Jim Harrison, III is the owner and director of Harrison Galleries LLC., which is located in downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Founded in 2001, Harrison Galleries deals in vintage and contemporary fine art and photography.  Each year the gallery hosts dozens of civic, social and cultural events, fundraisers and exhibitions, including the annual University of Alabama Art Department’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) show, and is a corporate sponsor of Kentuck, the Alabama Blues Project, Arts n Autism and numerous other cultural and educational entities.  Harrison Galleries is a founding participant in Tuscaloosa’s monthly Art Night, which is held on the first Thursday of every month.

A native of Tuscaloosa, Mr. Harrison has over the years been involved in the West Alabama community in many capacities, including chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, where he co-chaired the development of the Chamber’s “Culture Builds” cultural master plan.  Past chair of the DCH Hospital Foundation Board, he co-chaired the DCH Cancer Treatment Center capital campaign and served on the Public Art Steering Committee for the new Tuscaloosa Federal Courthouse, which opened in December 2011.

  Mr. Harrison currently serves as vice chair of the Paul Jones Collection Advisory Board and is a member of the board of the new Tuscaloosa Museum of Art, home of the Westervelt Collection.  As co-chair of the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center Capital Campaign, he is spearheading efforts to transform a historic building in downtown Tuscaloosa into performance and office space for area arts organizations.  In addition to his involvement in the cultural life of Tuscaloosa, Jim serves on the boards of directors of the DCH Health Care Authority, the Chamber Foundation and The Community Foundation of West Alabama.

Mr. Harrison and his wife Kaye, who is an antiques dealer, have one son James IV, an aspiring writer.

Mr. Harrison has served as Vice-Chair of the Council and Chair of the Council’s Grants Review Committee. He was elected Chair of the Council in December 2011. He will serve as Chairman for two years.

BACK TO TOP

Vaughan Morrissette has a long history of effective community and philanthropic service. She has spearheaded major volunteer and fundraising efforts in Mobile, as well as at the national level for nearly 40 years. Mrs. Morrissette recently co-chaired Mobile’s history museum’s successful $2 million capital campaign. She played an integral leadership role in the Mobile Museum of Art’s $15 million capital campaign, participating in high-level solicitations that generated very large contributions.

Mrs. Morrissette is the former Board Chairman of the Mobile Museum of Art and the former Board Chairman of the Alabama School of Math and Science Foundation.  She also serves of the Board of the Alabama Archives and History Foundation, Citizenship Trust and American Village, and Spring Hill College. She serves as well on the Board of Directors of her alma mater, Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She is Trustee Emeritus of Washington and Lee University; also located in Virginia. As Alabama’s chosen representative to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, Mrs. Morrissette has worked for many years to raise money for the maintenance of George Washington’s home. Her years of commitment and experience have yielded a wealth of knowledge about the local and national political and philanthropic landscape. Mrs. Morrissette serves on the Council’s Grants Review Committee.  

BACK TO TOP

Lisa Blach Weil, Montgomery

Secretary, State Arts Council

Lisa Blach Weil received an AA degree from Stephens College before graduating from the University of Alabama in 1981 with a BA in Public Relations and minor in Speech Communications.  She is married to Adolph “Andy” Weil III, and they have three children: Adolph “Drew” IV, Amanda and Dustin.  Mrs. Weil has been an active volunteer since moving to Montgomery. At present, Mrs. Weil serves on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the American Red Cross of Central Alabama, and Temple Beth Or, where she serves as Sisterhood President.  She serves as chair of Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Armchair Auction, founder  of Clara’s Circle, a new program implemented by the Central Alabama chapter of the American Red Cross.

Some of the community activities Mrs. Weil helped to implement include Ballet and the Beast, a Montgomery Ballet free performance at the Montgomery Zoo, Tide ‘N’ Tiger for the American Red Cross and Jubilee CityFest Juried art show.  She also is an active member of The Antiquarian Society of Montgomery, The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, The Junior League of Montgomery and The Montgomery Garden Club. In her spare time Mrs. Weil enjoys gardening, entertaining, photography and traveling and enjoys attending her children’s sporting events and Alabama football games.

Mrs. Weil serves on the Council's Grants Review Committee and is currently Secretary of the Council.

BACK TO TOP

Mr. Daves is past Area President for Regions Bank in Mobile. He received a B.A. from the University of the South at Sewanee, TN, and a J.D., cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, FL. He also graduated with distinction from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.

Mr. Daves served on active duty in the United States Navy and later in the Navy Reserve and retired with the rank of Commander. After practicing law in Mobile for three years he joined AmSouth Bank and during his thirty year career with AmSouth and Regions served in executive wealth management roles in Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham, as well as Area President in Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile. Immediately prior to retuning to Mobile in 2009 he served as President, East Region, for Regions Morgan Keegan Trust.

