PLAYA Staff
Ana Varas
(she/her)
Executive Director
Ana Varas is an experienced arts administrator with over ten years of work across the academic, nonprofit, and private sectors of the arts industry. She most recently served as the Arts Program Manager at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture in Sisters, Oregon.
Ana holds a PhD in Art History and Theory from the University of Essex, UK, where her research focused on community-driven art practices addressing socio-political and ecological issues. She is also passionate about promoting the intersection of art and science, recognizing the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration to address complex global challenges. Throughout her career, Ana has been committed to leveraging the arts as a catalyst for social change and community engagement. Her leadership is grounded in her belief in the power of the arts to connect diverse communities and drive positive cultural transformation.
Outside of her professional life, Ana enjoys spending time with her family exploring the outdoors and connecting with nature.
Ames Wesselman
(they/them)
GENERAL MANAGER
Ames brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to PLAYA. Throughout their career, they have advanced the missions of organizations focused on climate action, international exchange, farmworker health care, and pathways to citizenship for undocumented farmworkers. A commitment to fostering collaboration within communities has been a common thread throughout their work.
Ames is deeply inspired by PLAYA’s mission to operate at the intersection of science and art, bringing together creative thinkers from both disciplines to explore new ways of creating positive change for the environment and the world. In their words, “the boundlessness of PLAYA’s setting inspires me to work outside my own comfort zone, where my own creativity can flourish and expand as I work toward PLAYA’s mission. It is a joy to see it have the same impact on the diverse group of artists and scientists who make their way to our very special corner of the earth.”
When not at work, Ames can often be found rock climbing, birding, backpacking, or behind the camera.
Shawna Negus
(she/her)
Cuisine and Lodging Manager
Shawna loves her job at PLAYA because she loves food and making people feel welcome. There’s so much pleasure in imagining and creating delicious entrees, salads, and desserts for the people who come here from all over the world. She also takes pride in readying PLAYA’s cabins for new residents. She grew up in this county but has lived in many beautiful places from Alaska to Arizona. Now she’s fortunate to call this area home again, as it’s her favorite place of all, where she has a wonderful garden, family, and many friends.