Asian Arts Initiative Staff and Interns

We are lucky to have a diverse and multi-talented staff here at the Initiative! 

Staff

 Gayle Isa, Executive Director
 Patricia Ma, Associate Director
 Nicole Schaller-Seamans, Director of Education Programs
 Sarah Chandler, Multi-Tenant Arts Facility Manager                              
 Nancy Chen, Program Assistant                                                              
 Victoria Chau, Development and Operations Assistant
 Kent Weber, Gallery Receptionist
 Ellen Hwang, Youth Arts Workshop Site Coordinator
 Toki Rehder, Special Project Coordinator

Staff Bios:

Gayle Isa is the founder and Executive Director of Asian Arts Initiative. Gayle has been an active participant in Philadelphia's arts and culture community for the past 16 years, beginning as an intern and evolving as a staff member at the Painted Bride Art Center. She also spent three years working with the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, learning about human services and advocacy within the Asian American community in Philadelphia. She has been a National Finalist in the Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World program. She has served on the boards of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and is currently on the Executive Committee of the National Performance Network and the Steering Committee of the nascent National Asian American Theater Project. Gayle was once an aspiring taiko (drum) player and is now learning to be a theater dramaturg.

Patricia (Pat) Ma started in July 2011 as Asian Arts Initiative's Associate Director, after having played a variety of roles in the organization including Interim Coordinator for the Youth Arts Workshop after-school program; Board Member and Chair; and starting as a Rap Series volunteer. Pat brings 19 years of experience in youth development research, evaluation, and program management. At the American Red Cross-Southeastern PA Chapter, she was the Director of Community Education and led the growth of the Red Cross Clubs after-school program to 18 Philadelphia public high schools. She also worked at Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) on projects to evaluate existing programs and develop new initiatives to inform policy and practice in youth development, mentoring, college acess, and employment. More recently she has worked on community college trustee education and coordinated technical assistance for a national middle-school initiative. Pat enjoys cooking, finding bargains, and traveling (and ideally simultaneously).

Nicole Schaller-Seamans, Director of Education Programs, has lead and taught arts education programs in a variety of settings for community members of all ages and abilities. She received a Masters of Art degree in Museum Education from the University of the Arts and holds a BFA in Ceramics from Arcadia University. Nicole was the Family Programs Coordinator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for five years. Her most recent position was Director of Arts Education at Appel Farm Arts and Music Center in New Jersey for the past nine years. She has served on the Arts Education Working Committee for Arts Plan/New Jersey, the Education Committee of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance and the Arts Education Collective of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Nicole has the travel bug and is trying to fulfill the personal goal of visiting at least one new country every year.

Sarah Chandler recently joined our staff as Multi-Tenant Arts Facility Manager. After completing her M.F.A. in Theatre Management at Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, Sarah joined the Philadelphia arts community. Sarah brings years of experience supporting the production of theatre and movement pieces through her work as General Manager of Nichole Canuso Dance Company, Production and Touring Stage Manager for Pig Iron Theatre Company as well as handling facilities management at The Arts Parlor. Sarah's unique mix of skills and passion for arts for social change will help Asian Arts Initiative develop and manage our 24,000 square-foot multi-tenant facility for artists and community organizations. Sarah loves potlucks with friends, theatre, and her fabulous dog Luna.

Nancy Chen, Program Assistant joined Asian Arts Initiative in March 2011 as Executive and Programming Assistant. She was born in Beijing, China, moved to the U.S. at a young age, and grew up on the Main Line in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She received a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Virginia and also studied literature and art history at University College London. Outside of work, Nancy is particularly interested in bookmaking, drawing, and printmaking in various mediums (woodcut, etching, and lithography). 

Victoria Chau, Development and Operations Assistant, joined the Initiative in September 2011. After serving as the Office Assistant Intern at Asian Arts Initiative from 2008-2009, Victoria continued her education at New York University, where she received a B.A. from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. At NYU, she worked at the Center for Student Activities, Leadership, and Service in the budget office and also served on the Asian Heritage Month committee to organize panels for the New York City Asian American Student Conference. A passionate supporter of the Asian American theatre community, she has worked at Second Generation and Ma-Yi Theatre Company in New York City, and most recently attended the third National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival in Los Angeles. Victoria is particularly in love with acting, photography, film, and mostly all things Hello Kitty.

Kent Weber, Gallery Receptionist, joined the Initiative in March 2011. Besides staffing the Gallery and providing visitor services, Kent also provides administrative assistance. After graduating from Penn State University in 2010, Kent moved to Shanghai, China to represent the United States at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Kent previously studied abroad in Shanghai in 2008 at East China Normal University. By joining the Asian Arts Initiative, Kent hopes to apply what he has learned about cultural exchange in an educational environment and would love to practice his Chinese with you!

Ellen Hwang, Youth Arts Workshop Site Coordinator, joined the Initiative in May 2011.  She began by overseeing the Youth Arts Workshop summer program (YAW) and continues to be a part of Asian Arts Initiative as the Youth Arts Workshop Site Coordinator for the after-school programming at Southwark School.  With her passion for community development, she is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Community and Regional Planning at Temple University.  Everyone who knows her knows she loves to eat, but she also enjoys crafting, singing, playing her guitar, and watching movies.     

Toki Rehder is Special Project Coordinator at Asian Arts Initiative.  Prior to joining Asian Arts Initiative, she practiced law for 8 years, most recently as an insurance coverage litigation attorney.  She received her B.A. in Sociology & Anthropology from Swarthmore College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.  She is originally from Northern California, but now considers Philadelphia her home.  She studied ballet for many years and enjoys watching and learning all types of dance.