FOUNDER & IMPACT COMMITTEE
Executive Director/Founder
Tamara Horton
FIT graduate, designer, former NYC shop owner, Off-Broadway costume designer and most recently named Global Ambassador to Ethiopia by Women's Campaign International, Tamara launched Studio Samuel Foundation by pairing the passions of work and life experiences. Studio Samuel is based on a 'teach a man to fish' model while always focusing on sustainability, fair trade and the local community. Tamara is certified in Global Poverty from M.I.T. and is Program Chair, Women’s Occupational and Health Enablement on the board of Ethiopia Healthcare Network.
Experiences and relationships formed during the international adoption process were eye opening. Seeing the barriers that women face on a daily basis, from lack of access to education & healthcare to forced labor. Hearing the personal stories of child marriage and trafficking, were unsettling and became the motivating factors which planted the Studio Samuel seed.
FIT graduate, designer, former NYC shop owner, Off-Broadway costume designer and most recently named Global Ambassador to Ethiopia by Women's Campaign International, Tamara launched Studio Samuel Foundation by pairing the passions of work and life experiences. Studio Samuel is based on a 'teach a man to fish' model while always focusing on sustainability, fair trade and the local community. Tamara is certified in Global Poverty from M.I.T. and is Program Chair, Women’s Occupational and Health Enablement on the board of Ethiopia Healthcare Network.
Experiences and relationships formed during the international adoption process were eye opening. Seeing the barriers that women face on a daily basis, from lack of access to education & healthcare to forced labor. Hearing the personal stories of child marriage and trafficking, were unsettling and became the motivating factors which planted the Studio Samuel seed.
Julianne Hausler
Producer/Manager/Entertainment Executive/Consultant/Advocate
Prior to founding NY OFFICE, a multi-faceted production and literary management company in 1998, Julianne Hausler worked as a producer on television shows, independent films, and commercials. Her credits include a series of short films shown at festivals in the US and Europe as well as independent features that premiered at US and International film festivals. At NYO she developed a keen eye for the emerging talent and shepherded the careers of numerous award-nominated and winning International Cinematographers, Designers, Writers, and Directors.
In 2012 Julianne and her husband, Artist, Ward Yoshimoto adopted a son from Addis Ababa, ET and life changed forever. After several years and two trips to ET, she has deepened her love of the African diaspora. Her decision to adopt a child from Africa was born of a desire to blend her Western European heritage with that of her husband's Japanese American roots and the culture of the African continent where so much of our civilization began. Long a socially active feminist and arts advocate, the opportunity to empower girls through education and advocacy is an authentic one that she is grateful to embrace.
Producer/Manager/Entertainment Executive/Consultant/Advocate
Prior to founding NY OFFICE, a multi-faceted production and literary management company in 1998, Julianne Hausler worked as a producer on television shows, independent films, and commercials. Her credits include a series of short films shown at festivals in the US and Europe as well as independent features that premiered at US and International film festivals. At NYO she developed a keen eye for the emerging talent and shepherded the careers of numerous award-nominated and winning International Cinematographers, Designers, Writers, and Directors.
In 2012 Julianne and her husband, Artist, Ward Yoshimoto adopted a son from Addis Ababa, ET and life changed forever. After several years and two trips to ET, she has deepened her love of the African diaspora. Her decision to adopt a child from Africa was born of a desire to blend her Western European heritage with that of her husband's Japanese American roots and the culture of the African continent where so much of our civilization began. Long a socially active feminist and arts advocate, the opportunity to empower girls through education and advocacy is an authentic one that she is grateful to embrace.
Henrietta Koomson
With a strong moral core, Henrietta is passionate about social justice and advocating for those with barriers to opportunity.
Raised in Ghana and the UK, and now based in New York City, Henrietta started her career in the UK as a solicitor (attorney) with Reynolds Porter Chamberlain following a stint with UBS as a Mountbatten HR intern in 2008. This was followed by positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs before returning to UBS. Henrietta holds a BA in International Relations/Political Science from Birmingham University and earned an MA Law degree from the University of Sheffield.
With a strong moral core, Henrietta is passionate about social justice and advocating for those with barriers to opportunity.
Raised in Ghana and the UK, and now based in New York City, Henrietta started her career in the UK as a solicitor (attorney) with Reynolds Porter Chamberlain following a stint with UBS as a Mountbatten HR intern in 2008. This was followed by positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs before returning to UBS. Henrietta holds a BA in International Relations/Political Science from Birmingham University and earned an MA Law degree from the University of Sheffield.
Sarah Landy
With great passion for supporting and developing artists, Sarah Landy has worked in the music industry for over 17 years with expertise in business development, artist relations, marketing, publicity, strategic partnerships and event production.
Inspired with energy to contribute impact work, Sarah asked Founder Tamara Horton if she could be involved with Studio Samuel upon learning about the organization in its first year of development while they were working together at Sony Music Entertainment. Sarah joined the initial Board of Directors in 2012 and traveled to Ethiopia annually through the Studio Samuel Training Center opening in 2015.
Sarah currently lives in Los Angeles after spending much of her career in New York, and she holds a B.S. degree in Economics and Journalism (Public Relations) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sarah is a mother and loves running, learning about other cultures, listening to music with soul (including deep love for African music), and is passionate about women’s empowerment, education and equality.
With great passion for supporting and developing artists, Sarah Landy has worked in the music industry for over 17 years with expertise in business development, artist relations, marketing, publicity, strategic partnerships and event production.
Inspired with energy to contribute impact work, Sarah asked Founder Tamara Horton if she could be involved with Studio Samuel upon learning about the organization in its first year of development while they were working together at Sony Music Entertainment. Sarah joined the initial Board of Directors in 2012 and traveled to Ethiopia annually through the Studio Samuel Training Center opening in 2015.
