Staff
Executive
Sarah Meister is executive director. She joined Aperture in May 2021, following more than twenty-five years at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. At MoMA, Sarah curated numerous exhibitions, including Fotoclubismo: Brazilian Modernist Photography, 1946–1964 (2021); Dorothea Lange: Words & Pictures (2020); Making Space: Women Artists and Postwar Abstraction (cocurator, 2017); One and One Is Four: The Bauhaus Photocollages of Josef Albers (2016); From Bauhaus to Buenos Aires: Grete Stern and Horacio Coppola (cocurator, 2015); and Bill Brandt: Shadow and Light (2013). Her most recent publications consider Luigi Ghirri (2020), Frances Benjamin Johnston (2019), Dorothea Lange (2018), and the 1967 MoMA exhibition New Documents (2017); and she is author and coeditor of the three-volume series Photography at MoMA (with Quentin Bajac, et al.). She was lead instructor for the online course Seeing Through Photographs, and codirector of the August Sander Project. Sarah holds a BA in art history from Princeton University, New Jersey.
Nadia Frye Leinhos is executive assistant. She supports Aperture’s executive director, Sarah Meister, with everyday administrative duties, calendaring, and communications. Prior to joining Aperture in 2024, she was administrative manager at the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. Nadia holds a BA in sociology with minors in African American studies and theatre arts from Boston University.
Editorial
Susan Ciccotti is copy chief. Over the past fifteen-plus years, she has copyedited or proofread the text for more than two hundred Aperture titles. Among her other duties, she serves as part of the team that reprints the backlist, and as a project editor on select essay books. Prior to her work at Aperture, she wrote for The Photo Review; and was associate editor at Museums magazine, senior editor at the American Association of Museums (now American Alliance of Museums), and office manager for the historic Octagon Museum in Washington, DC. She holds an MA in arts criticism from City, University of London, and a BA in art history from George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Iesha E. Coppin-Forde is editorial assistant. Iesha joined Aperture in 2023 as an editorial work scholar. She assists in managing, researching, and developing select book projects. Iesha holds an MA in fashion studies from Parsons School of Design at the New School, and a BBA in fashion merchandising with a concentration in publishing from LIM College, New York.
Brendan Embser is senior editor of Aperture magazine. He is also editor of Deana Lawson: An Aperture Monograph (2018), Chloe Dewe Mathews: Caspian: The Elements (2018), Ethan James Green: Young New York (2019), Ming Smith: An Aperture Monograph (2020), and Philip Montgomery: American Mirror (2021); and managing editor of Aperture Conversations: 1985 to the Present (2018) and To Make Their Own Way in the World: The Enduring Legacy of the Zealy Daguerreotypes (with Peabody Museum Press, 2020). He has been cocurator of the Aperture Summer Open exhibitions since 2018. Brendan has served on the jury for the Addis Foto Fest, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Changjiang International Photography and Video Art Biennale, Chongqing, China; Sony World Photography Awards; and WMA Masters, Hong Kong. Formerly director of exhibitions at the Walther Collection, New York, he has contributed essays and interviews to Apartamento, Contemporary And, n+1, Objektiv, and The PhotoBook Review. He holds an MA in Africana studies from New York University, and a BA in English from Haverford College, Pennsylvania.
Michael Famighetti is editor in chief of Aperture magazine and the editorial program. In 2013, he organized a relaunch and reconceptualization of the magazine, which won a 2018 National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Together with guest editor Sarah Lewis, Michael is recipient of an ICP Infinity Award for Critical Writing and Research for “Vision & Justice,” the Summer 2016 issue of Aperture. In addition to editing the magazine, Michael works with the digital team to shape online content, and commissions and edits books. He is currently also a visiting critic at the University of Hartford’s MFA program, and a participant in the School of Visual Arts’s Mentors program. His writing has appeared in Frieze, Bookforum, and Aperture, among other publications. He is a member of the American Society of Magazine Editors, and has been a guest reviewer and speaker at many international festivals and institutions.
