ACL Faculty, Staff, and Advisory Board

As director of Community Based Research at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota, C. Terrence oversees community-based programs, including the Kris Nelson Community-Based Research Program, the Community Assistantship Program, the Artist and Neighborhood Partnership Initiatives, and the Charles R. Krusell Fellowship. He works primarily within the realm of urban planning and public policy. Previously as Equity Manager at the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities region, C. Terrence implemented equity as part of the work that the Council does to address the high racial disparities in the region. He graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee with degrees in Urban Affairs and in Philosophy.

Dawn Bentley serves as Executive Director of Minnesota Fringe, connecting adventurous artists to adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for free and diverse artistic expression. She spent more than 15 years working as a business development and strategic management consultant. Her focus is leading organizations through business model transitions to ensure sustainable operations. She has played violin for over 30 years in various ensembles from rock bands to professional orchestras. She currently teaches Financial Management for Arts Nonprofits.

Lisa/LM is an educator and poet with over 10 years of experience in cohort-based leadership development. In that time they managed professional and artistic development programs with an eye towards equity and collaboration at Intermedia Arts. LM served as interim co-executive director for The Cedar Cultural Center and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. They edited the anthology Queer Voices: Poetry, Prose, and Pride with John Medeiros and Andrea Jenkins. Their work has been presented at Pillsbury House Theatre, The Loft Literary Center, Bedlam Theatre, Intermedia Arts, Pangea World Theatre, and elsewhere. They teach composition at Century College and are founder and CEO of 66 Wands Consulting, LLC.

DeAnna Cummings is the Arts & Culture Program Director for the McKnight Foundation, and is a co-founder, board member, and served as the long-time CEO of Juxtaposition Arts (JXTA). JXTA is a social enterprise nonprofit in north Minneapolis that trains and employs historically underestimated youth as a springboard to higher education and careers in art and design. Prior to cofounding JXTA, DeAnna served as a program officer for the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and as a senior administrator for the Council on Black Minnesotans. DeAnna is chair of the Bush Foundation’s Board of Trustees. She holds an MPA from Harvard University and studied sociology and psychology at the University of Minnesota.

Roger activates relationships between space and place through art, design, independent livelihood, and collective social enterprise. He aims to create works of art in public and private spaces that have personal and impersonal uses, in the hope of enlivening meaningful human interactions. Urban architecture, design, and planning inform his work, which has taken the form of large-scale sculptures, pocket parks, and functional enhancements to public spaces. The functionality of Roger’s work aims to incite in urban citizens a lens through which they are able to see themselves included, represented, and civically engaged in establishing the visual identities of their neighborhood.

Lisa is an accomplished professional in the nonprofit, public administration, and private sectors. She has over a decade of experience practicing law, has served the nonprofit sector on boards and in program management, and has served the public sector at three state agencies. She has taught continuing legal education courses, worked for the Journal of Public Affairs Education, and served on the Women in Public Service conference planning committee. She holds a BS in Psychology from North Dakota State University, an MPA and Master of Nonprofit Management from Hamline University, and a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Gwendolyn Freed is an experienced leader in higher education, nonprofit organizations, and the arts. From 2021–23, she served as Interim Director of the University of Minnesota School of Music. Previously, she was chief development officer at the University's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She has served as vice president at Cornish College of the Arts and Gustavus Adolphus College. Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Handbook of Higher Education Theory and Research, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. She holds a PhD in educational policy and administration and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota, and music degrees from The Juilliard School and Oberlin Conservatory.

Kiyoko Motoyama Sims has a wealth of experience as an arts instructor and administrator, director, and professional development facilitator. She is currently an adjunct faculty member of the Theater Department at Augsburg University and the theatre instructor at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists as well as a teaching artist at Upstream Arts. She also facilitates professional development workshops throughout the community, integrating the power of arts and intercultural competency. She is active as a violinist in a chamber music group. Kiyoko holds an MFA in Musical Theatre Performance from San Diego State University and an MA in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota.

Meena Natarajan is a playwright, director, and the Artistic and Executive Director of Pangea World Theater, a progressive, international ensemble space that creates at the intersection of art, equity, and social justice. Meena has co-curated and designed many of Pangea’s professional and community-based programs. She serves on the boards of the National Performance Network, Consortium of Asian American Theatres and Artists, The Loft, and Longfellow Rising. She has written at least 10 full-length works for Pangea, ranging from adaptations of poetry and mythology to original works dealing with war, spirituality, and memory. Meena was awarded the 2013 Visionary Award for mid-career leaders from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

David brings decades of experience developing innovative cultural and educational programs while advocating for change. He served as director of arts education for the National Endowment for the Arts, then as staff director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. David was head of the Perpich Center, then president of the MacPhail Center for Music. He served the Minnesota Humanities Center as president and CEO. He founded The Creative Future LLC, where he works with individuals and organizations on mission and purpose, courage and commitment. He holds a PhD in Theatre and Community from The Union Graduate Institute and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from St. John's University.

Stephen is a Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where he serves as Chair of the Arts Entrepreneurship Program. He worked as a performer, designer, manager, and producer, touring the globe with performing artists such as MacArthur Genius Award Recipients Meredith Monk and Bill T. Jones, as well as Blue Man Group, Karen Finley, and many, many other artists and creatives. As an Account Manager and Executive Producer for global corporate communications companies Jack Morton Worldwide and BI Worldwide, he produced events throughout the United States and across Europe and the Middle East. Stephen enjoys coaching business start-ups.