Katie Cornell (she/her) serves as Executive Director of ArtsAVL, where she works to bring people together through the arts and strengthen Buncombe County’s creative sector. Since joining the organization in 2019, she has led efforts—alongside ArtsAVL’s dedicated staff and board—to amplify the region’s vibrant arts communities and ensure the long-term sustainability of its diverse cultural ecosystem.

Katie brings over 20 years of experience in Asheville’s arts sector and holds a Master’s degree in Arts Leadership & Cultural Management from Colorado State University. She currently serves as Board Chair of Arts NC, President of the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina, and a board member of both the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Asheville’s Public Art & Cultural Commission. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Katie has served as a key point person for regional arts recovery, helping to lead efforts to support and rebuild Western North Carolina’s creative sector.

Rebecca Lynch (she/her) has dedicated her 24 year professional career to cultural non profits, including three years as a project researcher for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, a 15 year development career with the Asheville Art Museum, and three years leading Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Event Series. While at the Asheville Art Museum, she managed the successful $25 million capital campaign for the award-winning new Museum which opened in Fall 2019. As a fifth generation resident of WNC, she has deep roots and strong ties to the area’s artist, agricultural, culinary, civic and business communities. She firmly believes that our creative community is the heart of our region’s vibrancy and central to its identity, health and success. Rebecca shares the Puffin, her tiny home nestled on family land in Fairview, NC, with her cat Maple, surrounded by local farms, family and friends. She practices her art in the kitchen as an avid culinary maker and passionate home cook, and is thrilled for the opportunity to continue to support our region’s extraordinary community of creative makers and arts organizations as Development & Grants Director for ArtsAVL.

Alexa Whitman (she/her) advocates for policies that will sustain and enrich our arts community. Coming from a long line of Appalachian creatives, Alexa understands the essential role of art and creativity in our region. Her love of creating began as a child, learning from her self-taught grandmother’s mountain and farmhouse watercolors. Having danced with Charlotte Ballet and then earning a BA in Art and a JD from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Alexa’s background allows her to appreciate both the unique ability of art to benefit a community, as well as the strategic needs of advocating for the artists and art organizations within that community. Alexa’s advocacy experience includes policy work at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, post-conviction relief cases with Washington University and Phillips Black, and First Amendment research for Yale University. As Policy & Research Manager, Alexa advocates for policies that reflect the needs of the cultural sector to support a thriving creative workforce and resources that are accessible, equitable, and inclusive.

Maria Buchanan is a native of Southern Appalachia where she grew up going to regional craft shows with her Windsor chairmaking father, spending her time trying out everything from marbling to metal work to bobbin lace.  Arts roots run far and deep in her family beginning with her great grandfather who was a virtuosic blacksmith and opera aficionado in Italy, and continue with Maria who attended Belmont University and Emory & Henry College, earning a BA in Musical Theatre with minors in Dance and Music. She has worked for over a decade as a professional actor throughout the southeast, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.

Shortly after the birth of her child, Maria began spending more time on the administrative side of arts organizations, including four years as Marketing and Communications Director for Asheville’s professional theatre, North Carolina Stage Company, helping to manage the theatre’s successful post-pandemic reopening and growth. Maria currently lives in Asheville with her teacher/musician husband, exuberant third grader, and two energetic dogs. She is thrilled to join ArtsAVL in their advocacy, granting, and connection work as Communications Manager.