Caroline Foulke is editorial assistant. She works closely to support the organizational and administrative needs of the books program. Before joining Aperture in 2023, she worked for the Book Reporter and Persea Books. Caroline holds an MA in publishing and a BA in English, with a concentration in creative writing, from Pace University, New York.
Zack Hatfield is associate managing editor of Aperture magazine, where he supports the editors in researching and commissioning stories, coordinates with contributors, and assists with books that originate from the magazine department. Before joining the organization in 2024, he was a senior editor of Artforum.com. His writing has appeared in Artforum, Bookforum, 4Columns, and the New York Review of Books. Zack holds an MA in journalism, with a concentration in cultural reporting and criticism, from New York University, and a BA in English from the University of Cincinnati.
Noa Lin is assistant editor of the book program. He works closely with the editors to help coordinate the editorial process on books. Before joining Aperture in 2022, he was an editorial assistant at Melcher Media. Noa holds a BA in studio art and English from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.
Freddy Martinez is copy editor and proofreader. He provides editorial support for all print and digital material produced by Aperture. He is also responsible for copyediting and proofreading books and implementing house style across the organization. Freddy started at Aperture as a digital media work scholar in 2015, before returning in 2024. Since 2016, he has been a freelance arts journalist, having his work shared by the Los Angeles Times, Hyperallergic, VICE, and Remezcla. In July 2019, he was selected as a fellow for the Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop. He holds a BS in film from the University of Texas at Austin and is a founding member of the arts collective GAUCHE.
Sang Patten is managing editor of the book program. Sang joined Aperture in 2019 as an editorial and publishing work scholar, followed by positions as publishing assistant and publishing associate. Sang is responsible for managing the book program as it intersects with other departments and ensuring that editorial schedules, distribution deadlines, department goals, and procedures are met as books move from inception to publication. She has also assisted in the development of select book projects, including Revolution Is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation (2022). Sang holds a BFA in photography from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York.
Cassidy Paul is the managing editor, digital. She is responsible for managing and producing editorial content for Aperture’s website. She is also managing editor of Aperture’s Introducing series. Joining Aperture in 2015 as a production work scholar, she would later hold positions as publicity and events associate and as digital editor overseeing social media for Aperture. She has also worked as photo editor at TIME magazine. Her writing has appeared in Aperture and TIME. She holds a BFA in photography from Parsons School of Design at the New School, New York.
Exhibitions and Public Programs
Annette Booth is director of exhibitions management. She has worked at Aperture since 2004, beginning as a work scholar in the exhibitions department. She oversees all exhibitions, locally and nationally, including a traveling exhibition program, which tours approximately ten exhibitions per year to venues worldwide. She has worked extensively on projects such as Dawoud Bey’s Class Pictures, The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip, MUSE: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and tête-à-tête, and The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion. She curated Aperture Photographs, an exhibition of works from the limited-edition program. Annette also manages rights and permissions for the Paul Strand Archive, which functions at Aperture in partnership with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, home of the Paul Strand Collection.
Alex Schlechter is education and public programs associate. She is responsible for coordinating and implementing Aperture’s educational functions, assisting with publicity and communications, and producing compelling public programs for the benefit of Aperture’s many audiences. Alex started at Aperture as an education and public programs work scholar in 2018. Before returning to Aperture in 2022, she was programs and operations manager at Baxter St at the Camera Club of New York. Alex holds a degree in fine art photography and art history from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.
Communications and Digital
Lauren Van Natten is director of communications. She is responsible for shaping and implementing messaging and communications for marketing, press, and digital strategies across all Aperture initiatives. Before joining Aperture in 2022, she led media and public relations for over a decade at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and prior to that managed marketing and communications at El Museo del Barrio. Lauren earned an MA in art history, focusing on Latin America from Hunter College, City University of New York, and a BA in art history and Spanish from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Brianna Rettig is digital associate. In addition to providing day-to-day support to the digital team, she is responsible for cultivating a vibrant and robust online community through virtual public programming, including the production of the Aperture PhotoBook Club. In addition, she consults on technical initiatives to ensure the optimal performance of Aperture’s digital platforms. Before joining Aperture in 2022, she worked in various editorial, education, and digital-oriented roles at the WNET Group, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Artsy Editorial, and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Brianna holds degrees in computer science and comparative literature from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Dina Shirin is digital strategist. She is responsible for managing Aperture’s website and developing digital marketing initiatives to maximize engagement and growth. Before joining Aperture in September 2023, she held roles as a course advisor and global marketing lead at the graphic design boot camp Shillington Education. She also worked for the International Center of Photography as associate marketing director. Dina holds a BBA degree in Business Information Systems from Pace University, New York, and earned a certificate in graphic design from Shillington Education in New York.
