DGA Women's Committee Names Seventh Mentorship Class
Lucia Aniello, Mike Flanagan, Boots Riley, Karyn Kusama and Lesli Linka Glatter are among the mentors in the WSC Squad program's seventh class.
The Directors Guild of America's Women's Steering Committee announced the seventh class of mentors and mentees for its WSC Squad Mentorship Program on October 22, 2026, according to Variety.
The mentor roster includes Lucia Aniello, Mike Flanagan, Boots Riley, Karyn Kusama and Lesli Linka Glatter, a former DGA president. Each is paired with a single mentee: Aniello with Carmen Angelica, Flanagan with Anna Halberg, Riley with Tiffany Johnson, Kusama with Kate Sullivan and Glatter with Mallory Thompson.
The program is co-led by Karla Braun, Jess Brunetto, Tiffany Frances and Alexis Ostrander. The Women's Steering Committee is co-chaired by Shaz Bennett, Jade Jenise-Dixon and Valerie Weiss, with Liz Ryan serving as alt co-chair.
The mentorship runs as a nine-month curriculum aimed at mid-career women and nonbinary directors.
Program history
The WSC Squad Mentorship Program began in 2021, making this year's group the seventh since its launch.
Quick answers
Who are the mentors in the DGA WSC Squad Mentorship Program's seventh class?
Lucia Aniello, Mike Flanagan, Boots Riley, Karyn Kusama and Lesli Linka Glatter.
How long does the mentorship program run?
It is a nine-month curriculum for mid-career women and nonbinary directors.
When did the WSC Squad Mentorship Program start?
The program first began in 2021.