The Board of Directors appointed Katiina as President of The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts in October 2015.  In 2018, under Katiina’s leadership, YACPA completed its first comprehensive review in application for candidacy with ACCJC/WASC. The Commission ultimately made the decision to advance the institution and grant initial accreditation. Katiina’s leadership, planning, and focus ensured the College program development was consistent with good educational practice while simultaneously embracing the culture and values of the long-standing organization.

Katiina’s 20 years’ experience in arts-related business administration and program development has allowed her to carve out a career that combines her passion for the arts with her business acumen.  After meeting The Young Americans during a visit to the U.S. with her Australian dance company, Kat moved to the U.S. to join the organization as its first Australian member. Katiina has served as business manager on international music outreach tours with The Young Americans in addition to serving as the Business and Operations Manager for the company for eight years before becoming the VP Administration and Academics. As the VP Administration and Academics Katiina was charged with planning, developing and implementing the College program.

Outside The Young Americans, Katiina has executive produced the feature films Table at Luigi’s and Sympathy Pains, and served as a board member with the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, a non-profit organization advocating for abused and neglected children.

As a higher-ed consultant, university administrator, and teacher educator, and through her work developing technology-based learning content, Dr. Stone’s career focuses on developing effective teaching materials and curriculum as well as instructor capacity to engage, energize and launch learners. LeeAnn brings her experience in college administration, faculty development, instructional and curriculum design, educational technology, and student success to her role as Dean of Instruction at YACPA. 

Travis has always enjoyed the performing arts. In his youth he excelled at musical theatre and instrumental music. He met The Young Americans when he took a National Music Outreach Tour Workshop as a senior in high school. The following fall Travis moved to Southern California to join The Young Americans. By the age of 23, Travis traveled on 12 International Outreach Tours, spent 4 summers performing in dinner theatres in Northern Michigan with The Young Americans, and stage managed the first Outreach Tours to go to Canada, England, Germany, and Ukraine. At the age of 22, Travis became the youngest Associate Director of The Young Americans for the International Outreach Tours. Over the last 12 years with The Young Americans he has toured 16 different countries including Japan, Germany, and the first International Outreach Tour to Russia.

Prior to becoming Dean of Students at YACPA Travis spent four years at Midland University (NE) as an integral part of a core team tasked to rescue and restore Midland’s performing arts program, turning it into one of the fasting-growing programs in the Midwest. 

Mike grew up in a small northern California town, participating in band, choir and theatre since the age of 10. After joining The Young Americans in college, Mike had the opportunity to travel on 11 International Music Outreach Tours as a performer, merchandise manager, and company manager. He was fortunate to travel on the first tours to England, Germany and Ukraine. While assisting with production operations in The Young Americans business offices, Mike graduated cum laude from California State University, Long Beach with his Bachelor’s degree in International Business and also received his Master’s degree in Higher Education from Walden University.

After The Young Americans, Mike moved to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for five years where he managed many of the Center’s education programs including the Family Series, the Center’s field trip opportunities, master classes, scholarship programs, and Summer at the Center. He is proud to have overseen events serving over 15,000 students and families annually. Mike is a founding board member of the Star Center for the Performing Arts and served as treasurer for The Young Americans Foundation.

Mike returned to The Young Americans as the Dean of Administrative Services for their College of the Performing Arts. He is happy to be back with such an extraordinary organization that has given him so many amazing opportunities, including meeting his wife, Dalisa.

Kisha moved to California from a small town in Louisiana to continue her education and follow her passion and help others. After attaining her degree, she worked in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics and urgent cares, foster family agencies, and shelters using both therapeutic techniques and the arts to bring wholeness to others. The opportunity to work at with The Young Americans has given Kisha the opportunity to continue combining mental wholeness with her love for the creative arts.