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Mary-Mitchell has had an extensive career as a musician and humanitarian. In 2005 she founded Arts Ignite with some of her Juilliard students, and she recently transitioned as the Executive Director to the position of President. She has traveled the world using arts education as a way to inspire young people to pursue higher education. She has been the Music Supervisor/Music Director for eleven Broadway shows and conducts orchestras in concerts around the country. She is passionate about the power of arts education to transform the lives of young people. 

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Carl Sylvestre is an accomplished arts executive with 20+ years of experience creating impact in organizations through advocacy, strategic management, program and policy development, and fundraising. He is a strong believer that arts and culture change lives.  From 2014 to 2021 he served as the Director of Development at Theatre Forward, providing funding and program support to many of the U.S. leading regional theatres.  As a management consultant, he has advised and supported a variety of New York non-profits in the arts and social services sectors including New York City Mission Society, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Friends of The High Line among others.  Carl has served as the Director of External Affairs at The Studio Museum in Harlem, Director of Planning and Development at New York Theatre Workshop, and other fundraising and management positions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Opera. He served as Board President of the Robert Giard Foundation (2010-2018).  Carl has an M.B.A from the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School, an M.A. in Theatre from Hunter College and a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Culture from Columbia University.  A proud recipient of a New York City Council Citation for philanthropic and community service.  

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Justin is thrilled to join the incredible team at Arts Ignite as the Business and Operations Associate.  He has spent the past six years working in operations first for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and more recently in New York City schools both for Avenues: The World School and the Washington Heights and Inwood Music Community Charter School.  An Austin native, he studied opera performance at the University of Texas in Austin before moving to Manhattan in 2005 to pursue his career as a concert soloist and opera singer.  He is currently a choral ringer and soloist with the West Village Chorale and choral scholar at St. James Church on Madison.  He has also been the bass soloist with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association’s summer classical music festival since 2014.  He lives in Washington Heights with his wife and daughter.

Troy is a master level social work intern from Columbia University, who used to take his undergraduate studies at Boston University majoring in sociology. Social justice and social inclusion and diversity is a philosophy that Troy has always held. He has learned the value of art to life from his own experience in growing up, and believes that a good art education can change a child’s life. That’s why he chose to take a youth-related course in his professional year and came to Art Ignite for an internship. He hopes to bring warmth to more young people here through the program of art.

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Kate Garst joined the Arts Ignite team in 2020 as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. She is passionate about the performing arts and serving local communities.  A proven leader, Kate works to build camaraderie and pursue continuous growth. Kate was a key member of the Chief Executive Officer’s team at The Atlantic Philanthropies, working toward the implementation and execution of the Atlantic Fellows programs – a global network of 20 institutions spanning five continents working together to create more equitable, healthy, and inclusive societies. In the theatrical world, Kate worked with Jujamcyn Theaters, Stacey Mindich Productions, David Korins Design, and the Public Theater. Kate earned a Certificate in Arts and Culture Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania & National Arts Strategies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Theater) and Bachelor of Science (Business) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Rooted in East Harlem for over a decade, she remains a proud Nebraskan.

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With the motto “artistry onstage and off!,” Lindsay Roberts Greene is deeply rooted in the arts and arts education. For over ten years, Lindsay partnered with Arts Ignite in a varied capacity, supporting fundraising goals, strategic visioning, and working in the classroom as a teaching artist. She now proudly serves as the Director of Programs with oversight over all programs, partnerships, teaching artist services, and curriculum and evaluation. Lindsay is a Certified Diversity Professional through the National Diversity Council and specializes in culturally responsive arts education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the arts sector. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Maryland in Opera/Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music Education and a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University and holds graduate certificates from both Cornell University and Umass Amherst. Her performance credits include multiple television appearances, recordings, and onstage productions and she can currently be seen in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. 

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Jonah graduated from Ithaca College in 2021 with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Communication Studies. During college Jonah was involved in several political campaigns and nonprofits, including a national initiative, Vote From Home 2020, to get out the vote during the 2020 presidential election. Most recently, Jonah was a Research Intern for the National Student Support Accelerator at Brown University, where he assisted with education research focused on equalizing access to high-quality tutoring. Jonah is excited to be part of a passionate team that wants to improve the lives of young people.

