San Francisco/South Volunteers

Joyce Masongsong-Ray

Co-Regional Advisor

Emily Jiang

Co-Regional Advisor

Seina Wedlick

Co-Assistant Regional Advisor

Danielle Heitmuller

Co-Illustrator Coordinator

Nena Hy-Boyer

Co-Illustrator Coordinator

Joyce Masongsong-Ray, Co-Regional Advisor Among other things, Joyce is a mom, former elementary school teacher and roller derby referee. She writes and illustrates stories embracing cultural identity, science and engineering, silly humor and magical cats. Her collection of college degrees includes a BA in art history from the University of Miami, a BFA in animation from the College for Creative Studies (Detroit) and an MA in education from the University of Michigan. She loves learning and laughing!

Emily Jiang, Co-Regional Advisor Emily Jiang holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Saint Mary's College of California and a BA in English from Rice University, and she composes music any way. Her choral compositions have been performed by the San Francisco Choral Artists, and recordings of her music have been played on internet radio and were published in Interfictions. She is the author of Summoning the Phoenix: Poems & Prose about Chinese Musical Instruments, illustrated by April Chu and published by Shen's Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books. When not working or actively creating, she relaxes by singing, playing taiko, or social dancing. After a multi-year hiatus, she is delighted to rejoin SCBWI and actively contribute to the wonderful community of children's writers and illustrators. http://www.emilyjiang.com/

Seina Wedlick, Assistant Regional Advisor, PAL Coordinator Seina moved to the SF Bay Area from the east coast and fell in love with the beautiful weather, diverse landscapes, and close proximity to wine country. When she is not spending time with her husband and children, she can be found exploring bookstore shelves and spending time on the beach. Her debut picture book, Naming Ceremony, was released in 2023.

Danielle Heitmuller, Co-Illustrator Coordinator Danielle is an animator, illustrator, and an Assistant Professor at Santa Clara University in Digital Illustration and Animation. She is fascinated by the intersection of digital and traditional technologies, and is usually found somewhere between an easel and a computer. She has 20 years of professional experience in Motion Graphics and Visual Effects for film and advertising. Danielle holds a BFA in Animation from Rochester Institute of Technology, and an MFA from UCLA's Animation Workshop. Her award-winning animated films have traveled to festivals around the USA and the globe. Originally from the woods of Connecticut, she has a deep love of flowers, trees and the thin places in nature. She loves cats, hats, and tea. Danielle lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. https://www.heitmuller.com/

Nena Hy-Boyer, Co-Illustrator Coordinator Nena is an avid member of SCBWI and acts as the region’s New Member Coordinator. She is a former heart surgery physician assistant and currently a prepublished author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Her first published artwork was, unconventionally, in a computer science paper. Nena lives with her husband, children and parents in Sunnyvale, where she enjoys baking, dancing and crafting.