Meet The Board   

WECA’s Board of Directors

Shaina Fawn (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker with 18+ years of experience working with mental health and suicide prevention and intervention. She was born and raised in the beautiful high desert of Northern New Mexico. She was the oldest of two daughters and was raised by a single mother who suffered from debilitating depression her entire life. This life experience inspired her to care deeply about mental health awareness and stigma.

In 2003, Shaina started her career in the mental health field when she began volunteering at the crisis center on her college campus, working as a crisis support volunteer in suicide prevention and intervention. She later found her way to social work and eventually to therapy and consulting. She has been in the mental health field for nearly 20 years and has experience in child welfare, hospice, medical social work, and integrated care.

About Shaina.

Tyee Tilghman (he/him) is a storyteller, currently cultivating narratives as an actor, filmmaker, teacher, and private coach. He is a lover of language. Artistic voices ranging from the classical brilliance of Shakespeare, the earthy undertones of Zora Neale Hurston, the quick wit of Aaron Sorkin, and the lyrical calculus of Black Thought are the fuel that feeds the fire to teach, and create.

Mr. Tilghman holds an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and a BFA in Drama from West Virginia University.

About Tyee.

Ari Simon (they/them) leads workshops, training, coaching, and consulting around loss, grief, resilience, and wellbeing. Ari's practice equips people to best thrive in the face of grief & loss, increasing wellbeing, psychological safety, and successful outcomes. Their landmark program Grief at Work trains and supports staff in grief & loss competency and care, spurring greater resiliency in the workplace. In recent years, Ari has made entertainment and film a key focus of their work, bringing strategies and services that transform outcomes for talent, crew, and productions at large.

With a background in intersectional cross-sectoral engagement, their practice has moved communities and teams forward on mental health, climate justice, organizational values, gender inclusivity, community resilience, and death & loss. Ari’s work also explores intersections of death, dying, and grief with LGBTQIA+ identity and queer theory, and facilitates a monthly men's consciousness-raising group in Los Angeles. They are currently writing a book about this topic and the need for an expanded view on grief.

About Ari.

Bio coming soon.

About Alice.

Izzy (she/her) is a psychotherapist, arts advocate, writer, poet, transdisciplinary artist, social scientist, researcher, creative entrepreneur, and former makeup artist. She received her Master of Science in Social Work in 2024 and is currently based in Louisville, Kentucky. While transitioning from a career as a freelance makeup artist, Izzy discovered a passion for mental health justice. Drawing upon her experiences working on set and stage with production crews and performers, Izzy began researching creative health, performance psychology, labor rights, and occupational wellbeing in the arts.

Izzy is passionate about policy and mental health interventions that address the unique needs of artists, entertainers, and other creative professionals. Her clinical experience includes providing direct counseling, crisis intervention, and case management services to adults and adolescents. Izzy specializes in working with artists, athletes, individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community, survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and those living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

About Izzy.

Shauna L. Howard is a multi-passionate creative professional dedicated to fostering wellbeing and artistic excellence in the entertainment industry. As a voice instructor, performer, and social-emotional learning facilitator, Shauna blends her expertise in vocal performance, positive psychology, and arts education to empower artists to thrive both on and off the stage. Shauna studied classical voice and opera at Temple University, which laid the foundation for her dynamic career as a voice coach, classical and contemporary vocalist, educator, and arts consultant. Her mission is to cultivate resilient, emotionally intelligent, and holistically healthy creatives, and she has supported both international students and professional vocalists in achieving artistic and personal success.

A proud "COVID Cyclist," Shauna discovered endurance cycling during the pandemic, which has since fueled her passion for integrating physical wellness into her artistic and teaching practices. She is also a Latin dancer, entrepreneur, and founder of Fierce Stitch, a fiber arts brand that celebrates creativity and community. When she’s not performing or teaching, Shauna enjoys life as a devoted dog auntie, cyclist, and advocate for mindful living. Shauna champions wellness, inclusion, and sustainable artistry, integrating principles of anti-racism, social-emotional learning, and positive psychology into every facet of her work. She is deeply committed to advancing the conversation around mental health and wellbeing in the entertainment industry (both for educators and artists), making her a valuable advocate for WECA’s mission.

About Shauna.

Other Ways to Support Our Work

Your support makes all the difference. More than ever, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that wellbeing is prioritized in the entertainment industry. By volunteering with us, you can directly engage with the projects you care most about. Join our dedicated team of volunteers and lend your skills and expertise to help us achieve our mission.

If you prefer to make a financial contribution, a donation can go a long way in supporting our programs and initiatives. Every dollar counts and helps us provide vital resources, training and support to all types of entertainment workers.