staff
Alice Parente currently serves as Executive Director for VSA arts of California and Coordinator of the Very Special Arts (aka VSA arts) programs in Sacramento. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy, a Masters in Education, and Learning Handicapped, Severely Handicapped, and Resource Specialist teaching credentials from University of the Pacific. She worked as a Music Therapist at Fairview State Hospital and a Graduate Assistant for the Music Therapy Department at UOP. In 1976, she was chosen as the first Director of Curriculum at the Alan Short Center in Stockton—one of 10 model sites for National VSA arts--then known as National Committee Arts for the Handicapped and founded by Jean Kennedy Smith. Alice has continued her affiliation with VSA arts, Arts programs for children and adults with disabilities, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the past 30 years.
Alice established her own non-profit corporation, Process Theatre, through which she has created community services programs, arts education programs, and artistic performances. Alice has received the Betty Isern Howery Music Therapy Award, the YWCA Outstanding Woman of the Year for Arts and Humanities, the California State University Sacramento School of Education Outstanding Community Service Award, and the Arts & Business Council Award for Arts Management Excellence.
Mikan recently joined VSA arts of California at Sacramento as the Program Assistant. Her bio is coming soon.
Board of Directors
Nydia Algazzali Gonzalez, Interim President
Nydia formerly served as Manager for the Art and Public Education Division at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts where she created the Artist Training Program and led professional Development workshops for teachers. She is a Maestra in Son Jarocho and has published nationally replicated curricula linking Mexican Music and Dance with academics. At Youth In Arts she develops and administers artist residencies for mainstream and special needs classrooms in the Artists in Schools and VSA arts programs. She selects artists, customizes instructional packages with schools and teachers, makes recommendations based on school needs and artist specializations, observes artists and students, and administers evaluations. Nydia has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley.
Robert Reich is the Executive Director of the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council in Marysville and the Coordinator of Very Special Arts California at Yuba Sutter. He has over 32 years of professional experience in all facets of arts management with academic, government, and nonprofit organizations throughout the west. The programs he has developed or worked on include outreach to artists and audiences with disabilities and special needs, special programs for audiences with disabilities and increasing access to arts programs and events.
Phyllis Berenbeim has been associated with VSA arts since 1977, as Coordinator of the VSA program in Orange County. After her retirement as Coordinator, Visual and Performing Arts at the Orange County Department of Education, she has remained with the county office as a consultant and coordinator of the VSA program. She is a graduate of East Texas State University, received the Master of Education with a major in music from Adams State College in Colorado and received her Supervisory Credential from USC. Prior to her work in Orange County, she was a teacher in Colorado and in Pasadena, California, where she became the Program Director of Music. She has received numerous awards including, Outstanding Arts Educator from Arts Orange County, a Hero In Education Award from the Califoria Lottery, and an award of recognition of outstanding commitment to education from the California Arts Council. She is a Board member of Arts Orange County, the countywide arts council.
Suzy Boyett brings 25 years of experience in political and non-profit event production to her role as Program and Event Manager for the Music Center. Ms. Boyett is responsible for all aspects of event production for three of the Music Center’s public programs – the Very Special Arts Festival, the Blue Ribbon Children’s Festival, and Pillow Theatre. These three programs welcome over 30,000 people to the Music Center annually. In addition, Ms. Boyett assists with the production of other Music Center programs, including the Institute for Educators and World City. Prior to her 8 years at the Music Center, Ms. Boyett was a fundraiser and event producer for political candidates throughout California.
David Castro
David Castro is the Executive Director of the Tulare County Arts Council. His bio is coming soon!
Matt Kuennen is Wells Fargo's Vice-President of the Sacramento City Region. His bio is coming soon!
John Russell-Curry
John Russell-Curry is the Program Coordinator of the Merced County Office of Education and Very Special Arts California at Merced. He has worked with Very Special Arts California at Merced for over 20 years. He is also involved with an assortment of related Boards (such as Cerebral Palsy Association of Merced County, Merced Arts Council…) and activities, working with those with disabilities and their families in Merced County since 1975.
Elise Tran is a management consultant at Archstone Consulting, a strategy and operations firm. She is heavily involved in community service, including serving as the University Program Coordinator for the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and a strategy consultant for the Taproot Foundation. While at Stanford University, she was also involved with Kids with Dreams which produces the VSA Festival for VSA arts of California at Palo Alto. Elise graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Stanford.
Advisory Board Bios
Nancy Carr is the VAPA Consultant for the California Department of Education. Her bio is coming soon!
Herm Dustman has twenty years of sales and marketing experience with the California State Lottery. He was also was an administrator for student services at New York University. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Stanford University.
Karla Geller was appointed by the Governor to the office of Commissioner for the California Department of Education Advisory Commission on Special Education. She is a retired Consultant and Educator at Los Angeles County Office of Education and Coordinator of Very Special Arts Festivals for Los Angeles County. Karla was appointed by the Orange County District 5 Public Access Committee to ensure accessibility and ADA compliance for Orange County courts and public facilities. She is also a twenty-year member, first woman, and first member with a disability of a popular 17 piece swing band as well as member of seven piece jazz combo performing for over 12 years at the Los Angeles County Music Center.
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