Directors Nandi Bowe and Eric Dean Seaton and 1st AD Shawn Pipkin-West have been elected as Co-Chairs of the African American Steering Committee (AASC); Directors Kevin Berlandi and Debbie Formoso and 1st AD Alan Chu have been elected as Co-Chairs of the Asian American Committee (AAC); Director Alanna G.A. Campbell, UPM Joan G. Bostwick and 2nd AD Ellen Athena Catsikeas have been elected as Co-Chairs of the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC); and Directors Jennifer Arnold and Jessica Lowrey and UPM Mark Hansson have been elected as Co-Chairs of the LGBTQ+ Committee.
Additionally, for the AASC, Director Abdul Malik Abbott has been elected as the Director category representative, 2nd AD Anitra Stevens as the AD/UPM category representative. For the AAC, Director Mahesh Pailoor has been elected as the Director category representative and 1st AD Christine Chen as the AD/UPM category representative. For the FOWC, Director Emma Pildes has been elected as the Director category representative, UPM Jennifer D. Jimenez as the AD/UPM category representative and Production Associate Erika Wortham as the AD/SM/PA category representative.
The LGBTQ+ Committee has also completed its representative elections with DGA Secretary Treasurer/Past President Paris Barclay and Directors Jennifer Arnold, Tessa Blake, Michael D. Cohen, John Krokidas and Shakina Nayfack elected as Western Director category representatives; 2nd AD TJ Hallett elected as a Western AD/UPM category representative; and Director Alan Poul elected as an Eastern Director category representative.
About the African American Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Director Nandi Bowe
Bowe’s directorial credits include the short film, Statistically Speaking. Her Assistant Directing credits include features such as Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Bill Duke’s Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Kenny Ortega’s Hocus Pocus, Phil Alden Robinson’s Sneakers, Garry Marshall’s Frankie and Johnny and Julie Dash’s Funny Valentines; and episodes of Just Jordan, The Stones and Method & Red. She also served as the 1st AD on Anne Renton’s 2022 DGA Children’s Programs Award-winning Best Foot Forward episode “Halloween.” Bowe has been a DGA member since 1989 and is a member of the Disability Committee.
Director Eric Dean Seaton
Seaton’s directorial credits include episodes of Average Joe, High Potential, Superman and Lois, Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, The Flash, Modern Family, Black-ish, The Goldbergs, American Housewife, Life in Pieces, Grown-ish, Champaign ILL and The Mick. In the multi-camera world, he has helmed pilots including Family Reunion, The Prince of Peoria, Raven’s Home, Mighty Med and Kickin’ It. Additional multi-camera episodic work includes Mad About You, Indebted and Marlon and variety sketch shows All That and So Random. He has been a DGA member since 1996, has served on the 2017, 2020 and 2023 BA/FLTTA Negotiating Committees and previously served as a Co-Chair for the AASC.
1st AD Shawn Pipkin-West
A graduate of the DGA Assistant Director Training Program, Pipkin-West’s Assistant Director credits include features such as Barry Jenkins' Mufasa: The Lion King, Bill Condon’s Dreamgirls and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Beyond the Lights; and episodes of The ‘Burbs, The Chi, Big Shot, Raising Dion, Grey’s Anatomy, Shots Fired, Community, Friday Night Lights and Sorry for Your Loss. She was on the AD team for two DGA Award-winning productions: Thomas Schlamme’s 2020 special, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote and Mick Jackson’s 2010 movie for television, Temple Grandin. A DGA member since 2004, Pipkin-West serves as an Associate member of the DGA National Board, a Co-Chair of the Women’s Steering Committee, a member of the DGA Diversity Taskforce, is on the Board of Trustees for the Directors Guild-Producer Training Program and has been on the Western AD/UPM Council as a member and/or alternate from 2013 - present.
About the African American Steering Committee
The African American Steering Committee (AASC) was born of a desire to address the specific needs of the African-American members of the Guild with goal of advancing career and job opportunities. The Committee meets several times a year, planning events throughout the year celebrating the achievements of African Americans, as well as forums with industry executives.
Use this link to visit the African American Steering Committee section
About the Asian American Committee Co-Chairs
Director Kevin Berlandi
Berlandi’s directorial credits include episodes of NCIS, Found, Rescue: HI-Surf, The Blacklist, NCIS: Los Angeles, Walker, NCIS: Hawai’i, Bull, Partner Track and Criminal Minds. He also has assistant directing credits including features such as Randall Miller’s Bottle Shock; series such as Rush Hour and Blue; and mini-series such as Farmed and Dangerous and Dakota. A DGA member since 2007, Berlandi previously served two terms as a Co-Chair of the Asian American Committee from 2014 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2018.
1st AD Alan Chu
Chu’s Assistant Director credits include features such as Alfredo Barrios Jr.’s Bull Run, Egor Baranov’s Resurrected, Russell Brown’s Loren & Rose, Ulrich Thomsen’s In Embryo and Matteo Ribaudo’s Beyond Paranormal; and episodes of the series Another Year. He also served as a UPM on Kai Kim’s 24-minute film, The Interview and Henri Charr’s documentary, A Man Before His Time. Chu has been a DGA member since 2021, previously served as a co-chair of the Asian American Committee from 2024 to 2026 and currently serves an Alternate on the Western AD/UPM Council.
