Music Academy of the West Announces 2025 Board Officers, Directors, and Honors Retiring Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Santa Barbara, CA) – The Music Academy of the West, now in its 78th season, proudly announces its 2025 Board officers and welcomes four new members of the community to the board. This remarkable group will help grow the Academy’s mission to provide musicians and audiences alike with transformative music experiences through public performances and community programs. Newly elected Board officers and members began their terms on January 1, 2025.
Welcoming New Board Officers
We take great pride in announcing the Academy’s 2025 Board officers, whose guidance will help shape this pivotal year. With their deep commitment to music education, they bring a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for the arts:

I am delighted to welcome two exceptional members of the Santa Barbara “As we embark on this extraordinary year, I am deeply honored to serve as Chair alongside such talented and committed individuals. Our unwavering commitment to music and education inspires us to continue building a legacy of artistry and community connection that will endure for generations to come.
Danner Schefler, Music Academy Board Chair
Introducing New Board Directors
We are delighted to introduce four outstanding individuals joining the Academy’s Board. Their varied experiences and perspectives will enrich our mission and strengthen our impact:

Susan Berger
A retired financial services executive and accomplished chef, Susan Berger is an arts advocate and active Santa Barbara community member. Spanning 15 years, Susan held roles as an analyst and due diligence officer with firms like Bateman Eichler, Citibank, and Capital Group, before joining Delaware Funds in Philadelphia. A University of Southern California graduate with dual degrees in Economics and East Asian Studies, Susan has also pursued her love of food, working for Wolfgang Puck Catering and founding her own catering business. She supports Santa Barbara organizations including The Santa Barbara Newcomers Club, The Santa Barbara Symphony, The Women’s Fund, and Music Academy of the West.
Todd Gerber
Todd Gerber is Vice President of Go-to-Market & Sales at Adobe, Inc., focused on the Digital Media portfolio of products, including Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Acrobat, and Firefly services. He grew Adobe’s Acrobat freemium model into a multi-billion-dollar revenue stream and transitioned its document productivity business to a subscription-based model. Prior to Adobe, Todd held leadership roles at HP (Hewlett-Packard), focusing on digital marketing and brand engagement. He holds a master’s degree in English with a focus on scientific and technical communication from Bowling Green State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from Heidelberg University.
Pat Wadors
An accomplished human resources executive, author, and speaker, Pat Wadors has held leadership roles with companies including UKG, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, and Procore Technologies. Currently, she serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at Intuitive. A sought-after speaker on diversity, inclusion, and belonging, Pat holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Human Resource Administration with a minor in Psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey. A recipient of the National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology award, she authored Unlock Your Leadership Story.
Todd Yancey, MD
Todd Yancey, MD, is a corporate biotechnology executive with 40 years of experience spanning clinical care and executive roles in biotech. After earning his medical degree at the University of Virginia and completing training at Weill-Cornell Medical School, he served on the faculty at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Shifting to biotech, he held senior executive and C-Suite roles at BioMarin, and now serves as Chief Strategic Advisor for Agenus. He has supported nonprofit boards, including Gay Men’s Health Crisis and The Santa Barbara Newcomers Club. A lifelong music enthusiast, Todd contributes to the Music Academy through philanthropy, event participation, and mentorship as a Compeer for summer fellows.
The Music Academy thrives because of the exceptional leadership and dedication of our Board. We are thrilled to welcome our 2025 officers and members, whose diverse perspectives and commitment to the arts will guide us into an exciting new chapter. At the same time, we are profoundly grateful for the retiring members’ contributions, which have been instrumental in shaping the Academy’s success.
Shauna Quill, Music Academy President & CEO
Celebrating Outgoing Leaders
As we look ahead to an exciting future, we pause to express our deepest gratitude to our outgoing officers whose unwavering commitment has been instrumental in guiding us to this moment. Their vision has shaped key initiatives, strengthened our programs, and elevated the Academy’s impact within the community. Though they are stepping down from their officer roles, we are delighted that they will continue to serve as valued members of the Academy’s Board:

With heartfelt appreciation, we bid a warm farewell to our retiring Board members— Dianne Duva, Gamble Parks Douville, Ashley Hollister, Heejung Kim, PhD, and Patrick Spence. Each of these remarkable individuals has left an enduring mark on the Academy through their vision and dedication to the arts. Patrick Spence will continue to support the Academy as a member of the National Advisory Council. NancyBell Coe, the third president for the Music Academy serving from July 2004 to August 2010, has also joined the National Advisory Council.
The full roster and complete biographies of the 2025 Board of Directors is available at musicacademy.org/board.
About Music Academy of the West
Located in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West provides classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with transformative educational and performance experiences. We support musicians to expand their talents, inspire each other, and pursue artistic innovation. The Music Academy’s programs include an annual eight-week Summer School & Music Festival which trains up to 150 fellows ages 18-34 and presents more than 130 performances and events, competitions, and a fully staged opera; Sing!, a children’s choir that performs with local, national, and international partners; and the year-round Mariposa Concert Series featuring performances by Academy-affiliated artists. The 2025 Summer School & Festival takes place June 15 through August 9. Learn more at musicacademy.org
Press Contacts
Kerry Allen
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
kallen@musicacademy.org
805‐895-9491
Kate Oberjat
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
koberjat@musicacademy.org
805‐895-7908