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After graduating summa cum laude in December 2020, Hannah joined Arts Ignite in the summer of 2021 initially as a Development Intern but now works as a Development Assistant. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she earned her B.A. in Anthropology with a focus in the cultural and medical subfields at Georgia State University. Her professional passions thrive and exist at the intersection of anthropology and nonprofit work, and her personal philosophies align greatly with the mission at Arts Ignite. She is proud to be using her anthropological lens and training to support the mission. In her own artistry, Hannah practices glass flameworking and textile art. She is incredibly excited to grow in, learn from, and be a part of Arts Ignite – where arts education is utilized to serve local youth.

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Abby McIsaac is a transferred junior student at Dean College and is on the path to receiving a BA in Musical Theatre after achieving an Associate’s in Performing Arts at Middlesex Community College. She is also looking to minor in Early Education in order to work with young people in helping them grow through the arts. Her profound love for the performing arts has allowed her the chance to aid in creating a community theatre program that began in August of 2021 in her hometown of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. After participating in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in May of 2022, Abby was awarded the opportunity to work with Arts Ignite. She is ecstatic to work closely with a team that is dedicated to improving the lives of young people through the arts.

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Andrea started with Arts Ignite in the summer of 2021 as a Program Intern and now serves as a Program Associate. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Andrea is earning her B.A. in Arts Administration from Elon University and believes in meeting people where they are. As a performer and visual artist, Andrea’s life mission aligns directly with Arts Ignite’s, as she continues to create accessible and meaningful art and artistic programs. Andrea is incredibly excited to be a part of the Arts Ignite team and is looking forward to establishing art programming alongside such incredible artists.

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Tiffany Ramos is a visual artist from Queens, New York, and Program Manager at Arts Ignite. They received their Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting and minor in Arts Leadership from Boston University. Tiffany discovered the intense power and value the arts have to uplift an individual and to connect communities through their own life experiences and work as an artist. These experiences led them into exploring how art fits into the realm of social justice and therapeutic practices, eventually leading them to Teaching Artistry. Tiffany has taught visual art as a Teaching Artist for the past 7 years in Florida, New York City, Boston, India, and South Carolina. Their journey has filled them with a passion for Teaching Artistry, and a drive to facilitate and create opportunities for young people to learn and grow through the arts.

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Brooke is thrilled to be joining Arts Ignite as Programs Fellow! As an actor, teaching artist, and current graduate student at the Columbia School of Social Work, Brooke believes in using the power of collaborative and participatory theatre-making to foster a sense of play, community, and collective resilience. She seeks to create fun, transformative, and accessible experiences for all — in the theatre, in the classroom, and in the community. Originally from Marshfield, MA, Brooke holds a B.A. in Psychology from Harvard University with a secondary field in Theater, Dance, and Media. Brooke has played a wide array of professional roles both on- and offstage and she looks forward to integrating her passions for art and equity at Arts Ignite alongside an incredibly creative and thoughtful team!

Mark Canavera is the co-director of the Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network, an entity at the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health supporting the next generation of researchers and advocates for children and families worldwide. Mark joined the CPC Learning Network after many years working as a humanitarian aid and development worker in West Africa. He has worked in over 20 countries with a variety of agencies, including Save the Children, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Oxfam. His work has spanned efforts to support children formerly associated with armed groups in northern Uganda, gun control in Senegal, girls’ education promotion in Burkina Faso, and child welfare system reform in Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Benin, Senegal, and Cameroon. He holds Master’s degrees in Peace Studies from Notre Dame and Public Policy from Harvard and serves on the faculty at Columbia University.  He is a founding board member of Arts Ignite and also co-founded the Rustin Fund for Global Equality, a non-profit that mobilizes political and financial support for LGBTI grassroots groups around the world.

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Laura Chittick is a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Chase.  She provides healthcare companies with corporate banking solutions, from financing to treasury services.  Her prior experience includes structured finance and equity derivatives.  Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.  She lives in NYC with her husband and two teenagers.    

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Steve Farkas, CFA, is a Director within the Fundamental Active Equities Team at BlackRock, where he has worked for the past 13 years. He has served on the Arts Ignite board for over three years, has chaired the finance committee for the past year, and serves as the Board Treasurer. His passion for being involved in Arts Ignite stems from seeing firsthand the ability of the arts to transform the lives of others. He currently resides in Manhattan with his dog, Frankie. Steve graduated cum laude with a BS in Finance from Tulane University in 2008. Steven is a CFA Charterholder and is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA).

