Staff Biographies

​Marlena Becker graduated from UCLA in 2019 with a BA in Theater. She is dedicated to making a difference in the world, and she could not think of a better way to do so than through her work at PRESENT NOW. Additionally, Marlena is an actor in The Wallis Studio Ensemble, an LA-based theater company dedicated to social justice and inclusion. She is also involved in a journalism program through StageRaw, an online platform for reviewing and discussing Los Angeles art. Prior to PRESENT NOW, Marlena was the Development Intern at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. She also works as a vocal teacher for children. Marlena is an avid musician, dancer, actor, yogi, and writer. 

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​Maxwell Havas graduated from UCLA in 2019, here he participated in fundraising performances for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Paderewski Music Society. He currently lives in Los Angeles. 

​Lilian Miller joined PRESENT NOW in 2017, serving two years as a Board Member prior to assuming her role as Executive Director. She has held management positions at a variety of nonprofit organizations, working in health, education, arts, and global philanthropy. Most recently, she served as Director of Annual Giving at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Her areas of expertise include strategic and operational planning, communications, governance and donor stewardship. Lilian earned an MPA in nonprofit management and policy from the New York University Wagner School of Public Service and is a designated Certified Fund Raising Executive by CFRE International. She previously served on the board of the Plus Me Project. Lilian grew up in Brazil and is a design enthusiast. 
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​Emily Steiner is from Los Angeles, California, and she graduated from Brentwood School. She is currently a rising senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, class of 2021. She is in the School of Human Ecology, majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Digital Studies. She is interested in the areas of philanthropy, education, and digital media.

​Cori Zucker is originally from New York and was a Communications major at Hofstra University. She began her career in the entertainment industry working at ICM Partners, Artists Management Group, and NBC Universal. Her love and compassion for children and their well-being led her to volunteer and perform consulting work at The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and ultimately a career in the nonprofit field. Cori has been with PRESENT NOW since 2014 where she began as the Program Coordinator. In her free time, Cori is an avid reader, baker and lover of politics.