Bianca Catalan, Board Secretary

Bianca has worked with SFYT Executive Director, Emily Klion, creating theater since she was 9 years old. Bianca has served in a variety of roles at SFYT, including as a Teaching Artist, Program Director, and Intern Coordinator. An accomplished actor, Bianca performed in the lead role of "Crystal" in Gary Soto's The Afterlife, touring through California's Central Valley and Europe. Bianca is currently the Director of the Community Engagement Center at San Francisco University High School, where she is also an alumna. She is grateful to connect UHS students to intern with the powerful work of SFYT, knowing how this program made a profound impact on her life. On SFYT’s Board since 2020.

Becoming a board member for SFYT is a great honor. Having served as a student, teacher, and ally has greatly impacted the visions I have for SFYT’s future!

Maica Folch

Maica is a movement theater educator and performance artist. She has been an energetic presence in the San Francisco arts education community for over twenty years. She has extensive experience teaching performance arts to children of all ages and backgrounds. Maica is most recognized for crafting children’s stories, both folk stories and those that come from the children themselves, into theatrical performances. In addition to her work with children, Maica has studied and practiced dance, theater, circus technique and aerial performance disciplines with master artists in her native Barcelona and the Bay Area. She blends circus skills and street theater with contact improvisation and clowning. A lover of the Mexican ritual of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Maica has organized the Festival of Altars in San Francisco’s Mission District over the last two decades. On SFYT’s Board since 2014.

Alysia Gonzales

Alysia Gonzales was born and raised in San Francisco, where she spent her younger years focusing on STEM subjects and athletics. But after the wonderful experience she had in joining her high school's production of Romeo and Juliet, the arts became an integral part of her life and her interests. She graduated from the University of Southern California's film school with a B.A. in Critical Studies for Cinematic Arts. Later, she obtained her M.F.A in Creative Writing for Fiction from San Francisco State University. She currently works as a Technical Writer by day, and writes fiction by night. She is passionate about equitable access to the arts, artistic expression as a means of personal growth, and art simply for art's sake. She is ecstatic about the opportunity to contribute and support these ideas with the Board at SFYT. On SFYT’s Board since 2023.

Amanda Jacobson

Amanda is a Pittsburgh native who has has been a theater and musical theater super-fan since childhood. She has enjoyed participating in the performing arts since middle school, including acting in plays and musicals and singing in choirs and acapella groups. Amanda got her BA in Biological Sciences and Theater and Performance Studies from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University. Amanda currently calls San Francisco home and works as a scientist at biotechnology companies researching new medicines for diseases. On SFYT’s Board since 2023.

I am passionate about the transformative power of the performing arts for young people. I am thrilled to support SFYT and their mission-driven work creating spaces and opportunities for young people to grow as people, artists, and community members through theater-making. 

Raymond Lee, Board Treasurer

Raymond grew up in New Jersey, playing the clarinet and viola from an early age. Music was an important part of his life, so he is passionate about empowering youth through music, art, and theatre. He grew up playing in school wind ensembles, community orchestras, and was drum major of his high school marching band. He moved to the bay area peninsula in 2004, has lived all over the bay, and current resides in Oakland. He has a BS in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley and currently works on the Payments Performance team at Stripe. Outside of SFYT and work, Raymond loves to spend time outdoors, cook, and is an avid swimmer and runner. On SFYT’s Board since 2017.

Burt Magen

Burt is an intellectual property attorney in San Francisco. He is a co-founder of the intellectual property law firm Vierra, Magen, Marcus LLP, that represents high technology clients in the Bay Area and around the world. During his 30 years as an attorney, Burt has represented numerous companies in the entertainment industry, including 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Fox Television. Burt’s passion for the performing arts started with his mother taking him to Broadway shows, and has been renewed supporting his daughter’s passion for acting. Burt has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester, and a JD from Boston University. On SFYT’s Board since 2017.

Siouxsie Oki

Siouxsie is the Director of Audience at Art of Consulting where she advises cultural organizations across the country on digital channel strategy and audience development. Prior to this, she was the Director of Communications and Engagement at KQED, the Bay Area’s premier NPR and PBS station, where she led audience efforts for award-winning video series, podcasts and news. She has a BS in journalism and business from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Siouxsie is currently working on a novel about Japanese American women in the post World War II era. Siouxsie is passionate about the power of art and creativity to build community and to start meaningful conversations about intersectionality and identity. On SFYT’s Board since 2017.

Nathalie Scardino

Nathalie Scardino is the Executive Vice President of Global Recruiting at Salesforce, where she oversees a team responsible for finding and hiring great talent across the globe. Nathalie has developed a recruiting strategy focused on optimising large scale teams, whilst using technology to advance talent acquisition strategies. Nathalie advocates for equality and inclusion in all parts of the hiring process and is focused on representation at every level of the organization.

A background in sales at Reed Elsevier (now RELX Group), Nathalie moved into Executive Search, focused on the technology and digital transformation practice.  During this time she was responsible for identifying C-Suite and senior level leadership talent, in addition to succession planning, for both public and early stage companies

Nathalie is passionate about education and has served as a mentor to Year Up, whose mission is to close the opportunity divide by supporting young adults in gaining skills and experiences.  She is also an advocate for prison reform, in particular juvenile justice reform. Nathalie holds a BA (Hons) from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Nathalie lives in San Francisco with her husband will and their two sons, Leonardo and Luca. On SFYT’s Board since 2023.

Nikita Shrimanker, Board President

Nikita earned her Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Biology and Neuroscience/Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She also holds an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business. Nikita spent nearly 15 years as a finance and operations professional for McKinsey & Co. on both coasts before a short stint in Stockholm where she developed a love for cardamom pastries. She has danced ballet for nearly a decade in her youth, competed on a national Bhangra dance team in college, and enjoys playing volleyball when possible. These days, she is applying her business skills to serve arts non-profits in New York City and humanitarian aid organizations like the International Rescue Committee and Team Rubicon. On SFYT’s Board since 2017.

SFYT has a unique and nurturing way for youth to discuss and dissect social issues in a safe setting - something that is rare and valuable against the omnipresence of social media and current tumultuous social and political climate. I continue to be moved by the tireless staff and teaching artists' passion to deliver thoughtful content and connect with underserved youth, even on complex subjects like teen suicide and parental incarceration. I am proud to contribute and support the achievements of this amazing group.