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Meet our Board

From Ohio to North Dakota, our Board of Directors is made up of Midwesterners who are passionate about the arts. These leaders from the field have joined forces to help Arts Midwest make a bigger impact.

Ten members of the Arts Midwest Board, plus President & CEO Torrie Allen, posing for a photo.
  • Headshot of a smiling person of dark skin tone and very short black hair and beard/mustache, wearing a striped suit jacket with a red tie and flower. In the background many gold and red glass light fixtures hang from the ceiling.

    Rishard Allen

    Grants & Community Manager, Pop Culture Collaborative

    Governance Committee Chair

    Learn more on Rishard’s LinkedIn.

    District of Columbia

  • Headshot of a smiling person of medium dark skin tone, with black hair in a bun on top of their head, and wearing a bright yellow shirt.

    Dionne Custer Edwards

    Director of Learning and Public Practice, Wexner Center for the Arts

    Public Impact Commitee Co-Chair

    Learn more on Dionne’s LinkedIn.

    Ohio

  • Headshot of a smiling person of light skin tone and long black hair, wearing hoop earrings, a necklace, and a maroon shirt under a black jacket.

    Cari Hatcher

    Director of Business Development & Customer Support, Northrop, University of Minnesota

    Learn more on Cari’s LinkedIn.

    Minnesota

  • A person of medium light skin tone with long wavy black hair and glasses wearing a tan blouse in front of a purple background

    Christine Her

    Executive Director, ArtForce Iowa

    Iowa

  • Headshot of a smiling person of light skin with long dark brown hair, wearing a red shirt under a black blazer.

    Mia Khimm

    Culture Program Director, Joyce Foundation

    Public Impact Commitee Co-Chair

    Learn more on Mia’s LinkedIn.

    Illinois

  • A smiling person of medium light skin tone with long light brown hair, wearing blue hoop earrings, and a black top with a red rose pattern

    Megan Langley

    Founder & Executive Director, Strengthen ND

    Secretary/Treasurer

    Learn more on Megan’s LinkedIn.

    North Dakota

  • Headshot of a smiling person of light skin tone with red hair pulled back, wearing a gray collared shirt and a beaded necklace.

    Ailithir McGill

    Executive Director, Noblesville Creates

    Vice Chair

    Learn more on Ailithir’s LinkedIn.

    Indiana

  • A smiling person of light skin tone with short hair wearing a blue shirt under a gray blazer.

    Miah Michaelsen

    Executive Director, Indiana Arts Commission

    Indiana

  • Headshot of a person of medium dark skin tone with short curly black hair, wearing a black and white striped shirt, and sitting in front of a vibrant flower mural.

    Andre Perry

    Executive Director, Hancher and the Office of Performing Arts & Engagement

    Chair

    Iowa

  • A smiling person of medium-light skin tone with short dark brown hair, wearing a black v-neck top.

    Amy Spadafore

    Managing Director, Pit & Balcony Community Theatre

    Michigan

  • A smiling person of medium-light skin tone with long brown hair, wearing a blue sweater and blue-green chunky necklace.

    Emily Tau

    Public Affairs Director, David Crowley

    Wisconsin

  • Headshot of a smiling person of medium light skin tone, short dark hair and glasses, wearing a light blue button down shirt under a black jacket.

    George Tzougros

    Executive Director, Wisconsin Arts Board

    Wisconsin

  • A person of medium-dark skin tone with long dreadlocs and glasses, wearing a navy blue beanie and sweater and orange scarf.

    Zechariah Van Harris, III

    President & Curator, South Dakota African American History Museum (SDAAHM) 

    South Dakota

  • Headshot of a person of light skin tone in a blue button-down shirt in front of a light brown wall.

    Joe Williams

    Freelance Artist

    North Dakota

  • Headshot of a person with medium light skin tone, dark hair, and a black turtleneck sweater.

    Christina Woods

    Executive Director, Duluth Art Institute

    Minnesota

  • A person of medium-light skin with glasses and long dark brown hair wearing a brown hoodie.

    L Sam Zhang

    Executive Director, Kalamazoo Chinese Academy

    Learn more on Sam’s LinkedIn.

    Michigan

Emeritus Board

Arts Midwest’s Emeritus Board of Directors is composed of former board members who served with distinction and excellence throughout their tenure. We are honored to recognize these leaders and are grateful for their continued support and guidance of our work.

  • John Bracey, Director Emeritus (Mt. Morris, MI)
  • Flávia Bastos, Director Emeritus (Cincinnati, OH)
  • Brian J. Bonde, Director Emeritus (Sioux Falls, SD)
  • Peter Capell, Chair Emeritus (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Sandra Clark, Director Emeritus (Bloomington, IN)
  • Jasmin DeForrest, Director Emeritus (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Ken Fischer, Director Emeritus (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • David Fraher, President Emeritus (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Matthew Harris, Director Emeritus (Des Moines, IA)
  • Dr. Craig Howe, Director Emeritus (Pine Ridge Reservation)
  • Kendra Whitlock Ingram, Director Emeritus (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Sylvia Kaufman, Director Emeritus (Chicago, IL)
  • Kymm Martinez, Director Emeritus (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Rhoda Pierce, Director Emeritus (Highland Park, IL)
  • Mary Pickard, Director Emeritus (St. Paul, MN)
  • Jane Rasmussen, Director Emeritus (Sisseton, SD)
  • Omari Rush, Director Emeritus (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Michael Louis Vinson, Director Emeritus (Green Bay, WI)
  • Gregory Volan, Director Emeritus (Chicago, IL)
  • Matthew Wallace, Director Emeritus (Grand Forks, ND)
  • Jan Webb, Director Emeritus (Bismarck, ND)

Honor Roll

Arts Midwest recognizes and honors those former Board members who have passed away. We are grateful to these individuals for their many years of dedication to and support of Arts Midwest.

  • Loann Crane (Columbus, OH)
  • Peter A. Rand (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Barbara Robinson (Cleveland, OH)