marietta ries lavicka

After graduating from the university of pennsylvania with a BA in math and history, marietta ries lavicka began her career at morgan stanley in the IT department. Six years later, she left the private sector to pursue a career in human rights. She worked and studied international policy at the school of international and public affairs at columbia university. After receiving a master of international affairs, she began a family that grew to include three boys.

As a parent, most of her work was volunteer based, with local community groups. Marietta joined the board of the bloomingdale school of music, and eventually assumed leadership positions at her children’s schools. She also began her ongoing job at the barnard center for toddler development, as a parent support group leader.

Marietta’s positive experiences of working with diverse people to create change, as well as her continuous recognition of systemic inequalities that marginalize many, eventually directed her professional attentions on human rights at the local level. She enrolled in a MS program in urban affairs at hunter college, focusing on citizen participation and education policy.

Marietta’s belief that the arts are a critical component of education, and art-related experiences have positive impacts on the social development of children, brought her to the board of new york city children’s theater in april of 2011. It was also the organization’s commitment to provide access to quality family theatre for urban youth, regardless of their financial circumstances.