in Food Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and an M.F.A. in Integrated Media from the California Institute of the Arts. Her practice is focused on blending visual arts and social commentary, developing a practice that explores the intersection of art, food politics, and immersive experience, making it accessible to diverse audiences. During her studies, Smonica developed a strong interest in the ethics and politics surrounding food systems. She incorporated themes of food inequality, environmental degradation, and industrial overproduction into her sculptural works, creating provocative pieces that raise awareness of pressing social and ecological issues. Her artistic practice is rooted in using creative expression as a tool for advocacy and education. Beyond her studio practice, Smonica has contributed to the arts and education community through her work with an art foundation, a writing center, and as a teaching assistant. In these roles, she supported creative education and helped foster inclusive learning environments for students of all backgrounds.

Amanda K. Ortiz Espinell was born and raised in Puerto Rico. A creative since childhood and practicing visual artist, she earned her B.A. in Advertising and Marketing (2024). She has worked in the communications department at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, where she developed a strong interest in how museums can serve their communities. She contributed to editing the museum’s digital guide through Bloomberg Connects, an experience introduced her to innovative tools and the use of resources to improve visitor experience. Her current focus is on exploring ways to build accessible programming, grow diverse audiences, and support initiatives that benefit both artists and the public. Through her graduate studies, Amanda hopes to deepen her understanding of cultural management and learn new models for inclusive arts leadership.

Ja’hlil Pembleton (he/him/his) is a Philadelphia native and recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Voice. During his time at MSM, he held several leadership roles, including President of the Black Student Union, Resident Assistant, and Student Council member.

Under his leadership, the Black Student Union received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Grant to support its annual Black History Month concert. The production was shared with the MSM community and presented to underserved schools in Harlem and Morningside Heights, an experience that affirmed Ja’hlil’s belief in the transformative power of the arts. Having witnessed persistent gaps in access and representation within elite artistic spaces, Ja’hlil is committed to using the arts as a tool for education, empowerment, and social change. As an aspiring arts administrator, he aims to expand opportunity and visibility for underrepresented communities while supporting the next generation of artists and changemakers.

Nicole Bitanga is a Filipina art professional developing a career in modern and contemporary art. Born and raised in the Philippines, she aspires to steer the industry toward global representation for Southeast Asian creatives. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History with Studio Art and French Studies minors from New York University, where she also began her involvement in galleries and fairs. Her vast work experiences at TEFAF, The Armory Show, and Untitled Art Fair kindled her curiosity for the dynamic art market. Passionate about the influence of aesthetics and culture on society, she aims to devote her graduate studies in exploring the business of art.

Gianna DiMaiolo is originally from Connecticut and graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in 2019 with a BA in Theater and a minor in Italian. While at Holy Cross, Gianna performed in mainstage and student productions, produced musicals for the college’s student theater group, and worked in the costume shop.

Gianna has worked as a Compliance Coordinator for a non-profit in Hartford, CT, where she monitored state and federally funded programs, and as a teaching artist at Oddfellows Playhouse where she taught basic acting to 8 to 10-year-olds. In the past few years, Gianna has continued producing new plays that have been featured at the Hartford, Providence, Indianapolis (Indy) and St. Louis Fringe Festivals. At Teachers College, Gianna plans to broaden her understanding of the performing arts world and establish herself as an equitable arts administrator so that she can help other artists establish sustainable careers in theater and the performing arts.

Shiyuan (Eiffel) Feng graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2023 with a BFA in Illustration. During her undergraduate studies, her first-hand experience cultivated a strong capacity for empathy toward the administrative resources required by artistic creators. Throughout her internships at Eli Klein Gallery and Van Der Plas Gallery in New York, she managed the marketing work of gallery exhibitions by planning promotional materials and engaging in communication and liaison with professional artists and collectors to maintain connections. She also worked at Museum Daily under Xinhua News Agency, where she reported exhibition announcements for the Chinese public, focusing on museum-related news, updates in the cultural and artistic fields, and industry dynamics. Shiyuan looks forward to delving deeper into professional learning in arts administration-related fields at ARAD, to better support emerging young artists in the industry through establishing a balanced resource system and a long-term perspective in the market.


