STEPHEN NOONAN
Founding Board Member

Stephen Noonan is the founding and current principal of the Maxine L. Green High School for Imaginative Inquiry.  Mr. Noonan’s previous instructional and administrative experience with the NYCDOE began at Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical High School, Bronx, New York.  There he served as a special education teacher, teacher mentor and department chair.  In 2002, Mr. Noonan became an assistant principal for academic supervision.  In 2004, he joined the second cohort of the Aspiring Principals Program of the New York City Leadership Academy.  Mr. Noonan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Saint Louis University and holds Masters Degrees from Hunter College, CUNY, (MS, Urban Affairs), Fordham University, New York, New York (MA, Secondary Teaching), and Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York (MS, School Administration and Supervision).  He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership program at the Esteves School of Education, The Sage Colleges, Albany, New York.  This program began in 2013 as an innovative collaboration for practicing NYCDOE administrators and was created by CSA, The Center for Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) and The Sage Colleges.  He was most recently honored as “Irish Principal of the Year” by the Emerald Society of the New York City Department of Education.

LEILA MOSTEIKA
Interim President, Founding Board Member

Leila Mosteika is rising 2L at Cornell Law School. She graduated from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University last year.  Throughout her academic career, Leila has been deeply involved with non-profit organizations whose focuses have ranged from dance, political affairs and cancer awareness to literacy and day care / community centers. 

Leila has worked with Covenant House New York, and with the award-winning marketing firm Cien Plus, developing content and research for their social media platforms.

Leila previously worked with The Borgen Project, cultivating Congressional and public support for poverty-reduction legislation and the International Affairs Budget. 

Additionally, Leila translated a pivotal American children’s book, Fia and the Butterfly, by Dr. Lonnetta M. Taylor- Gains, into Lithuanian, published it and donated copies of the translated book to the young people of Lithuania.  Her generosity was acknowledged and endorsed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Her Excellency Dalia Grybauskaite in July 2016. 

Like most millennials, Leila also seeks to raise her generation’s awareness of our fragile environment and the important role that everyone should play in saving it from climate change.  As part of her outreach efforts, Leila has translated Planet Earth Gets Well, by Madelaine Kaplan, into Spanish, to help expand the awareness of this important cause to the youth around the world.

At YCDI, Leila directs the children and youth programs as well as YCDI’s social media channels.

BRUNO COLLINS
Board Member

Bruno Collins is a member of the Board of Directors the Fred Astaire national organization, as well as sitting on its Executive Dance Board, and the Fred Astaire Dance Studios International Dance Council. He is also the Executive Vice President of the American Ballroom Company, 13-time US National Professional Theatrical Champion, 5-time World Professional Theatrical Champion, 2-time World Professional Cabaret Champion, 3-time British Open Cabaret Champion, US National Professional American Rhythm Finalist, and 5-time Fred Astaire National Professional Rhythm Champion.  He has worked internationally as both a performer and choreographer, and been featured on PBS’ Championship Ballroom Dancing.  Bruno has choreographed shows for top national and international professionals including America’s Ballroom Challenge and Dancing with the Stars national tour and for the United States Dancesport Championships (aka the US Open), the Ohio Star Ball Dancesport Championships and the British Open Dancesport Championships in Blackpool, England.  In 2009, Bruno was named Choreographer of the Year by the National Dance Council of America. He is pleased to have choreographed many shows affiliated with YCDI including the annual editions of Dance Among the Stars, as well as other events for other organizations, among them, An Evening at Smokey Joe’s, Curtain UP! and In a Fosse Frame of Mind.

LYNN SHANAHAN
Board Member

Lynn Shanahan builds company value combining innovative market strategy with rigorous execution. She is passionate about empowering people and organizations to think with bold vision and act with confidence to propel consumer brands to profitable global growth.

Ms. Shanahan is the founder and managing partner of C2Group LLC, an organization that provides, strategic operating management to drive growth for its clients. Notably, she identified new market potential for Marimekko, a Finland-based textile, home and apparel design company; re-launched the brand in the U.S., Canada and Mexico developing retail, wholesale and e-commerce while serving as its North American president.

Previously, Ms. Shanahan was the CEO of Capezio, the 130-year-old Global Apparel and Footwear company that is the premier supplier to professional and amateur dancers of all genres, and the Chief Executive Officer of Kellwood Company, a $400M leading manufacturer and marketer of women’s and girl’s apparel.

During her 15-year tenure with Tommy Hilfiger, including as Group President of the $1.8B U.S. Wholesale and Global Licensing division, Ms. Shanahan was integral in shaping the company’s vision, growth and future development plans serving in increasingly responsible leadership positions.

Ms. Shanahan holds an MS degree from Columbia University, and a BA from the University of Michigan. She is a member of The Committee of 200 and the U.S. Foreign Policy Advisory Council for Women at the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves on the Board of Women for Women International.

ANDREW MOSTEIKA
Founding Board Member, IT Director

Andrew Mosteika is a sophomore at the College of Arts and Sciences at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  Andrew has always been fascinated by emerging technologies, business and financial markets and has been involved in competitive STEM and business summer programs in Duke and Cornell Universities.

Andrew was deeply involved in his high school’s community activities and sports and was a member of Dwight Englewood’s varsity tennis team for several years and President of its Environmental Club.  Andrew’s environmental passion and trilingual experience were instrumental with the hydro-energy consultant, Vizginta, in its application for and obtaining REACH certification which documents the highest compliance with European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Inspired by his Lithuanian heritage and his linguistic skills, Andrew has spearheaded several entrepreneurial and charitable projects in Lithuania. These efforts have been acknowledged and endorsed by the former President of Lithuania, her excellency Dalia Grybauskaite, by the Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States, Honorable Rolandas Kriusciunas as well as his Holiness Pope Francis, among others.

Andrew directs YCDI’s IT needs.