Glenda has 20 years’ experience as a communications specialist. She joined ArtsWA in March 2014 and oversees communications and outreach. She previously served in executive communications roles at the Cities of Puyallup and Auburn. She spent eight years as a special assistant in Alaska Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer’s office. She has over ten years media experience as a public radio news director, host, and reporter. She has served on several boards and commissions, including Puyallup’s Valley Arts United, the Pierce County Arts Commission, and the Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Judy joined ArtsWA as a contractor in July of 2013. She became part of ArtsWA staff in January 2017. She coordinates Washington’s Poetry Out Loud (POL) program. POL is a national poetry recitation contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation. A Pacific Northwest artist, Judy has over 30 years of experience in theatre and opera. She has served many Pierce County arts non-profits. Judy has self-published ten titles of fiction, poetry, and reflective essays.

Adam has been the Conservation Technician for the Art in Public Places Program since September 2007. He facilitates art conservation projects, art handling, and partner agency support for the care of the State Art Collection. He helps shape the conservation review process for new artworks. Adam has also owned and operated a studio since 2000, specializing in conservation and restoration of metal sculpture. He is a professional patineur and enjoys facilitating bronze castings for artist Philip McCracken.

Heide joined ArtsWA as Project Manager for My Public Art Portal in January 2016. She manages the online presentation of the State Art Collection. Previously, Heide managed a private collection, worked in Education at Tacoma Art Museum, and worked as a technical writer. She is passionate about art and collections, and loves working in an environment that includes art on a daily basis.

Miguel Guillén joined ArtsWA in 2016 and currently serves as Program Manager for the Grants to Organizations program. As a seasoned arts administrator, Miguel provides support to community-based arts organizations and projects, small arts groups, and artists across Washington. He has previously managed arts programs for the private sector. Born in Mexico and raised in the Skagit Valley, Miguel received an Arts Management Certificate from Seattle Central College. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle. He is a practicing visual artist.

Janae has served as the Collections Manager for the Art in Public Places program since 2005. She stewards the care of the State Art Collection and maintains ongoing relationships with statewide partners. She previously served as the Tacoma Art Museum registrar. She held curatorial roles at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson. Janae has served two terms on the Olympia Arts Commission. She founded the advocacy group Olympians for People-Oriented Places (O-POP), focusing on land use and planning. She completed undergraduate degrees in Art History and German Studies at the University of Arizona.

Marissa manages Art in Public Places projects. She travels across the state to facilitate site-responsive artwork commissions in public schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies. Prior to joining ArtsWA in 2015, she managed public art and exhibitions for the City of San Antonio’s International Airport, Libraries, City Hall, and the X Marks the Art temporary storefront art program. Bringing art into everyday life is her passion. She holds a Master’s in Arts Management from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor’s in Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Valerie joined the Art in Public Places team in April 2016. Formerly the researcher/writer for My Public Art Portal, she was named Curated Projects Coordinator in 2019. She currently develops policies for the purchase of artworks for state buildings and campuses, and travels statewide to bring art into public schools. She previously administered the publication of fine art editions at Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles. She holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy and the Arts from Stony Brook University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Colorado College.

Deane Joined ArtsWA in 2002. She serves as Program Coordinator for the Art in Public Places Program working with artists and assisting with contracts and database management. Deane holds a degree in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University. She has worked locally in stage and production management, operations, and marketing for Washington Center for the Performing Arts and Harlequin Productions. She continues to volunteer in local theater and has served on the boards of Olympia Family Theater, NW Playwrights Alliance, and the Evergreen Playhouse.

Mike leads ArtsWA’s public art team and manages public art acquisitions statewide. Previously, he had a 19-year career in galleries, including director of Davidson Contemporary in Seattle and the Charles Cowles Gallery in New York. Mike is past board vice president at Seattle’s Center on Contemporary Art and past chair of the Tacoma Arts Commission. He serves on the Tacoma Art Museum’s Collection Committee and the Advisory Council for the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at WSU. He holds a BA degree in Art History and Studio Art from Oberlin College.

Langston Collin Wilkins, PhD is the Director of Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, a state-wide folk and traditional arts program presented in collaboration with Humanities Washington. Through innovative and engaging programs, including the Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program and the Cultural Traditions Survey, the Center is a go-to source for learning about Washington’s rich, diverse cultural heritage. Dr. Wilkins views the folk and traditional arts as a space through which we can advocate for communities and celebrate the diversity of the human experience.