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Tom FitzGerald is the current Board Chair and has been involved with Arts Ignite and on the Board of Directors for over 10 years.  He is a senior professional at Drivetrain, LLC, a financial advisory boutique specializing in designated fiduciary roles as independent corporate directors and Trustees.  He has more than thirty years experience in banking, capital markets and portfolio management.  Tom is a member of the Arts Ignite Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.  He currently resides in Miami, FL. 

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Sameer Garg is a Managing Director of Aerospace and Defense at Citi. Over his 15+ year career, Sameer has executed a number of transactions advising public and private companies, and financial sponsors on a variety of strategic initiatives including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and capital raising transactions. Prior to Citi, he was Managing Director in the Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Group at RBC Capital Markets and Vice President at Deutsche Bank focused on the Aerospace and Defense sector. Sameer began his career as a propulsion engineer for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where he focused on designing propulsion systems for low earth orbit missions. In that capacity, he also served as an evaluation board member of the Small Business Innovative Research organization. Sameer currently serves on the board of New York City-based non-profit, Arts Ignite. He earned his MBA from University of Virginia in Finance and Accounting and his B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin in Aerospace Engineering.

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Jacob is the owner and managing director of Wesfair, a financial advisory and independent insurance agency. Over the years Jacob has practiced as a CPA both publicly and privately at Ernst & Young and Apollo Global Management. These various roles within the financial industry provides Jacob with a unique professional experience as it relates to operations, financial analysis, and risk & control management/mitigation. Jacob joined Arts Ignite in August 2019 and is currently a member of the Finance Committee. His interest in arts and education stem from the success his spouse has had teaching performing arts to inner city youth in NYC charter schools. Providing children with access to the arts is a vital mission that Jacob is passionate about pursuing with Arts Ignite.

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Jeffrey B. Korn is a partner in the Litigation Department and Co-Chair of the Antitrust & Competition Practice Group. His practice focuses on antitrust litigation and counseling, securities litigation, M&A litigation and other complex business law disputes. He has represented a wide range of clients including public and private companies, their officers and directors, mutual funds, private equity funds, hedge funds and securities underwriters in both state and federal courts and before the antitrust and securities enforcement agencies.

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Sheri Sarkisian is a Vice President and Senior Compliance Officer at Goldman Sachs. She is also a member of the Goldman Sachs Disability Network Steering Committee. Sheri is the current Board Chair and has been on the board of directors of Arts Ignite since 2015, and previously served as the Board Treasurer. Sheri participates on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Fundraising Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee. Sheri has a B.S. in business administration from Northeastern University. She is passionate about the arts and serving children.

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Henry Sham is a Managing Director and Head of CIBC’s US Investment Banking Financial Institutions Group, advising financial institutions and financial technology companies on M&A and capital raising efforts. Prior to joining CIBC, he was a Managing Director at Barclays and was previously with Lehman Brothers. Henry earned his MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business, with distinction, and graduated from Binghamton University. Henry serves on the board of Arts Ignite, with the strong belief that arts enrichment and education are critical for all youth to improve their lives and their communities.

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Gabrielle Speaks is the Director of Board Relations and Special Liaison to the President at Community Service Society of New York (CSS), a nonprofit that promotes economic opportunity and champions equity in New York City and state. Prior to working at CSS she held positions at other social and economic justice organizations in New York and Washington D.C. including TransAfrica Forum and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF). Gabrielle has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. from Howard University in Washington D.C. She is passionate about social justice issues, women’s rights, human rights, equity and inclusiveness, and of course Arts Ignite!

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Dipti Verma is Director of Market Data at S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) based in New York. She is the Global lead for the Fixed Income Data management team that supports terms & conditions and pricing data, credit ratings, interest rates, ESG, credit default swaps, and debt capital structure. Her areas of focus are seamless delivery of content across all SPGMI products for IM/IB/Corporate clients, managing vendors, conflict resolution while dealing with multiple deliverables for product, content, technology & incorporating client feedback for continuous innovation. Her 20 years of global experience in financial services & banking positions her well at handling ambiguous projects, negotiating with challenging stakeholders & successfully delivering tangible products to the end-customer. Prior to joining S&P Global in 2010, she worked in various capacities at Merck, ABN Amro Bank & GMAC Mortgage. The mission of Arts Ignite resonates with her & bridges two causes close to her heart – children and the arts. In addition to indulging in random acts of kindness, she looks forward to Arts Ignite providing a framework that enables her to give back to the community in a more meaningful manner. She strongly believes working towards furthering the well-being and development of the under-privileged communities, especially younger people, ensures we all have a better future.