Meet the Arts Commission Board Members:

Miranda Ashman
E-mail:  miranda@lcaa.com  (Appt 4/12; term ends 2/15)
          As a proud Grand Junction native, Miranda has always been a fierce supporter of the arts. She began performing on stage as a kid, and continued to pursue that passion through college where she received a Bachelor's degree in Acting and Directing at Colorado Mesa University. During her time at CMU, she played several leading roles in main stage productions including Roxie Hart in Chicago and the Acid Queen in the Who's Tommy.
          After college, Miranda started her professional career in marketing and advertising as a copywriter and public relations representative. Today, Miranda serves as Creative Director at COBB and Associates Marketing and Communications where she's able to put her affinity for art and copy to work helping local businesses grow. She's grateful for the opportunity to help expand Grand Junction's cultural and artistic presence, and looks forward to being a part of its growth.

Randall Cupp
E-mail:  randall.d.cupp@usbank.com (Appt 4/10; reappt 2/11; terms ends 2/14)
          Randall Cupp is a Vice President with U.S. Bank as the senior lender for Western Colorado. Randall has been a long time patron and supporter of the arts, along with developing his oil painting talent. He is a former board member and film slection committee member of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which provides  one of the top recognized film festivals.
          He has been a supporter of the creative arts industry as a member and patron, as well as serving on boards of various organizations, to assist in the growth and development of the arts within communities.
          Randall has a BS in Business Administration and BA in Political Science from Truman State University, Kirksville, MO and a Master of Commerce - International Economics from The University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.  Randall is honored to join the Arts Commission to continue supporting the creative arts industry in the Grand Valley.
      
Judy Dyrud
E-mail:   dyrud@bresnan.net  (Appt 4/12; term ends 2/15)
          Judy Dyrud, a freelance medical writer/editor, has a wide variety of creative professional experiences. She has written fiction, promotions, commentary and scientific research and managed numerous projects and teams. She has held positions in publishing design and editing for over 25 years and was Managing Editor of "The Journal of Pediatrics" for 7 years.
          Judy has been a guest or resident soprano soloist for 25 musical organizations in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Chicago and Denver, and has been a member of 20 vocal ensembles from Renaissance octets to the Chicago Symphony Chorus. In Grand Junction she has performed with the Western Colorado Chorale and Grand Junction Senior Theatre, led the National Anthem at the Junior College World Series (JUCO) and Grand Junction Rockies, soloed in the Singalong Messiah and written compositions including "Mass of the Western Slope". 
          Judy earned a bachelor's degree in music from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles with minors in theatre and 2-dimensional art. She also studied graphic design at Otis/Parsons School of Design in Pasadena. Judy is delighted to join in the work of the Commission to increase the wealth of cultural opportunities in the Grand Valley.

Charity Finnigsmier
E-mail:  charitylk@aol.com (Appt 2/11; terms ends 2/14)
          Charity moved to the Grand Valley two years ago from the Front Range. She is currently the assistant curator for The Western Colorado Center for the Arts through the AmeriCorps program. Charity has always had a passion for the arts whether it was through dance, playing in the symphony, or working on a canvas. 
          She holds a BA from Colroado State University with an emphasis in Art History and a minor in Religious Studies. Before moving to Grand Junction she worked for the City of Fort Collins with the Visual Arts Department at the Lincoln Center, a visual arts, performing arts and conference facility and assisted with the city's public art board. In her spare time Charity enjoys gardening, volunteering with her church, being outdoors, printmaking, and being with family. Charity is honored and very excited to be serving on the Commission on Arts and Culture.

Gisela Flanigan
E-mail:  brightmindspiano@msn.com (Appt 7/07; reappt 3/09; reappt 4/12 term ends 2/15)
          Dr. Gisela Flanigan, pianist, is an experienced soloist and collaborative chamber musician. She has performed in Europe, the United States, and South America, and has presented guest artist recitals at DePaul University (Chicago) and Drake University. She has presented master-classes in both North and South America, is in demand as an adjudicator for Music Teachers National Association events, and has given lecture-recital presentations on behalf of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Educational Department. As a scholar she was invited to lecture at the International Conference of the College Music Society in Spain. 
          Dr. Flanigan holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas, where she was awarded the Mary M. Morgan Award for Excellence in Music Performance, a distinction granted to the best doctoral student in the performance area. After teaching piano privately for over 25 years and relocating to Grand Junction, Dr. Flanigan established the Bright Minds Music Studio. She has served on the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture since 2007.
  
