Board of Directors

Leadership plays a vital role in the success of the Southeastern Theatre Conference organization. Members who participate in the governance of the organization as well as those who actively collaborate to plan events, programs, and services collectively play leadership roles side-by-side with the Central Office team.

The organizational structure of SETC provides a quick glimpse into how the different facets interrelate and work together to maintain and energize the nation’s largest regional theatre organization. We are currently undergoing an analysis to streamline the communication process, provide better support and empower the Executive Director, and ensure better membership representation.

SETC invites all members to consider how they can bring their skills to the organization. Participating in one of many interest groups or committees is a great way to start. Chairs of Committees and Facilitators of Interest Groups emerge from dedicated service. Board members are nominated by the membership and support the Central Office staff in all areas of the organization.

President
Jeremy Kisling (he/him) 

Jeremy Kisling has taught, directed, and performed for young people for over 30 years. He is the Producing Artistic Director at Lexington Children’s Theatre. He received his B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Northern Iowa and his M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth from the University of Texas at Austin. He authored stage versions of Why Mosquitoes Buzz, Anansi the Spider, The Princess Who Lost her Hair, and The Ghosts of Pineville with Sarah Turner. He received the 2017 Sara Spencer Child Drama Award and the 2019 Tom Behm Award from the Southeastern Theatre Conference. He is a certified Artistic Mental Health Coordinator and a proud graduate of Leadership Lexington in 2019. He is honored to share his life with Amie Kisling, his wife, and his wonderful son, Leo. 

Position description: The President of a non-profit corporation. Presides at all meetings of the officers, board, and membership, and collaborates with the Vice Presidents to appoint committees and chairs. Works closely with the Executive Director in all aspects of SETC's mission, governance, planning, finance, and leadership. 

Elected Past President
Jeff Gibson (he/him)

Jeff Gibson has previously served as VP for Administration and as President of SETC along with work on several standing and Advisory Council committees.  He is Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Middle Tennessee State University and previously served as Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at MTSU.  In addition to his work for SETC, Gibson is a visiting evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Theatre, a former chair of Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region IV, and past chair of the Theatre Division of the Tennessee Governors’ School for the Arts.  He received his M.F.A. in Theatre Management from the University of Alabama and was a management assistant at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. 

Position description: Charged with performing the duties of the President if the President is unable to do so, serves as Chair of Personnel Committee, and provides guidance, support, and consultation to the President of the organization as a member of the Executive Committee. 

Vice President of Administration
Iris Goode-Middleton (she/her) 

Dr. Iris Goode-Middleton is the Director of both student theatre and liberal studies at Hampton University. She earned her BA in Theatre from York College/ City University of New York; an MA in Theatre from Regent University; a MBA from Saint Leo University; and a PHD in Communication from Liberty University. She is the owner of the Goode Dance Project, and The Good Girl Group which focuses on promoting self-care and positive self-talk to women and girls. She is an actress, director, playwright, and choreographer. She serves as co-chair for the College and University division on the Virginia Theatre Association, assistant treasurer for the Black Theatre Network, board member for the African-American Newport News Historical Society, and frequent collaborator with the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. Her book, Soulful Reflections, Affirming Self-Talk for Black Women will be released in December of 2024. Her research interests focus on Black theatre, self-communication, and the impact of media on Black women and girls' self- which fueled her emerging Black Consonance and Dissonance theory.

Position description: Responsible for procedural, organizational, and communication-oriented committees, reports, and tasks on behalf of the Executive Committee including Bylaws, Strategic Planning, Nominations, Publications, and Archives. 

Vice President of Opportunity & Access
Carlton V. Bell II (they/them) 

cj is a Black, Southern, and queer cultural organizer, director, and producer committed to performance as a tool for liberation. They currently serve as Vice President of Access & Opportunity at SETC, Program Associate for the Sex Worker Giving Circle at Third Wave Fund, Producing Fellow at The Tank, and Director of Development for Donja R. Love’s Write It Out. Through their leadership, this Sara Spencer Award winner has stewarded and fundraised over $2.5 million to support artists and communities living within the margins of the margins, centering care, collaboration, and cultural power rooted in Black Southern traditions. Carltonvbell.com | @itscjbell on instagram. 

Position description: Provides leadership and oversight to SETC’s commitment to equity and inclusion by helping to create an inclusive environment for everyone through their position on the Executive Committee.

Vice President of Services
Matthew Leckenbusch (he/him) 

Currently the Director of Theatre, Senior Lecturer, and the Technical Director for Clemson University Performing Arts Department and freelance lighting and carpenter for multiple theatre, video, and dance companies in the Greenville, SC area.  As well as multiple regional and national commercials.  Prior to Clemson, Matthew was the Production Manager at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Technical Director at The Warehouse Theatre, and Assistant Technical Director for Seaside Music Theatre.  ETCP Certified Rigger in Theatre.  Past position held with SETC as Chair of Design/Tech Committee.

Position description: Supervises and represents the products, events, and programs of the organization and works in close collaboration with programming committees, the Executive Director, and central office staff to ensure smooth delivery of these services. 

Vice President of Finance
Ginger Poole (she/her) 

Position description: The Treasurer of a non-profit corporation. Reviews, studies, and disperses all statements, budgets, audits, and planning related to financial management and corporate funds while working closely with the Executive Director. 

Secretary
Caroline Jane Davis (she/her) 

Caroline Jane Davis is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Furman University where she teaches courses in acting, writing, dramatic literature, and theatre history. A member of the 2023 SETC Leadership Initiative cohort, Caroline serves on the Editorial Board of Southern Theatre magazine in addition to her role as Secretary. Professionally, Caroline is a director, actor, and dramaturg with a focus on new play development. She holds an MFA in Performance and Pedagogy from Texas Tech University. 

Position description: Takes the minutes at all business meetings of the officers, board, and membership while serving as a voting member of the Executive Committee. 

Vice President of Divisions
Harry Culpepper (he/him) 

Position description: Serves as a liaison between the Executive Committee and the Division Chairs. 

Vice President of States
Ian Andersen (he/him) 

Ian Andersen is the Interim Department Head of Communication Arts and an Associate Professor of Acting and Voice at Valdosta State University. He holds a BFA from the University of Colorado–Boulder and an MFA from the University of Alabama. He serves as Vice President of the Georgia Theatre Conference and the Southeastern Theatre Conference, where he is also Georgia State Representative. Ian is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Society of American Fight Directors, and the G.R.E.A.T. Fellows. His artistic and scholarly work centers on outdoor classical theatre, poetic performance, and the activation of classical texts. At VSU, he teaches Acting II, Acting for the Camera, Period Styles, Stage Combat, Dialects, and Voice and Diction. With over 20 years of professional experience, he has performed regionally and Off-Broadway, with additional work as a fight choreographer and in independent film and television projects across the country. 

Position description: Serves as a liaison between the Executive Committee and the State Representatives while intentionally communicating and assisting in the formation and strengthening of state groups and organizations. 

Division Chairs

State Representatives