Team

Gabby Anstey McDonald is the founder of Chair 8 Design, a full service web and graphic design studio based in Telluride, Colorado. She’s been involved with the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation™ for a number of years and works closely with the Media Team on all things related to the digital and print messaging for the Foundation and its many partners. Originally from the suburbs outside Manhattan, Gabby culls design inspiration from her urban roots, as well as from her natural surroundings. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has worked on projects for educational organizations, artists, authors, architects and designers, start-ups, healthcare and mental health professionals, nonprofits and many others. When not sitting at her computer, Gabby spends as much time outdoors as possible with her husband, their two children, and their dog.

Daniela Acosta is a Graphic Design student, illustrator, and entrepreneur with certifications in UX/UI design. Passionate about visual arts and storytelling, she is dedicated to exploring, creating, and sharing stories through her work in documentaries, art, photography, and design. Based in Florida, Daniela’s adventurous spirit drives her to continuously seek new experiences and innovative ways to express her creativity.

Katherine van Hengel is a film producer and tech entrepreneur based in the Greater Boston area. A graduate of Cornell University, she has a strong background in finance, operations, and filmmaking. Katherine serves on the boards of several nonprofits, leveraging storytelling and technology to drive positive change across climate, education and mental health. Currently, for Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation™, she collaborates with Willa, Daniela, and the Media Team to develop and produce media that advances the Foundation’s mission.

Willa Kammerer is a documentary director and producer based in Connecticut, and runs the creative agency Firestarter Interactive. Willa is committed to using film and storytelling to improve the wellbeing of people and the planet, and has deep experience working with education institutions, nonprofits, and foundations to bring this vision to life. Willa began her career as an intern in public radio, studied radio storytelling at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, and holds a B.A. in Italian and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College, as well as professional certificates from Georgetown University in Social Impact Storytelling and Social Impact Partnership Design. She is also a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Willa directed the feature-length documentary, Starting at Zero: Reimagining Education in America, produced in collaboration with the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation™, and continues to work closely with the Foundation, developing and producing media content and campaigns that advance the Foundation’s mission.

An accomplished writer, public speaker, and policy advisor to the nation’s governors, state lawmakers and other senior state elected and administrative officials, Dr. Dan Wuori serves currently as the Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions (a public policy consultancy focused on children and families) and Strategic Advisor at the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation™. He joined The Hunt Institute as its founding Director of Early Learning in January of 2019, and served as Senior Director from February 2021-November 2023, helping to attract more than $10 million in philanthropic and fee-for-service work to The Institute. A former kindergarten teacher and school district administrator, Dr. Wuori served as Deputy Director of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness – the state’s comprehensive, public-private early learning initiative – from 2005-2018. In this role he worked alongside elected leaders to develop significant, bipartisan support for early childhood education and oversaw system innovations including the delivery of public prekindergarten in private, community- and faith-based preschools, improvements to the state’s IDEA Part C early intervention system, the creation of statewide program accountability standards, and the expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife and young adult children.

Elliot Steinberg, Esq., is a Director and COO of the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation. Founded in 1997, the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation™ has led efforts to advance early childhood educational programs across the country. Mr. Steinberg co-founded the San Francisco law firm of Flynn & Steinberg, specializing in real estate, banking, venture capital and taxation. His civic activities included active duty in the United States Navy, the Chairmanship of the San Francisco Art Institute, as well as Trusteeships of the Urban High School of San Francisco and the Wright Institute (Berkeley, California). Mr. Steinberg received his undergraduate degree from the University of California (Berkeley) and his JD degree from the Boa It Hall School of Law at the University of California (Berkeley).

Staci is an educator at heart, convener, and design thinker. Always thinking about how people, place, and data relate, Staci is a synthesizer of voices and evidence to transform the wellbeing of children, families, and communities across the nation. At the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation™, Staci weaves research and practice to support the media team, community organizations, and grantees to propel the Foundation’s purpose to de-silo efforts in order to deepen action and social impact. She holds a BA from University of Pennsylvania, MS from Columbia University, and an EdM from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is raising her children by the sea in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and she also dreams of the southwest deserts where she lived as a child.