Emerging Leader Fellowship
2025 TYA/USA Emerging Leader Fellows
TYA Director, Producer, Educator, and Arts Administrator Sarah Gordin will travel to Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland to learn about early childhood outreach programming and theatre for the very young.
Sarah Gordin (she/her) is the Founding Artistic Director of Philly Children’s Theatre, where she champions arts accessibility through original, imaginative, and inclusive sensory theatre, and theatre for the very young. She manages all aspects of the organization, including programming, budgeting, and overseeing over twenty-five community partnerships across Philadelphia. As a director, Sarah has led numerous Philly Children’s Theatre productions, bringing innovative storytelling to the stage. She also teaches theatre and creative movement to children ages three to eleven at Germantown Friends School. Dedicated to fostering creative opportunities for young audiences, she is passionate about advancing the role of the arts in education and community-building.
Omaha-based practitioner Jay Hayden will travel to National Queer Theatre in NYC to grow community and collective resources in the development of queer-inclusive literary management, script development, and joy-centered practices when working with queer youth, performers, and audiences.
Jay Hayden is a multi-hyphenate artist and Scorpio based in Omaha, Nebraska. They are the Teen Programming Coordinator at The Rose Theater, where they oversee Drama classes and programming for teens, perform in mainstage shows, and co-direct the annual production of PRIDE PLAYERS. Jay is also a co-conspirator with Old School Shakespeare Omaha, performing free, accessible Shakespeare in bars and coffee shops around the Big O. As a Theatrical Gender Consultant, they have presented & consulted on best practices for including transgender artists with ACLU Nebraska, TYA/USA, Benson Theater, Brookdale Community College, and the NYC Roundtable.
Hilda Lee Tijerina, Teaching Artist & Administrator of Washington D.C., will visit the People’s Theatre Project and Rehabilitation Through the Arts in New York to gain wisdom/knowledge on how to better serve immigrant and incarcerated youth using the arts.
Hilda graduated with a BA in Film from UTRGV where she discovered the magic of theatre. She left the great land of Texas and continued her adventures in Washington D.C. She has a passion for serving the community, and is currently the Theatre for Change Senior Manager at Imagination Stage, where she works in programs for immigrant and incarcerated youth. In her free time, Hilda serves with her church’s amazing Production Team!
The 2025 Fellowship Includes:
- $1,500 travel stipend within the United States to visit and learn from at least one arts organization in 2025
- Registration and a $250 travel stipend to attend the 2025 National Festival and Conference in Washington D.C., from May 6th – 8th, 2025
- Registration and a $250 travel stipend to attend the Spring 2026 National Festival & Conference, dates and location TBD
- Participation in a Fellowship Cohort Program, rooted in Peer Education
- Personalized Mentorship from TYA/USA Executive Director Sara Morgulis, as well as 2 US TYA Leaders and 1 International TYA Leader
- Support in Applying for International Opportunities within the ASSITEJ network
The Emerging Leader Fellowship seeks to promote proposals that:
- Support the development of early-mid career theatre makers and administrators committed to innovation and growth in the field of theatre for young audiences
- Connect the fellow with opportunities or networks made possible because of this Fellowship and the support of TYA/USA
Please note that the 2025 Fellows must be active TYA/USA members. If membership dues present a financial barrier for you, please reach out to TYA/USA Executive Director Sara Morgulis at smorgulis@tyausa.org.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging:
We believe that the field of TYA, and the young people we serve, are profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our leadership and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, disability, and much more.
We have taken a multidimensional approach to addressing diversity, inclusion, and belonging across all areas of our organization. In an effort to incorporate our values into our Fellowship programming, a minimum of 51% of support will be awarded to applicants from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), TGNC, and disability communities.
Founded in 2017, the TYA/USA Emerging Leader Fellowship supports the career development of emerging TYA students and professionals, providing the opportunity to explore and seek mentorship in the national field of TYA. Fellows are funded to travel domestically to connect with an inspiring mentor or organization, and see their work in practice. Fellows are also offered the opportunity to exchange with their cohort, as well as seek mentorship and ongoing support from the TYA/USA Staff and Board throughout the year.
Past Fellows
2024 Cohort: ChelseaDee Harrison, Julia Hogan Laurenson, and Frank Ruiz
2020 Cohort: Terrence Brunn, Rebecca Gerrard, Danysha Ligon, Brodrick Ryans, and Fran Sillau
2019 Cohort: Khalia Davis, Melisa Orozco-Vargas, Deepmala Tiwari
2018 Cohort: Young Nae Choi, Shavonne T. Coleman, & Eric Norton
Hear from Fran Sillau (2020 Emerging Leader Fellow) about the impact of the Fellowship and TYA/USA on his work.
Photos of Past Emerging Leader Fellows
