Board of Directors

Chair
SHEELAGH M. ALLSTON

Vice President, Senior Real Estate Counsel, Wexford Science + Technology
Committees: Executive, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, COVID Health and Safety Advisory

"I am excited about the work of Arts for Learning. I believe in the importance of the arts in education and think every child should have opportunities to experience the arts. Arts for Learning is working hard to make this a reality. I can appreciate that much has been accomplished by Arts for Learning, yet much remains to be done. I want to help with the work so that the organization can continue to grow and serve as many children as possible. Being a part of this organization is important to me because music, visual, and performing arts played a prominent role in my childhood and education and I enjoy working with people who are full of creative energy and recognize the importance of arts programming in education."

Vice-Chair
BILL BUCKNER

Director, Learning and Capacity Building, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Committees: Executive, Board Development, Strategic Planning

"I have recently relocated to the Maryland area and have finally settled down. This is now becoming home. As such, I have an interest in investing some of my time and resources towards making this a better place to live and work. Serving through Arts for Learning enables me to blends three of my interests; (1) helping children, (2) the arts, and (3) improving education. I have actively served children in several capacities dating back to college and this is central to my professional life at the Casey Foundation. Although I do not perform, I am a lover of the arts and have supported and been members of both large and small art companies and supported mainstream and lesser known local artists. Finally, improving life outcomes through education is my passion."

Vice-Chair
CHRIS WALLACE

Retired Speech-Language Pathologist
Committees: Executive, Development

"I am interested in the education of children. Arts for Learning facilitates the enhancement of the school experience through the arts which is key to any long-term learning experience. Arts for Learning's focus on giving teachers the tools to continue using the arts in the curriculum is essential for the success of both Arts for Learning and the school programs. I am excited that Arts for Learning is now bringing this experience to children in preschool."

Secretary
DR. NANCY KASS

JHU Phoebe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics and Public Health & Deputy Director, Berman Institute of Bioethics
Committee: COVID Health and Safety Advisory

"I love Arts for Learning and have been involved peripherally for years. I cannot begin to express the importance of connecting young people to the arts. I think art is a way to communicate gently. It's not only what art brings to learning or development, it's a way to communicate gently in classrooms. Many classrooms are not what one might describe as gentle. I think art forces more gentleness…"

Treasurer
ERIC M. PRIPSTEIN

Owner, Pripstein & Associates, LLC
Committees: Executive, Finance, Board Development

"I believe education is the solution to our problems in society. We all learn differently, so each child should have the opportunity to experience the arts. It may be what works for them. I choose to dedicate time to Arts for Learning to support these beliefs and to help create an education system that challenges each child's mind and feeds their soul. Also, I enjoy being part of the Arts for Learning community of board, staff, and artists. They are my friends."

THOMAS M. BROWN

Partner, FinanceForward
Committee: Development, Finance

"In our ever fractious country with structural impediments to upward mobility it is essential, in my view, to provide vision and skills to allow less advantaged children to believe they can have a future of productive self-actualization. I believe Arts for Learning is one exciting organization that can help make it happen. Arts integration into the learning system has been gradually phased out of too many curricula and downplayed as important, but all the arts (visual, music, dance, literature) are languages to be learned, and like law, mathematics, physics, and other languages, all provide different ways of seeing and perceiving. By doing so, it allows us to view problems from different angles and encourage more creative solutions. We NEED this!"

CANDICE BUCKNER

Interior Designer
Committee: Benevon 2.0

"I have, over the last 19 years, devoted myself to many different projects and programs which touch children's lives. I am particularly interested in programs that introduce less fortunate children to new ideas that may serve as a spark for a brighter future for them. I was very excited to learn about Arts for Learning because I could relate to the arts programs, because it was through the arts that I found my path from engineering to interior design. I want to help strengthen the work of Arts for Learning - exposing more children to the arts, helping them to gain both a greater appreciation for the arts and find their true passion and calling."

BRIAN CHAPPELL

Partner, Hogan Lovells US, LLP
Committee: Benevon 2.0

"I have been impressed by the work that Arts for Learning does and support the organization's mission. I particularly like the fact that the programs have a positive impact on everyone involved (students, parents, teachers, school administrators, and artists)."

ELIZABETH DRIGOTAS

Practice Management Analyst, Johns Hopkins University
Committee: Benevon 2.0

"I am committed to providing opportunities for kids to experience and participate in the arts. I am also excited by the efforts Arts for Learning is making to expand into summer school programs."

LAWANDA EDWARDS

Program Manager, Policy Development & External Affairs, Maryland Health Care Commission

"I believe in the mission of Arts for Learning, and I would very much like to work with an organization that understands the importance of using art to help children reach their highest potential."