Grace George graduated from the Peabody Conservatory with a degree in vocal performance and Johns Hopkins University with a degree in History in 2022. She has spent the last two years combining her passions at the French Legation Museum in her hometown Austin, TX as a program coordinator, where she founded the Under the Oaks Concert Series and honed her skills as an arts professional. She is so excited to further her education at ARAD where she seeks to gain the tools to solidify art’s place as the heart of society.

Runa King hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she credits the beginning of her dance education to the Dance Center of Tuscaloosa and the Alabama Ballet. She graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2021, where she studied politics, geology, and dance. Following graduation, Runa continued to explore her passion for the wilderness and outdoor education by working as a backcountry guide in Alaska and Norway and completing the Camino de Santiago. Returning to her roots as a dancer, Runa then went on to work as the company manager for ShaLeigh Dance Works in Durham, NC, and the associate operations manager at the Joffrey Ballet School. Throughout her life, Runa has been interested in the intersection of art and nature and hopes to continue to explore the cross-sectional relationship of these fields throughout her career.

Carson Simpson graduated in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, where he double majored in Dance and Interdepartmental Studies, with an emphasis in Business and Arts Management. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Carson was a student member of the Association of Arts Administration Educators. He also served as vice president for the university's Undergraduate Dance Organization, secretary for Delta Sigma Phi, and was a cheerleader for several of the university's athletic programs. Carson found his passion for arts administration during his internship with Mark DeGarmo Dance, where he assisted in Dr. DeGarmo's mission of providing dance education to the public schools of New York City. Most recently, Carson has worked as a ticketing specialist for Des Moines Performing Arts and as a franchise manager for Tippi Toes, which provides accessible dance classes for children across more than 15 locations in the Iowa City area. Carson is deeply passionate about arts accessibility and eagerly anticipates getting involved in research and acquiring the necessary skills to promote greater arts accessibility throughout his time in the ARAD program at Â鶹ԭ´´.

Minji Kwak completed her undergraduate studies at Dongguk University in 2024, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater. During her undergraduate years, she actively engaged in various productions, assuming roles as an actress, crew member, and manager. Additionally, she dedicated her time to volunteer work as a teaching assistant in the theater program at welfare center. Her professional aspirations center around nonprofit management, and leveraging theater programs to promote social inclusion. Through the ARAD program, she aims to develop expertise in business administration to further her pursuits.

Laila Lawson graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Davis, in 2024, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Art Studio. During her undergraduate career she spent time at the Beck Personality Lab and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology Lab. Her research focused on the effects of creative leisurely activities on subjective well-being through the fostering of social connection. As an artist, Laila’s focus is visual art, particularly portraits of women of color. She looks forward to combining her interest in the benefits of social connections that art can offer with the business of arts  administration, and is excited to continue her education at the ARAD program.

Jia Li graduated from the University of Southern California with a major in Business Administration, complemented by a minor in Theatre. Her academic journey included an enriching exchange at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management. During her undergraduate years, Jia applied her business acumen to the arts, working in pivotal roles at Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and OneMore Productions Co., Ltd., where she spearheaded several productions. These experiences deepened her passion for integrating creative and operational management to elevate performing arts related works. She is excited to continue honing her skills in the ARAD program, anticipating how it will refine her future approach.

Yunsi Li graduated with Magna Cum Laude from Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts) with double bachelor degrees in Art History and Economics. During her undergraduate years, she found her interest in the intersection of art and business/market. She interned at different art institutions, including assisting in the curation of a newly constructed university museum from inception, and participated in a donation to handle over 400 pieces of cultural relics in Seattle, USA. She is also interested in finding ways to bring art to the wider public and give more visibility to talented artists. Exuberant about the opportunities in the ARAD program, she hopes to explore the knowledge and practice of visual arts administration with people in related fields.

