Episode 1: Nina Silver and Jen Maxcy

Open Admission

https://openadmissionpodcast.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/open-admission-episode-one-final-cut.mp3

NINA SILVER is the Head of Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Nina balances life as a museum educator, actor, puppeteer and mom. She was born and raised in New York City and now calls Los Angeles home with her husband and 2 kids. Nina has a B.A. in Theatre and Spanish from Middlebury College in Vermont. Prior to her work at the Skirball, Nina was a teaching artist in L.A. area schools for Pre-K through 6^th grade students. She is a longtime actor and theater creator with the award-winning Rogue Artists Ensemble, a multi-disciplinary theatre and puppetry company. Off-Broadway, Nina has appeared with PTP/NYC at Atlantic Stage 2, the NY Fringe Festival, and Theatre for the New City. In L.A. she has appeared at the Getty Villa, South Coast Repertory, L.A. Theatre Center, Pasadena Playhouse and many, many more. Bringing people together to share stories in eye-opening ways is a passion and priority in her life.

JEN MAXCY is currently the Head of Family Programs and Community Engagement at Skirball Cultural Center where she develops and manages educational programs for family audiences connecting to a wide range of exhibition content. With a mission to inspire wonder and create connections between and across communities, Jen’s work spans from managing a drop-in art studio, an outdoor archaeology dig, a weekend program for pre-k children and families, large family festivals like The Skirball Puppet Festival, to programming a summer amphitheater series. Prior to her role as Head of Family Programs, Jen worked for three years as the Associate Educator in Family Programs at The Skirball where she gained experience in developing curriculum as a museum educator. The path leading to the Skirball for Jen was paved with many years as a professional actor in Boston, New York and Los Angeles—doing theater in countless little houses, acting in dozens of commercials, and a handful of independent film projects. Along the way Jen discovered a love of jewelry design and operated her own company (Jen Maxcy Designs) where she handcrafted every piece. Rounding out Jen’s work experience over the last decade was a stint as PTA President of Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica where she oversaw a budget and programs that helped to fund arts and enrichment programs. Jen lives in Santa Monica with her two children, Benjamin (14) and Juliette (12), her partner Timm and his son Gear (13), their two doggies. and one rabbit.