Jennifer Hancock
E-mail: jhancock@coloradomesa.edu (Appt. 12/12; term ends 2/15)
         Dr. Jennifer Hancock is Assistant Professor of English at CMU, teaching literature, composition, and creative writing. She received her MFA in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College, and her PhD in Creative Writing from Oklahoma State University. Her poetry has appeared in several national journals, including The Antioch Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Puerto del Sol. She received an AWP Intro Journals Award, and was nominated for a Puchcart Prize by the editors of Third Coast.
         Always active in community arts organizaitons, Jennifer has reviewed grants and applications for the Illinois Arts Council and the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. She served in various editorial capacities for The Cimarron Review and Crazyhorse, and worked collaboratively with the (then) Artist Laureate of Oklahoma on a serigraph print and poetry exhibit that has since been shown internationally through the State Department's Art in the Embassies program.
          Jennifer is currently a member of the Western Colroado Writiers Forum, and reads her work throughout the year at local venues. She is honored to serve on the Commission on Arts and Culture, seeing it as an opportunity to give back to the larger community she is happy to call home.

Diane Kress Hower
E-mail: dkhower@bresnan.net (Appt. 2/11; term ends 2/14)
          Diane is a childrens author/illustrator and a photographer. She holds a bachelors degree from Portland State University in sculpture and art education. Diane's master's degree is from Maryhurst University in clinical counseling - art therapy. 
          Diane brings to the Commission her diverse and lengthy background in art and working with the public. She has served in the public sector as an art teacher, art therapist, counselor, child development specialist, special education teacher and a consultant. Diane is the local area event coordinator for the West Slope members of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. When Diane is not teaching for District 51, she is writing, illustrating, or working on her photography.You can find out more about her at one of her websites www.dkhower.com, www.frolickingfrogphotography.com, and www.bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com.

Lancer J. Livermont
E-mail: lancer@llaarch.com    (Appt 3/09; reappt 2/11; term ends 2/14)
          Lancer Livermont, AIA, LEED AP, has 15 years of experience in the architecture profession. He is founder and manager of LLa architecture, Ltd., a professional architecture and design firm based in Grand Junction. Before starting LLa, he developed his skills at a number of professional design firms around the country including firms in Colorado, Arkansas & Texas. Most notably, he had the honor of working with architect and AIA Gold Medalist, Euine Fay Jones in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During his tenure in Fay's office, Lancer was exposed to what are considered some of the most highly regarded works of architecture in America.
          Lancer studied architecture and urbanism at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and University of Brighton in Brighton, England. He holds a professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas where he also received the Edward Durell Stone Medal for design. 
         More recently, Lancer's design work has been exhibited at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale, AZ and the Western Colorado Center for the Arts in Grand Junction. He currently serves on the Board of the Colorado West Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture.

 Emily  Pfeifer
Email: emily.performancestudio@gmail.com  (Appt. 12/12; term ends 2/16)
       Emily Shumway Pfeifer was born and raised on the north shore of O'ahu, Hawaii. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Butler University. Mrs. Pfeifer has performed as a singer/dancer/actor, as well as chorus conductor, in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the South Pacific, and in the United States, and is fluent in German and Spanish. Before moving to Colorado in 2008, she served as the Butler Women's Glee Conductor and the Artistic Director of Bloomington Opera & Oratorio conducting choral masterworks including Handel's Messiah, Faure's Requiem and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. An award-winning soporano, Mrs. Pfeifer ia an active soloist and runs a performance studio in Grand Junction, specializing in Musical Theater and Opera Reviews, and conducts her local church choir. 
         Some of Mrs. Pfeifer's other significant life experiences include serving an 18-month mission to Austria for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and working as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in Panama. Mrs. Pfeifer is professionally affliiated with the National Music Honors Society Pi Kappa Lambda, and was recently appointed to the Grand Junction City Commission on Arts and Culture.