Harlem school of the arts team

Adia Jefferson works in Student Services to aid and assist in all matters concerning parents, students, and class registration. She is an HSA Theatre Prep alumni, an aspiring writer/filmmaker and she adores fashion. She is looking forward to one day expanding her reach and becoming a teaching artist in the Theatre department. You can find her in the student services office to address any questions or concerns.

With over 30 years of experience as a professional cellist, Ann brings a unique perspective to her role as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach at Harlem School of the Arts. In addition to solo appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New Jersey Symphony, she can be heard on several movie soundtracks, has toured worldwide, recorded, and performed onstage with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Cheyenne Jackson, and the Eagles, and has appeared on David Letterman and Saturday Night Live. She has been an orchestra member of both the NY City Ballet and the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, where she is also a consultant on community engagement and educational initiatives. Formerly an arts administrator at NJ Symphony, Ann created the organization’s first-ever amateur chamber music program, which actively brings Symphony and community musicians together. At Harlem School of the Arts, where she has been since January 2024, she hopes to not only help steward the school’s artistic excellence but make it accessible to everyone.

James C. Horton is the President & CEO of the Harlem School of the Arts. And has over two decades of experience in working with communities all over the country to use the arts as a tool for engagement and empowerment. James joined HSA after serving as the Vice President of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York. Mr. Horton led Public Programs, the FAO Schwartz Education Center, which impacts the lives of 50,000 students annually, and helped the Museum deepen its connection with New York City’s diverse communities through the development of a new branch of programming at MCNY called Community Based Initiatives.  During the Summer of 2022, under Mr. Horton’s leadership, the REACH (Research, Education, Arts, Community, History) Ambassadors program was launched. The REACH Ambassadors Initiative engages NYC youth and adults in programs and experiences developed By, With, and For New Yorkers in all five Boroughs. Horton has also held leadership positions at Carnegie Hall as director of social impact, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, and the Harlem Children’s Zone. 
James studied Theater and Communications at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He participated in the Shannon Leadership Institute at St. Paul University in Minnesota and is a graduate of the Columbia University Business School Institute for Not-for-Profit Management in New York City.  He is the recipient of several national awards and has been an invited keynote speaker and presenter at both global and national conferences focused on education, arts, culture, and community engagement. Mr. Horton is a longtime Harlem resident, where he makes his home with his partner and four children.

With extensive experience as a seasoned administrative professional, Jennifer offers a wealth of organizational and interpersonal skills to her current role as the HR and Payroll Coordinator. Jennifer’s lengthy work experience reflects a commitment to efficiency and effective communication that fosters her ability to manage complex tasks and support team dynamics. In addition, Jennifer has an entrepreneurial spirit, running a small business that showcases her dedication and versatility. Balancing a professional career with entrepreneurial endeavors and creative interests, Jennifer embodies a vital blend of proficiency, creativity, and dedication.

Leyland is the recipient of multiple grants, became the resident choreographer at the Harlem School of the Arts in 2017, the Chair of Dance in 2020, and the Artistic Director in 2024. He trained at Interlochen Arts Academy, Miami City Ballet, the Dance Theater of Harlem, the Ailey School, and The School of American Ballet. He also holds a Masters Degree in Dance Education from NYU. Leyland has performed with Ailey 2, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and the New York City Ballet. He also serves on the School of American Ballet’s Alumni Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and was one of the first African Americans invited to the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum Board of Examiners.

As the Director of Institutional Giving, Lois is responsible for securing funding from foundations, corporations, and government to support HSA. Before joining HSA in 2022, she spent thirty years as a development professional advocating for social justice, equity, civil liberties, and human rights at organizations such as Pacifica Radio, the ACLU, Amnesty International, the Thurgood Marshall College
Fund, and the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund. HSA’s unique position at the intersection of the arts, community service, education, and social justice resonates deeply with Lois’ values and passions, making her work on behalf of the Harlem School of the Arts especially meaningful. And she is thrilled to live and work in the vibrant Harlem community!