Ashley Martin graduated from Montclair State University with Honors and Summa Cum Laude in May of 2025. A native of Jackson, New Jersey, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a passion for helping others and uniting communities through music. As she examined the multitude of flaws that lie within the education system, as well as arts organizations nationwide, her interest in Arts Administration had only blossomed throughout the remainder of her undergraduate degree program. Following her acceptance and commitment to Columbia University’s Teachers College, Ashley partook in her first apprenticeship with the National Music Festival in Chestertown, Maryland. This experience has only heightened her enthusiasm to pursue this career path. Furthermore, she has grown committed to maintaining the liveliness of music through existing societal conflicts and aspires to start her own nonprofit organization one day. Ashley looks forward to studying in New York City and the opportunities that lie ahead while continuing to teach music privately to children in her area.

Mari Minowa is a theater administrator from Tokyo, Japan. At Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, she oversaw the evaluation process for more

than 100 in-house programs annually. This interdepartmental work developed her strong interest in the performing arts management.

Through her work with the Association of Public Theaters and Halls in Japan, she researched employment practices and talent development of theaters throughout Japan. Her annual presentations at National Research Conferences instructed theater management on how to support the long-term sustainability of public cultural institutions.

At the Arts Administration program, she will research differences in nonprofit theater management between Japan and the U.S., with a focus on organizational practices and funding structures. She aims to apply cross-cultural insights to local practice to enhance the operational resilience of public theaters in Japan. She hopes to contribute to ongoing dialogue among administrators about the future of theater management.

Lewis McClenaghan graduated from the University of Warwick with a joint degree in Film and Literature in 2019. After graduating, he completed a 2-year development scheme at the Wellcome Trust and Collection, where he worked across a variety of projects at the intersection of public health, policy and the arts. This included working on international cultural programmes such as Mindscapes, a global project bringing together artists, activists, policymakers, researchers, and communities with lived experience to facilitate conversations around mental health in urban areas which were at once hyper-local and globally relevant.

After this, Lewis moved to Bogotá, Colombia to work as an English teacher and translator for 2 years. It was during this time that he cemented his interest in understanding the arts through an international, cross-cultural and multilingual perspective.

The ARAD program at Teachers College will offer Lewis the chance to deepen his understanding of the role of the arts in society and how they can play an essential part in improving the health and happiness of our communities. Lewis is particularly keen to make the most of the faculty’s expertise and research facilities to research how emerging technologies offer creatives new chances for the creation, exhibition and public reception of their work, whilst improving accessibility.

Maggie Parham graduated cum laude from Haverford College in 2022 with a BA in History of Art. She grew up in New York City and has been involved with arts organizations since high school. Her résumé includes positions at the International Center of Photography (NYC), the Curator Gallery (NYC), the Gross McCleaf Gallery (Philadelphia, PA), the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery (Haverford, PA), and Kenise Barnes Fine Art (South Kent, CT). She is most interested in the ways art and architecture are indicative of human behavior and social issues. Her other interests include urban planning, environmentalism, set design, film, and fashion. Maggie is thrilled to begin her Arts Administration journey at Teachers College in hopes to make art more accessible and inclusive through meaningful and intentional decision-making within arts organizations.

A lifelong dancer and photographer, Laura Prados-Bacó was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and holds a BS in Business Administration from Babson College (2021). As an undergrad, she cultivated her passion for the arts, working at the Sorenson Visual Arts Center, organizing galleries, and promoting community-driven arts events. For the past three years, Laura has worked at ArtLifting, where she advocates for artists living with mental or physical disabilities, or experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. With her personal lifelong commitment to Puerto Rico's vibrant arts scene and her professional experience championing diverse artists, Laura aims to integrate economic, social, and cultural perspectives within arts administration. In doing so, she hopes to foster community connections and enhance accessibility to the arts, both in Puerto Rico and beyond.