Development
Jenn Hyland is senior institutional giving officer, responsible for securing foundation and government grants to support Aperture’s programs, education initiatives, publications, and general operating. Before joining Aperture in 2022, Jenn was development manager at Independent Curators International (ICI) and a fundraising consultant working at the intersection of technology, contemporary art, and social justice. She received an MA in liberal studies from the New School for Social Research, New York, with a focus on an interdisciplinary approach to art, media, and cultural studies; she holds a BA from San Francisco State University in English literature.
Naomi Jabouin is individual giving officer. She manages all aspects of donor relations, including the membership program, donor cultivation activities, and special gifts, to maximize the support of Aperture’s mission. Prior to joining Aperture, Naomi was a consignment coordinator at Sotheby’s New York overseeing prominent art collections, trusts, and estates. She holds a BA in francophone studies and art history from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine.
Esther McGowan is director of development, leading the development team’s fundraising initiatives, building philanthropic support for Aperture’s celebrated photography program, and advancing Aperture’s capital campaign for its new permanent home at 380 Columbus Avenue. Before joining Aperture, McGowan had served as executive director for Visual AIDS since 2017, and as associate director since 2012, where she developed strategic partnerships, initiated board growth, expanded programming and archival practice, and diversified revenue for the organization. She has held positions as a development director and worked as a freelance fundraiser for multiple nonprofit cultural groups, including the Center for Fiction, the Watermill Center, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, Arts International, and the Alliance for the Arts. She studied at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland and received her BA in art history from New York University.
Kellie McLaughlin is director of sales and outreach. She oversees and supports the sales and marketing staff, and adds strategic input and consultation across all departments, in addition to directing the limited-edition print program—from print selection and production, through to sales strategy, collector cultivation, and external engagement. Before joining Aperture in 2007, she worked for the photographic press agency Rex Features as a photo editor and account executive, and later at Retna Ltd., where she was director of photography and foreign syndication.
Flynn Murray is director of corporate partnerships. She manages corporate support for publishing, public programming, digital, exhibition, and educational initiatives, in addition to developing new markets. Before joining Aperture in 2024, Flynn served as the publisher and head of development for Lux magazine, and Dissent magazine. Flynn holds a BA in literary studies from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School, New York.
Akul Narang is development associate, providing organizational support for the development team’s fundraising initiatives. Before joining Aperture in 2023, he worked in the development department at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Akul was a GLOBE scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a BS in business administration by completing coursework at Copenhagen Business School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Design and Production
Andrea Chlad is production manager, handling separations, proofing, and production for the book program and the magazine. She has a BFA in photography from Syracuse University, New York, and was previously an Aperture production work scholar.
Minjee Cho is production director of the publishing program, overseeing the printing and production of books, the magazine, limited editions, The PhotoBook Review, artist limited-edition print sets, and ephemera. Minjee has produced numerous artist monographs, exhibition catalogues, retail print products, and scholarly publications in museum publishing capacities. Her projects have been awarded by the AAM Museum Publications Design Competition, AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers, Communication Arts Design Competition, and the Dedalus Foundation Exhibition Catalogue Award.
Karina Eckmeier is designer and project manager. She is responsible for designing and producing all in-house creative print and digital work, while maintaining the quality of Aperture’s brand. Prior to joining Aperture, her clients included photographers, artists, and dance companies, with whom she collaborated on the design and production of major publications and branding initiatives. Most notably, she worked with Gilles Peress on his 2021 Steidl books Whatever You Say, Say Nothing and Annals of the North. Karina holds a BFA in studio art from the University of Texas at Austin.
