CATHY PFISTER is devoting her time to helping nonprofit organizations after working as an electrical and software engineer for over 20 years. In addition to Vanguard Culture, she volunteers with a number of human rights and social justice organizations, including the local chapter of Amnesty International, for which she currently serves as co-coordinator. She also serves on the board of an all-volunteer US-based nonprofit working for Middle East justice and for several years has done one-on-one adult literacy and math tutoring through the San Diego Public Library’s READ/San Diego volunteer tutoring program. She earned a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Indiana University-Bloomington and two M.S. degrees, one in Biomedical Engineering and another in Electrical Engineering, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She hopes to use her writing and research skills to help Vanguard Culture succeed and thrive .
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PATRICIA MALDONADO is an independent interpretative dance professional with extensive experience in dance, choreography, and performance administration from her native country of Guatemala. She was part of the National Guatemalan Modern and Folk Dance Company, traveling internationally to USA, Europe, and South America. She has been a member of the Conseil Internacional de la Dance CID (International Dance Council) since 2015. In association with UNESCO, the CID World Congress has been the biggest gathering for all forms of dance for over 30 years. Since her arrival to this country, she has researched, choreographed and directed dozens of original works. Patricia earned a B.A. in Dance from the University of California Riverside and a M.A. in Performance Studies from New York University. She has a passion for community development, cross-cultural promotion of the arts, and being a community organizer. Her commitment to community is reflected in her past experience as a Unit Language coordinator at Camp Pendleton; Artistic Administrative Assistant at City Heights/Institute for the Arts Education San Diego; Dance Advisor at City Heights Performance Annex; and Coordinator of the Latin-American Films Exhibitions at Videoteca Del Sur in Manhattan, New York. Patricia has performed and emceed for the World Heritage Cultural Center at the San Diego Convention Center. She has also taught improvisational movement at the National School of Ballet Marecelle Bonge de Devaux, Instituto de Turismo de Guatemala and Teatro de Bellas Artes de Guatemala. Recently, Patricia was the Arts Advisory Committee Chair for the Centro Cultural de la Raza, organizing community events, as well as a Board member of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership. Patricia is also a dedicated visual artist and photographer.
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BAILEY GILLIS grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. She recently graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Theatre Arts minor. Her love of the outdoors and the environment brought her to the west coast, where she has been able to enjoy all of the beauty that California has to offer. Bailey is passionate about social equity, and believes all forms of art allow people of diverse backgrounds to share and appreciate others’ experiences. She is looking forward to supporting San Diego’s community of artists and helping to further the relationships that these artists create.
