Board Members
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Diane BeardenPresident
Diane is the founder and owner of 3 Quarters Right, LLC, an event company. She is currently an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, Theatre Department. She holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Diane currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is very active in the theater community. She is a professional actress, singer, director, designer and teacher. She sits on the board of her local theater company, Playhouse 615. Diane has an extensive resume performing across Florida, New York City and Tennessee, to name a few. Diane is honored to be the founding president of the ARTemis Arts Board of Directors. She believes ARTemis Arts’ mission is essential to opening doors for more women in leadership roles across all facets of the arts in the United States, both in the professional and educational sectors. |
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Sam HullVice President
Sam is a professional director, teacher, MC, designer, creative consultant, acting coach and performer. He has directed award winning productions both on stage and in film, won numerous design awards and has appeared as a performer in over 60 productions including opera, stage, film, and TV. He has worked with organizations throughout the USA and Canada. He currently sits on the Artist United Board, maintains membership in three unions and owns two design businesses. Sam is a member of ATHE and has taught at nine universities both as a professor and guest artist in residence. Sam holds an MFA from the University of Florida and two Bachelor’s degrees from Bradley University. Sam’s career has focused on producing, directing and reinventing artistic opportunities for women. He encourages women to look beyond the limitations set by the industry and find new and exciting methods of communicating with the world at large. His primary mission is to raise the awareness of limited opportunities for women in the arts, with a goal of advancing the definition of “women’s work” and creating outlets and partnerships for women in the professional and educational arenas. He has been advancing the woman artist through Knowledge Building, Exposure and Support for over 26 years. |
Leslie Clark
Treasurer
Leslie is a CPA who has worked her entire thirty year plus career in public accounting in the Portland Oregon metropolitan area . She works with a variety of business, nonprofit, and individual clients providing a range of financial services, including financial reporting, tax preparation and planning, consulting, and special projects. Leslie has also volunteered for several nonprofits over the years in a variety of positions and performing a variety of functions, including; providing leadership, developing nonprofit goals, implementing strategies to guide the nonprofit toward its’ mission, recordkeeping, and financial oversight.
While Leslie does not have any artistic talents of her own, she grew up surrounded by family and friends who were talented artists and so has a long standing appreciation of art in its’ various forms. Art she grew up around includes pottery making, textile arts, graphic design, screen printing, literature and poetry, theater, and music. This background reinforced the importance of art, and the ability to have entry to one’s form of art to all members of society.
Leslie is a CPA who has worked her entire thirty year plus career in public accounting in the Portland Oregon metropolitan area . She works with a variety of business, nonprofit, and individual clients providing a range of financial services, including financial reporting, tax preparation and planning, consulting, and special projects. Leslie has also volunteered for several nonprofits over the years in a variety of positions and performing a variety of functions, including; providing leadership, developing nonprofit goals, implementing strategies to guide the nonprofit toward its’ mission, recordkeeping, and financial oversight.
While Leslie does not have any artistic talents of her own, she grew up surrounded by family and friends who were talented artists and so has a long standing appreciation of art in its’ various forms. Art she grew up around includes pottery making, textile arts, graphic design, screen printing, literature and poetry, theater, and music. This background reinforced the importance of art, and the ability to have entry to one’s form of art to all members of society.
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Sarah BehrSecretary
Sarah holds a degree in Russian Studies and is the mom to twin college aged women. Sarah is a volunteer extraordinaire and has a rich family history of major philanthropic work. Sarah was a volunteer and eventually in a leadership role with the Providence Festival of Trees for 10+ years helping to raise over 10+ million dollars. Sarah was the first financial supporter to fund ARTemis Arts. She was instrumental in launching the organizational segments as well as the first workshop offerings. Sarah and her family made it possible in the early days to find fiscal sponsorship and to grow the ideas into the focused non-profit ARTemis Arts is staged to become. |
Jaki King
Curator (ON PERSONAL LEAVE)
Jaki is a librarian, researcher and a writer. She holds a masters degree in library science and information management from Emporia State University. She currently resides and works in Orange County, California. This has been a transition for her as she is a born and bred Oregonian, but she hopes to eventually get used to the sunshine. When she isn't working as a Librarian she researches topics for authors and creators.
She is currently working on a nonfiction book of her own about sharks and their connection to humans as a cultural stereotype. Jaki is an intersectional feminist and actively works to support and encourage women in all facets of life and experiences. She is very proud to be a supporter of ARTemis Arts and hopes to accomplish many things for the artists involved.
