OPERA America Reveals 2025–2026 Protégés for Mentorship Program for Women Administrators

OPERA America has announced the selection of four outstanding women administrators for the 2025–2026 Mentorship Program for Women Administrators. The program is designed to foster professional growth and leadership advancement by pairing rising opera professionals with seasoned executives in the field.

Now in its latest cycle, the program offers protégés the opportunity to engage in one-on-one mentorships, develop individualized career plans, and build networks that support long-term success in opera administration. Mentorships include both virtual and in-person meetings, with a culminating session at Opera Conference 2026 in Wilmington, DE.

2025–2026 Protégé–Mentor Pairings

• Jennifer Gordon, Organizational Membership Manager, OPERA America
  Mentor: Julia Cooke, President and General Director, Opera Baltimore

• Joanna Latini, Director of Resident Artist Programs, Palm Beach Opera
  Mentor: Maggey Oplinger, General Director and CEO, Florentine Opera

• Mariel O'Connell, Assistant Director of Opera Activities, Vocal Arts, The Juilliard School
  Mentor: Melissa Wegner, Executive Director, Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and Laffont Competition, The Metropolitan Opera

• Diana Wu, Individual Giving Officer, Seattle Opera
  Mentor: Susan Miller, General Director, Opera Montana

Supporting the Next Generation of Opera Leaders

Each mentorship pairing will collaborate on a tailored professional development plan shaped by the protégé’s goals and interests. This initiative continues OPERA America’s commitment to advancing gender equity and empowering the next generation of arts administrators.

The Mentorship Program for Women Administrators is made possible with proceeds from OPERA America Salutes, the organization’s annual awards dinner honoring recipients of the National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards and Opera Hall of Fame inductees. Proceeds also support programs such as the Leadership Intensive and the New General Director Roundtable.

More information about OPERA America’s leadership development programs can be found at operaamerica.org/LeadDev. Details and tickets for OPERA America Salutes will be available in late fall 2025.