Finance and Operations
Taylor Fenner is the human resources and DEIA generalist, responsible for coordinating staffing, implementing employee benefits, providing employee support, and coordinating a strategy to achieve Aperture’s goals for developing and sustaining an equitable culture that reflects the diversity, inclusivity, and representation of our programs. Taylor is also a Brooklyn-based photographer. Previously, she worked for a New York City charter-school network. Taylor holds an MPA in human resources and operations management, and a BA in psychology and conflict resolution, both from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.
Mirek Goraj is technical and office administrator. He is a longtime veteran of the IT industry, including extensive experience as an independent consultant. He holds a BS in computer information systems from Brooklyn College.
Richard Gregg is director of book sales and operations, joining Aperture in 2016. He oversees global book sales and distribution, in addition to managing foreign-language editions. He has twenty-plus years of experience in the art and publishing industries, including stints at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, and at Phaidon.
Cansu Korkmaz is sales and operations associate of the book program and a visual artist. She supports the sales and finance departments in inventory management, distribution, accounts receivable, and customer service. Before joining Aperture in 2023, she worked for the International Center of Photography as a visitor experience coordinator and assistant to the senior buyer. Cansu holds a BA in photography from Bahcesehir University, Istanbul.
Israel Moreno joined Aperture as a finance and operations work scholar in 2017 and is now accounting manager. Prior to Aperture, he worked for the French-American Foundation, City Parks Foundation SummerStage, and City Year New York. He holds a BA in English and accounting from Queens College, City University of New York.
Mary Colman St. John is chief financial and administrative officer, with more than twenty-five years of experience in the book publishing industry. She directs all financial aspects of the organization, oversees staff and human resources, and coordinates all office and administrative functions. Prior to joining Aperture in 2010, Mary Colman was finance director for the New Press and manager of strategic planning at Berlitz International. She has an MBA from Georgetown University, Washington, DC, and a BA in French literature from Reed College, Portland, Oregon.
Dana Triwush is publisher of Aperture magazine. She’s the director of the magazine’s circulation, distribution, and advertising. Before joining Aperture in 2004, she was circulation manager at Lifestyle Publications, overseeing audience development for eight special-interest magazines, and marketing coordinator for a network of teen-oriented e-commerce and content websites. She holds an MA in psychology from Texas Woman’s University, Denton, and a BA in psychology from Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
Work Scholars
Virginia Cannella is education and public programming work scholar. She supports the department through research efforts to refresh the curriculum of written lessons and educational events. Before joining Aperture in 2024, she was an artist liaison intern at Gagosian, New York, and is currently the supervisor of education and visitor services at the Neue Galerie New York. Virginia holds a degree in art education from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston.
Jalondra Jackson is communications work scholar. In this role, she is responsible for supporting media relations, and digital communications strategies across all Aperture initiatives. Prior to joining Aperture, she collaborated with and held key roles at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, One Campaign’s (RED), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Library of Congress, where she helped advance mission-driven initiatives. Jalondra holds a BA in mass communications and business administration from Clark Atlanta University.
Catherine Janszky is development work scholar. She assists with both institutional and individual giving, and is primarily involved with donor and member cultivation. Before joining Aperture in 2024, she worked in education and harm reduction, most recently with NEXT Distro. Cat holds a BA in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
Mira Maxwell is editorial work scholar. She assists the editors of Aperture magazine with key research and organizational tasks. Before joining Aperture in 2024, she was a library page in the Research Division at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library and was an editorial and archival research assistant for the documentary filmmaker Mariam Ghani. Mira holds a BA in American studies and visual culture from the City University of New York’s BA program at Hunter College.
Anika Zempleni is administration work scholar. She works with the executive director’s office and Aperture magazine’s publisher on general operations support, archiving, and promotional projects. Anika is currently earning her MA in art history from Hunter College, New York, where she studies contemporary art and photography. Anika also holds a BA in art history and a BJ in advertising and public relations from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.