Americans for the Arts Council Members

All of Americans for the Arts’ Advisory Councils advise staff on programs and services that will build a deeper connection to the field and the network membership. Elected annually by our membership, council members are national leaders who give back to the field by connecting the national work of Americans for the Arts to our members’ work on the local level.

Emerging Leaders Network Council Members

Dara Silver
Vice President of Grant Programs & Partner Relations, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
Photo of Roshi Ahmadian
Roshi Ahmadian
Systems Manager, Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Photo of Caitlin Arias
Caitlin Arias
Associate, Youth Programs, Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute
Laura Elizabeth Guerrero-Nieto
Senior Grants and Professional Development Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture
Yetunde Janski-Ogunfidodo
Equity Facilitator and Creative Consultant
Photo of Geoffrey Kerhsner
Geoffrey Kershner
Executive Director, Academy Center of the Arts
Katherine Kough
Program Director, Center for Humanities in Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Photo of Colleen McCartney
Colleen Amanda McCartney
Grants and Initiatives Manager, ArtsMemphis
Sydney Steen
Creative Economies Coordinator, North Carolina Arts Council
Todd Trebour
Organizations Program Director, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Shoshana Zeldner
Shoshana Zeldner
Program Manager, School of the Arts, University of Nevada, Reno

The Emerging Leaders Council strives to ensure a bright and democratic future for the arts in America by guiding and informing program and resource development that promotes the growth, development, and sustenance of emerging arts professionals nationwide. Members of the Emerging Leaders Council use their expertise to advise, support, and inform Americans for the Arts on programs and services for the next generation of arts professionals.

Every year, Americans for the Arts invites individuals interested in serving in a leadership role among our membership to nominate themselves or a colleague to the Emerging Leaders Council. Please review the expectations and criteria below for serving on the Emerging Leaders Council. Please note that these may differ from the other Advisory Councils.

Emerging Leaders Council Expectations and Criteria:

  • Members of the Emerging Leaders Council are arts professionals who are 35 years or younger or who have been in the field five years or less.
  • Meet with Americans for the Arts' staff in two in-person meetings, and through regular meetings as needed throughout the rest of the year.**
  • Participate in Joint Council Meetings (all council member convenings) as able. If serving in a leadership position on the council (Chair/Co-Chair), participate in ad-hoc planning meetings as necessary.
  • Advise on the development of tools, resources, and programs that help staff achieve the goals stated above.
  • Participate in selecting a slate of new Emerging Leaders Advisory Council candidates during the annual elections process.
  • Assist in selecting the Emerging Leaders Award recipient.
  • Participate in research and program evaluations conducted by Americans for the Arts.
  • Participate in Americans for the ARTSblog.

**For the 2021-2022 term we expect that most council meetings and related activities in 2021 will be held virtually. These may include regularly planned Advisory Council meetings, participation in joint/all Advisory Council member convenings, and other ad-hoc calls as determined by your Advisory Council Staff Liaison. If serving in a leadership position this may also include planning calls with other Advisory Council Chairs/Co-Chairs.