Meet the Board of Directors
Lee Little
Executive Board Member
Rhian Swain
President
Kigwana Cherry
Executive Vice President
David Peltier
Secretary & VP of Programs
Trey Allen
Advisor to the President/Chancellor at Large
Leon Maben
Vice President of Public Art
Menia Chester
Vice President of Development
Mike Sleeper
Treasurer
Meet the Board Members
Blaine Bailey
Bennish Brown
Natalie Bryan
Jorge Cortes
Leslie Hamrick
Mukti Patel
Stacy Pulliam
Christine Rhodes
Sanjeev Singhal
Joan E. Smith
Sincerai Stallings
Meet the Staff
Brenda Durant
Executive Director
Rhian Swain
Marketing & Promotions Manager
Meet the Public Art Advisory Panel
Voting Panel Members
Kenneth Benson (Term: 8/19-12/24)
Graphic Designer & Illustrator
Augusta Sportswear Brands
Term: 2019 (partial)-2021
Resident of Commission District 3
“Growing up in Augusta in the Harrisburg neighborhood and as a local artist/designer, I have a passion to see art in my community. For me to volunteer with the Public Art Advisor Panel, allows me an opportunity to help foster that passion into reality for other artists and see first-hand the process of how a small idea for public art can become a city tourist spot.”
Kigwana Cherry (Term: 5/19-12/24)
Musician, CEO Pop Up Augusta!
Senior Quality Control Manager, Gilbane, Inc.
Term: 2019-2021
Resident of Commission District 7
“I joined the public art panel to support viable art to enhance the edifice of our GREAT city!!!”
Cameron Bentley (Term: 5/21-12/23)
Assistant Director of Online Instructional Design
Augusta University
Resident of Commission District 2
“Public art bridges gaps in diverse populations and reminds us of the human aspirations we hold in common. I’m constantly awed by the talent within our community and hope to contribute to the amazing work of the GAAC in supporting the artists who give us joy, wonder, and introspection to enrich our experiences and lives in Augusta, my hometown.”
Sa Jules (Term:1/22-12/24)
Author, Poet, Artist, and
Human Resources Manager
AR/AP Specialist at Augusta Transportation, Inc.
Resident of Commission District 6
“Gifts are meant to be shared and used for the betterment of the world. Art is my gift and contribution to this world.”
Laura Evans (Term: 1/23-12/25)
Communications Strategist
Augusta University College of Nursing
Resident of Commission District 1
“Art should be accessible to everyone and public art projects help bridge that gap. I am honored to serve on the Public Art Advisory Panel to help make art more accessible to all in our community. “
Derron Neely (Term: 1/23-12/25)
Owner
Studio Neighborhood Bar and
Augusta Canal Authority member
Resident of Commission District 1
Broderick Mungo (Term: 1/23-12/25)
Technical Director & Chief Engineer
MAG Aerospace
Resident of Commission District 7
Want to get involved? email [email protected]
Artist Resources:
What Is Public Art?
Guide to Public Art Permitting Process
Ad Hoc and Ex-Officio Members
Ex-Officio Members
Leon Maben (Panel Chair)
Vice-Chair, Historic Preservation Commission, Arts Council Board VP of Public Art
Maurice McDowell
Director, Recreation & Parks
Takiyah Douse
Director, Central Services
Carla Delaney
Director, Planning & Development
Shawn Edwards
Director, Augusta GA Land Bank Authority
John Ussery
Assistant Director, Traffic Engineering
Shauntia Lewis
Deputy Director, Housing & Community Dev.
Oliver Page
Deputy Director, Augusta Transit
Oscar Flite
Director of Stormwater Services
Leadra Collins
Public Information Officer, Augusta Utilities
Udomekong Udoko
Transit Planner, Planning & Development
Corey Rogers
Executive Director and Historian, Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History
Jennifer Bowen
VP of Destination Development, Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jay Markwalter
Executive Director, Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau
Dennis Skelley
President/CEO of Georgia Rehabilitation Institute, Inc.
Brenda Durant
Executive Director, Greater Augusta Arts Council