South Arts is fortunate to have a dynamic and dedicated Board of Directors to guide and steward the organization! These leaders from across our nine-state region and beyond work in support of our mission to advance Southern vitality through the arts. We are pleased to welcome two new board members, say farewell to three members, and congratulate our new officers.
- Jamie DeMent Holcomb (Hillsborough, NC) is a Morehead Scholar and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, began her career as a Legislative Aide on Capitol Hill and later served as Director of Special Projects at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. She and her husband, Richard Holcomb, went on to run Coon Rock Farm and several food ventures in North Carolina, including Piedmont Restaurant and Bella Bean Organics. Jamie is the author of two cookbooks—The Farmhouse Chef and Canning in the Modern Kitchen—and has lectured widely on Southern foodways and sustainable cooking. Her work spans food, farming, tech, and the arts, including consulting for museums and startups, and contributing to national media. Currently CEO of Kidzu Children’s Museum and incoming Chair of the NC Science Museum Network, Jamie was selected as a 2024 Eisenhower Fellow and spent the fall collaborating with leading cultural institutions across the UK, France, and Italy.
- Stewart Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) has over 25 years of experience in corporate and investment banking, capital markets, private asset management, and risk management, along with eight years in biomedical, pharmaceutical testing, and environmental research. He serves on advisory boards for two fintech startups and previously worked with a third. He holds a BS in Biology from Morehouse College, an MS in Molecular Biology from North Carolina Central University with thesis work in Genetic Toxicology, and an MBA in General Management and Economics from Campbell University. A former FINRA Series 7 and 66 licensee, he is a devoted father to a teenage daughter, enjoys running, working out, traveling (34 states and four continents), and visiting museums. Passionate about the arts and nonprofit work, he is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and a Prince Hall Mason. Originally from Detroit, MI, he now lives in Charlotte, NC.
We extend our deepest gratitude to William McKinney (Greenville, SC and Raleigh, NC), Board Secretary; Alice Randall (Nashville, TN); Keither Summerour (Atlanta, GA); and Mike Woodard (Durham, NC) for their years of dedicated service to South Arts. Each has made a lasting impact on the organization through their invaluable expertise, generous contributions of time and talent, and by thoughtfully leveraging their networks to advance our mission.
Congratulations to our officers for the coming year!
- Chair - Gretchen McLennon (Memphis, TN)
- Vice-Chair – Cathy Adams (Fernandina Beach, FL)
- Secretary – Elliot Knight (Montgomery, AL)
- Treasurer – David Lewis (Jackson, MS)
We invite you to visit the Staff and Board page on our website to learn about the entire board of directors and the South Arts staff.