Convention 2027

March 3–6, 2027
Lexington Kentucky
Registration opens August 15, 2026

Committees, Councils, and Interest Groups

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (OFFICERS)

Position

Name

President

Jeremy Kisling

Executive Director

Joanna Sheehan Bell

VP of Communications

Iris Goode-Middleton

Elected Past Presiden

Jack Benjamin

VP of Finance & Advancement

Ginger Poole Avis

Secretary

Caroline Jane Davis

VP of Festival

Darren Michael

VP of Engagement

Lily Vetter

VP of Opportunity & Access

C.J. Davison

VP of Programming

Matt Leckenbusch

VP of States

Ian Andersen

ADVISORY CABINET

Position

Name

Chair

Iris Goode-Middleton

Leadership Initiative Rep

Travis Xavier Brown

K-8 Educator Rep

Lauren Carlton

Exhibitor Rep

Rich Flemming

Convention Site Local 

Tracy Barber

Sponsor Rep

Kevin Schneider

Freelance Rep

James Blackmon

Outdoor Theatre Rep

Bret Harrell

State Rep

Jono Davis

Hiring (Auditions) Rep

Matt Shields

Hiring (Job Fair) Rep

Roger White

Student Rep

Emily Burchett

Student Rep

B Strife

Opportunity & Access Rep

Grace Edgar

COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL

Position

Name

Publications Committee Chair

Ricky Ramón

Theatre Symposium Steering Committee Chair

Andy Gibb

Incoming Theatre Symposium Editor

Iris Goode-Middleton

Editor of Southern Theatre

Sharrell Luckett

Editor of "SETC News"

Thomas Pinckney

ELECTED PAST PRESIDENT COUNCIL

Position

Name

Past Presidents Committee Chair

Jack Benjamin

Human Resources Committee Chair

Jack Benjamin

Strategic Planning Committee Chair

Tiza Garland

Nominations Committee Chair

Neno Russell

Leadership Initiative Chair

ND Siebel

ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL

Position

Name

Applied Theatre Facilitator 

Oluchi Nwokocha

Arts Administration Facilitator 

Liz Robinson

Community Theatre Facilitator 

Madeline McGrail

Freelancers Facilitator 

James Blackmon

Professional Company Reps Facilitator 

Jenna Tamisiea

Design & Tech Committee Chair

Kevin Frazier

Stage Management Facilitator 

Mandy Stevens

College & University Faculty & Staff Facilitator (primary)

Charles Berggren

Secondary School Educators Facilitator 

Amie Kisling

Small Theatre Programs Facilitator 

Amy Guerin

Theatre for Youth Facilitator

Kelleybrooke Brown

Acting Facilitator 

Brandon Dawson

Directing Facilitator 

Molly Claassen

Moving & Physical Theatre Facilitator

Dory Sibley

Musical Theatre & Dance Facilitator 

Lisa Wipperling

Voice & Speech Facilitator 

Adam Howard

History, Theory, Criticism, Literature Facilitator 

Kaci (Rachel) Davis

Playwriting co-Facilitator

Sheri Winer-Deering

Playwriting co-Facilitator

D.W. Gregory

FESTIVALS COUNCIL

Position

Name

Secondary Festival Chair

Joseph (Joe) Sendak

Studios Festival Chair

Sara-Margaret Cates

Community Theatre Festival Chair

Lyle Tate

Theatre for Youth Festival Chair

Kelleybrooke Brown

Fringe Festival Chair

Abigail Dillard

Short Play Festival Chair

Robert Fuson

FINANCE & ADVANCEMENT COUNCIL

Position

Name

Finance Committee Chair

Ginger Poole Avis

Scholarships Committee Chair

Sally Shirin Story

Awards Committee Chair

Ginger Poole Avis

Keynote Emerging Artists of Promise Chair

Maranda DeBusk

Grant Review Committee Chair

Alexis Marsh

PROGRAMMING COUNCIL

Position

Name

Workshop Committee Chair

Matt Leckenbusch

Design & Technology Committee Chair

Kevin Frazier

Hiring & Careers Committee co-Chair 

Jenna Tamisiea

Hiring & Careers Committee co-Chair 

Matt Shileds

Outdoor Theatre Committee Chair

Lance Culpepper

New Play Development Chair

Paul Gabbard

Keynote Selection Task Force Chair

Matt Leckenbusch

OPPORTUNITY & ACCESS COUNCIL

Position

Name

BIPOC/Global Majority co-Facilitator

Ricky Ramón

BIPOC/Global Majority co-Facilitator

Monica Sánchez

Black Theatre co-Facilitator 

Iris Goode-Middleton

Black Theatre co-Facilitator

Keith Arthur Bolden

Disability Inclusion Facilitator 

Lily Vetter

Faith in Theatre Facilitator 

Carla Lahey

LGBTQ+ in Theatre co-Facilitator

David H. Parker

LGBTQ+ in Theatre co-Facilitator

Jada Cato

Women in Theatre Facilitator 

Grace Edgar

Student & Emerging Artists co-Facilitator

Ursula Robinson

Student & Emerging Artists co-Facilitator

Chris Gilley Forrer

SECRETARY COUNCIL

Position

Name

Bylaws Committee Chair

Pat Gagliano

State Representatives

Position

Name

Alabama State Rep

Kristy Meanor

Florida State Rep

Alexander Kanter

Georgia State Rep

Jono Davis

Kentucky State Rep

Christie Connolly

Mississippi State Rep

Juniper Wallace

North Carolina State Rep

Karli Henderson

South Carolina State Rep

Kris McIntyre

Tennessee State Rep

Anne Swedberg

Virginia State Rep

Suzan McCorry

West Virginia State Rep

Mariah Plante

Contact a Council

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