For
the past several weeks, the board of directors for the Arts & Humanities
Council of Southwest Louisiana conducted a search for a new executive director
for the organization by forming a selection committee and a hiring committee.
After reviewing 30 resumes and performing a thorough interviewing process, the
board chose Erica McCreedy as the executive director.
McCreedy
has served as the special projects coordinator for the Arts & Humanities
Council for the past two years, beginning her career on a volunteer basis. She
brings her experience in program development, public relations, and promotions
to her new position.
“I am both thrilled and honored to be charged
with this task,” said McCreedy, the new executive director of the Arts &
Humanities Council. “I am eager to explore how we can better serve Southwest
Louisiana’s culture, economy, and tourism.”
McCreedy
is involved with the Louisiana Citizens for the Arts, Friends of Central
School, the Arts Associates of Lake Charles, Fusion Five, Yellow Flag Press, McNeese
Banners Cultural Series, and the annual Vision/Verse poetry and art exhibition.
She
has received many awards and honors, being the recipient of the Lynn &
Richard Reid Award, the William J. Dore Writing & Research Award, the Joy
Scantlebury Poetry Prize as well as being nominated for the Intro Journal Award
of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs and the Best New Poets Anthology.
McCreedy
earned a Bachelors of Arts in English from Louisiana State University with a
concentration in creative writing and minors in theatre and classical studies,
a Masters of Arts in English from McNeese State University and a Masters of
Fine Arts in creative writing from McNeese State University. Prior to working with the Arts Council, she served
as a docent with the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, and she worked for six years as
a visiting lecturer at McNeese State University.
The
board of directors for the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana
includes Paula Gillard, president; Jason Martinez, first vice president; Mindy
Schwarzauer, second vice president; Amanda White, treasurer; and Sally Cappel,
secretary. Board members include James Babin, Jason Barnes, Kaysie Bolton, John
Boykin, Kristin Broussard, Mary Donaldson, Anjo Elsbury, Beverly Gott, Peggy
Griffith, Katie Harrington, Terry Hebert, Daniel Ieyoub, Jordan LeLeux, Angie
Manning, Shonda Manuel, Laura Moreau, Chantelle Richardson, Nancy Sanner,
Patricia Schmidt, Tom Shea, Sharon Steinman, Dr. Michelle Swift, Mia Vick and
Amanda Winterbottom.
For
more information on the Council, visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.
