October 5, 2023
The DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee (WSC) is proud to announce the class of its 2023 Squad Mentorship Program. The program, now in its fourth cycle, began in September and pairs thirteen mid-career Directors with well-established Director mentors.
This year’s mentors and mentees are:
- Ana Lily Amirpour mentoring Clara Aranovich
- Anne Renton mentoring Faye Brenner
- Zetna Fuentes mentoring Whitney Clinkscales
- Anya Adams mentoring Jade Jenise Dixon
- Karyn Kusama mentoring Eve Van Dyke
- Mary Lou Belli mentoring C. Fitz
- Angela Barnes mentoring Courtney M. Franklin
- Amber Sealey mentoring Amanda Micheli
- Jennifer Arnold mentoring Anjali Nayar
- Marielle Heller mentoring Kris Rey
- Nisha Ganatra mentoring Shilpi Roy
- Tessa Blake mentoring Joan Stein Schimke
- Jeremy Podeswa mentoring Lauren Wolkstein
"It is always exciting to kick off another year of the WSC Mentorship Program,” said Shaz Bennett, Co-Chair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee. “The WSC remains inspired by our community of mentors and mentees who have come together, united by a shared purpose — to uplift and empower one another. By joining forces on this journey of guidance and encouragement, we can all accomplish more than any one of us could alone. I can't wait to see how these talented women lift each other up.”
The Squad Mentorship program’s goal is to advance and empower through community building and via crucial peer support. For nine months, mentees will be paired with mentors of their choice to have open discussions and gain new skills and connections to elevate their careers.
Since 1979, the DGA Women's Steering Committee has been dedicated to advancing and uplifting women in entertainment. The WSC’s mission is to heighten visibility for women Directors and Director teams, providing career development, mentoring, networking and support. The WSC continually evolves new initiatives to spotlight the immense talents of Guild members and to elevate their work in the industry.
The WSC Squad Mentorship Program is led by Directors DeMane Davis, Ashley Eakin, Morenike Joela Evans, Marie Jamora, Jen McGowan and Rachel Raimist. The WSC is co-chaired by Directors Shaz Bennett and Valerie Weiss, 1st AD Shawn Pipkin-West and Alt Co-Chair Rachel Raimist.