Samantha M Connors (They/Them) - Executive Director
samantha@davinciartalliance.org

Our Executive Director, Samantha M Connors, oversees all projects and the fiscal management of DVAA to ensure our work is centered around our mission, vision and values. They moved to Philadelphia in 2010 and graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2014 with a BFA in Fiber and Material Studies and a minor in Art History. Samantha joined DVAA as a member in 2017 and served as the Co-Chair of the Exhibitions Committee for 3 years prior to accepting their position in 2021.

Within their personal and professional practice, they are seeking an outlet to process the world we’re living in and reach out to others with hope of what we can potentially build together. Samantha’s work reflect on the larger issues at hand within gentrification and displacement to provide room to connect patterns and find ways to organize spaces of care and connection alongside other people within Philadelphia. They have completed residencies at Cassis Artist Residency in France, Ora Lerman Trust Soaring Gardens in Laceyville, PA, The Sable Project Residency in Stockbridge, VT, The 319 AIR at Pink Noise Projects in Philadelphia, PA. They have an upcoming residency at Bischoff Inn in Tamaqua, PA, and are leading an upcoming curatorial project at Partners and Son. They serve on the Leadership Team of Science Events, a project of the Experimental Practice team at the MIT Museum.

Veronica Cianfrano (She/Her) - Gallery Director
Veronica@davinciartalliance.org

Veronica oversees matters pertaining to the gallery and to the community of artists and art lovers that we serve at DVAA. She is a curator, multimedia artist, teacher, the youngest of three daughters, and a first-generation American.

In 2010, she received her MFA in Painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she discovered the need for better access to the arts. There she co-founded CHER, a collaborative pop-up gallery that brought thematically relevant contemporary art exhibitions to communities by organizing temporary events, happenings, and exhibitions in alternative spaces.

For the last ten years, she has taught studio art and art theory courses to pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate students nationally and internationally. She was most recently the Curatorial Director at Tuft the World and the Curator and Gallery Director at Melton Gallery at the University of Central Oklahoma. Her professional practice is led by the governing principle that diverse perspectives and collaboration can lead to the best opportunities for public engagement and meaningful connections to the arts.

Kara Mshinda (She/Her) - Fellowship Director
kara@davinciartalliance.org

Kara Mshinda is a visual artist and educator with roots in photography and visual anthropology. She uses accessible methods like freehand drawing, collage, and lo-fi photography to develop visual narratives that center gender performance, body aesthetics, and Black femme identity. In addition to creating artwork, Mshinda is a professor at Tyler School of Art and Architecture where she teaches on the themes of race, identity, and artist practice in American art. She received her MA in Anthropology from Temple University.

Jillian M Rock (She/Her) - Education Coordinator
jillian@davinciartalliance.org

Jillian M Rock is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist based in Philadelphia. Her teaching artist practice is centered in creating curricula around social justice, identity, and creating an experience that deepens community and encourages expression individually and most importantly collectively. She currently has a teaching residency with The Print Center and Fleisher Art Memorial.  She is the owner of Rock Press, a Black woman run printing press aimed at amplifying access to the creation and dissemination of artists’ books, printed matter, and programming. As well as, a co-founder of Collaborative Rising, an arts organization centered in providing access to a variety of programming, across all mediums and abilities by nurturing exploration through the arts. Rock is currently a part of the 2024/2025 artist cohort at Cherry Street Pier and a fellow with Mural Arts Fellowship for Black Artists.

L. Elwood (any pronouns) - Marketing Coordinator
l@davinciartalliance.org

L. Elwood is an arts administrator, performer, and choreographer.

Miden Wood (She/Her) - Communications Assistant
miden@davinciartalliance.org

Tom Marino (He/Him) - Treasurer

Tom has over 20 years of experience working within the Global Financial Services industry, currently serving as Store Manager and VP of one of TD Bank’s flagship locations based in University City, Philadelphia. In 2022, he helped open “TD Workshop” within their branch, an innovation lab testing new concepts for the company and serving as a community center for the neighborhood.

Rennia Rodney (She/Her) - Secretary

Rennia Rodney is the Coordinator of Talent Strategies at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, leveraging connections between Chamber partners to build equitable pipelines for early career talent. She previously worked at Houlés, CareDox Inc., and Kforce Inc. and has volunteered as an administrative assistant and on-site volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County and the American Cancer Society. Rennia is a standing member of Alpha Kappa Psi.

Sarah Bloom (She/Her) - Director

Sarah Bloom is a photographer based in Philadelphia specializing in real estate and commercial property photography. Her photos have been featured in The Daily Mail, Philadelphia Magazine and The Huffington Post. Philadelphia Magazine named her Best Visual Artist in their 2015 Best of Philly Issue. She is a Women’s Caucus for the Arts member and past President of the WCA-Philadelphia Chapter. Sarah has been a member of Da Vinci Art Alliance since 2009 and has curated several exhibitions within the gallery and other spaces around Philadelphia.

Corliss Cavalieri (he/him) - Director

Corliss is a Philadelphia based painter who has completed residencies both internationally and nationally, such as the Auvillar Residency in France, the Can Serrat Residency in Spain, MacDowell residency in New Hampshire, and the Jentel Residency in Wyoming. Corliss previously worked as the Gallery Director at Paul Robeson Art Gallery in Newark, NJ, the Curatorial Museum Supervisor at Civic Center Museum in Philadelphia, and Curator of Port of History Museum in Philadelphia. Corliss previously served as a collective member of Zone One in Philadelphia and 55 Mercer Street Gallery in New York City.

Sergio Coscia (He/Him) - Director

Sergio is the Founding Principal of CosciaMoos Architecture, leading projects in the mixed-use and multifamily, commercial, hospitality, and higher education sectors. Prior to founding his company in 2010, he previously worked at Hillier Architecture, DWKCB Architects, Kling Linquist Partnership, Kunz Gordon Architects, Partridge Tackett Architects, Bloomfield & Associates, and Vittetta Group. He is affiliated with American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, The Development Workshop, and The Clay Studio.

Julia Marsh (She/Her) - Director

BJ Martin (He/Him) - Director

Camila Alejandra Rondon (She/Her) - Director

Jay Roth (He/Him) - Director

Jay is a mental health nurse practitioner in geriatric psychiatry for Vital Healthcare Solutions. He previously worked as a mental health nurse practitioner at MedOptions and Steps to Recovery, as well as an ER Registered Nurse at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Alongside his work as a nurse, Jay is a married father of two daughters, and a photographer who has been a member at DVAA since 2020.

Libby Vieira da Cunha (she/her) - Director

Libby is an artist and educator from Brazil currently living and working in Philadelphia. Her current role as Community Murals Project Manager at Mural Arts helps support artists in the creation of public artworks throughout the city. She previously was the Curator of Education for Philadelphia Contemporary, Manager of Group Visits and School Programs at Grounds for Sculpture in NJ, Education Director at The Music Box Villiage in New Orleans, and Youth Corps Coordinator at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City.

Sydney Welch (she/her) - Director

Sydney is the author of “The Art of Collaboration” and serves as a freelance project manager and business consultant for several clients. She previously held the position of case manager for Mastery Charter Schools and currently works in the Development Department of Arcadia University.