News & Events

Alumni Success Story: Ronni Reich, New York State Council on the Arts

Congratulations to AES Alum Ronni Reich! Ronni was recently hired as New York State Council on the Arts’ (NYSCA) Director of Public Information, overseeing NYSCA’s communications and public relations, as well as marketing materials and social media. Ronni has completed four courses with AES, and is pursuing her Professional Certificate in Arts Management.

The Right Board at the Right Time: An Interview with Lisa Barnwell Williams

Lisa Barnwell Williams is the instructor for our new Board Development course, offered this fall. Lisa has over 30 years of fundraising experience, pioneering online prospect research and having led development efforts for several nationally-recognized organizations, including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Ballet, and the Agnes Irwin School.

Alumni Success Story: Melanie Pozdol, Grenzebach Glier and Associates

Congralulations to AES alum Melanie Pozdol! Melanie has been hired as Project Assistant at Grenzebach Glier and Associates in Chicago. Grenzebach Glier and Associates (GG+A) is "a full-service philanthropic management consulting firm, serving non-profit organizations across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia since 1961." Melanie received her Core Certificate in Arts Managment this spring.

"What are you up to this summer?"

Our arts management and arts entrepeneurship students are always busy - and the summer is no different. We asked our on-campus students what they were up to this summer - here is what a few of them had to say:

Three Music Entrepreneurs to Watch Out For

Jonathan Kuuskoski is the instructor for our online Foundations in Arts Entrepreneurship course and Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship and Career Services with the EXCEL program at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance! The EXCEL Program provides entrepreneurship training and career services for all. You can read Jonathan's bio here.

Alumni Success Story: Gwendolyn Tunnicliffe, WAM Theatre

Congratulations to AES alumna Gwendolyn Tunnicliffe, who is the new Philanthropy and Outreach Coordinator for WAM Theatre! Gwen will develop WAM's culture of philanthropy by cultivating individual donor and corporate relationships, researching funding opportunities, and overseeing special events planning. Located in the Berkshires of Western MA, WAM Theatre is a professional theatre dedicated to creating opportunities for women and girls.

Admin Assistant Priya Nadkarni in upcoming exhibition

Our Administrative Assistant, Priya Nadkarni, will be participating in a group exhibition at Paper City Studios in Holyoke, MA. The show runs from May 6- June 3, 2016 with an opening reception on Friday May 6 from 6-9pm.

AES awarded grants to bring Public Art Trainings to Western MA

AES is excited to announce that we have received grants from the Local Cultural Councils of Amherst, Easthampton, Holyoke, and Pittsfield to bring an evening-long Introduction to Public Art Workshop to each community in the fall of 2016.

Congratulations to Maria Bastos-Stanek, 2016 NAPAAL Intern at the National Endowment of the Arts!

We are excited to announce Maria Bastos-Stanek, Art History and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies ’17, has been selected as the National Arts Policy Archive and Library (NAPAAL) Intern at the National Endowment of the Arts for Summer 2016! Open to all Five College students, this internship opportunity is funded thanks to a generous grant from the Women of UMass Amherst Fund. Maria was selected through a competitive application process directed by the Arts Extension Service this winter.

Alumni Success Story: Alison Gibbs, Ogunquit Museum of American Art

Congratulations to AES Alum Alison Gibbs! Alison was hired this winter as Marketing and External Relations Director at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art (OMAA) in Ogunquit, ME. In this role, Alison will manage the museum’s marketing, branding, advertising, and public relations functions. “The OMAA has direct ties to some of the earliest art colonies in the country so it has a prominent place in the history of American modernism,” said Alison. “I’m really looking forward to sharing more about the OMAA’s role in American contemporary art with our audiences.”

Arts Extension Service