Who
We Are
Tim “Sully” Sullivan
Executive Director
Tim “Sully” Sullivan is a creative force of nature: active musician, composer and arranger, educator, curriculum writer, researcher, producer, and more. He is a graduate of the Jazz Studies programs at Eau Claire Memorial High School (2002), Chicago College of Performing Arts (B.M. 2005), and University of New Orleans (M.M. 2008).
A gifted improviser with a soulful and singular voice on saxophones, flutes, clarinets, and singing, Tim has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and overseas with a wide range of artists including soul queens Aretha Franklin and Irma Thomas, funk legends Fred Wesley and George Porter Jr., over a dozen NEA Jazz Masters, and modern-day rock stars such as Bon Iver.
In 2010, Tim accepted a teaching position at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where for over a decade he worked across the full spectrum of education programs including WeBop, Middle School Jazz Academy, Essentially Ellington, and Swing University. In 2012, he was awarded a doctoral fellowship to attend Teachers College at Columbia University (Ed.M. 2016), where he pursued research in popular music learning, teaching artistry, and curriculum design. The following year, he was hired by the Apollo Theater as a lead teaching artist, curriculum, and school tour guide.
“Sully” returned to New Orleans in 2022 and started conceptualizing a framework for Experiential Arts inspired by one of the most artful societies in the world. He is thrilled to once again live, perform, and have the opportunity to work with young artists in New Orleans again.
Board of
Directors
Rachel Meese
Board Chair
Rachel Meese is a partner at Chaffe McCall, LLC. She has practiced as a civil litigation attorney in New Orleans for over twenty-five years where she has tackled complex multi-party litigation while maintaining and developing client relations. Ms. Meese’s legal experience brings financial and legal accountability along with creative problem solving to the NO FEAR Board. She is committed to leveraging her legal acumen to further NO FEAR’s goals and impact within New Orleans and beyond.
In addition to her work as a practicing attorney, Ms. Meese is passionate about the arts and arts education. She is the proud parent of a young trumpet player currently fulfilling her dream of studying music in NYC. She is a founding board member of WORKSGallery in San Jose, a gallery dedicated to providing a venue for artists, ideas, and images that expand the scope of cultural and artistic experience. She is passionate to use her experience in both the public and private sectors to broaden access to experiential arts education by supporting innovation, reducing barriers to entry, and building a stronger community.
Ms. Meese holds a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School and a BFA in photography from San Jose State where she graduated with honors. She has worked in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser for Act-Up Teen Theater and Abilities United. She has served on the Children’s Education Committee at Rayne Methodist Church and as on the L’Extravagance Lycee Francis de la Nouvelle Orleans gala committee.
Elia Diaz-Yaeger
Vice Chair
Elia Diaz-Yaeger is a thought leader in law, advocacy, and the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. She has 30 years of litigation experience and is the Chief Legal Officer for OnPath Federal Credit Union of Greater New Orleans, where she previously served on the Board of Directors for over 12 years.
Mrs. Diaz-Yaeger is a former President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, where she was instrumental in developing strategic strategies, financial growth, and DEI programs. She challenged the HBNA Board to expand the footprint, membership, and reach of the organization, and maximize their collective impact on matters of importance to the Hispanic community.
She holds Bachelor of Science and Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and earned her law degree at the Loyola University School of Law. Elia serves on several Boards of Directors including the Alliance of Latinx Leadership and Policy (ALLP), Candy Girls/Life Savers of New Orleans, A.D. Crossman Esperanza Library Project, and now NO FEAR.
Passionate about the arts, she is an active member of the New Orleans Ballet Association and proud member of the Krewe of Muses. “I have an art studio in my home dedicated to all that glitters and shines. My girlfriends and I are working on our Muses shoes and the glitter is flying!”
Gabriel Nehrbass
Tresure Secretary
Gabriel Nehrbass has been a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones for the last decade in New Orleans.
He has long taken an active interest in supporting impactful organizations in his community, the country, and across the globe. This includes his own service as a professional humanitarian with Save the Children (2009-14) with assignments in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, as well as his enlistment with the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa (2006-08).
Mr. Nehrbass earned his bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and a master's degree in international humanitarian action from L'Universite Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. He is fluent in written and spoken French and Spanish, and in the tradition of his great-great-grandparents in Southern Spain, he is an avid artisanal bread baker and gardener.
He continues to serve his community as a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Orleans, as the current Board President of EspaÑOLA (realESPANOLA.org), and a board member of UNITY of Greater New Orleans (unityGNO.org). In joining NO FEAR's inaugural board, Mr. Nerhbass enthusiastically remarks: "I look forward to using my financial background and career of service to the benefit of NO FEAR and the people we serve!"
Manon Mashburn
Manon Mashburn specializes in hospital-based psychiatry and has over 20 years of experience in the field. She is an alumnus of Tulane University Medical School and currently practices at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.
Ms. Mashburn is a proud and active member of the Osage Nation, and when able, returns to the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma for the In-Lon-Ska tribal dance ceremony in June. In her youth, Manon participated in a cultural exchange program with a small population in France which has maintained a meaningful relationship with the Osage Nation for nearly 200 years. This experience left a lasting impression and inspired her to move to New Orleans to pursue her medical degree and expand her psychiatry practice to New York, California, and Colorado.
In addition to her love of travel and experiencing new cultures, Ms. Mashburn has been a member of the Krewe du Vieux Mardi Gras organization since 2011 as well as co-founded the Soulburn NOLA Concert Series, which successfully raised thousands of dollars to support New Orleans musicians and hospitality workers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
In her role on the NO FEAR Board, Ms. Mashburn looks forward to furthering her passion for the arts while lending her event planning and fundraising experience to empowering New Orleans youth and making an impact in her community.