Giovanna Querido is passionate about new models of cultural organizations and collective technologies of governance that foster art and education by promoting solidarity networks based on exchange, collaboration, and experimentation. Working for more than six years as a cultural worker in different institutions, Querido has been part of the collective work of listening, thinking, elaborating, and assembling the 34th (2021) and 35th Bienal de São Paulo (2023), the second oldest in the world and the biggest in Latin America, and also the 18th Architecture Venice Biennale (2023) and the 60th Venice Art Biennale (2024). Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Communications from the University of São Paulo and a Specialization in Arts and Cultural Management at Celacc-USP (Center for Latin American Studies on Culture and Communication). She was awarded a full-ride scholarship by the Lemann Foundation to pursue her Master’s at Columbia University.

Ada Shido is an “artivist.” She believes the arts are essential to our humanity and empowers youth by strengthening their socio-emotional skills through creativity. She served as a Youth Commissioner for the San Diego County Arts and Culture Commission, represented San Diego youth through the state initiative California Jobs First, and held multiple roles at A Reason To Survive, a community arts nonprofit. She now serves on the boards of the Japanese American Citizens League and RISE San Diego. Ada’s dream is to ensure youth are involved in every aspect of the arts—from deciding which organizations receive funding to designing art programs.

Aaliyah Turrietta graduated from Duke University, class of 2024, as a Visual & Media Studies major with Japanese and Economics minors. During undergrad, she conducted research in international art markets and policies which sparked her determination in improving the systems and programs that create barriers to art inclusivity and historical contextualization. Following a transformative course in Art Policy & Leadership, she pursued an internship in the Educational Dept. of the Nasher Museum of Art where she reflected on the relationships prevalent between museum visitor and curated spaces. Post-graduation, she dedicated her gap year to gaining experience as the primary program coordinator for the University of New Mexico’s Office of the Vice President for Research. Through the ARAD program, Aaliyah is strengthening her expertise in strategy and donor practices, with a focus in museums and galleries. She hopes to use these skills to seek out innovative solutions to enhance accessibility and engagement.

Brooklyn Ullrich graduated in 2025 from Gustavus Adolphus College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and minors in Arts Entrepreneurship and Studio Art. During her undergraduate studies, she gained professional experience as an intern with the Fargo Parks District and Minnesota Winds, serving in Marketing and Arts Administration Roles, respectively. She enjoys working with creative individuals who share similar passions for the arts. Her professional interests include programming, marketing, and leadership within the arts. Through her master's, she hopes to explore emerging arts organizations in underserved communities. As an artist, she expresses herself through dance, graphic design, and ceramics.

Tiffany Wong graduated from The Juilliard School in 2023 with a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance. At Juilliard, she won the harp department’s concerto competition in her sophomore year and served as principal harpist in the Juilliard Orchestra’s performance at Carnegie Hall in her senior year. Tiffany’s interest in arts administration began during her very first Juilliard Orchestra rehearsal, when she observed members of the orchestra administration team organizing music on stands and setting up equipment in the room. To learn more about the operations that contribute to successful rehearsals and performances, Tiffany worked as a teaching assistant for an orchestra repertoire class, where she was responsible for tasks such as recording attendance, tracking all instrument parts, and addressing questions and concerns from over 60 students. Tiffany also worked as an ear training teaching fellow, orchestra library assistant, and usher/front of house manager at Juilliard. All of these experiences have opened her eyes to the many ways she can support fellow musicians beyond being a performer, and she hopes to discover even more career possibilities and professional interests at ARAD. Aside from playing the harp, Tiffany enjoys bouldering, crocheting, reading, and singing.

Elaine Xiong is a film photographer. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Mathematics and Statistics. Elaine is interested in the intersection of art collection and data visualization.

Weiyi Xu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the China Academy of Art in 2025, majoring in calligraphy—an experience that introduced her to the beauty of East Asian art. Beyond creating calligraphy, she noticed that other niche art forms, much like calligraphy, have been overlooked globally due to low visibility. This sparked her journey as a cultural heritage advocate. Weiyi has interned in the collections departments of Zhejiang Art Museum and China Art Museum, Shanghai (formerly Shanghai Art Museum). She also contributed to curating several exhibitions featuring diverse art forms, including Chinese paintings, oil paintings, prints, and calligraphy. Looking ahead to her studies in the ARAD program, Weiyi aims to help artists and museums secure greater support for preserving endangered art forms. She seeks more effective ways to merge traditional culture with themes of love and heritage, inspiring stronger creative ideas. With her fine arts background, museum internship experience, and commitment to this program, she is eager to excel in collection research and contribute to advancing the arts field.

