Board & Staff Members
Clarion West incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1986, with workshop alumni and other interested members of the science fiction community forming its first Board of Directors. With the help of many dedicated volunteers and a core of committed professional staff, Clarion West has produced some of science fiction and fantasy’s top writers and editors. Graduates have received every major form of recognition in the field, including the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards.
Board of Directors
Izzy Wasserstein
Chair
Izzy Wasserstein (CW ‘17) is a writer and professor living in California. She likes good conversations, bad jokes, and being bullied by her cat.
She/her.
Remy Nakamura
Vice Chair
Remy Nakamura (CW ’10) lives in the PNW. He is a long-time data and project manager, and is passionate about creating stories and community. He is the one on the right.
He/they.
Stewart Baker
Secretary
Born in the UK and based in Oregon, Stewart is a librarian and writer of short stories, poems, and games.
(any)
Kris Millering
Treasurer
Kris (CW ’09) is a linguist by training, a tech tinkerer by trade, and a writer and photographer by avocation.
She/her.
Brenda Cooper
Brenda is a retired technology leader, futurist, and writer with two Endeavour awards. She enjoys bicycling, walking dogs, travel, and reading.
Nelly Geraldine García-Rosas
Nelly (CW ’19) is a Mexican writer and video game localization specialist living in California.
She/her.
M. L. Krishnan
M. L. Krishnan (CW ’19) is a writer and editor who hails from the coastal shores of Tamil Nadu, South India. She works with khōréō Magazine and lives in the Midwest.
She/her.
Alexandra Manglis
Alexandra Manglis (’17) is a Cypriot writer living in New England. She likes long naps and deep time.
Dominica Phetteplace
Dominica Phetteplace graduated from Clarion West in 2007. She is a writer and math tutor based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
She/her.
Nisi Shawl
Nisi (CW ’92) has been on the board for over 20 years! They are still writing. Their time as CW’s Communications Director helped tighten their prose.
They/them.
Yang-Yang Wang
Yang-Yang (CW ’14) is an actor and writer. A lover of brevity, and former board chair, he can be found Wednesday evenings on a Fantasy Author D&D Twitch Stream.
He/him.
Leadership
Marnee Chua
Executive Director
Marnee is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, nonprofit administrator, reader, and loves to scuba dive. She prefers stories with kimchi in space.
She/her.
Rashida J. Smith
Program Director
Writer, mom, and occasional cellist, Rashida attended Clarion West in 2005. She loves oatmeal raisin cookies, “kissing books” and superhero movies.
She/her.
L. D. Lewis
Development Director
L. D. Lewis is an editor and Shirley Jackson award-nominated author. She lives in Georgia on perpetual deadline with her partner, two cats, and an impressive LEGO build collection.
She/her.
Programs
Amy Hirayama
Events and Residency Coordinator
Amy is a writer, educator, and sumo wrestling fan. She loves forest bathing and cooking elaborate Japanese celebratory feasts.
She/her.
Kel Lyle
Web Manager & Classroom Assistant
Kel likes rereading novels, daydreaming on the bus, and staring at blank word documents. They attended Your Personal Odyssey in 2023.
They/she.
Communications
Anne ZhangHuang
Communications Specialist
Anne (VP’25) is a writer and game developer, who loves playing D&D and drawing comics. She is currently on a mission to find the best tiramisu in California.
She/her.
Administration
Elly Bangs
Database Specialist
Elly attended Clarion West in 2017. She rides her bicycle everywhere and enjoys pie, dream pop, and obscure factoids about outer space.
She/her.
Suzanne Tompkins
Special Projects Coordinator
An independent association manager/meeting planner, Suzanne has been CW’s Office Manager and/or Bookkeeper since 2005. She’s worked on Facilities at many recent Worldcons.
She/her.