MAD Board
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Ross Brown
President
Ross Brown’s lengthy career in film and media education includes a tenured faculty position at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and 6 years at program director of the MFA in Writing & Contemporary Media at Antioch University, Santa Barbara. His writing and producing credits include Step By Step, The Facts of Life, Who’s the Boss?, and The Cosby Show, with assistant director credits including National Lampoon’s Vacation and Private Benjamin.
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Mark Flores
Vice President
mkflores@cflawyers.com
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Dawn Fitzgerald
Treasurer
Dawn Fitzgerald is a writer/director/executive producer with more than twenty years of experience in nonfiction television., creating content for networks including History, Discovery, BBC, and HGTV. She is currently the executive director of History Channel’s longest-running series, Mountain Men, and the founder and creative director of Marmalade Arts, a film and television company dedicated to telling important stories that inspire and educate.
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Dana Zurzolo
Board Member
Dana Zurzolo is an artist, designer and educator serving many years as a digital arts and design professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. She oversaw and helped create the Multi- media Design program and brings expertise in building curriculum, design software, and program management.
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Rebecca Anderson
Board Member
Rebecca Anderson is a nonprofit executive with a passion for learning and development and advancement. A versatile, positive, and creative leader, Rebecca is dedicated to making a meaningful impact at MAD as an engaged community member and parent of a MAD student.
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Erin Finnegan
Board Member
erinfinnegan.sb@gmail.com
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KT Thayer
Board Member
KT Thayer serves as Chief Creative Officer at Evans Hardy and Young, an advertising agency in Santa Barbara California. Over the last two decades KT has collaborated with some of the world’s most well-known brands and developed content across the entire continuum of media platforms. His work has been recognized by some of the industry’s most prestigious entities including the Cannes Lions.
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Holly Becker
Board Member
Holly Becker is a filmmaker who recently directed the documentaries ARRESTING SCIENCE and GREAT POWER, and produced Bring Your Own Brigade, City of Gold, The Source Family, and Original Child Bomb. Previously, Holly was SVP of production for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, and VP of production for IFC Entertainment. Holly has been a production consultant for UK- based Film4; a programmer for the Los Angeles and Seattle International Film Festivals; and a creative consultant for the Sundance Institute, Lincoln Center, and Mass MOCA.
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Suzy Hoke
Board Member
As a professional bookkeeper, Suzy Hoke brings experience and expertise with Non-Profit financials and operations to the Board, as well as being a big fan of the MAD Academy. She is a parent of a MAD student.
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Lauren Adler
Board Member
Lauren Adler is the owner, designer, website builder of the national brand, Santa Barbara Happy Pickleball Apparel. She brings project creativity to the board with any events, and fundraising, ideas and more and , as a Senior Clinical Specialist for Santa Barbara County she hopes to strengthen MAD relationships and outreach within the community. She is a parent of a MAD student.
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Healey Young
Board Member
With experience spanning from Academy Award campaign management for major film studios, to event planning, public relations and corporate communications, Healey Young lends her unique perspective to her board role. She is a parent of two MAD students and feels an overwhelming responsibility to help the program continue delivering valuable career-track education for its student body.
MISSION STATEMENT
The California Academy Foundation is a non-profit foundation that supports the needs of a
specific program, the Media Arts and Design Academy (MAD) at the Santa Barbara Unified High
School. The California Academy Foundation provides guidance and financial support for
equipment, staff, technology, software, field trips, and workshops, allowing the high school
students to attend the program regardless of income, race, or sexual orientation.