Sarah currently lives in Los Angeles after spending much of her career in New York, and she holds a B.S. degree in Economics and Journalism (Public Relations) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sarah is a mother and loves running, learning about other cultures, listening to music with soul (including deep love for African music), and is passionate about women’s empowerment, education and equality.
Colette Malouf
Founder & Creative Director | Colette Malouf, Inc.
The quintessential entrepreneur, Colette Malouf built a global luxury accessories brand from the ground up at age 24. As Creative Director, Colette brings her design branding and marketing expertise to Studio Samuel. An industry veteran, Colette is community driven with deep rooted relationships in organizations such as the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), FGI (Fashion Group International) and the Entrepreneur Organization Network. With a passion for empowering women, Colette mentors students from Parson's School of Design and devotes a portion of her designs to a fair trade collective of women in Bolivia. Colette's mission is to create opportunities for women through Global Girl Empowerment.
Founder & Creative Director | Colette Malouf, Inc.
The quintessential entrepreneur, Colette Malouf built a global luxury accessories brand from the ground up at age 24. As Creative Director, Colette brings her design branding and marketing expertise to Studio Samuel. An industry veteran, Colette is community driven with deep rooted relationships in organizations such as the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), FGI (Fashion Group International) and the Entrepreneur Organization Network. With a passion for empowering women, Colette mentors students from Parson's School of Design and devotes a portion of her designs to a fair trade collective of women in Bolivia. Colette's mission is to create opportunities for women through Global Girl Empowerment.
Marissa Putney
Marissa comes to the organization as a Drexel University alumni and long standing employee of The Orchard, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Marissa spearheaded a successful fundraising and awareness campaign for Malaria No More in 2010. In an effort to continue her education in International Development, she received a certificate in Global Poverty from M.I.T.
Marissa comes to the organization as a Drexel University alumni and long standing employee of The Orchard, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Marissa spearheaded a successful fundraising and awareness campaign for Malaria No More in 2010. In an effort to continue her education in International Development, she received a certificate in Global Poverty from M.I.T.
Lorraine Shea
Born and bred in New York City and a graduate of NYU, Lorraine Shea brings more than 20 years of experience writing, editing and photographing for a variety of lifestyle magazines and websites. Favorite topics include health, nutrition, yoga, design, and travel. Through her yoga studies, she has had the rewarding pleasure of teaching confidence-building movement and meditation classes to high school girls and stress-reducing restorative workshops to adults. She’s thrilled to be a part of Studio Samuel and help empower future generations.
Born and bred in New York City and a graduate of NYU, Lorraine Shea brings more than 20 years of experience writing, editing and photographing for a variety of lifestyle magazines and websites. Favorite topics include health, nutrition, yoga, design, and travel. Through her yoga studies, she has had the rewarding pleasure of teaching confidence-building movement and meditation classes to high school girls and stress-reducing restorative workshops to adults. She’s thrilled to be a part of Studio Samuel and help empower future generations.
Darci Shellman
Darci is a New Yorker and Sony Music veteran who has worked for RED and now The Orchard for 20 years. She manages label partnerships within the label management team. She spent most of her life in and around the vibrant punk scene that taught her to think of others and fight for those less fortunate. Her passion for equal rights makes her want to spread the word about Studio Samuel and how they are helping to empower the youth, one girl at a time. In keeping with the punk ethos of giving back to the community that has allowed her to thrive, she is ready, willing, and able to help provide for people that need a helping hand.
Darci is a New Yorker and Sony Music veteran who has worked for RED and now The Orchard for 20 years. She manages label partnerships within the label management team. She spent most of her life in and around the vibrant punk scene that taught her to think of others and fight for those less fortunate. Her passion for equal rights makes her want to spread the word about Studio Samuel and how they are helping to empower the youth, one girl at a time. In keeping with the punk ethos of giving back to the community that has allowed her to thrive, she is ready, willing, and able to help provide for people that need a helping hand.
Melissa Stern
Melissa Stern is an artist and journalist living in NYC. Her sculpture and drawings have been exhibited worldwide and a solo exhibition is currently touring museums throughout the US. She has served on the Board of Directors of The Children’s Museum of the Arts in NYC, Watershed Center in Maine and has been part of the film screening committee for the Human Rights Film Festival since 2008. She is a contributing writer to Hyperallergic, reviewing exhibitions and offering opinion essays about art and culture.
Melissa Stern is an artist and journalist living in NYC. Her sculpture and drawings have been exhibited worldwide and a solo exhibition is currently touring museums throughout the US. She has served on the Board of Directors of The Children’s Museum of the Arts in NYC, Watershed Center in Maine and has been part of the film screening committee for the Human Rights Film Festival since 2008. She is a contributing writer to Hyperallergic, reviewing exhibitions and offering opinion essays about art and culture.
Lynne Young
Lynne has been a dedicated caregiver in her own family, and with a background in Psychology and Human Development, she comes to Studio Samuel with the expertise and compassion to be a true champion for our girls. Lynne is committed to using her voice to amplify it for those needing a bigger platform. Her energy matches that of the 9-18 year old girls she supports.
Lynne lives in Virginia with her husband of 31 years and they have one daughter who is forever 25. Her first marriage gave her a son and three amazing grandchildren.
Lynne has been a dedicated caregiver in her own family, and with a background in Psychology and Human Development, she comes to Studio Samuel with the expertise and compassion to be a true champion for our girls. Lynne is committed to using her voice to amplify it for those needing a bigger platform. Her energy matches that of the 9-18 year old girls she supports.
Lynne lives in Virginia with her husband of 31 years and they have one daughter who is forever 25. Her first marriage gave her a son and three amazing grandchildren.
