Augusta Brulla is the head gallery attendant at the James Watrous Gallery. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the Watrous Gallery, Augusta served as an AmeriCorps literacy tutor, teaching reading to elementary school students in Salinas, California. In her free time, Augusta practices and performs Flamenco with the Tania Tandias Flamenco and Spanish Dance Company.
Chelsea Chandler is the Environmental Initiatives Coordinator at the Wisconsin Academy. She leads the Climate & Energy and Waters of Wisconsin Initiatives, to which she brings her interdisciplinary experience and passion for researching and communicating solutions to environmental challenges. Chelsea has a MEM in Global Change Science and Policy from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a BA in Atmospheric Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Jody Clowes is the director of the Wisconsin Academy's James Watrous Gallery. With years of experience developing and curating exhibitions, running gallery programs, and writing about art, her background includes senior positions at Milwaukee Art Museum, Detroit's Pewabic Pottery, and the UW-Madison's Design Gallery. As a curator, her goal is to offer accessible, jargon-free context that helps visitors engage with the art on view, while leaving space for individual discovery and reflection.
Jane Elder is executive director of the Wisconsin Academy. She brings to the Wisconsin Academy a strong background in public policy leadership, nonprofit management, and involvement in Wisconsin arts. Her career has focused on environmental policy and communications, while personal interests include theater, modern dance and painting.
Aaron Fai is the project coordinator of the Wisconsin Academy, supporting event planning and office administration. He previously taught creative writing at the University of Oregon and UC Davis and served in Peace Corps Kyrgyzstan. Aaron’s interests include literature, translation, hiking, and, most recently, dog training.
Phone: 608-263-1692 x14
Email: afai@wisconsinacademy.org
Angela Johnson is the exhibitions coordinator for the James Watrous Gallery. Her background is in both art and education. She earned a Master's in Art Education in 2008 and an MFA in 2016, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her Master's thesis in 2008 was to create a space plan for the open art studio at Madison Children's Museum (MCM), which opened in 2010. She runs SPARK! (Cultural Arts Programming) for adults with Memory Loss at MCM—the museum no-one outgrows.
Matt Rezin is data & office systems coordinator for the Wisconsin Academy. Since graduating from UW-Madison in 2009, he has worked for local nonprofit organizations such as Goodman Community Center and Madison Public Library Foundation. Matt's personal interests include a healthy appetite for pop culture, Wisconsin sports and teams, and niche sports like cycling and sumo wrestling.
Phone: 608-263-1692 x10
Amanda E. Shilling is development director of the Wisconsin Academy. Amanda joined the Wisconsin Academy in 2013, having served as Ten Chimneys Foundation’s development manager since 2001. Prior to Ten Chimneys Foundation, Amanda worked in development and subscription sales at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She holds a BA in arts administration from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point.
Jason A. Smith is the communications director of the Wisconsin Academy and editor of the organization's quarterly magazine of Wisconsin thought and culture, Wisconsin People & Ideas. Before joining the Wisconsin Academy in 2008, Jason was the managing editor of The Common Review, the quarterly magazine of the Great Books Foundation, and helped the storied nonprofit to develop materials for adult reading groups.
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Wisconsin Academy Administrative Offices and Steenbock Gallery
1922 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53726
Phone: 608-263-1692
James Watrous Gallery of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters
3rd Floor, Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-265-2500
