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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 20, 2006
CONTACT: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer,
shirko [at] mihumanities.org, 517-372-0029 ext. 25

COUNCIL WELCOMES FIVE TO BOARD

Governor Granholm Appointed Russ Collins of Ann Arbor and Susanne Janis of Traverse City; Board Elected Paula Gangopadhyay of Northville, James Karshner of DeWitt, and Patricia Anne Shaheen of Saginaw

(LANSING)-----The Michigan Humanities Council recently welcomed five new members to its board of directors. Two were appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm: Russ Collins of Ann Arbor and Susanne Janis of Traverse City. Three were elected by the board of directors at its most recent meeting: Paula Gangopadhyay of Northville, James Karshner of DeWitt, and Patricia Anne Shaheen of Saginaw. The two gubernatorial appointments will serve immediately and will complete their terms on December 31, 2009. The two elected members will servea three-year term beginning January 1, 2007, and ending December 31, 2009.

Russ Collins of Ann Arbor is the executive director of the Michigan Theater, a restored historic theater in Ann Arbor. For the beauty of its restoration and its exemplary live-on-stage and cinema arts programming, the Michigan Theater was recently named the Outstanding Historic Theatre in North America by the League of Historic American Theatres. Collins is an Arts Administration Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts, a graduate and Professional Theatre Program Fellow of the University of Michigan, was knighted by the Republic of Italy for his promotion of Italian film culture in the USA, serves on the board of Ann Arbor's Downtown Development Authority and teaches arts administration and film studies at Eastern Michigan University.

Susanne Janis of Traverse City joins the Michigan Humanities Council’s board of directors as her third gubernatorial appointment. Janis was previously appointed to the Michigan Historical Society by Governor John Engler and was also appointed to the Community Economic Excellence Board by Governor James Blanchard. Janis has served on the board of directors of many cultural community organizations, including the Dennos Musum Center’s advisory board, Northwestern Michigan College Foundation board, and the past president of the Grand Traverse Pavilion’s Foundation board. She was a radio announce for WCCW in Traverse City and a 1997 recipient of the National Society of Fundraising Executives’ “Outstanding Volunteer Award.”

Paula Gangopadhyay of Northville is the executive director of the Plymouth Community Arts Council. From 2002 through 2006, she served as the curator of education for public programs at the Public Museum of Grantd Rapids. She has also served as executive director of the Great Lakes Center for Education, Research and Practice, the Commission for Lansing Schools Success, and the Meridian Historical Museum. Gangopadhyay is active in community arts and cultural programs. She earned a post-graduate certificate in Archival, Museum, and Editing Studies from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Penn.) in 1994, and has both a Masters of Arts and Bachelor of Arts from Indore University (Indore, India).

James Karshner of DeWitt has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. Currently, he is president of Above the Fold, a public relations and international business development company. Previously, he directed four different state public relations or marketing staffs during a 13-year period spanning both the Engler and Blanchard gubernatorial administrations. This included the Michigan Department of Career Development, the Michigan Jobs Commission, and the Michigan Department of Commerce. Karshner earned a Bachelor of Arts from Alma College in 1974.

Patricia Anne Shaheen of Saginaw has a history of community service to arts and cultural organizations. Currently, she is the past president for the board of directors of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and serves on the board of the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan, and St. Mary’s of Michigan Advisory Board. She was also a founding member of Saginaw Township Art in Public Places. In 2001, Shaheen was recognized as a “Woman of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay and as a Distinguished Alumni by Saginaw Valley State University. With her husband and family, Shaheen was responsible for the restoration of the historical Temple Theatre in downtown Saginaw. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Saginaw Valley College.

The Michigan Humanities Council’s Board of Directors consists of 21 members whose responsibilities range from program and proposal review, planning, fundraising, advocacy for the humanities, liaison to projects and other representation of the Council at activities around the state. Four members of the Council are gubernatorial appointees while the Council Board elected 17.

The Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state's private, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs is a state agency and is a part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.

http://www.michiganhumanities.org

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