Why I serve

Steven Potter -- I have worked in the library environment for over 35 years.  Previously, I've been an Executive Director, CFO, HR Director, Operations Director, Regional Manager, and Technology Librarian. I have an MLS and MPA and have served on several non-profit boards in Greater KC.  Currently, I'm semi-retired and work part time as a consultant.  I am also an amateur ceramic artist (potter).   

Janice Schonwetter -- I serve on the EA Board becaue I am passionate about access to the arts for everyone and the development of new artiistic talent. I also serve as Human Resources contact for the organization, I am retired now but previously worked as an HR executive for major coporrations and also as an external consultant focused on organization strategy, oeganization design, talent development and change management. I consulted with for-protfit and nonprofit organizations across multiple business sectors to diagnose and address organization and personnel performance issues. 

Thomas Meyer -- Thomas W. Meyer, Ph.D. is Chief Academic Officer and President of the Online Campus at Metropolitan Community College, bringing over 30 years of experience in higher education. He has held faculty and leadership roles at institutions including Drexel University, University of Miami, Miami Dade College, Broward College, and Lehigh Carbon Community College. In addition to his academic career, Dr. Meyer has consulted in organizational development and leadership training for federal agencies and the private sector. Active in the community, he serves on the boards of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, the Mattie Rhodes Center, and Englewood Arts — where he contributes as an advocate for the arts and strongly believes in their transformative power within communities. Dr. Meyer is also a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and is certified as an AI Ethics Officer.

Allison Puff -- Allison Puff is the Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Kansas City Art Institute, where she oversees academic programs, faculty, enrollment, and key learning resources. She joined KCAI in 2022 and serves on the board of Englewood Arts. Before entering higher ed administration, Allison built a career as an illustrator and designer, with a focus on narrative-driven visual storytelling. She worked independently and in collaborative design studios before joining the faculty at Farmingdale State College (SUNY), where she taught for over two decades. At Farmingdale, she served in numerous leadership roles—including Associate Provost, Chair of Visual Communications, and Director of the Memorial Gallery—and was honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the President’s Award for Faculty Leadership. Allison holds an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts, an AAT in Communication Arts from the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, and a BA in English and Communication Arts from Ursinus College. She is a past co-chair of AIGA’s National Design Educators Community and was a longtime member of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Education Committee. I serve on the EA Board because I believe in the power of art to bring people together. Creating spaces where our community can connect through creativity feels more important now than ever, and EA is a natural way for me to continue the work I’ve devoted my career to in education and the arts