In addition to serving on the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Mr. Daves serves on the boards of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the United Way of Southwest Alabama and the Mobile Museum of Art. He is past President of the Trust Division of the Alabama Bankers Association.

He is a former board member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, the Montgomery Symphony, the Alabama Symphony, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and numerous other arts and business associations around the state of Alabama.

Mr. Daves serves as Chair of the Council's Long-Range Planning Committee.

Mrs. Friedman just completed her two-year term as Chairman of the Council. Mrs. Friedman, now in her fourth term, has served in a number of leadership positions including the Chair of the Grants Review Committee. Julie Friedman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a BA in Art History. She serves on the Boards of the National Museum for Women in the Arts (Alabama Committee), the Alabama Writers' Forum, the Mobile Arts Council, the Mobile Opera, and the Mobile Ballet. 

Mrs. Friedman's other civic activities include the Community Foundation of Southwest Alabama (Building Families Committee), the Steering Committee and Implementation Committee for the Cultural Plan (City of Mobile), Fairhope Chamber of Commerce, Junior League of Mobile, Mobile Opera Guild and Leadership Mobile. She also is a member of Mobile United and participated in the Leadership Initiative of Leadership Alabama. Mrs. Friedman and her husband, Dr. Frank Friedman own and operate the Point of View Bed and Breakfast Inn. In addition to her serving as Vice-Chair of the Council, Mrs. Friedman also served as Chair of the Council's Long-Range Planning Committee.

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP

Dr. Rachel Brown Fowler is a visual artist and cannot imagine her life without art. Reoccurring themes in her work include past experiences, thoughts, and dreams.  Her preferred mediums include photography, print making, India ink, and mixed media.

Dr. Fowler's first serious work began with telling a story about her parents. She began by photographing their hands and cherished objects around their home. Her work has included memories from her childhood, travel experiences, gardening, and even death. To her, art has been a form of powerful expression, and yet at the same time, a form of subtle expression.

Some of Dr. Fowler's recent exhibitions and honors include being awarded first place in printmaking at the 2010 Shelby County Art Council's juried exhibit. She participated in the 2009 Telfair Art Fair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA. Dr. Fowler was the guest speaker at High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA, in association with the exhibit, Dream Makers:  American Children’s Book Illustrators, January, 1993.  Her photographic essay, Fences in Our Lives: From Birth to Death, traveled to six Alabama towns along with Between Fences, the Museum on Main Street. These exhibits were a partnership of the Smithsonian Institution and the Alabama Humanities Council 2006.

Dr. Fowler served on the members board of the Birmingham Museum of Art for two terms. She currently serves on the board of the Shelby County Arts Council as an advisor. Dr. Fowler is past president of Arts and Humanities Council of Shelby County. Other achievements include developer and director of "Art in the Park," for the children of Shelby County, AL.  In the past, she served as coordinator of the art and humanities programs in eleven elementary schools, seven middle schools, and seven high schools.

Dr. Fowler is a professor emeritus in the University of Montevallo, College of Education, and lives in Columbiana, with her husband, attorney Conrad M. Fowler, Jr. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.

BACK TO TOP

Ralph Frohsin is currently serving his fourth six-year term on the Council. He served as Vice-Chair during his first term and second terms. He served on the Grants Review Committee for eight years and continues to be a strong voice for arts education and support for rural communities and underserved populations. 

Mr. Frohsin graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Commerce and a JD in Law. After college, he served in the US Army in Germany, attaining the rank of Captain. After returning to the states, he joined his family's retail apparel business in Alexander City as President of Frohsin's.

Mr. Frohsin's many civic activities include the Industrial Revenue Board, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Red Cross, the United Way, Junior Achievement, Operation Downtown Alexander City, the Children's Hospital of Alabama and the Russell Medical Center. In 1992, Mr. Frohsin was named Alexander City's Man of the Year. He has been president of the Alex City Jazz Festival and a director of the Sarah Towery Art Colony. Mr. Frohsin is married to Allyn Moses Frohsin, a travel agent, and together they have one son, Mark Adler Frohsin. 

Mr. Frohsin currently serves on the Council's Long-Range Planning Committee. He is a former Chair of the Council.

BACK TO TOP

Dora Hanson James graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia with a BA degree in English and a minor in Education.  Mrs. James was appointed in 2005 to The Alabama State Council on the Arts Board by Governor Riley.  Mrs. James currently is Chair of the Grants Review Committee.  Most recently she served on the Long Range Planning Committee.

