Brenda Lee Johnston received her Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management with an emphasis in Dance and a minor in Theatre Arts—Drama from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She held an internship in the Marketing and Public Relations Department at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Following her internship, Brenda filled in during a maternity leave in the Development Department at First Stage Children’s Theater. Her first full-time position was as the Development Manager at Skylight Opera Theatre (now Skylight Music Theatre). In August 2004, she took on the role of Founding Director of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (SMPAC). After six years at SMPAC, she pursued a dual Master’s degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University and Innovation and Organization of Culture and the Arts from Universita di Bologna in Italy. Her graduate thesis research was conducted at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History under the guidance of Nina Simon. Her thesis is entitled, “The Roles of Museums in Communities: Social Inclusion & Community Engagement.” She joined the Arts Administration faculty at Butler University after serving as the Executive Director of the Schauer Arts Center and teaching as an adjunct lecturer at UW-Stevens Point. She has performed with Skylight OperaTheatre, Wild Space Dance Company, Katie Sopoci and Michelle DiMeo for DanceWorks Performance Company’s “Art to Art”, Cantare Chorale, and others.
Amy graduated from Northern Michigan University with a BS in mathematics and a minor in Computer Science. She worked for 15 years as a computer programmer before staying home with her two children. At Butler, she was previously the administrative assistant for Computer Science and the Faculty Senate before moving to JCA.
In 2021, Lewis retired as the executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), a position he held since 2006. Under Ricci’s leadership, the IAC was recognized as a national leader with groundbreaking work in emerging artist development, cultural district development and arts and community engagement strategies and research.
Previously, he was director of the International Jazz Collections at the Lionel Hampton Center at the University of Idaho, where he was also an adjunct faculty member in music, American studies, and arts administration. He also served as director of development for university programs at Penn State University and executive director of the Columbus Area Arts Council. His volunteer service includes positions on the National Assembly of State Arts Agency Board, IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Distinguished Alumni Council, IU Herron School of Art and Design Dean’s Advisory Board, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts Board, Prosperity Indiana Board, and the Indiana Public Media Community Advisory Board. In 2021 he received a Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Eric Holcomb for his leadership and distinguished service to the people of Indiana.
Lewis received a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in arts administration from Indiana University.