About Us
The California Institute of Arts and Letters (CIAL) was founded in 2003 under the vision and leadership of Jeff Munnis. Jeff founded CIAL with the help of Stelli Munnis, Mark Yoslow, and Jessica Duttlinger. The Institute's primary function is to promote the work of contemporary poets and poets from Central and South America, especially those with prophetic voices who challenge our conscious understanding of purpose, place, and meaning.
Staff
Stelli Munnis, MA, Planning Director
stelli@calartsandletters.org
Stelli has a deep love for the arts and she enjoys helping others connect with their artistic and creative abilities. Her primary role at CIAL is strategic planning and organizational development. Stelli was born in Managua, Nicaragua and has lived in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, California, Managua, and Richmond, England. She has a BA in economics from the University of Florida and a MA in psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA. Stelli is the author of The Kali Guide: A Directory of Resources for Women, and the illustrator of a comic book series called, The Exploits of Cosmic Commander and Adventure Girl.
Jeff Munnis, Executive Director, Publisher & Managing Editor
jeff@calartsandletters.org
As Publisher and Managing Editor, Jeff is responsible for selecting the writers CIAL publishes. Jeff thrives on bringing different perspectives together in dialogue through literature and art. His interests are in publishing contemporary poets and writers, in expanding Latin American and Hispanic literature in translation, exploring the connections between mysticism, psychology, and poetry, and in expanding the dialogue between artists and scholars. CIAL grew out of his desire to create a unique community of writers and scholars willing to explore new ideas in publishing and education, combining elements of prior literary traditions with new and emerging ideas. Jeff grew up in Titusville, Florida next to the Indian River. He is a graduate of the University of Florida (BS) Goddard College (MFA) in Vermont, and Pacific School of Religion (M.Div.) at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
Jessica Foreman, Creative Director
jessica@calartsandletters.org
Jessica is the Creative Director and one of the founders of the CIAL. She holds a BFA from the University of Illinois and has been working as a graphic designer in the magazine and book publishing world for over a decade. Jessica is the designer of the Institute's poetry journal, Black Zinnias, as well as the lead designer of the books the Institute produces. Jessica first met Jeff, the Publisher and Managing Editor of CIAL, by chance, when he came in to speak to the publisher of the company where she was working at the time. She overheard him mention his plans of starting a literary magazine and, having an interest in such a venture herself, copied down his e-mail on the sly. She sent him a note, and her role in the organization grew from there. Believing that everything happens for a reason, Jessica considers herself very fortunate to be part of the talented team of people who make up CIAL. She admires and believes in each of the group's members and is proud to share in their common vision. Jessica lives in the Berkeley hills with her husband, Todd, and their cat, Curtis. She rarely gets enough sleep, but she always wakes up happy.
Jennifer Dombek, Assistant Editor
jennifer@calartsandletters.org
Jennifer wears many hats for CIAL. In addition to editing, she keeps everyone at CIAL smiling; her warmth and sense of humor are invaluable. One of Jennifer's passions is film. She has loved movies since she was a little girl. The cinematic magic that can be created on-screen can be used to enlighten, inspire, and just plain entertain. She combines her film production knowledge with artistic vision and life experiences to create her own haunting images and stories, and share them with her audience. She’s written and produced short films. “I believe in the truth movies can inspire. The moving image may be an illusion, but the message should speak to people. Plus nothing beats a good movie and buttered popcorn.”
Board
Bob Hinrichs, Board Member
bob@calartsandletters.org
At work as CTO at ISL Consulting, Bob's duties include providing business strategy guidance to ISL and ISL's clients from a technology perspective, participating in projects, and assessing partnership opportunities. Bob has worked at ISL for 13 years, since the "early days" of the Web. He has recently completed the first released iteration of the literary Web site, RedRoom.com. Prior to working at ISL, Robert graduated from U.C. Hastings College of the Law and was licensed to practice law in California. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kansas with an Honors Degree in English literature and writing and has independently released two albums, Bob is Famous and Soulever. Since his childhood in Lincoln, NE, programming his Atari 400 at age 9, Robert has always had an intense interest in computer technology and its ability to improve the way people can learn and accomplish their goals and dreams.
Vanessa Sharp, Board Member
vanessa@calartsandletters.org
Vanessa Sharp is a creative, fast-thinking editor and writer with a diverse background in online and print publishing and marketing. Vanessa started off as an assistant editor, working on the pilot issue of Microsoft.com Magazine, and then was a fashion writer for Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer, where she helped to launch several of their earlier websites. She worked as a magazine editor for lifestyle publications, including San Francisco magazine and ANG newspapers. Currently, Vanessa edits and writes freelance for Mountain Travel Sobek, a trekking company that takes small groups to remote areas around the world, and EMC Creative, a Dublin-based advertising agency.