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.
