Teen Programs Manager

Hey, I’m Aric, the Teen Programs Manager at the ICA. I am passionate about video games and art. Originally from Boston, I’ve always been driven by curiosity and shaping my perspective through alternative routes of education. In my free time, I’m into anime, skateboarding, and doodling—always seeking opportunities to challenge myself and learn something new. I firmly believe in “you get what you put out,” seeing every experience as a learning opportunity. 

When I was a young warthog, I found my aesthetic lacked a certain appeal, I bumped my head against the current education system, and I didn’t get to excel until I found other settings that catered to me. I found my aesthetic as a cutting-edge fashionable dude, I honed my craft as a master cinematographer, and I have challenged and beaten many Pokémon gyms.  

Director of Teen Programs

Hey, I’m Betsy. I am a creative person, educator, and advocate for teen arts education. At the ICA, I work with and for teens to create dynamic and essential programs, opportunities, and experiences. Previously, I worked with teens at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and New-York Historical Society. I also taught as an adjunct lecturer in the Federated History Department of New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark. I have a B.A. in History from New York University and an M.A. in Medieval Studies from University College Dublin.  

When I was a teen, dance was my primary passion, art form, and source of community. I am driven to create spaces where teens feel as free and supported as I did thanks to the amazing dancers and dance educators of my hometown – Cleveland, Ohio. My current creative pursuits center around education, movement, textiles, and cooking. 

Creative Arts Manager 

Hi! My name is Janna, and I am the Creative Arts Manager at the ICA. Part of my job is partnering with middle and high schools on the WallTalk program. I love museums and throughout my career have had the privilege of designing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) experiences for people of all ages. My background is rooted in informal education techniques such as inquiry-based learning, Visual Thinking Strategies, immersive play, and visual media. I am also passionate about early childhood education and strive to create inclusive and accessible experiences for families. 

I have an M.A. in Museum Education from Tufts University and B.A. in Visual and Media Arts from Emerson College. When I’m not at work you can find me doing things that connect me to nature like hiking, yoga, and photography. 

Teen New Media Alumni Assistant 

Hello! My name is Jasline but around the ICA everyone calls me Jazz! At the ICA, I am the Teen New Media Alumni Assistant meaning I help out with teen programs and overseeing inventory! I have been at the ICA since I was a teen, participating in programs like Photo Collective and Teen Arts Council. I’m also currently a student at UMass Boston. 

During my time with teen programs at the ICA I felt a sense of belonging, and I recognized the skills and amazing community that I gained. My goal as the Teen New Media Alumni Assistant is to help create a space where our current teens walk away feeling the same way I did. In my free time, I enjoy photography, poetry, and crocheting. 

Teen New Media Program Manager 

Hi there! My name is Madeline but you can call me Madi! At the ICA, I manage the Teen New Media Programs such as Fast Forward, Photography Collective, Teen Digital Cooperative, and our vacation week intensives! I have been working with teens in Boston for nearly a decade, after graduating with a BFA and MAT from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University.  

As a teen, I felt disconnected from my communities and school, which led me to spend a lot of time learning photography on my own. As I went to college and beyond, I had a desire to teach media production like photography to encourage teens to deepen their connections to community and amplify their voices. In addition, I have a passion for coffee, my cat, and dancing to loud music. 

Teen Creative Leadership Alumni Assistant

Hi! I’m Maya, and I’m excited to be working with the Teen Creative Leadership programs as an alumni assistant. As a graduate of Boston Public Schools, and the ICA’s Teen Arts Council, I’m so excited to have the opportunity to be a role model for teens like the ones I had at the ICA when I was a student. 

I earned my bachelors at Oberlin College, primarily studying studio art, psychology, and computer science. As an artist, I primarily work in oil paint, although I always find myself returning to textiles through knitting, quilting, and mending. I’ve shown my work in galleries in Boston, Oberlin, and even had a piece hanging in Boston City Hall, in the mayor’s office. The professional and creative skills I employ in my work as an artist and in any job I take on have been rooted in skills I learned as a teen at the ICA, and I’m excited to expand upon these skills and offer my expertise to the young people who work here now. 

Teen New Media Program Assistant

I’m Nate. I work with the Teen New Media programs here at the ICA. I am an alum from the ICA programs and am very excited to be back working with the programs. I participated in the Fast Forward Film program while in high school. After graduating, I felt inclined to circle back to this space to then foster that community I found myself in as a teen.

In my spare time I’m looking for obscure films to watch, discovering new music, or playing silly video games with my friends!