The Southwest Folklife Alliance (SFA) is an affiliate non-profit organization of the University of Arizona, housed within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The Jim Griffith Chair in Public Folklore at the Southwest Center and UA School of Anthropology serves as lead curator for SFA programs and activities.
We are the Arizona Commission for the Arts‘ designated State Partner for Folk Arts for the National Endowment for the Arts. We also work in partnership with traditional and folklife communities throughout the state.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bryan Falcon (Chair)
Artistic & Managing Director, Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre
Elizabeth Stahmer (Vice-Chair)
UA / Social & Behavioral Sciences Research Institute
Amy Amoroso (Secretary, Chair of Governance)
Community Volunteer
Maribel Alvarez (Treasurer)
Director, Tucson Meet Yourself; Associate Dean of Community Engagement, UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Vanessa Bechtol
Visit Tucson
Teresa Bravo
Pima County Coordinator of Economic Development and International Projects
Lynn Hourani
Islamic Center of Tucson
Francisco Pedroza
UA / College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Michelle Tellez (Chair of Programs)
UA/ Mexican American Studies
Dr. Praise Zenenga
UA / Africana Studies
Dr. Jim Griffith
Board Member Emeritus, Folklorist/Author/Founder Tucson Meet Yourself
STAFF
Leia Maahs, Managing Director: leiamaahs@email.arizona.edu
Nelda Ruiz, Program Coordinator: nruiz33@email.arizona.edu
Kimi Eisele, Communications Manager: kimieisele@email.arizona.edu
Tim Escobedo, Director of Operations, Tucson Meet Yourself: timescobedo@gmail.com
Kate Jewett-Williams, Assistant Festival Coordinator, TMYFestival@gmail.com
Dr. Maribel Alvarez, Folklorist, University of Arizona Jim Griffith Chair of Public Folklore, alvarezm@email.arizona.edu