Senior Leadership Team

Sylvia Sewell

Founder and Executive Director

Serious Fun’s Founder and Executive Director Sylvia Sewell earned her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University, working as an actor, on air radio personality, and comedy improviser in the UK and the US. She was the Assistant Administrator of the Soho Theater Company in London while studying with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. In New York, Sylvia taught acting and improv to children, teens and adults, touring with an educational theater company while she earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College. Originally from Alaska, Sylvia made her home in Astoria in 1995, where her children were born and attended school.  Sylvia served on the PTA and as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Learning Leader at her local Astoria public school. That experience led to an MS in Education, TESOL. Sylvia founded Serious Fun the same year her third child was born and has been amazed at how both have grown and changed, in all good ways. 

Amber Hall

Managing Director, People & Culture

(She/Her/Hers) Amber Hall is a Human Resource professional with 15+ years of nonprofit management experience. She has notable experience in strategic human resource planning, performance management, staffing, federal and state law compliance, employment contract negotiations, employee benefits, compensation and payroll, training and development, and management coaching.

She holds a Master’s in Business Administration in Organizational Management from Westcliff University (Irvine, CA) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy with a pre-law concentration from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA). Amber is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) with an SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification. She is also a Certified Mediator who received her certification through the University of Georgia Athens (Athens, GA).

Amber is highly collaborative and strives to motivate through personal and professional development. She conducts herself with positive energy and reliability across levels. No matter the situation, team members will always be treated with dignity and respect.

Site Leadership Team

Ms. Sala

Multi-Site Director (Program)

Mrs. Kasey

Multi-Site Director (Admin)

Ms. Gallie

Site Supervisor PS 17

Ms. Nichelle

PreK Site Supervisor PS 17

Ms. Hailey

Site Supervisor PS 85

Ms. Sherlina

Site Supervisor PS 150

Mr. Mike

Asst. Site Supervisor PS 17

Mr. Christian

Asst. Site Supervisor PS 85

Mr. Noe

Asst. Site Supervisor PS 150

Board Members

Kara Volkmann

Board Chair
Manager of Operations and Human Resources
Stewart Talent

Sarah Español

Vice Chair
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kilmer Middle School
Fairfax County Public Schools

Paul Español

Interim Treasurer
Consultant
OneWeb
Carlyle Group

Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska

Secretary
Co-Founder
KEDIC Fashion Workshop

Image of Lynn

Lynn Kennedy

Member
Clinical Social Worker
Community Organizer
Community Board 1 Parks Committee
Integrity Senior Services

Diana E. Limongi

Member
Social Media Influencer
Writer
NYU School of Law; MPA in Nonprofit Management

Advisory Board

  • Siveem El-Nashar
  • Edward Angelo Enrique
  • Robin Marshall
  • Claire Rose
  • Michael A. Serao
  • Michael Woloz

Emeritus

  • Margarita Soto
  • Adam Joseph Brown, Esq.
  • Evie Hantzopoulos
  • Kristina Kirtley
  • Randi Marshall
  • Scott I. Marshall
  • Lorna Thorpe
  • Claudia Voyiatzis