Mason Vision Day

The Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Education Initiative offers learners of all ages free opportunities to experience and engage in the arts, as well as supporting the Hylton Artist-in-Residence program. Through in-person and virtual programming such as field trips, backstage tours, lecture-demonstrations, and masterclasses led by professional artists, every community member can experience the arts in meaningful ways.

Alumni Service Award 2022, Arts Management Adjunct Faculty, Chair, Mason Arts Board

Anika Tené (she/her) serves as WESTAF’s director of grants, awards and programs. In this role, she informs and develops a range of equity-centered learning experiences and grants programs that work to build a more inclusive arts and culture sector. Previously, she was a manager of national education initiatives at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where she ensured that arts professionals were equipped with relevant professional learning and support as they sought to provide equitable access to the arts among public school students.

Anika has worked with a number of arts organizations as a music and arts director, stage manager, producer, gallery coordinator, and subscriptions sales associate. She also served as assistant director of national college fairs, programs and services for the National Association for College Admission Counseling where she piloted and scaled arts and STEM college and career fairs reaching over 20,000 attendees annually. Anika is a former chair of the Arlington County Commission for the Arts and a past board chair of the Arts Administrators of Color Network. A current member of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Arts at Mason Board, Anika previously led the Arts Management Alumni Group. Anika is a certified life coach and focuses her services on supporting creatives at various professional crossroads. Anika earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University and a master’s degree in arts management from George Mason University, where her capstone focused on the need for diversity in arts organization leadership. She also holds a master’s degree in public anthropology from American University and a postgraduate degree in management from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.

Shannon Siemens Baccaglini serves as the Director of Data Integrity and Quality at Children's National Hospital Foundation. In this role, she oversees the Foundation's data health, standards, maintenance, and governance. Shannon is dedicated to driving collaborative strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing data management, streamlining processes, and optimizing data quality and outcomes. Apart from her expertise in database administration, Shannon boasts over a decade of nonprofit experience in annual giving, direct response, membership, and nonprofit operations, the knowledge and passion of which was cultivated during her tenure in the Arts Management program.