Chenhao Xu, also known as Kiki, loves watching movies, singing, listening to music, and sometimes going for a walk. She was born and raised in China and completed her Bachelor’s degree in the University of Toronto, where she double majored in Arts and Media Management and New Media Studies.

In the dynamic interplay of modern dance, documentary film production, and acting, Tiantian Yang emerges as a figure of versatility and leadership. As the former Executive Director of the Beijing Modern Dance Company (BMDC), Tiantian led the prestigious group to international acclaim, attending over 20 arts festivals worldwide, including the Berlin Art Festival and Venice Biennale. During her tenure, BMDC witnessed a remarkable revenue increase through comprehensive reform, innovative online classes in collaboration with ByteDance, and pioneering online pay-per-view performances which garnered millions of views.  She has also made her mark as a producer and a film actress. Her work includes producing the acclaimed paleontology documentary "The Fantastic Journey of Rabbits," which won the 13th China Academy Awards of Documentary Film and starred in more than 15 films, which received accolades and recognition at prestigious film festivals. Embarking on her next chapter at Teacher College, Tiantian is eager to blend her experience with the insights and talents of her peers in the ARAD community to foster a vibrant, innovative future for the art world.

Chenyi Yao graduated from Smith College in 2025 with a double major in Quantitative Economics and Music. At Smith, she was actively involved in the arts community through Smith Glee Club and Chamber Singers, K-Pop Dance Crew, Chinese Music Ensemble, and her work as a student assistant at the Werner Josten Performing Arts Library. During her undergraduate studies, she also spent a semester at Harvard University as a visiting student, where she joined the Radcliffe Choral Society. Beyond academics, Chenyi completed the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World in Orlando, gaining experience in arts and entertainment operations. She also interned with the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum Group and worked in finance firms, building skills across both cultural and business settings. With a background blending economics and music, Chenyi is passionate about exploring the intersection of arts, culture, and business through the ARAD program.

Qiuchi Yue graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy with a degree in Arts Management, specializing in performing arts. She brings extensive experience in theatre production, stage management, and thrives in the collaborative nature of theatre-making. She has contributed to the China tour of a Broadway production and worked on several Chinese adaptations of Broadway musicals. In China, she has served as a stage manager or production manager for numerous touring and resident theatre productions, organized solo concerts for prominent musical theatre artists from both China and abroad, and was involved in the productions of theatre festivals, music festivals, and other commercial events. Beyond the performing arts field, she has actively pursued interdisciplinary learning through internships at the Shanghai Grand Theatre, a 4A advertising agency, and a financial firm, gaining insight into arts management from the perspectives of institutional operations, cultural strategy, and cross-sector collaboration. She looks forward to joining the ARAD community to engage with diverse perspectives, expand her global outlook, and contribute her expertise in live performance production toward creating sustainable and collaborative models for the performing arts industry.

Alcor Yu graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Art History and Economics. She has explored both for-profit and non-profit sectors through diverse professional experiences. As a curatorial intern in the International Exhibition Department at the National Museum of China, she supported cross-cultural projects and gained insight into global museum collaborations. At the Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, she worked closely with donors and the community, deepening her understanding of museums’ role in fostering engagement. Beyond museums, Alcor developed knowledge of the auction market through her work in an auction house and organized performative events with musical artists that connected audiences across disciplines. Her academic training and practice reflect her interest in how cultural institutions and markets interact. Alcor looks forward to collaborating with peers to create meaningful cultural experiences. 

Alicia Zhang graduated with highest distinction from the University of California, San Diego, earning a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts (ICAM), a B.S. in Business Economics (ranked first in her major), and a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. An innovative entrepreneur, artist, and business leader, Alicia thrives at the intersection of art and technology within the broader business landscape.