Maria Perez is a passionate advocate for the performing arts and equitable access to creative opportunities. A graduate of The New School with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Global Studies, Maria has cultivated a deep connection to the transformative power of the arts.

Her experience includes working with the Wooster Group’s Summer Institute, both as a student and a teaching artist, and serving as a Theater Teaching Artist for the Big Green Theater program through the Bushwick Starr. These roles have allowed her to inspire and empower students through innovative and meaningful artistic experiences.

Maria firmly believes that discovering a sense of purpose makes us better human beings—both for ourselves and for each other. She views the arts as a powerful tool for self-discovery, connection, and fostering a more compassionate world.

As the Director of Theatre at The Harlem School of the Arts, her goal is to ensure that students receive the best Theatrical training in not just Harlem, but all of NYC.  As a graduate of the University of Illinois with a BFA in Acting in 2012,  she cultivated her passion for acting and storytelling. Her roots as a biracial child of both African American and Mexican descent in Chicago inspire her to tell stories of individuals whose voices are often unheard, specifically those of women and girls who look like her. Mercedes is known for her role in the hit show Somebody Somewhere on HBO, where she is currently a series regular. Her play Genesis: A Prequel to a Raisin in the Sun received its Off-Broadway World Premiere earlier this year at the Queen’s Theatre. Her TV and film writing credits include The 30th Year(s), Mailroom, and Cupid’s Chokehold, which won Best Screenplay at the Gladiator Film Festival. She is currently working on a new play called Metaphor for a Tree, which addresses the Disparities in Maternal Mortality Rates for Black Women.  Mercedes is based in Brooklyn, NY but is a Chicagoan at heart. EARTH without ART is just “EH”.

Rob brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned marketing leader and cultural strategist whose career spans major brands, cultural institutions, and creative communities. Before joining HSA, Rob served as Executive Director of both the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling and the Weeksville Heritage Center, where he led organizational turnarounds, broadened audiences, and elevated institutional visibility—including guiding Weeksville’s historic entry into the NYC Cultural Institutions Group.

Rob has decades of experience in leading marketing, storytelling, and cultural strategy across a variety of sectors—including automotive, software, fast food, entertainment, and nonprofit arts. Along the way, he has worked with organizations such as the NYC Economic Development Corporation and Mercer Labs, and built a reputation for integrating creative practice with impactful audience engagement. He has also been an active art advisor focused on artists of the African diaspora and Global South.

Beyond his executive leadership, Rob is also a writer, publisher, and cultural producer—having founded the online magazine Bold As Love and produced the NBI Festival. His insights into culture and marketing have been featured in Forbes.com, The Huffington Post, and other publications and media outlets. He currently serves on the U.S. Advisory Board of the Volta Art Fair and is a trustee of UnionDocs, a center for documentary art in Queens.

Rob holds a BA in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, author and filmmaker Bridgett M. Davis, and their family.

Shelly Bauer brings with her an incredible wealth of experience, a deep commitment to arts education, and a proven track record of excellence and leadership in music and arts programming. Shelly’s career spans decades of contributions to the arts community. As the 3rd Vice President of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), she has been tasked to transform the organization’s Summer Conference into a forward-thinking, 21st-century event. During her tenure as Zone Representative for NYSSMA, Shelly spearheaded the first virtual NYSSMA Festival in NYC, enabling over 1,400 students to participate amidst the challenges of the pandemic. Her experience extends beyond advocacy and policy; Shelly is a visionary arts leader. At Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Academy Charter Schools, she built and led the arts and music program, securing over $500,000 annually in grants and fostering partnerships with organizations like Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, and VH1 Save the Music. Shelly holds a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Master of Science in Education from The College of Saint Rose. Her comprehensive expertise spans classroom management, curriculum design, and public speaking, and she is certified in both K-12 music education and school district leadership. She has an impressive background in performance, including credits at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall, and as a composer for films and prestigious events such as New York Fashion Week. Beyond her impressive credentials, Shelly is passionate about nurturing creativity, diversity, and collaboration in every aspect of arts education.