Mrs. James serves on the boards of The East Alabama Medical Center Foundation, the Women’s Philanthropy Board of the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University,  is past president of The Auburn Woman’s Club, and is past chair of Envision Opelika Foundation and The Community Foundation of East Alabama. Other boards she has served on in the past include the Alabama Department of Mental Health, the J. W. Darden House Foundation, the Lee County Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County and the Achievement Center for Easter Seals in Lee County.  She is a founding member of the East Alabama Arts Association (formerly The Opelika Arts Association) where she held many positions, including board member and association president.  Other community activities include her work on the advisory board of the Jule Collins Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University, and her service as president of the Alabama Legislative Club from 2003-2005. Mrs. James remains active on the Founders Board of Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn where her involvement has been felt in many areas of this educational facility.  She has published two books of children’s stories and a volume of poetry written by her late father Dr. James Fletcher Hanson of Macon, Georgia.

Mrs. James is a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution and currently serves as Chair of The Auburn-Opelika Town Committee of the Colonial Dames of America.

Honors include being named a “Woman of Distinction” in 2009 by the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama; in 2009 she was named the recipient of The National Medallion by the Boys and Girls Club on Greater Lee County, and in 2012 she was named as recipient of The Community Champion Award by same Boys and Girls Club.

Mrs. James was  married to the late Calvin Ellington James, Sr. of Opelika.  She has three children, Sidney James Nakhjavan (Behzad) of Auburn, Calvin Ellington James, Jr. (Ashley) of Auburn, and Kathryn-Aimee Rebecca James of San Francisco, California and four grandchildren in Auburn.

Her hobbies include gardening and outside activities on her farm in Lee County and traveling and playing and spending time with grandchildren, family and friends.

Ms. James is currently Chair of the Grants Review Committee. Most recently she served on the Long-Range Planning Committee.

BACK TO TOP

Elaine Woods Johnson of Dothan is a veteran member, currently serving in her third term on the Council's board. During her tenture, she has served as Chair of the Grants Review, Chair of the Long Range Planning and Secretary of the Council. 

Mrs. Johnson was founder and first board chairman of the Wiregrass Museum of Art, founding board member of Dothan Landmarks Foundation, founding board member of Southeast Alabama Symphony Association and advisory board member of the Southeast Alabama Dance Company. She was honored with the2010 Lifetime Achievement Award of Southeast Alabama Community Theatre, Outstanding Friend of the Arts of the Dothan Cultural Arts Center and received the Alabama State Council on the Arts Governor's Arts Award for her exceptional service and arts volunteer work. In addition to her arts involvement, Mrs. Johnson has been named a Rotary Paul Harris fellow and is a Ruling Elder of Evergreen Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Johnson received her BS and MA from the University of Alabama. She was a professional educator for 25 years as a classroom teacher, high school counselor, Advanced Placement Coordinator and director of Gifted Education. Now retired, Mrs. Johnson devotes her time to her many arts endeavors. She is the widow of Joseph Huntley Johnson, a Dothan attorney, and she had two children and five grandchildren.

 Mrs. Johnson is currently serving on the Council's Long-Range Planning Committee.

BACK TO TOP

Selwyn Jones is a former member of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Huntsville Division. He was in the forensics field for 23 years.  

In his free time, Jones is usually performing with the variety of musical instruments that he plays, including the saxophone, bassoon, bass clarinet and violin. Mr. Jones is involved with several organizations in the Shoals area such as the Cramer Children’s Center, the Shoals Symphony, the Shoals Concert Band and the Eastside Church of Christ in Florence.  Jones grew up southern Alabama and moved to the Shoals in 1992. He said that there is so much he likes about living in northwest Alabama. In particular his involvement with the W. C. Handy Festival. Mr. Jones currently serves on the Council's Grants Review Committee.

BACK TO TOP

Mr. Purcell is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and resides in Eufaula. After receiving a B.A. in history from the University of Alabama, he attended graduate school in the same field. In 1972, he became executive director of the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, an agency of Alabama and Georgia involved in the promotion of tourism and historic preservation. He is past president of the Alabama Historical Association, Alabama Historical Commission's Board of Advisors, and the Alabama Preservation Alliance. He is past chairman of the Alabama Live-In-A-Landmark Council, Main Street Eufaula, Inc. and the Eufaula Historic Preservation Commission. During 1989-1998, he served as one of two Alabama advisors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and was chairman of the Trust's ten-state Southern Region Board of Advisors from 1996-97. He was also on the National Trust's Executive Committee and served as Secretary in 1998. He has served several terms on the Marketing Committee of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel.

Mr. Purcell serves on the Board of the Wiregrass Festival of Murals, the Advisory Board of Westville Historic Handicrafts, and the Boards of the Eufaula-Barbour County Tourism Council, Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Association, Friends of Fendall Hall, and Voyage of Discovery, Inc. He is immediate past president of the Eufaula Heritage Association, and continues to serve on the Eufaula Historic Preservation Commission and the board of Main Street Eufaula. He is a past Board member of the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce, Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Alabama Travel Council, Alabama Hospitality Association and the Alabama Conservancy. He is an active member of the Eufaula Rotary Club, having served as president, and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He is also a graduate of Leadership Alabama. He and his wife Betsy have two children and two grandsons. 