During her undergraduate years, Alicia interned with several technology firms as a business analyst, co-founded two non-profit educational startups, and had multiple performance art and installation pieces exhibited at the Adam D. Kamil Gallery. She also co-curated two exhibitions, working with over 40 mixed-media art pieces. Additionally, Alicia held leadership positions as president and vice president in three pre-professional organizations focused on consulting, investment, and non-profit sectors. She showcased her musical talents as the lead guitarist for two alternative rock bands, performing in acclaimed productions such as "American Idiot," "Rocky Horror Show," and "Something Rotten!" with Muir Musical.

As she embarks on her journey in the ARAD program, Alicia is eager to gain insights from industry leaders and learn from expert practitioners. She is keenly aware of the challenges facing the highly concentrated and opaque art market, including stagnant growth and diminishing social impact, so she is committed to fostering long-term relationships with like-minded individuals to strengthen, sustain, and democratize the art sector, making it more accessible to all.

Yiyan (Evelyn) Zhang graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 2024. During her undergraduate years, she cultivated a strong passion for the fashion industry, underscored by internships at distinguished companies like Sepia Showroom, Capsule Showroom, and Jacques Wei Studio. She was also one of the curating members at Shanghai Fashion Week for two years. Her passion for blending modern innovation with environmental responsibility led her to explore sustainable art and fashion through internships at a carbon neutrality company, where she worked on integrating eco-friendly practices into the fashion and art industries. She is excited to start her journey at ARAD, looking forward to meeting people with similar ambitions in this community, and eager to contribute to cross-cultural exchanges.

Rose Zhao was born in Shanghai, China and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts's degree in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in 2023. During college, she devoted herself to creating a series of oil and acrylic paintings drawn from her understanding and perception of human nature and spiritual energy while expanding her artistic horizons through the study and practice of art history and the commercial world. In the two years after graduation, she participated in curating various types of exhibitions including the intangible cultural heritage Tibetan Thang-ka Art Exhibition and the Wu Guanzhong Stamped Limited Edition Silkscreen Prints Exhibition, and has also been working with the Tzu Chi Foundation assisting in the children’s picture book and storytelling house and the arts-and-crafts-related community activities. Through the systematic study at ARAD Â鶹ԭ´´, Rose intends to reintegrate creativity, diversity, and collaborations into the structure of the arts field, on the solid basis of theoretical knowledge of management, economics, and law, empowering the arts to provide a new level of social responsibility and spiritual value to the contemporary society.

Xiaojing Zhu graduated from Parsons School of Design at The New School with a BFA in Illustration. With a strong foundation in visual storytelling, her artistic practice spans illustration, 2D animation, and children’s book design. During her undergraduate studies, Xiaojing developed a growing interest in curatorial work and participated in gallery curation internships and museum volunteer programs. These experiences sparked her desire to explore the broader structural, cultural, and economic frameworks that support art institutions. Through the ARAD program, Xiaojing hopes to build a deeper understanding of arts management, especially how curatorial practice connects with institutional planning and public engagement. She aspires to work in both nonprofit and for-profit arts organizations, helping to shape inclusive, dynamic, and sustainable cultural environments. With her background in visual arts and cross-disciplinary creativity, she looks forward to contributing a unique perspective to the ARAD community.

Yuhan Zhu is an interdisciplinary artist and arts administrator from China, recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Arts Management and Studio Art. Her work combines critical theory and playful visual expression—she creates digital illustrations, installations, and video work informed by memories, family stories, as well as queer and feminist perspectives. Passionate about musicals, ACGN, and TTRPGs, she also draws inspiration from the intersections of subculture, curatorial ethics, and fandom communities. She has interned with TANK Shanghai and exhibited in multiple student-led shows. Through the ARAD program, Yuhan hopes to deepen her understanding of inclusive curatorial practices, while connecting with peers and learning from a wide range of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences in the arts.