ALAN HOFF

Managing Partner, Sellman Hoff, LLC
Committees: Executive, Development, Risk Management, Strategic Planning

"I am excited to join the Arts for Learning board because it attracts passionate people who want to make a difference and who want to bring artistic, emotional, and intellectual growth to the children of our community."

RODRICK JOHNSON

CEO of The Johnson Experience / Baltimore City Literacy Coach

"Students deserve an experience and something that captivates them! Arts and education in one setting allow students access that some need to feel successful. When I was introduced to this organization, I was guaranteed that students would get this every time there was a program, and it has been consistent. I want to participate and join in providing equity, arts, learning, and experiences for all students."

SENATOR ED KASEMEYER

Former Maryland State Senator

"I find it exciting to realize that the arts can provide an alternative means for children to learn."

MITCH KREBS

Vice President - Portfolio Manager, First National Bank
Committee: Finance

"I believe that the best, if not only, answer to bring social justice for those living in underserved areas and on very limited means is through education. Integrating arts into that education - as Arts for Learning demonstrates - is necessary to meet these needs, educate our youth, and prepare them for advanced education beyond high school. It's a cause that needs to expand."

MARK PAUL LEHMAN

Senior Counsel, Vice President, Howden Americas

"I was blessed to be involved in the arts as a child and I know I greatly benefited from the experiences (arts and music). As a gay man growing up in a conservative rural area, I believe participating in the arts literally save my life. I believe exposure to the arts nourishes the soul of every individual including children. Arts for Learning provides services that are critical to a vital urban area and the excellence of services makes it an organization that stands out."

ARIEL L. MARTIN, ESQ

Senior Associate, The Common Application

"I choose to dedicate my time to Arts to Learning Maryland because I strongly believe in its mission and I am inspired by the work the organization does to enrich education through the arts."

CECIL MARTIN

Partner, McGuire Woods, LLP
Committee: Name Change

"Having experienced the benefit of arts integration in my own education, I know first-hand how programs, like what Arts for Learning provides, can enrich the lives of students and open new worlds by connecting with them in ways that rote learning simply cannot. As a father of three children, I recognize that there is a lot of competition for their time and attention. I am excited to be a part of an organization that works to make learning both more interesting and effective."

DR. JASON MORGAN

Associate Vice President, Undergraduate Admissions, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

"I personally and professionally connect with the mission of Art for Learning Maryland. In my current role at Maryland Institute College of Art and my strategic planning and project management background, I can be a valuable asset to the organization. The arts can empower MD students to excel in areas of learning that they perceive as difficult. Through its partnerships, programs, and development programs, the organization's work is vital to MD students."

RANDY OSTEEN

General Counsel, Hull Street Energy, LLC
Committees: Executive, Risk Management, Board Development, Strategic Planning

"I have had a passion for the arts my entire life and I am a firm believer that every child should have the opportunity to experience the arts throughout their education. My daughter is a young student and I have witnessed firsthand just how important having exposure to the arts can be to a young child. I am looking forward to helping Arts for Learning continue to work toward achieving our mission of bringing the arts to as many children as possible. I continue to be amazed by the vitality and energy that management and other board members bring to their work with Arts for Learning and I hope to be able to contribute to such a wonderful organization."

GERREN G. PRICE

President and CEO, DowntownDC Business Improvement District
Committees: COVID Health and Safety Advisory, Should We Expand Into D.C.

"I have always been passionate about the arts and benefitted from effective art and music programs as a child. I believe that all children should have access to platforms to express their creativity and enhance their skills."

SARAH SAVAGE

Vice-President of Human Resources, Pearson Virtual Schools

"I believe every child has a right to education and, after 15 years working in the industry, I know each child learns in their own unique ways. I love that A4L embraces the needs of our local students and is dedicated to helping them learn and grow through the arts."

THOMAS J. SESSA

Attorney, HERMAN, SESSA & DORSEY, LLC
Committees: Board Development, Benevon 2.0, Should We Expand Into D.C.

"I was fortunate to be introduced to the arts at a young age and it has resulted in a lifelong appreciations for the arts. I believe that similar opportunities should be offered and in the age of shrinking school budgets for non-core courses, Arts for Learning fills a truly valuable need."

SARA MEADOWS SHAWE

PAUL WOLMAN

Principal, WolmanEdge

"As a lifelong student of the live experience, and one who feels incredibly fortunate to have performed (magic, music, party DJ) in front of audiences at an early age, I'm especially excited about your arts integration approach to learning, and life."

LOIS MARK, Emeritus

Retired Consultant, Baltimore Development Corp.

"I believe that the variety of arts-in-education experiences provided by Arts for Learning enhance the lives of Maryland students in many important ways. These experiences serve to delight and expand minds, increase self-confidence, and stimulate creativity and self-knowledge."