Director Debbie Formoso
Formoso has worked on countless narrative and commercial projects for over 20 years including ads for major studios like Disney and ABC, as well as prominent brands such as Land Rover, Stella Artois and Powerade. Her teaser promo for Disney’s American Born Chinese won a bronze award at the 2023 Clios. Her short film Nagpapanggap premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Short Film at the Hawaiian International Film Festival. A DGA member since 2021, Formoso is an active participant of the Women’s Steering and Disability Committees and previously served as the Alternate Co-Chair of the Asian American Committee from 2024 to 2026.
About the Asian American Committee
The Asian American Committee (AAC) was created as a networking group to provide a forum for interests and issues that concern Asian American Guild members. Through outreach efforts in the entertainment industry that emphasize career development and skills enhancement, the committee provides a variety of networking opportunities as well as screenings, seminars and discussions with industry professionals.
Use this link to visit the Asian American Committee section.
About the Focus on Women Committee Co-Chairs
UPM Joan G. Bostwick
Bostwick’s production management credits include feature films such as Maryam Keshavarz’s The Persian Version, Koyalee Chanda & Matt Stawski’s Blue’s Big City Adventure, Jennifer Gelfer’s The Second Sun and Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor; and episodes of the series Billy & Billie and From NY, I Love You. Her AD credits include features such as J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year and Michael Almereyda’s Marjorie Prime and Tesla; and episodes of Nurse Jackie, White Collar and New Amsterdam. Bostwick has been a DGA member since 1996, has served as an alternate on the Eastern AD/UPM Council and previously served as a co-chair of the Focus on Women Committee from 2024 to 2026.
Director Alanna G.A. Campbell
Campbell is a feature producer and Associate Director for CBS Sports. A five-time Emmy Award-winner, she primarily works on the NFL and college basketball and has covered 20 Final Fours, eight Super Bowls, five US Open Tennis Championships, and three Olympic Games. Campbell produced One Shining Moment at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in 2019 and 2021, and started directing live games, including college football, college basketball and the Big 3, in 2022. A proud second-generation member since 2008, in addition to her co-chair post on the Focus on Women Committee, Campbell has served as a Second Alternate to the DGA National Board, as Second Vice Chair of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council and is a member of the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee and previously served as a co-chair of the Focus on Women Committee from 2024 to 2026.
2nd AD Ellen Athena Catsikeas
Catsikeas’s production management credits include feature films such as Michael Almereyda’s Tesla, Shawn Snyder’s To Dust; Jennifer Lebeau & Ron Kantor’s documentary Trouble No More; and episodes of Invasion. Her Location Manager credits include features such as Shari Springer-Berman & Robert Pulcini’s The Extra Man, Michael D. Olmos’ Windows on the World, Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s Megan Leavey and Rebecca Miller’s The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Jack Bender’s movie for television Weekends at Bellevue; and episodes of Deception and Allegiance. Catsikeas has been a DGA member since 2008 and serves as the Second Vice Chair of the Eastern AD/UPM Council and is a former Co-Chair of the Eastern AD/UPM Council’s Location Manager Committee and previously served as a co-chair of the Focus on Women Committee from 2024 to 2026.
About the Focus on Women Committee
Originally a sub-committee of the Eastern Directors Council, in 2020 the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) was designated an official and permanent committee of the DGA National Board for women members residing in the Eastern Region. The Committee would like to remind members that while their events are designed with a special focus on women Directors, all DGA members are welcome to attend.
Use this link to visit the Focus on Women Committee section.
About the LGBTQ+ Committee Co-Chairs
Director Jennifer Arnold
Arnold’s directorial credits include episodes of Based on a True Story, P-Valley, Emily in Paris, American Horror Story, Younger, Shameless, The L-Word: Generation Q, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Man on Earth; the pilot for XO Kitty; and the Humanitas Prize-winning feature documentary, A Small Act. She has been a DGA member since 2017 and previously served as a Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Committee Career Advancement Subcommittee.
UPM Mark Hansson
Hansson has more than 130 AD/UPM credits on theatrical feature films, celebrated movies for television and episodic television. A DGA member since 1990, his service includes being a member or alternate on the Western AD/UPM Council from 2003-2026, including serving as Secretary/Treasurer in 2019. He is an originating member of the LGBTQ+ Committee since 2021 and previously served as a Co-Chair of the Committee from 2024 to 2026. He has also served as Founder and Chair of DGA West Coast 1st AD Committee since 2005, as a member of the Western AD/UPM Council’s Education Committee since 1998; as an appointee to the DGA Safety Committee from 2019-2021, and on seven DGA Negotiations Committees. In 2023, Hansson was the recipient of the DGA’s Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of their career and service to the industry and the DGA.
Director Jessica Lowrey
Lowrey’s directorial credits include episodes of The Madness, Perry Mason, Halo, Lightyears, Heels, Briarpatch, Night Sky and Queen of the South. An alumnus of the DGA Director Development Initiative mentorship program as well as the DGA Assistant Directors Training Program, before beginning her directing career, Lowrey gained extensive experience as an Assistant Director on multiple series including Ballers, Togetherness, Looking and Mad Men. Lowrey has been a DGA member since 2006.
About the LGBTQ+ Committee
The LGBTQ+ Committee was founded in 2021 as a provisional committee to explore ways to educate, inform, address the concerns of and create opportunities for members who identify in these categories. At the DGA National Board meeting on January 8, 2022, the Board voted make the LGBTQ+ Committee an official standing DGA committee. The Committee is dedicated to empowering and advancing the professional interests of LGBTQ+ and to promoting and working for employment equity throughout the entertainment industry.
Use this link to visit the LGBTQ+ Committee section.
