Board of Directors
Lyssa Lovejoy, President
Lyssa Lovejoy has been deeply connected to the arts since childhood, growing up in a household where creativity was not just encouraged but woven into everyday life. Music, dance, and visual arts were not merely electives but an essential part of her upbringing, shaping her passion for artistic expression and community engagement. This lifelong love of the arts led her to become a seasoned choreographer, both exhibiting & teaching artist, and art therapy practitioner, using her skills to inspire, educate, and heal through creative experiences.
Since moving to Evansville in 2022, Lyssa has embraced the city’s simplicity, deep-rooted traditions, and vibrant artistic spirit. She has worked extensively in schools and workshops, sharing the transformative power of the arts with students of all ages. As an advocate for inclusivity in the arts, she believes in creating opportunities for everyone to engage in self-expression, regardless of background or experience.
Now, as President, Lyssa is honored to contribute her vision, expertise, and passion to an organization that has already made a profound impact on the community. She looks forward to collaborating with fellow artists, educators, and leaders to expand arts programming, foster creative growth, and ensure that the arts continue to thrive as an essential part of Evansville’s culture.
Michael Tisserand, Vice President
Michael Tisserand is an author of books about cartooning, music, photography and film. His biography Krazy: George Herriman, a Life in Black and White was a New York Times notable book, and his study of Louisiana music, The Kingdom of Zydeco, received the ASCAP-Deems Taylor award for music writing. Both a devotee of the arts and a devoted supporter of the freedom of expression, he hosts an annual celebration of banned books in Alexandria. Recently returned to his home in west central Minnesota after thirty years in New Orleans, he is honored to help foster the arts through serving on the board of the Evansville Art Center.
Greg Lehrke, Treasurer
Greg Lehrke serves as the Treasurer for the Evansville Arts Coalition.
What drew Greg to EAC was the open mic, where he found a welcoming space to share his love for music. He hopes to help EAC continue its growth and expand its impact in the community.
Not only is Greg a member of the World Concertina Congress, but for the past 20 years, Greg has participated in the Jingle Bells Telethon, using his talent to bring joy and support to those in need.
Gregs' passion for the concertina began at the age of seven when he was taught by his father, Gordon. Since then, his musical journey has taken him to a variety of venues, including Big Joe's Polka Show at the Medina Ballroom, wedding receptions, churches, anniversaries, and many other community events. His deep love for music and commitment to sharing it with others make him a cherished performer and advocate for the arts.
Beyond music, Greg enjoys traveling and has a passion for cars, hobbies that fuel his sense of adventure and appreciation for craftsmanship.
Colleen Shores, Secretary
Colleen is a dedicated board member of the Evansville Arts Coalition and a passionate advocate for the arts. Her deep commitment to community involvement is evident through her six years of service on the Evansville City Council, her participation in the Evansville Horizon community group, and her efforts in organizing two food distribution events in town. Throughout her work, she has consistently championed the importance of making the arts accessible to all, believing that exposure to creativity in all its forms is essential for a thriving community.
Growing up in a home filled with music, Colleen developed a lifelong appreciation for the arts. As the unofficial family photographer, she made sure every moment was captured and preserved, often staying behind the camera to document cherished events. This passion for storytelling and creative expression has driven her to support artistic endeavors and advocate for opportunities that allow others to experience the transformative power of the arts. She remains committed to cultivating a vibrant arts community in Evansville, believing that creativity strengthens connections and enriches lives.
Jackie Henning, Membership
Jackie has been involved in the Evansville Arts Coalition since it was conceived in 1995 and joined its Photo Club in 2017. She recently joined the EAC Board of Directors and is acting as Membership Chair.
Curiosity in the process of art led her to delve into forms of photography from the 1800s and early 20th century while getting a BFA at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Jackie’s interest in theatre while a student challenged her to design, build, and paint sets for numerous community theatre companies and high school productions. She also created a custom backdrop company, Sightlines, that supplied commercial photography studios with backgrounds for advertising products, such as Target. She later started another company, Paint Designs, which produced high end surface textures for residential and commercial clients. Since 2015 she worked with her husband Stephen to create videos for websites and social media through another creative business, AMS Digital Productions. They have produced many websites and videos for businesses, non-profits and artists alike.
Currently she is painting with mixed media, incorporating photography and 3D materials in her pieces.
Valerie Hanson, Board Member
Valerie Hanson brings both creative passion and strong organizational experience to the Evansville Art Center Board. A longtime member of the Evansville Photo Club, Val was inspired to become more involved after seeing the exciting growth and positive changes happening within the organization. With a background in accounting and years spent raising her family in the Alexandria area before returning home to Evansville, she values community connection, collaboration, and creating welcoming spaces for others.
Val enjoys photography, watercolor, and journaling, and is especially passionate about encouraging artists and supporting meaningful initiatives within the arts community. Her strengths include budgeting, operations, communication, teamwork, and thoughtful leadership. In retirement, she has embraced learning watercolor alongside her grandchildren and is currently working on a personal project titled “100 Tiny Paintings,” while also expanding her photography portfolio online. Valerie hopes to see the Evansville Art Center continue growing into a thriving creative hub where people of all ages can learn, connect, and be inspired.
Jim Burger, Board Member
Jim brings a deep appreciation for community, craftsmanship, and the arts to the Evansville Art Center Board. Having long admired the organization’s impact within the Evansville community, he was enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute and help support the continued growth of the Art Center. Jim built his career as a boiler engineer for county government in Minnesota, where he worked extensively with aging buildings and physical infrastructure. That hands-on experience sparked a lasting appreciation for vintage items and the character and beauty found in materials such as wood and metal.
Jim’s practical knowledge of heating, air conditioning, and facility operations provides valuable insight for maintaining and caring for a historic building like the Evansville Art Center. Equally important is his strong sense of community service, shaped through years of working closely with vulnerable populations. Through his husband’s involvement in the arts, Jim has experienced many art centers and creative organizations and continues to be inspired by the incredible artistic talent found within rural and small-town communities. Family remains at the center of his life, growing up among nine siblings and now enjoying time with his two children and five grandchildren.
Looking ahead, Jim hopes to help the Evansville Art Center continue balancing programming, membership, budget, and community engagement while preserving the enthusiasm and creativity that make the organization special.
Randy Humbert, Board Member
Randy has been taking things apart to see how they work since he was a kid—and he never really stopped. After a 37-year career in electronics R&D, where he designed, built, and tested equipment and wrote the software that ran it, he retired with his wife and moved to Evansville.
In retirement, a “stained glass seed” in his mind sprouted into a love for working with glass, painting, and pastels. He’s even used his skills to restore a concrete and glass mosaic garden bench. When he’s not making or fixing something, Randy enjoys baking (mostly breads) and cooking. He is a strong supporter of the arts and an active member of the Evansville community, bringing both creativity and curiosity to everything he does.
Nancy Neterval, Board Member
Nancy brings a strong background in leadership, service, and community connection to the Evansville Art Center Board. Having previously served on the board, she is excited to return during this new season of growth and positive change and looks forward to helping move the organization forward. Professionally, Nancy worked as a teacher and coach for 10 years, spent 15 years serving on the mission field in Europe, and has dedicated the past 21 years to Lakeland Mental Health Center. Her creative interests include photography, cross stitch, and sports.
Known for her strengths in organization, networking, decision-making, and supporting others, Nancy believes art provides an important outlet for people to express and share their creative gifts. One unique fact about her is that she is fluent in German, developed during her years spent overseas. Nancy hopes to see more people , especially youth become involved with and inspired by the Evansville Art Center and its growing role in the community.