Makayla Santiago-Froebel

She/Her/Hers

Interim Associate Director of Belonging and Community Relations

Office of Community and Belonging

About Makayla 

Makayla Santiago-Froebel serves as Interim Associate Director of Belonging and Community Relations at Chautauqua Institution through November 2026. In this pivotal role, she leads Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives and strengthens relationships with community groups, serving as a key liaison for leaders and stakeholders. 

Makayla brings over a decade of experience in arts and cultural institutions, including leadership in change management, marketing, communications, and development. Her career spans roles with Chautauqua Institution’s Performing and Visual Arts programs, Chautauqua Opera Company & Conservatory, Chautauqua Theater Company, and organizations such as Mark Morris Dance Group, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, and the Center for Elder Law & Justice. 

A passionate advocate for underrepresented voices, she founded the Chatty Carmens, recently renamed Juntos We Make Waves, podcast to spotlight BIPOC female-identifying change-makers in 2020. Makayla holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Business (Music Business) and Arts Administration (Communication) from SUNY Fredonia, a master’s in communication and leadership with a concentration in non-profit organizational leadership from Canisius College, and a Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Cornell University. Her expertise and vision position her to foster a culture of belonging that resonates across the Institution. 

Why did you choose to work at Chautauqua? What do you like about working at Chautauqua? 

There truly is no place like Chautauqua. It’s a rare opportunity to experience an incredible range of artistic expression — opera, theater, dance, music, visual arts — all in one community. Every day brings the chance to collaborate with artists and thinkers from across the globe and connect with people whose backgrounds, perspectives, and life stories are as diverse as the art forms themselves. That blend of creativity and humanity is what makes Chautauqua extraordinary. 

Current and Former Volunteer or Board Roles 

Board President – Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Inc., Jamestown, New York 

Personal Interests 

Podcasting, watching movies, television, live music, and hanging with her two sheepadoodles, Penny & Paxton.