Join the Scholastic Awards Alumni Advisory Council for a virtual panel on how to turn your creative passion into a career path that is the right choice for you. In this one-hour discussion, hosted on Zoom, Council members Genevieve Martin, Sarah Nerboso, Kevin Spall, and James Wells will share their journeys from Awards-winning teens to leaders in their respective fields.
This panel is open to all members of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards communities—from high school students thinking about college and undergraduates choosing a major to recent graduates trying to spin a degree into a career in the arts and beyond.
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 7:00–8:00 pm ET
Register now!
About the Panelists
Genevieve Martin is a born-and-bred New Yorker, visual artist, and experienced arts administrator. Previously, Genevieve served as the Interim Managing Director of The Center for Italian Modern Art and as the Director of External Affairs at The Art Students League of New York. She has supported projects at The Morgan Library & Museum, Christie’s, The Moving Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Genevieve has a proven track record in strategic planning, PR, fundraising, and creative partnerships within an arts education framework. Her focus is on small to mid-sized art nonprofits, which she believes are responsible for engaging in the most experimental work and serve as social facilitators for larger institutions. She attended The Horace Mann School, The Cooper Union, and did her MA work in Arts Administration at Baruch College. Genevieve is presently a Diversity in the Arts Leadership Mentor.
James Wells is the Education Manager at Crayola. He brings his creative energy and leadership to every speaking presentation, engaging participants to think differently. James has been dedicated to supporting arts in schools, working closely with teachers and administrators across the US. He is the host of a digital content series, Creativity Tips, and a founding member of Crayola’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. Prior to Crayola, James was the Fine Arts Instructional Advisor for Shelby County School District in Memphis, Tennessee and the Art Education Coordinator for the Tennessee Arts Commission in Nashville, Tennessee. He has participated in leading numerous initiatives that kept art at the forefront of education including revising art standards for the state of Tennessee. James was recently named 2022 Tennessee Art Educator of the Year. In addition to his work at Crayola, James continues to be involved in art education as Board President of Tennessee Art Education Association, board trustee with the National Art Education Foundation as well as a leader within the National Art Education Association as a member of the School for Art Leaders Program.
Sarah Nerboso was raised on a steady diet of Broadway, Buffy, and Bugs Bunny. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in East Asian History and, after a detour into New York’s experimental theater scene, graduated with an M.F.A. in Film from Columbia University. Her screenplay The Adventures of Awesome Girl received Faculty Honors from Columbia and became an Academy Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist. Since moving to Los Angeles, Sarah has written for variety of animated shows, including Nick Jr’s Nella the Princess Knight, Apple TV’s Doug Unplugs, the upcoming Bugs Bunny Builders, Imagine’s Tiny Chef, as well as several not-yet-announced upcoming projects. She was also a staff writer for three seasons on DreamWorks Animation/Netflix’s Harvey Girls Forever! Sarah has done development work for top-secret projects at King Features, Dreamworks Animation, and Nickelodeon. Recently, Sarah staffed for two seasons on the co-viewing adventure-horror-comedy Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, coming to HBO MAX.
Kevin Spall grew up in Rochester, New York, and as a young man pursued the arts, and continues to this day to paint and sculpt. Kevin started his career in 1990 in entry-level positions within the printing industry, and ultimately served in a variety of leadership roles within the book-printing and publishing industry. He is Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Procurement, at Scholastic Inc.
About the Alumni Advisory Council
Consisting of Scholastic Art & Writing Awards alumni, the Alumni Advisory Council is a group of passionate individuals dedicated to engaging and supporting Awards recipients from various backgrounds and at different stages of their professional careers.
To connect with fellow Awards alumni, join the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Alumni group on LinkedIn.