Mentorship Program for Women Administrators
Designed to advance gender parity across the field, the Mentorship Program for Women Administrators supports the professional development of women administrators at OPERA America member organizations.
Three administrative professionals (protégés) will be paired with established leaders in their areas of interest for a yearlong program to identify barriers and achievement gaps, and then establish and execute an action plan for professional growth.
The program was conceived through the continued work and efforts of the Women's Opera Network.
The Mentorship Program for Women Administrators is supported by OPERA America’s Backstage Brunch.
How to Apply
OPERA America will support mentorship teams by providing funding and additional resources for in-person and remote mentoring sessions as well as travel, hotel, and registration to attend Opera Conference 2023. Protégés and mentors will commit to a full calendar year of participation in a mentorship partnership. Each protégé will be matched with a mentor based on her expressed needs and interests.
Eligibility: Applicants must identify as cis or trans women and have current or recent employment experience at an OPERA America organizational member. Guidelines will be released in advance of the next application cycle with additional eligibility details.
Application Cycle
Application Available Online |
Winter 2025 |
Program Runs |
Spring 2025 - Spring 2026 |
How to Apply
Guidelines will be provided. Review the guidelines before applying. All applications must be submitted online.
Meet the Alumni
Mentorship Program protégés and mentors are listed with their titles and company affiliations at the start of their participation.
Class of 2022
- Protégé: Megan Elk, Engagement Producer, Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Mentor: Barbara Lynne Jamison, General Director/CEO, Kentucky Opera
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- Protégé: Katrina Fasulo, Director of Development, Opera Saratoga
- Mentor: Julia Noulin-Mérat, General Director and CEO, Opera Columbus
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- Protégé: Jessica Gonzalez, Marketing Manager, Houston Grand Opera
- Mentor: Tamara Vallejos, Director of Marketing, The Juilliard School
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Learn more about protégés and mentors in the press release.
Class of 2021
- Protégé: Katherine Baltrush Little, Associate Operations Director, San Francisco Opera
- Mentor: Anh Le, Director of Marketing and PR, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
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- Protégé: Mary Birnbaum, Associate Director, Artist Diploma Program, The Juilliard School
- Mentor: Andrea Puente-Catán, Director of Major Gifts and Hispanic Initiatives, San Diego Opera
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- Protégé: Alison F. Turner, Trustee and Treasurer, Opera Memphis
- Mentor: Francesca Zambello, Artistic and General Director, The Glimmerglass Festival; Artistic Director, Washington National Opera
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Learn more about protégés and mentors in the press release.
Class of 2020
- Protégé: Adriane Fink, Director of Institutional Partnerships, Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Mentor: Ashley Magnus, Edlis Neeson General Director, Chicago Opera Theater
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- Protégé: Aliana de la Guardia, Co-Artistic Director, Guerilla Opera (Boston, MA)
- Mentor: Lee Anne Myslewski, Vice President of Opera and Classical Programming, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts (Vienna, VA)
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- Protégé: Karina Kacala, Director of Advertising and Promotions, Opera Philadelphia
- Mentor: Peggy Kriha Dye, General and Artistic Director, Opera Columbus
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Learn more about protégés and mentors in the press release.
Class of 2019
- Protégé: Rebekah Diaz, Founder, KahLee Consulting: Community Engagement in the Creative Arts
- Mentor: Ana De Archuleta, President and CEO, ADA Artist Management
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- Protégé: Julia Noulin-Mérat, Associate Producer, Boston Lyric Opera; and Co-Artistic Director, Guerilla Opera
- Mentor: Cheryl Hickman, General and Artistic Director, Opera on the Avalon
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- Protégé: Tamara Vallejos, Director of Marketing and Audience Development, Opera Colorado
- Mentor: Lisa Middleton, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Lyric Opera of Chicago
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Learn more about protégés and mentors in the press release.
Class of 2018
- Protégé: Piper Gunnarson | Executive Director, On Site Opera (New York, NY)
- Mentor: Annie Burridge | General Director and CEO, Austin Opera
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- Protégé: Katie Preissner | Director of Production, Opera Colorado
- Mentor: Clare Burovac | Director of Artistic Operations, Portland Opera
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- Protégé: Mitra Sadeghpour | Director of Opera, University of Northern Iowa
- Mentor: Stacy Brightman | Vice President, Education and Community Engagement, LA Opera
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Learn more about protégés and mentors in the press release.