Administrative and Artistic Staff

Email Addresses

Sharon Salvador, Interim Executive Director, Director of Development - ssalvador@newarkschoolofthearts.org

Richard Marshall, Director of Program Operations & Marketing, Community Outreach - richard@newarkschoolofthearts.org

James Manno, Director, Conservatory Division - jmanno@newarkschoolofthearts.org

Jamillah Cupe, Development Assistant - jcupe@newarkschoolofthearts.org

Doris Martinez, Office Manager - drivera@newarkschoolofthearts.org

Lidiane Francisco, Registrar - Lilly@newarkschoolofthearts.org

Cristina Wolfrom, Complete Balance CPA, Accountant - accounting@newarkschoolofthearts.org

General Information - info@newarkschoolofthearts.org

Our Team

Sharon Salvador, Interim Executive Director

Sharon Salvador, Interim Executive Director of Newark School of the Arts

Sharon Salvador is the newly appointed Interim Executive Director of Newark School of the Arts (NSA), effective January 2, 2025, following the retirement of Larry Tamburri. With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement, and strategic development, Sharon is poised to guide the institution through a critical period of transition.

Before stepping into her new role, Sharon served as NSA’s Director of Development, where she played a key role in fundraising and board relations. Her leadership helped secure over $35 million for a range of organizations, including Newark Arts, Bessie Green Community, Inc., and New Community Corp. Sharon's expertise in grants, strategic planning, fiscal management, and operations has made her an invaluable asset to the arts and nonprofit sectors. She is a recognized leader with a deep passion for the arts and community development.

A proud Dominican-American woman raised in Newark, Sharon has been a tireless advocate for marginalized communities, channeling her early activism into a distinguished career focused on community service and empowerment. As a first-generation college graduate, Sharon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Rutgers University and an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Intelligence at Marymount University, expected to graduate in 2025.

Sharon’s extensive career has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition for excellence in service and leadership, and honors from organizations such as the International Women’s Leadership Association and Cambridge’s "Who’s Who of Professional and Executive Women." She is also a proud member of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. and the Arts Administrators of Color.

As Interim Executive Director, Sharon will continue to advance NSA’s mission to provide high-quality arts education while fostering a culture of inclusivity and growth. Drawing on her strategic expertise, she will work to enhance the school’s programs and expand its community partnerships during this important leadership transition.

Sharon's passion for the arts and commitment to empowering future generations of artists and leaders reflects her deep-rooted dedication to community growth, excellence, and innovation. The Board of Trustees of Newark School of the Arts is confident that Sharon’s leadership will guide the institution through this transformative time.

“We are excited to have Sharon step into the role of Interim Executive Director,” said the Board. “Her deep connection to the community, combined with her proven leadership experience, makes her the ideal person to lead NSA into its next chapter.”

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Sharon Salvador,

Development Director

Newark School of the Arts’ Director of Development and Liaison to the Board is Ms. Sharon Salvador, MBA. Ms. Salvador is a distinguished Leader in Local and Global economic development with over 25 years of experience in Grants and Strategic Planning, Administration, Fiscal Management and Operations for various Corporations, Foundations and Charitable Organizations. Ms. Salvador has a BA in Economics, an MBA and is a doctoral candidate pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration in Business Intelligence (2025).

James Manno

Director of Conservatory Division

James A. Manno, born and bred in the Oranges, has served as the Arts Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction Programs for South Orange Maplewood Schools since 2016 and was the administrator in charge of arts programs at Arts High School (America’s First Arts High School) in Newark, NJ for 9 years prior. Throughout his career Mr. Manno has been awarded significant grants to develop and maintain arts education programs, initiate Artist in Residency Projects, fund long term student entrepreneurial arts projects, support students in need and provide teaching artists jobs. The William Randolph Hearst Foundations Grant, procured in partnership with South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in 2018, continues to be a renewed source of funding that is instrumental in providing support for arts education programs and events in SOMSD. Developing collaborative partnerships is an initiative encouraged and highly valued by Mr. Manno. They enhance and expand curriculum-centered arts programs and provide additional pathways for student achievement and opportunity. Some of the arts partners that Mr. Manno has experience working with include NJ State Council for the Arts, Victoria Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Healthcare Foundation of NJ, NJAIE, NJPAC, SOPAC, ACHIEVE Foundation of South Orange & Maplewood, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Young Audiences, Thelonious Monk Institute, New Jersey Arts Alliance, NJSO, Chase Bank, VPMI, John J. Cali School Of Music at MSU and the Tisch School Of The Arts. Mr. Manno has been honored by the National Television Academy of Arts & Sciences (New York Chapter) for directing a student created musical film that was featured at the NYC Aids Film Festival and been a guest on Garden State Matters (UPN9), The Today Show (NBC) and Morning News (CBS). He has a double major degree from Ithaca College in Music Performance and Philosophy and earned his Masters in Supervision & Administration of Education from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City.

**Richard Marshall**
**Director of Program Operations, Marketing, Community Outreach**
Richard is a resident of Newark who takes great pride in his community and is passionate about arts education. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from NJIT and later left the corporate world to serve his community. For more than two decades, he has held several academic positions, including Science, Math, STEM, and STEAM, as well as a dance teaching artist. Richard has also contributed his event management skills to various community organizations across the state. During his tenure at NSA, he has demonstrated his expertise in development and operational support, which has significantly enhanced arts education and the NSA team. As a director, he has excelled in managing advertising, community outreach, and overseeing both in-school and out-of-school operations, making a significant contribution to the organization's success. Richard is also a fellow of VELP, the Victoria Emerging Leaders Program at Rutgers University, and a graduate of Leadership Newark, a public policy program through the City of Newark.

**Lidiane Francisco**
**Registrar**
**Lidiane Francisco** - is a multilingual in Portuguese-Creole, Portuguese, English, and Spanish. She completed a Bachelor of Business Administration-Management from Berkeley College, New Jersey, in 2019 with honors. In the past 10 years, Lidiane has dedicated her professional talents in the Administrative field, Office Management, Human Resources, and Customer Service leadership. Ms. Lidiane has worked in Programs such as the City of Newark ID as a Registrar, and MTA Easy Pay program as a Customer Care Team Coach, supervising, leading, and educating a team of 13 customer service representatives. She also devoted volunteering services at the Red Cross, Sal Cape Verde Island, and to different organizations in the City of Newark such as The Leaguers Inc., WIC - Women, Infant, & Children, City of Newark Occupy the Block, and Mayor Ras Baraka’ 2018 campaign.