Pamela D.A. Reeve Named BAA Foundation Chairwoman
BAA Foundation Prepares to Celebrate Boston Arts Academy’s 30th Anniversary
BOSTON, July 13, 2026 — Today, Boston Arts Academy Foundation (BAAF) announced its new Chairwoman and the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors, strengthening BAAF’s commitment to equity, opportunity, and artistic excellence while looking ahead to Boston Arts Academy’s milestone 30th anniversary.
Former technology CEO and philanthropist Pamela D.A. Reeve has been named Chairwoman of BAAF, following a decade of leadership and philanthropic support for the Foundation and three years of Board service. Connected to BAAF’s mission through her passion for theater and debate, Reeve chaired BAAF’s Full Inclusion Fund, served as co-chair of Honors 2022 and 2025, and will host the 6th annual Honors Clambake in August. The Harvard Business School alumna launched and served as President and CEO of Lightbridge, Inc., a global provider of mobile business solutions, eventually taking the company public. Reeve has received significant recognition and awards for her philanthropic work and strategic Board leadership.
Prominent attorney and banking executive, Grace Lee joins BAAF’s Board of Directors; Founder of the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF), former corporate marketing executive Stephanie Tavares-Rance joins as Board Member; and Founder and Principal Broker of InsuranceLab New England and trained lighting, stage and design talent, Cora Yamagata transitions from the BAAF Advisory Council to the Board of Directors.
These leaders bring significant expertise and a shared passion for expanding opportunities for students at Boston Arts Academy, the city and Commonwealth’s only public high school dedicated to the visual and performing arts, ensuring young and diverse artists have the resources and support they need to thrive—both creatively and academically.
“Congratulations to Pamela D.A. Reeve on being named Chairwoman of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation Board of Directors,” said Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Kim Driscoll. “Pam has long been a champion for education, civic engagement, and the arts, and her thoughtful leadership and unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity make her exceptionally well-suited to guide the Foundation into this exciting new chapter. As the Boston Arts Academy prepares to celebrate 30 years of excellence in arts-intensive education, I know Pam will help build on BAA Foundation’s remarkable legacy of ensuring that Boston Arts Academy students have access to the resources, experiences, and support they need to thrive. The arts are essential to the vitality of our communities and our economy, and Massachusetts is fortunate to have leaders like Pam helping inspire the next generation of creative talent.”
The new Boston Arts Academy Foundation Board Members are:
● Grace Lee, prominent attorney and banking executive. Lee formerly served as the Eastern Massachusetts Regional President and New England Government Banking Lead for M&T Bank, and later as the President and CEO of St. Mary’s Credit Union. In 2025, Lee accepted BAAF’s Honors in Civic Responsibility Award. Recently, Lee returned to M&T Bank as Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman and CEO.
● Stephanie Tavares-Rance, Founder of the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF), along with her husband Floyd Rance, Tavares-Rance is a former corporate marketing executive who built a dynamic career across music, media, and major brands before transitioning into film and cultural production. In October 2026, she will accept BAAF’s Honors in TV + Film Award.
● Cora Yamagata, Founder and Principal Broker of InsuranceLab New England, holds a BFA in Theater and Dance and has a multidisciplinary arts background spanning lighting design, stage management, and professional performance. Yamagata served on BAAF’s Advisory Council for four years, most recently as Co-Chair, and accepted the BAAF Philanthropy SuperSTAR Award during Boston Arts Academy’s 2026 Commencement.
“On behalf of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, I am thrilled to congratulate these four extraordinary women,” said BAAF President and CEO Denella J. Clark. “Each is an accomplished CEO or business executive whose leadership has transformed organizations and communities, and each shares a deep conviction that the arts are not an enrichment—they are essential to education, innovation, leadership, and economic opportunity. Many have championed our mission for years, and we are honored to have them deepen their commitment through board service. Their collective expertise, vision, and passion will help shape the future of our
Foundation as we continue expanding access to exceptional arts education and empowering the next generation of creative leaders.”
Reeve, Lee, Tavares-Rance, and Yamagata will offer essential strategy, leadership, philanthropic support, and connections to fuel BAAF’s mission and support Boston Arts Academy’s next generation of artists, scholars, and global citizens.