Jaki is a librarian, researcher and a writer. She holds a masters degree in library science and information management from Emporia State University. She currently resides and works in Orange County, California. This has been a transition for her as she is a born and bred Oregonian, but she hopes to eventually get used to the sunshine. When she isn't working as a Librarian she researches topics for authors and creators.
She is currently working on a nonfiction book of her own about sharks and their connection to humans as a cultural stereotype. Jaki is an intersectional feminist and actively works to support and encourage women in all facets of life and experiences. She is very proud to be a supporter of ARTemis Arts and hopes to accomplish many things for the artists involved.
Kristi Plahn-Gjersvold
Corporate Giving Chair (ON PERSONAL LEAVE)
Kristi Plahn-Gjersvold is the Assistant Dean for Administration & Strategic Initiatives at American University’s School of Communication in Washington, DC. Kristi provides leadership to the School’s external research funding administration, execution of strategic partnership agreements, inclusion and community building efforts and full time human resource management from the Office of the Dean. She creates strategies, budgets and resource scenarios for initiatives for the School’s centers, labs, institutes, and special projects. She also supervises AU's Game Center operations.
Kristi has a wealth of experience from her background in the foundation and nonprofit sectors. Prior to shifting to higher education, she managed external relations at the Benton Foundation, coordinating strategic communications and its website as well as managing grant and development relationships. Kristi was with Very Special Arts (VSA arts) as the research and evaluation coordinator, writing and administrated private and federal grants as well as assisted in the creation of evaluation tools. At VSA arts, she created and managed an online community project and established partnerships for community model access sites for artists with disabilities. Kristi’s professional portfolio also includes work in theatre and gallery management, research and editing for a human rights organization at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, and public relations coordination for a national speaker’s bureau. She was also a volunteer literacy tutor for at-risk children in Peoria, Illinois, and District of Columbia schools. She is a published poet.
Kristi holds a BA in international studies and German with a minor in creative writing from Bradley University. She studied international relations and art history at the University of Vienna and German linguistics at the Goethe Institute in Germany. Kristi completed credits toward a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative writing and has a MS in Organizational Development from American University.
Kristi Plahn-Gjersvold is the Assistant Dean for Administration & Strategic Initiatives at American University’s School of Communication in Washington, DC. Kristi provides leadership to the School’s external research funding administration, execution of strategic partnership agreements, inclusion and community building efforts and full time human resource management from the Office of the Dean. She creates strategies, budgets and resource scenarios for initiatives for the School’s centers, labs, institutes, and special projects. She also supervises AU's Game Center operations.
Kristi has a wealth of experience from her background in the foundation and nonprofit sectors. Prior to shifting to higher education, she managed external relations at the Benton Foundation, coordinating strategic communications and its website as well as managing grant and development relationships. Kristi was with Very Special Arts (VSA arts) as the research and evaluation coordinator, writing and administrated private and federal grants as well as assisted in the creation of evaluation tools. At VSA arts, she created and managed an online community project and established partnerships for community model access sites for artists with disabilities. Kristi’s professional portfolio also includes work in theatre and gallery management, research and editing for a human rights organization at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, and public relations coordination for a national speaker’s bureau. She was also a volunteer literacy tutor for at-risk children in Peoria, Illinois, and District of Columbia schools. She is a published poet.
Kristi holds a BA in international studies and German with a minor in creative writing from Bradley University. She studied international relations and art history at the University of Vienna and German linguistics at the Goethe Institute in Germany. Kristi completed credits toward a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative writing and has a MS in Organizational Development from American University.
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Colleen Corbett LesterColleen has been involved in theater since age 16. She has directed, taught & acted at the award-winning Upper Darby Summer Stage Program in Pennsylvania. Colleen received her MFA in acting from the University of Florida, interning with Roundabout Theatre in Arts in Education. She went on to act professionally in NYC for several years before moving on to her greatest role: mom to Connor & Parker.
Colleen is currently the Director of Pharma Solutions Sales for a German environmental monitoring company. |
Advisory Board for ARTS
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Jill Balch-Coon |
Advisory Board for Sports
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Chris PulliamChris Pulliam is an avid, albeit score-challenged, bowler, and has been a proud and vocal advocate of the sport for several years. He has provided financial support to several causes related to women
professional bowlers and youth bowlers to create and increase opportunities for athletes who want to improve themselves within and beyond the sport. He is honored to support ARTemis Arts in efforts to shine a light on women pursuing their goals. Chris currently resides in Las Vegas with his wife and cats, and spends his time outside of bowling centers working in health care law. |
