Ayla Dillard

Director of Communications

Ayla is a graduate of Stanford University where she majored in Philosophy and earned a minor in Drama/Dance, with additional coursework/research at Stanford’s Psychology department. Post-graduation, she studied graphic design, international relations, statistics, mediation, and conflict resolution at UCLA, SMC, and CSUN. She became a Certified Mediator in 2010, and consulted with small businesses before joining Dr. Tina Payne Bryson’s team in 2016.

As Director of Communications, Ayla oversees Tina’s speaking, consulting, and collaborative projects, often partnering with teams in education, healthcare, government, and the private sector. This can include project contracting, coordination of media appearances, media content planning, pre-event coordination, vision calls, and other logistics. According to Ayla, the best part of her job is supporting a wide variety of professionals from around the globe, all of whom who are showing up for their communities and engaged in deeply meaningful work.

Ayla also splits her time to provide behind-the-scenes logistical support to the Center for Connection (“CFC”), an interdisciplinary practice founded by Tina with offices in Pasadena, Duarte, and Santa Barbara, California. She further works with Tina’s team as the PlayStrong Institute (virtually based) and Center for Connection and Neurodiversity (located at the Duarte offices).

As a part of the CFC's leadership team, Ayla collaborates with division leads—representing mental health, assessment, occupational therapy, educational therapy, and speech and language therapy—to promote and implement the Center’s services, as well as to support the CFC’s team and community.

In her spare time, Ayla can be found at her local pool, rehabilitating a serious injury sustained in 2021. She aspires to work her way back to hiking, climbing, cycling, and SCUBA diving, but enjoys for now the cozier hobbies, such as reading, puzzling, gardening, painting, and optimizing her vinyl listening experience.