Divi Overlays

Divena Ramessar Community Fieldworker Divena is is a first generation Guyanese American raised with a strong connection to her Guyanese heritage. She has been attending festivals, concerts, performances and community events since she was a child. Divena has become a...

Nada Odeh Community Fieldworker M.A. Museum Studies, Syracuse University B.A. Fine Arts, Damascus University Nada Odeh is a Syrian artist, activist, humanitarian, and a modern-day poet. She was born and raised in Damascus and lived in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab...

Ellen La Que Galley Assistant B.S. Studio Art, The College of Saint Rose Gallery assistant Ellen La Que is from Glenville, NY. A local artist and former NYF volunteer, Ellen has most recently enjoyed being the knitting and crochet instructor for the Scotia-Glenville...

Akilah Briggs-Melvin Community Fieldworker A.S. in Health Sciences – in process. Broome Community College Akilah Briggs-Melvin is a dancer and teaching folk artist who has over ten years of experience invarious styles of dance. In 2020, she created a community step...

Ladan Nikravan Community Fieldworker B.A. – Theater, State University of New York at AlbanyM. Ed. - Educational Administration from the State University of New York at Albany. Ladan Nikravan has been a resident of the Capital Region since the 1980s, when she arrived...

Patti Mason Associate Editor, Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore Patti joined New York Folklore in 1997, working in its Ithaca office through May 1999. She developed and administered New York Folklore's first website before assuming editing responsibilities for...

Mira Johnson New York Folk Arts in Education Network Coordinator Mira Johnson, D. Ed., is the New York Folklore and Education Network Coordinator–a joint position of Local Learning and New York Folklore. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at Bronx Community...

Laurie Longfield Gallery, Administration and Publications Manager A.S. in Advertising Design & Production Laurie was born and raised in Schenectady, New York, and has also lived in Seattle, Washington, New York City, Brooklyn, Colorado, and Burbank, California....

Anne Rappaport Staff Folklorist B.A. State University of New York at PotsdamM.A. Folk Studies, Western Kentucky University Anne Rappaport Berliner holds a master's degree in Folk Studies from Western Kentucky University. She conducts fieldwork and folklore programming...

Elinor Levy Regional Coordinator, Mentoring and Professional Development Program Ph.D. in Folklore, Indiana University M.A. in Anthropology, California State University B.A. in Performing Arts Management, University of California Elinor Levy, Ph.D. was raised in a...

Edgar Betelu Folklorist Edgar Betelu has over 25 years of experience as a public sector folklorist in New York State. A native of Argentina, he is a record producer and owner of Sunnyside/Circular Moves, a music label that produces world music and jazz recordings....

Todd DeGarmo Editor and Chair, Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore A.B.D. American Studies with an emphasis on Folklife Studies, George Washington University M.A. in Anthropology, and Archives coursework, SUNY Albany B.A., Colgate University Todd DeGarmo is the...

Ellen McHale Executive Director Ph.D. and M.A. in Folklore and Folklife, University of Pennsylvania  B.A. Music and American Studies, Wesleyan University  Ellen McHale has served as the CEO of New York Folklore, since 1999.  Her role includes being the managing editor...