Board | Youth Arts Alliance

Heidi Frankenhauser, Treasurer

Zak Frieling, Board Member

Lucie Howell, Board Member

Jeanne Murabito, President

Jeanne Murabito is Executive Director for Student Affairs in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. She received her B.A. in Humanistic Studies from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame; studied in Rome, Italy through Loyola University, received her M.A. in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, and completed all Ph.D. coursework in Higher Education Administration from St. Louis University. Ms. Murabito has 30 years of experience in Higher Education Administration and prior to joining the University of Michigan she served as Dean of Academic Services at Lindenwood University in St. Louis, MO. Ms. Murabito directs the units that comprise Student Affairs: the Engineering Advising Center, the Engineering Career Resource Center, Recruitment and Admissions, the Engineering Learning Center, the Scholarship Efforts in the College, Records and Assessment, Student Support, and all student organizations and activities within the college. She founded the Michigan Engineering Zone (MEZ), an outreach site in Detroit providing exposure for Detroit High School students to STEM fields. The centerpiece of the MEZ is the FIRST Robotics Program, engaging 350+ students a year in a collective build site in Detroit’s Midtown. In 2018, Jeanne collaborated with Qualcomm to develop a Thinkabit Lab at the MEZ, which provides a unique, hands-on STEM experience for middle school field trips during the school year as well as summer camps. Jeanne serves on the board for FIRST in Michigan, is a member of the Dean’s Cabinet, and serves as the point person in the College for issues involving students. She has received the Excellence in Staff Service Award and the Judith A. Pitney Career Award from the College of Engineering, and various recognitions for her service to students through Tau Beta Pi, Epeians, the Spirit of Detroit Award, and most recently, the Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award.

Gina Steffey, Vice President

Gina holds a limited license Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. She works in Community Mental Health for Washtenaw County, and has experience as a probation officer for the Washtenaw County Juvenile Drug Treatment Court. She recognizes the multitude of shortcomings within the juvenile justice system and is passionate about making changes.

LaTonya Woods, Secretary

LaTonya Woods has enjoyed a portfolio career. Holding a bachelor’s in business administration from Eastern Michigan University, she began her collegiate career at the University of Michigan in the School of Music, Theater, and Dance with a major in viola performance and education. She currently works for the University of Michigan as a senior business systems analyst in the Information and Technology Services department. As a violinist and violist, she has performed with Grammy award winning artists, spanning the genres of classical, R&B and gospel, including Stevie Wonder, Midori and Marvin Winans. She is featured on recordings with critically acclaimed gospel artists, Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood and has performed with award winning, Detroit based world music ensemble, Musique Noire. She continues to perform throughout the metro Detroit area, has been a member of Dexter Community and Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestras. A passionate music educator and administrator, she has served as an instructor in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and on the faculty of the Sphinx (Organization) Preparatory Program and Michigan State University Community Music School of Detroit. In her administrative capacities, she has worked with the Sphinx Organization and Willis Patterson’s Our Own Thing – a nonprofit organization for which she volunteers as the administrative director. She currently serves on the boards of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance Alumni Association, and the University of Michigan Medical School Institutional Review Board (IRBMED). She is inspired and invigorated by YAA’s mission and active community engagement, and is eager to bring her experience and passion to the organization.

Heidi Frankenhauser, Treasurer

Heidi Frankenhauser currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice, a statewide, justice advocacy reform organization. She has a masters degree in clinical psychology and a B.A. in art and psychology. Heidi has a breadth of experience in the nonprofit and service sectors and has worked with many groups, including youth, incarcerated artists, homeless families, and veterans. Her passion for justice reform and healing art spaces began over a decade ago when she served as a facilitator for a visual arts workshop for incarcerated women (with the Prison Creative Arts Project). Outside of her professional life, Heidi is an avid gardener, yogi, writer and visual artist, as well as a proud parent to a creative, spirited child.

Jasdeep Kler, Evaluation Director

Jasdeep holds a Master’s of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan. As a student, he had the opportunity to work with the Center for Healthy Minds, where he developed a passion for mindfulness. He is now bringing his knowledge and skills working with youth to incorporate trauma-informed mindfulness into his workshops. He is also using his public health background to assist in program development, evaluation, and reporting.

Kyle Daniel-Bey, Board Member

Kyle D Daniel-Bey is an artist, published author/poet and formerly incarcerated individual. His passion for art & advocacy for youth who have or may come into contact with the criminal justice system are equal. Having been incarcerated as a youth, he understands some of the pressures young people face & wants to help in whatever capacity available.

Nichollette Hoard, Board Member

Nichollette Hoard works in the Juvenile Delinquency Division at the Washtenaw County Office of Public Defender, where she has been for over ten years, and served as an attorney for four years. She sees Criminal Defense work through a different lens and fully understands that any reform to our justice system starts with juvenile work. Her work is centered on restoring and assisting young people from a holistic perspective; addressing their behavior and legal troubles but also mental health issues, self-esteem empowerment, family support, housing, and education/employment. She finds being the voice of young people as truly an honor. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Detroit Mercy, and a J.D. and LL.M. from Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Zak Frieling, Board Member

Zachary Frieling is an artist, musician and educator based in Detroit, MI, and graduate of the College for Creative Studies with a dual major in Illustration and Art Education. He has enjoyed teaching students of all ages throughout Southeast Michigan, facilitating and coordinating projects in all ranges of materials, with a primary focus on printmaking, photography, ceramics and collage. This includes working with students of all ages, a variety of human service agencies, and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in his role as Studio Coordinator at the Detroit Institute of Arts. He considers it an honor to introduce new techniques, skills, and ways of thinking to artists looking for new forms of expression and connection.”

Lucie Howell, Board Member

Lucie Howell is the Chief Learning Officer at the Henry Ford. An engineer by head and an educator by heart, Lucie is focused on driving the Henry Ford learning philosophy of learning by doing through innovation education. After 20 years working as a K-12 teacher, educational outreach and career development professional in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and STEAM (add the Arts), Lucie believes that it is authentic, inter-disciplinary opportunities that empower learners by allowing them to demonstrate their strengths while growing and developing new skills and expertise. Learning powered by perspective, applied in the real world and shared equitably by all.

Keegan Hasbrook, Member

Keegan Hasbrook consults Google’s fastest growing customers as a Digital Strategy Lead in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He leads Google Ann Arbor’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group by planning, marketing and executing events internally, collaborating with local non-profits and engaging Googlers domestically and internationally in educational sessions. Keegan is passionate about youth development and LGBTQ+ issues and has volunteered with non-profits like Big City Mountaineers, Out in Tech and the Neutral Zone previously.