Arts Awards

mquintero@artsfairfax.org

Manuela serves as the Digital Media & Outreach Manager managing ArtsFairfax’s social media profile and community engagement. She joined ArtsFairfax in August of 2020.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Manuela was the Social Media Coordinator for a small arts and crafts company in Costa Rica. Her professional experience at organizations such as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Arena Stage, BalletX, PhiladanCo, and The Rock School for Dance Education has fostered a love of learning and passion for non-profits and the performing arts. Manuela is a graduate of The University of The Arts in Philadelphia and holds an MA in Arts Management from George Mason University.

571-395-4626 | gshareef@artsfairfax.org

Gaffar serves as the Business and Operations Manager overseeing the Business and operations while focusing on the workflow in the most efficient way. Gaffar is also managing all office technology-related issues. Gaffar joined ArtsFairfax in August 2021.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Gaffar worked for George Mason Universiy, as an Analyst and as a Zone Manager at Paradies Lagardere Travel Retail. His professional experience has taught him the skills to manage Business Operations while using his educational experience to make the workflow more innovative and effective. Gaffar is an uprising senior at George Mason University, majoring in Information Technology- Cloud Computing.

571-395-4619 | dmueller@artsfairfax.org

Debbie Mueller serves as the Director of Development at ArtsFairfax where she is responsible for all fundraising activities, including foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, individual giving, and the annual Arts Awards Luncheon. She joined ArtsFairfax in August 2021.

Her professional experience includes serving for 14 years as the Director of Development at the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture in Glen Echo, MD and for 11 years as the Foundation and Government Relations Officer at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Ms. Mueller earned her B.A. in art and art history from Colgate University in New York and her M.A. in art history from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

hcagle@artsfairfax.org

Hope serves as the Arts Education Manager overseeing the Artist Residency Program, Arts for Life, and other special initiatives. Hope joined ArtsFairfax in June of 2021.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Hope worked as the Arts Program Coordinator for Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC. She also completed an arts education fellowship with the National PTA and interned with the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative. Hope holds a B.A. in Art History from UNC-Chapel Hill and an M.A. from American University.

571-395-4621 | crenn@artsfairfax.org

Claire serves as the Development Manager supporting all development activities as well as general administrative activities. Claire joined ArtsFairfax in October 2018.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Claire was a board member of the Hermitage Museum and Garden’s Young Associate’s Board for three years. She completed internships with the National Endowment for the Arts in their Events and Development Department, working on the 2019 Jazz Masters and the 2019 Poetry Out Loud Finals. Claire holds a B.F.A. in Art History from Longwood University and an M.A. in Arts Management from George Mason University.

571-395-4616 | lsullivan@artsfairfax.org

Linda serves as President & CEO, reporting to and working with the Board of Directors to meet the organization’s mission, goals and objectives. Linda provides overall management of the organization’s programs and activities, staff and fiscal administration. As a consultant from 2001 to 2010 she worked with over two dozen arts organizations, of all disciplines, in the Washington DC region. Linda came to ArtsFairfax in November 2009 as a consultant, and she assumed the full-time position in March 2010.

Prior to coming to ArtsFairfax, Linda served the greater Washington area as an arts management consultant, specializing in interim directorships, capital project development and all aspects of arts management. Linda has worked with museums and exhibition centers as well as literary, performing arts and multi-arts presenting organizations. Additionally, her professional activities include teaching fundraising for George Washington University’s Museum Studies Program and serving as a Standards of Excellence reviewer for Maryland Nonprofits. Linda also has served as a commissioner, board member and grant reviewer for numerous state and local arts councils. She holds a MFA in Arts Administration from Columbia University.

571-395-4624 | kbansal@artsfairfax.org

Karan serves as the Information & Technology Manager overseeing the website and managing all office technology-related issues. During the past year, Karan has led many technology advancement initiatives in the office including transitioning every employee to a home office environment. Karan joined ArtsFairfax in July 2019.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Karan worked for Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on robotics and engineering education for students from kindergarten to college and served as a research intern at NASA Langley Research Center. Karan holds a BS in Information Security from George Mason University.

571-395-4617 | lmariam@artsfairfax.org

Lisa serves as Director of Grants & Services, overseeing ArtsFairfax’s grant programs, the Artist Residency Program, Arts for Life, Creative Spaces, and workshops. In addition, Lisa works closely with the Master Arts Plan Task Force to plan facilities and public art for Fairfax County. She also managed ArtsFairfax’s Imagine Art Here public art engagement projects. Lisa joined the staff of ArtsFairfax in 2009.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Lisa organized traveling exhibitions and coordinated loans at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Lisa reviews grants for other local arts agencies and selects artists for local public art projects. In addition to her arts leadership, Lisa served for eight years as the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Cultural Arts Chair in Fairfax County elementary and middle schools, Girl Scout Troop Leader, and is a member of the class of 2020 Leadership Fairfax. Lisa is a graduate of Georgetown University, and she holds a MA in Art History from George Washington University.

571-395-4619 | bmacroberts@artsfairfax.org

Brenda serves as the Director of Development & Operations. In this role, she directs and manages all fundraising activities, including the Arts Awards, and oversees the organization’s operations. She works with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to set priorities and strategies in these functions. She joined ArtsFairfax in November 2016.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Brenda was Executive Director of the Broadway Rose Theatre Company. Before that, she worked for several years and held many positions at Young Audiences of Oregon and SW Washington. While at Young Audiences managed the Run for the Arts raising over $700,000 for arts in the schools. She is the Vice-Chair of the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Tysons 2050 event in 2019 and 2020. Brenda holds an MBA in Arts Administration from Golden Gate University and a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fresno.

571-395-4625 | dstoebe@artsfairfax.org

Danielle serves as the Arts Education Program Manager overseeing the Artist Residency Program, Arts for Life, and other special initiatives. Danielle joined ArtsFairfax in 2019.

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Danielle completed internships with both ArtsFairfax and the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings over the past two years. She also teaches private music lessons to students in the Fairfax area at Crescendo Studios. Danielle has a B.A. in Music with a minor in Business from George Mason University.

571-395-4623 | dstewart@artsfairfax.org

Dana serves as the Director of Communications & Advocacy overseeing ArtsFairfax’s strategic communications plan chief storyteller. In her role as an advocacy leader, Dana directs the local, state, and federal advocacy services. She joined ArtsFairfax in July 2018

Prior to joining ArtsFairfax, Dana was a founding partner and Vice-President at Cornerstone Government Affairs where she managed clients’ federal appropriation and policy strategies. In the non-profit arena, Dana led the development and implementation of The Washington Animal Rescue League’s communication department and served as a National Conservation Advocate for the Marine Fish Conservation Network. For the last three years, Dana has been a regular contributor to a variety of blogs and online magazines. Dana has a BA in Communications from the University of Kentucky and a Masters of Public Policy from American University.