Jennifer (Jen) Yatco is the new executive director of Westbury Arts. She will work directly with the Board of Directors to fulfill Westbury Arts’ mission and vision by overseeing the business of the organization.

A resident of nearby Williston Park, Jen has always had a deeply rooted appreciation for the arts. She holds a B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where she also minored in Studio Arts (Visual), as well as an M.S. in Adolescent Education from Long Island University.

Jen comes to Westbury Arts from Our Lady of Mercy Academy (Syosset), where she taught English for 15 years and served as department chairperson. A big believer in community spirit, Jen was also heavily involved in a number of extracurricular activities; in particular, she served as co-adviser to the yearbook staff for many years, a role that allowed her to collaborate with young people to channel their collective energy in service of the school community.

The mission of Westbury Arts, particularly its dedication to fostering community through the arts, is one that Jen greatly admires and values. She believes in the power of language and the arts to help people, especially the young, make sense of both themselves and the wider world around them. As a teacher, she prided herself on encouraging dialogue within the community, and she is excited to bring that same spirit and commitment to her work as executive director.