The Team
Meet SJAA’s Core Team – the volunteer brigade that organizes our events, trainings, and advocacy. If you’re interested in getting involved and have 2-3 hours a month to give, we’d love to add your perspective to our group! Send an email to hello@sjartsadvocates.org.
Peter Allen
Peter was formally educated as a screenwriter but decided not to go Hollywood. He wears hats of different shapes and sizes, including communications guru, arts activist, nonprofit leader, annoying husband, and girl dad.
Jonathan Borca
Jonathan is a Mexican-Filipino emcee and poet who performs with a variety of jazz ensembles ranging from a quartet to a big band. He currently serves as a City of San José Arts Commissioner.
Barbara Dutra
Barbara is a classical pianist and choral singer. She is a part-time affiliate of Music for Minors teaching elementary school students in the Bay Area, and a board member for Voices of Silicon Valley.
Carman Gaines
Carman is an artist specializing in photo documentation and storytelling who was born and raised in San José and has a deep passion for supporting the arts in their hometown. They currently serve as the Deputy Director of Local Color.
Stacey Kellogg
Stacey is an attorney and program manager by trade but an art lover and community builder by heart. Born and raised in San José, she is passionate about creating a legacy of impactful public art in her hometown and serves as Director of Strategy & Development for San José Walls.
Karen Kienzle
Karen is passionate about supporting the inner artist in everyone. She currently serves as Director of the Palo Alto Art Center, having previously served as Assistant Curator at the San José Museum of Art.
Amanda Rawson
Amanda advocates for the arts both through her work in public art planning and as a volunteer in various arts organizations and museums.
Brendan Rawson
Brendan has been gleefully clapping on the 1 and 3 his whole life and is not about to stop now. He currently serves as Executive Director of San José Jazz.
Emeritus
Eileen Beckley
Eileen was 2015 Teacher of the Year in Cambrian School District and spent her career teaching middle school and junior college. She now serves as an arts education consultant.
Julia Canavese
Julia is a San José native, a dancer, a writer, a passionate arts administrator, and the local nerd next door. She previously served on the leadership team of genARTS Silicon Valley.
Jeannine Flores
Jeannine is a former Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) and is currently Arts & STEAM Coordinator for the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
Sofia Fojas
Sofia is a veteran arts educator who also plays music professionally and for fun. She currently serves as an Arts Coordinator for the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE).
Dana Harris Seeger
Dana is a printmaker, painter, educator, and entrepreneur. She is a former SVCreates Artist Laureate for Santa Clara County and co-creator of the School of Visual Philosophy in San José. She currently resides with her family in the Pacific Northwest.
Mighty Mike McGee
Mike is a spoken word artist, former Santa Clara County Poet Laureate, and a fan of lasagna. In many ways, Mike is eponymous with San José arts and culture, and one of the best resources for what is happening.
Ron P. Muriera
Ron has 20 years of experience as a performing artist, community activist, arts advocate, and culturista. He currently serves as Director of Arts Industry Support for the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs. And he's known for playing a mean accordion!
Edgar Ochoa
Edgar is a muralist, proud papa, and active advocate for the arts in East San José and the Mayfair neighborhood. He currently serves as Director of Community Engagement at the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza.
Yori Seeger
Yori is a figurative sculptor classically trained in Florence, Italy. He graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute and is a co-creator of the School of Visual Philosophy, an art hub and atelier in San José. He currently lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest.
Eva Smith Glynn
Eva is a marketing and communications professional and undercover writer who found meaning and purpose in helping nonprofit art organizations and nascent literary movements. She currently serves as media manager, event planner, and photographer for Flash Fiction Forum.
Usha Srinivasan
Usha Srinivasan is the founder and president of Sangam Arts / Mosaic America, a South Bay nonprofit dedicated to strengthening diverse communities through intercultural arts and winner of the San José Arts Commission's Cornerstone of the Arts Creative Impact Award in 2022.