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 reflects on the larger issues at hand within gentrification and displacement to connect patterns and organize spaces of care 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, and Bischoff Inn in Tamaqua, PA. They served on the inaugural Leadership Team of Science Events, a project of the Experimental Practice team at the MIT Museum from 2024-2025.

Maria Stracke (She/Her) - Fellowship & Residency Director
maria@davinciartalliance.org

Maria is a Philadelphia-based artist and educator. She is also a founding member of the gallery Big Ramp in Kensington. She received her PhD in Literature and Criticism from The Graduate Center - City University of New York and her MFA in Painting and Drawing from Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University. Maria teaches art and writing courses at Tyler School of Art, Rutgers University - Camden, and City University of New York. 

Julia Reber (She/Her) - Executive Assistant
juliareber@davinciartalliance.org

Julia Reber is a lens-based artist based in Philadelphia, PA. She received her BFA in Photography from Tyler School of Art and Architecture. In her practice, she works primarily in alternative and historical photographic processes to explore transitional spaces, loss, and ephemerality. She works closely with the team, artists, and curators to ensure that exhibitions, programming, and operations run smoothly and in alignment with our mission here at DVAA.

Lou Balikos (They/Them) - Marketing Coordinator
lou@davinciartalliance.org

Lou Balikos is a writer, editor, performer, and organizer based in Philadelphia. They got their degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and have a background in editorial management and journalism. They are passionate about and interested in all of the layers and mediums of storytelling. Their work is fueled by a desire to empower creatives and reimagine and foster equitable futures. They’re grateful to be leading marketing, nurturing and fortifying the relationships DVAA has with the community.

Sarah Bloom (She/Her) - Vice President
Joined the Board in 2024

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.

Libby Vieira da Cunha (she/her) - Secretary
Joined the Board in 2024

Libby Vieira da Cunha brings over 10 years experience in arts education and administration. Her work is driven by the belief in the power of art to change lives through inclusive transformative arts engagement and in building community through the creative process. Libby has worked at  Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia Contemporary, University of the Arts, Grounds For Sculpture (NJ), Park Avenue Armory (NYC) and at The Music Box Village and the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. In addition to her leadership roles she has served as an advisor for multiple Joan Mitchell Foundation education initiatives.

Sergio Coscia (He/Him) - Director
Joined the Board in 2023

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.

Jeremy Crawford (he/him) - Director
Joined the Board in 2024

Jeremy is an entrepreneurial enthusiast at heart. He is dedicated to advocating for, coaching and advising small to midsize organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit. Jeremy serves on several boards and has many years of experience in consulting, analytics, marketing, and supply chain management, and specializes in strategic planning. He is also the former owner of Kōzē Brands. Jeremy holds a Masters degree in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship and a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Temple University. Though he has lived all over, Philadelphia will always be where his heart is.

Graham Cuddy (he/him) - Director
Joined the Board in 2026

Graham Cuddy is an artist and owner of Procession Gallery in Old City, Philadelphia. Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, Graham has shown work in several galleries in the city. In 2024, he founded Procession Gallery, creating a space for emerging local artists to show their work. The gallery has held over 10 shows, exploring multiple mediums including painting, drawing and sculpture. Prior to the gallery, Graham worked for American Trench, a local clothing company based in Ardmore.

Marshall O’Neill (They/Them) - Director
Joined the Board in 2026

Marshall O’Neill is a photographer, digital artist, and museum professional specializing in curation, exhibitions, and collection management. They hold an A.A. in Visual Art and a B.A. in Art History. Marshall was attending and working at the University of the Arts at the time of its closure and completed their Museum Studies and Arts Administration Master’s at Drexel University. Marshall has worked at several institutions, including Grounds for Sculpture, Morven Museum & Garden, and Hagley Museum and Garden. They have curated exhibits featuring contemporary artists and American history. Their background also includes community-engaged public art projects and development work, giving them a comprehensive understanding of how exhibitions and their associated programming connect audiences with institutional missions. As a member of the Da Vinci Art Alliance (DVAA) Board of Directors, they bring a collaborative, detail-oriented approach and a commitment to fostering inclusive, artist-driven spaces.

Justin Phillips (he/him) - Director
Joined the Board in 2026

Justin Phillips is an artist and academic leader. In academics, Phillips is dedicated to advancing student success, equity, and institutional innovation through collaborative planning and inclusive pedagogy. Experienced in strategic program development, faculty and student mentorship, and multi-sector partnerships that expand educational access. As an artist, Phillips’ work explores meanings and nuance embedded in his formalist mixed-media pieces, where he incorporates elements of drawing, painting, and collage. He employs a range of creative methodologies, including embracing elements of chance, intuitive mark-making, conjuring rhythms, erasure, and personally established rules and systems. Phillips’ work ranges from drawings created in a single sitting to deeply layered works, where he explores sustained and deliberate efforts to form complex and contemplative pieces. He is deeply inspired by the energy and dynamics of daily life and the inner workings of the world in which we live. Phillips is fascinated with the connection between visual language and the human experience, and he often describes his works as meditations or physical embodiments of meditation rituals or routines. His practice is a continuous survey of the connection between oneself and one's surroundings. Phillips lives and works in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he serves as the Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Miranda Stephen (she/her) - Director
Joined the Board in 2026

Miranda Stephen is the chef and founder of Philly Hummus Girl, a culinary venture centered on traditional and inspired mezze. Through her work, she celebrates Lebanese diaspora culture, using food as a medium for storytelling and preservation. Before settling in Philadelphia, Miranda spent extensive time living and traveling abroad, shaping her appreciation for art and its role in cultural identity. She completed her undergraduate studies in Georgia and earned her MPS from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. As a board member of DVAA, she works to uphold the organization’s legacy of cultural and artistic expression for marginalized and diasporic communities.

Kara Tipton (she/her) - Director
Joined the Board in 2026

Kara is a Grant Finance and Operations Associate at the Luminos Fund, an international education nonprofit dedicated to providing transformative learning opportunities for vulnerable children around the world. Her commitment to immigrant and refugee rights took root early, through advocacy work with the International Justice Committee in Newark, the Nationalities Service Center in Philly, and the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. She taught English as a second language in Italy while earning her master's degree in International Relations at the University of Milan, an experience that deepened her appreciation for how embracing diversity and protecting access to creative spaces enriches communities. A proud South Philly resident, Kara believes that intergenerational collectives like DVAA are essential to sustaining the diverse, inclusive communities that are the heart and soul of this city.

Sydney Welch (she/her) - Director
Joined the Board in 2024

Author and Creator Sydney Welch, a Pennsylvania native, embarked on her creative journey at Arcadia University. She began her creative journey during her apprenticeship with The Arcadia Public Art Project under Philly mural artist, David Guinn. Her immersion in the arts, coupled with her Art History degree, ignited her passion for project management within the creative realm. This inspired her to pen her debut book, "The Art of Collaboration: An In-Depth Exploration of Collaborative Practices for Creative Minds." Following a stint as a special education case manager, Sydney founded her company Retolde, a consultancy for artists and creators, drawing from her own experiences and insights shared in her book. Building on the ethos of collaboration, Sydney co-founded The Makers Table, a vibrant dinner party platform, fostering connections and collaborations among artists and creatives. Enthralled by the tight-knit community and spirit of Philadelphia, Sydney finds solace in its vibrant creative ecosystem, which warmly embraced her. Eager to contribute further, she is poised to lend her expertise to DVAA's development initiatives, bringing her innovative collaborative practices to the boardroom.