 Mr. Purcell is a member of the Council’s Long-Range Planning Committee.

BACK TO TOP

Lee Sentell is one of the most respected tourism professionals in Alabama. Between 1991 and his current appointment, Mr. Sentell served as tourism director for the Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau in north Alabama. In that role, he was responsible for the tourism and convention marketing and advertising of one of the state’s largest destination marketing organizations. He also developed a $4 million Huntsville Visitor Center.

Prior to that job, Mr. Sentell served for 10 years as director of marketing for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center where he directed a staff of 30 and a marketing budget of $3 million. He also established the marketing programs for the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Space Camp-Florida near Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Mr. Sentell was the first paid tourism staff member ever hired by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. Before working professionally in the tourism industry, Mr. Sentell worked for 12 years as a reporter, business editor and later city editor at the Decatur Daily, a family-owned newspaper in north Alabama.

Mr. Sentell was inducted into the Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame in 2000 and has past service as president of the Alabama Travel Council and as chairman of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel Advisory Board.

He graduated from Auburn University where he studied communications and served as managing editor of the campus newspaper, the Auburn Plainsman. Mr. Sentell serves on the Council's Long-Range Planning Committee.

BACK TO TOP

Talented actress, choreographer and a former Miss Alabama, Ceil Snow has an impressive list of professional experience with events and program coordination as well as community activities. She is a graduate of Jacksonville State University and holds a BS degree in Education and a masters degree in Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is currently Director of Local Governmental Affairs at UAB. 
           Ms. Snow has served as choreographer, director and workshop instructor at Samford University in Birmingham. A few of her theatrical experiences include the role of Marion the liberian opposite Jim Nabors in the The Music Man; Eliza opposite Edward Mulhare in My Fair Lady and Lucille with Rebecca Luker of Broadway's Sound of Music in No, No, Nanette. She has extensive video, television and radio experience having represented companies such as Bell South, Southern Companies Services and Alabama Power. Her community activities include co-host for Cerebral Palsy Telethon and Member of Executive Planning Board for 1996 Olympics. She has been the production director for numerous years for the American Heart Association and the Heart Ball Fundraiser. Ceil has served on the Long Range Planning Committee. Currently Ms. Snow serves on the Grants Review Committee. She is also a past Chair of the GRC.

BACK TO TOP

Sontonia T. K. Stephens, Northport

Ms. Stephens graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and received a Masters in Community Counseling from the University of West Alabama.  Her career path has allowed her to serve as an advocate for abused children, mentally ill individuals, and those plagued by poverty in West Alabama.             Ms. Stephens’ experience is well suited for building bridges between healthcare, broad quality of life issues and the rich culture of the Black Belt. Her interests include all of the arts with specific training in photography and pottery. Ms. Stephens is active in West Alabama both professionally and personally.  Her volunteerism spans many sectors of the community, some of which include past Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of West Alabama HIV/AIDS Direct Care Consortium, member of Mental Health Task Force, graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa, Temporary Emergency Services Board Member, member of Home Health Committee of the Statewide Health Coordinating Committee (SHCC) and The University of Alabama Alumni Association. Ms. Stephens is a member of the Council’s Grants Review Committee. BACK TO TOP

Becky Quinn earned her undergraduate degree in Commerce and Business Administration from The University of Alabama. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo, College of Law and studied law in the USSR, China, Italy and the United Kingdom. She is a member of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association, Alabama State Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mrs. Quinn has served on the boards of The Arts Council of Huntsville, Boys & Girls Club, Care Assurance for the Aged, Historic Huntsville Foundation, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, serving as its chair in 2003. Mrs. Quinn received their Distinguished Leadership Award for 2004. Her other community activities include committees of the Huntsville Land Trust, The Huntsville Museum of Art Docents and The Early Works Museum. Mrs. Quinn is a sustaining member of the Huntsville Junior League and now serves as a Community Advisor. Currently, she is a member of the Women's Guild of the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild, the Huntsville Rotary Club and the Episcopal Church of the Nativity. She is married to Bill Quinn, the Vice President of Global Procurement at SCI Systems, Inc. in Huntsville. 

Mrs. Quinn currently serves on the Council's Long Range Planning Committee. She is past Chair of the Council serving from January 1, 2009-December 31, 2010.

In 2011, Mrs. Quinn was elected to the board of NASAA (National Association of State Arts Agencies) where she will continue her arts advocacy work. Already a strong supporter of the arts in Alabama, she will expand her work to a national stage.

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP