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Dr. D. Michael Geller Executive Committee President Dr. D. Michael Geller is a retired physician specializing in geriatrics who taught at Eastern Virginia Medical School and served in various clinical roles in Virginia, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from Temple University and a master’s in social work from Smith College. A fine art photographer, Dr. Geller’s work was featured in the Chrysler Museum of Art’s Focus Gallery in 2019: “A Labor of Love: The Caregiver Portraits” told the stories of 21 people from Hampton Roads who had devoted themselves to caring for their loved one. |
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Beth Hazelette Executive Committee Immediate Past President Ms. Hazelette retired from her position as Senior Coordinator of Music Education for Norfolk Public Schools following a 30-year career as a music educator. She also taught at Old Dominion University and supervised student teachers studying music education. Ms. Hazelette received her B.A. and her M.Ed. in Secondary Education/Music from ODU and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Public School Administration from the University of Virginia. |
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David A. Snouffer Executive Committee Vice President Mr. Snouffer is an attorney specializing in compensation and benefits, estate planning, taxation, and other practice areas as a member of Willcox and Savage. He is also an active member of the Virginia Symphony Chorus. After graduating with a B.A. from the University of Virginia, Mr. Snouffer received his J.D. from Harvard University, graduating cum laude. |
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Kate Roth Executive Committee Treasurer Ms. Roth is a Senior Vice President of Accounting and Financial Reporting at TowneBank, which she joined in 2018. She is a CPA who previously worked as a senior auditor for KPMG US, one of the “Big Four” accounting firms, after earning her B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University. As a college student, she provided bookkeeping services for the Arts for Learning affiliate in Indiana. |
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Malcolm Terrell Executive Committee Secretary Mr. Terrell is a Financial Advisor for First Financial Group in Virginia Beach. He served for more than eight years in the U.S. Navy, working as a financial controller and achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class. Mr. Terrell earned an M.S. in Accounting and Finance from Liberty University, a B.S. in Accounting and Business/Management from ECPI University, and a B.A. in Accounting, also from ECPI University. |
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Claire Bellecci Executive Committee Member at Large Ms. Bellecci is the CEO of Mellen Street Creative, a leader in graphic design and marketing. Honored as one of Hampton Roads’ Top 40 Under 40 in 2016, Ms. Bellecci previously worked in the nonprofit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her B.S. in Communications and Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis. |
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Minette Cooper Executive Committee Member at Large Mrs. Cooper has been an active arts advocate since she first moved to Norfolk in 1963. She is a graduate of Smith College. She has served as President of the Young Audiences of Virginia board as well as a volunteer Program Director for the organization. She is also on the board of Young Audiences Arts for Learning (National.) Other highlights of Mrs. Cooper’s many years of philanthropy include serving as chair of the Virginia Symphony board, the Virginia Symphony League board, and the Norfolk Commission of the Arts and Humanities, and as president of Ohef Sholom Temple. Mrs. Cooper has sung in the Virginia Symphony Chorus since it first formed in 1990. |
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Dr. Vanessa D. Thaxton Ward Executive Committee Member at Large Dr. Thaxton-Ward is Director of the Hampton University Museum and Publisher of the International Review of African American Art. She has served on the board of the Virginia Association of Museums and the Commission of African American History Education in the Commonwealth. Dr. Thaxton-Ward received her Ph.D. in American Studies from The College of William & Mary, a Master of Arts in Museum and Archival Studies from Hampton University, and a B.A. in English from Virginia Wesleyan College. |
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Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond Director Emeritus Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond is the Founder and Chairman of the Virginia African American Cultural Center and a re-elected member of the Virginia Beach City Council. She retired from Norfolk State University as Distinguished Professor Emerita. Dr. Ross-Hammond holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Denver and is a graduate of the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia. Following three terms as president of Arts for Learning’s board and two years as a member of the Executive Committee, Dr. Ross-Hammond was named A4L’s first Director Emeritus. |
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Rae Pearson Benn Ms. Pearson Benn is the Director of Communications at Regent University, with previous communication roles working for the cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and the Office of Attorney General in Virginia. She is also the host and producer of Our Issues Hampton Roads at WTVZ-TV in Norfolk. Ms. Pearson Benn received her B.A. in Speech Communications from Old Dominion University and a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. |
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Ebony J. Carter Ms. Carter is an experienced human resources professional who currently serves as Human Resources Director at Sentara Health and has worked for Sentara Healthcare since 2006. She previously worked as a recruiter for a hospital in Massachusetts. Ms. Carter earned an associate degree in business administration at Mount Ida College, a B.A. in English at the University of Massachusetts, a Master of Management at the Cambridge College School of Management, and an associate degree in hospitality management at Tidewater Community College. |
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Linda Dennis Ms. Dennis is the retired Orchestra Director at Norview High School, having served in various capacities for 30 years with Norfolk Public Schools, including working as the division’s Strings Consultant. She has been a violinist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1981. Ms. Dennis received her B.S. in Music Education from Old Dominion University. |
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Judy Gutterman Ms. Gutterman is a retired school guidance counselor and lifelong arts advocate. She worked as a guidance counselor at various Norfolk Public Schools, including serving as the chair of the guidance department at Lafayette-Winona Middle School. Ms. Gutterman received her B.S. in Education (Secondary English) and M.S. in Education (School Counseling) from Old Dominion University. |
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Carlton Hardy Mr. Hardy is a retired civilian with extensive professional experience managing projects for the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense. Earlier in his career he worked as a teacher and school principal. For more than 40 years, Mr. Hardy has volunteered for various arts organizations in Hampton Roads, including serving as chair of the Newport News Arts Commission and president of the boards of the Virginia Choral Society and Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads. Mr. Hardy earned his B.A. in History and M.Ed in Counseling from The College of William & Mary and an M.S. in Instructional Technology from Old Dominion University. |
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Becky Livas Ms. Livas is a cabaret and jazz singer who has performed hundreds of times in various venues around Hampton Roads. She is also a retired educator, having taught social studies, history, and world literature in Franklin, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach schools. Earlier in her career, Ms. Livas was the first female African American reporter in Hampton Roads, producing and hosting two daily television shows at WTAR. Ms. Livas earned her B.A. in History and English from Hampton Institute and her teacher’s certification from Virginia Wesleyan College. |
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Erica Mitchell Ms. Mitchell is the Director of Content Strategy at EOS Surfaces, a start-up that has developed a copper-infused material that kills bacteria. Previously, she served as the Development Director for the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, as the Upper School Director at Chesapeake Bay Academy, and as the Program Director for Young Audiences of Virginia. Ms. Mitchell received her bachelor’s degree in English and Elementary Education at The College of William & Mary and her master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at Old Dominion University. |
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Kristine A. Pierce Ms. Pierce is the Human Resources Director of Fishing Point Healthcare. She has more than 20 years’ experience working in the U.S. Air Force and in the civilian sector. Ms. Pierce holds a B.S. in Health Care Administration, an MBA specializing in Health Resource Management, and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership, all from Columbia Southern University. |
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Nancy Prather-Johnson Ms. Prather-Johnson is the Academic Dean of the School of Business, Computer Science, & IT of Tidewater Community College, heading up its Business Pathway program for more than 6,000 students. She previously taught business math, finance, and international business classes at TCC. Ms. Prather-Johnson earned her MBA with a focus on Accounting and Business Management at Johnson and Wales University. |
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Joan Rhodes-Copeland Ms. Rhodes-Copeland is an arts advocate who served in a variety of professional roles before retiring. As the Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads, she led an organization that provided services to area arts and cultural organizations. Earlier in her career she was the Associate Dean at ECPI College of Technology. Ms. Rhodes-Copeland received a B.S. in Business Education from Norfolk State University and an M.A. in Business Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. |
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Melissa Roomsburg Ms. Roomsburg is Senior Vice President of Business Development and Client Services at PRA Group, where she has worked since 2015. In 2023, she was honored with a Stevie Award as Female Employee of the Year. She previously worked in project management at Liberty Tax and Amerigroup. Ms. Roomsburg received her B.A. in Political Science and Government from Winthrop University. |
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Heather Karasow Smith Ms. Karasow Smith is an experienced nonprofit leader who currently serves as the Associate Director of Community Relations for Al-Anon Family Groups in Virginia Beach. She previously worked for a number of nonprofits in Pennsylvania, with a focus on event planning and development. Ms. Smith holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of Delaware and an M.S. in Organizational and Strategic Leadership from Neumann University. |
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Phillip Smith Jr Mr. Smith is the Senior Vice President at TowneBank, a position he has held since 2020. He has more than 35 years working within banking, including Wachovia & Centura Bank, First Citizens Bank, SunTrust Bank, and TowneBank. Mr. Smith earned a B.S. in Industrial Relations and Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s in Communications at Regent University. |
RAISE Up in Hampton City Schools
“As a teaching artist, when we meet a kid, they’re a whole entire person. They have experiences and not all those experiences are pleasant, so coming to the classroom with that mindset and knowing that they carry baggage with them as do we… it’s about approaching them with compassion but also recognizing that they’re more […]
