Alyssa M. Garcia
(She/Her/Ella)
Board Member
Alyssa M. Garcia is an executive leader with over a decade of experience advancing arts education, organizational strategy, and operational excellence across nonprofit and education sectors. As a first-generation, queer Latina professional, she brings an equity-centered, systems-oriented approach to leadership grounded in access, sustainability, and community capital building.
She currently serves as Director of Operations for Compound LB, a multi-entity, multidisciplinary nonprofit campus. Previously, as Director of Education & Programs at Las Fotos Project, Alyssa designed and scaled culturally responsive arts education programs for young women and gender-expansive youth of color, led and mentored diverse educator teams, and strengthened evaluation, fundraising, and institutional partnerships that supported national growth. Her earlier roles include Manager of College-Going Culture at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, where she scaled college access initiatives serving more than 10,000 students and families across LAUSD, and Dean of Students and School Culture at Valley Charter Schools, where she integrated restorative and culturally relevant systems to strengthen student outcomes and school culture. Alyssa recently completed the Executive MBA Program at USC Marshall School of Business, which she intends to leverage in service of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
Alyssa was drawn to Arts Administrators of Color for its unwavering commitment to advancing leadership, care, and collective power among arts administrators of the global majority. Throughout her career, she has navigated and challenged systems that too often undervalue the leadership, labor, and vision of people of color in the arts and education sectors. AAC’s focus on community, wellness, and structural change aligns deeply with her lived experience and professional practice.
As both a practitioner and strategist, Alyssa values AAC as a critical space for shared learning, mentorship, and accountability, one that supports leaders to lead with integrity while building sustainable institutions. She is especially inspired by AAC’s role in strengthening national networks that center people-first leadership, expand access to resources, and reimagine what equity and sustainability look like in the arts ecosystem.
As a Board Member, Alyssa brings expertise in organizational strategy, fundraising, capacity building, learning and evaluation, and operational infrastructure to support AAC’s long-term sustainability and mission alignment. Drawing on her background in arts education leadership, college access, and school culture, she contributes a cross-sector perspective rooted in systems thinking and equity-driven practice.
Alyssa is particularly interested in applying advanced skills in strategy, finance, and coalition building to strengthen AAC’s governance, resource development, and operational resilience. She is eager to collaborate on initiatives that expand leadership pathways, build institutional capacity, and support arts administrators of color in navigating growth and transformation. Community members are welcome to connect with her around arts education strategy, organizational development, and leveraging business tools for social impact.
Connect with me to explore ways to advance AAC’s mission!