Board of Directors
Civic, business, and academic leaders from across the state set policy and direction for Georgia Humanities. The governor of Georgia appoints up to six members, and members of the public nominate the remainder of the board.
Call for Nominations
The Board’s Membership Committee strives to create a Board that represents the people of Georgia. We welcome nominations from the public and are especially interested in individuals who are passionate about the humanities and are movers and makers in their communities. To submit a nomination, please send a resume or letter highlighting why the candidate is a good fit to Georgia Humanities president Mary McCartin Wearn.
Board of Directors
*Governor’s Appointee
Joseph B. Alonso*
Chair
Founding Member | Alonso & Wirth Law, LLC
Alpharetta
Phil Smith*
Vice-Chair
National Field Director | The Concord Coalition
Watkinsville
Lara Bush Davis
Treasurer
CTAE Director/Lead Counselor | Peach County Schools
Fort Valley
Michelle Johnson*
Secretary
Global DE&I Manager | Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Covington
Cameron Bean
Immediate Past Chair
Flournoy Development Group | Gateways Foundation, Inc.
Columbus
Lisa Bayer
Director | University of Georgia Press
Athens
Ember Bentley
Executive Director | Georgia Aerospace & Defense Alliance
Vice President for External Affairs |Mercer University
Macon
Becky Blalock
Managing Partner, Advisory Capital and Retired CIO | Southern Company
Vinings
Dayle Burns
Educator, Retired
Newington
Ted Cummings
President & CEO | OnyxMS
Covington
Cathy Lee Eckert
COO | Georgia Museums Inc.
Cartersville
Jeff P. Garland
Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities | Georgia Southern University
Statesboro
Milton “M. Jay” Hall Jr.
Executive Director | Mims Kids, Inc.
Tifton
Karla Heath-Sands
Anchor | WALB
Albany
Albert “Al” Hodge
Founder and CEO | Hodge Consulting Services LLC
Rome
John Knapp
Leadership Advisor and Speaker | Knapp Leadership, LLC
Former President | Washington & Jefferson College and Hope College
St. Marys
Mary Kay Murphy
Gwinnett County Board of Education, Retired
Peachtree Corners
Kathryn Nelson
Program Coordinator | Isaiah 117 House
Blairsville
Shachar Oren
Founder & CEO | Sound Media Ventures
Atlanta
Lisa J. Smith
Senior Vice President Georgia Power, Retired
Newnan
Pythias “Pete” Temesgen
Judge | State Court of Muscogee County
Columbus
Rondah Q. Thomas
Area Manager | Georgia Power
Conyers
Stephanie Williams
Owner | Red Door Design & Publishing
Lyons
Pat Wilson*
Commissioner | Georgia Department of Economic Development
Atlanta
