Mass Humanities, the leading funder of humanities projects in the commonwealth, welcomes nine exceptional community leaders to its board of directors.
“It is an honor to welcome our new board members to Mass Humanities,” said Deborah Hall, who was elected board chair at the foundation’s October board meeting. “I look forward to working with this esteemed and diverse cohort, representing communities across the commonwealth and bringing a wealth of skills, perspectives, and subject-matter expertise to our shared mission. I am excited about what we will accomplish together. I also want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the board members we are saying goodbye to. Thank you for your service, dedication, and passion for advancing the humanities across Massachusetts. Your contributions have made a lasting difference.”
Board members serve three-year terms, renewable for one term. This latest group joined Mass Humanities at the foundation’s October board meeting. Officer appointments for 2026 include Deborah Hall, Board Chair; Kristin McGurn, Vice Chair; Scott Casper, Secretary; and Michael Chambers II, Treasurer. Hall succeeds Aaron Vega, who concluded a two-year term as chair and remains on the board as Immediate Past Chair.
AUSTIN ASHE is Senior Associate Director for Community Engagement at the MIT Sloan School of Management. A resident of Lynn, Ashe grew up in West Haven, CT. He has spent most of his career utilizing data-driven approaches to advance culture and belonging initiatives in higher education. He brings his love of hip-hop into his approach to teaching at Bunker Hill and into his administrative work at MIT. Ashe’s credentials include: University of Massachusetts, Boston, Doctor of Philosophy, Higher Education & Leadership; Springfield College, Master of Education, Student Personnel Administration; and Quinnipiac University, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Bachelor of Arts, Communication.
TRENTON CARLS is an experienced museum and cultural heritage leader with a strong background in archives, collections management, curation, and community engagement. He has led historic and cultural institutions through strategic planning, exhibitions, fundraising, and public programming, with expertise in social and regional history and material culture. Carls’ career includes leadership roles at the Lexington History Museums, Cape Ann Museum, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Chicago History Museum, and Pritzker Military Museum & Library. He is recognized for creating and engaging, research-driven experiences that connect multi-generational audiences with history, arts, and culture.
DR. MELANIE EDWARDS-TAVARES is a philanthropic executive with more than two decades of experience strengthening nonprofits and bringing communities, institutions, and capital together to address regional challenges. She has led multimillion-dollar initiatives in youth and community development, nonprofit capacity building, and philanthropy across New England. Edwards-Tavares is President and CEO of the SouthCoast Community Foundation, serving 41 communities in southeastern Massachusetts, and co-chair of the Massachusetts Community Foundation Partnership. Previously, she led nonprofit support and capacity-building work at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, now Greater Hartford Gives Foundation. She holds a doctorate from Harvard University, where her work focused on leadership and nonprofit sustainability.
SARAH KELLEHER is an intellectual property attorney at Fish & Richardson, where she counsels clients on trademark, copyright, and trade dress matters with a focus on helping clients protect and grow their brands. Her work spans a wide range of industries, including, aerospace, security, biotech, pharma, industrial manufacturing, and luxury and consumer goods. Committed to access to justice, Kelleher has twice been named to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Pro Bono Honor Roll. Her engagement with the arts and humanities runs deep, from her study of the classics and humanities in college to her volunteer work at museums and galleries in her home state of West Virginia and later during her time in Chicago. Kelleher is actively involved in the Worcester community and is a passionate supporter of local arts and storytelling. Kelleher lives in Worcester, where she spends a majority of her time wrangling her four boys.
ALEXANDRA KENNEDY has successfully led both for-profit and nonprofit organizations through periods of growth, innovation, and transformation. She served as Vice President and Editorial Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide, where she directed creative content for Disney’s $50 million consumer magazine group, including FamilyFun and Wondertime, reaching more than 2.6 million readers. Kennedy later became Executive Director of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, leading the museum for 15 years and expanding its global audience from 100,000 to 750,000 annual visitors while overseeing operations, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and a renowned collection of picture book art. Now serving as a nonprofit consultant based in Northampton, Kennedy specializes in organizational assessments, strategic planning, innovation, and compassionate leadership.
HYO CHOON LEE brings a wealth of leadership experience in financial and administrative management, with a focus on operational excellence and strategic growth across complex media and programming environments. Throughout her career, she has come to value thoughtful financial stewardship, collaborative leadership, and building organizations that are positioned to thrive. She brings a strategic perspective and a practical, people-centered approach to supporting the mission and long-term sustainability of nonprofit organizations.
RACHEL PACHTER has spent the past 25 years developing offshore wind energy projects, including leading the development of Vineyard Wind 1, the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States. As Chief Development Officer for Vineyard Offshore, she negotiated landmark agreements with Tribal Nations, fisheries groups, NGOs, and municipalities, which helped secure critical project approvals while also delivering meaningful environmental, economic, and local benefits. She built and led multidisciplinary teams working in Massachusetts, New York, and California. For Pachter, the heart of her work in offshore wind has been the chance to engage with communities, work to understand their multifaceted histories and present-day challenges, and find ways to develop projects that all parties can be proud of. Pachter is currently focused on local volunteer work and brainstorming ways to improve meaningful community involvement in major projects. She is also excited and deeply grateful for the opportunity to support the work of Mass Humanities.
DAVID SILVA is an academic leader and linguist. He has dedicated more than three decades to higher education through teaching, administration, faculty leadership, and international scholarship. Currently serving as Provost and Academic Vice President at Salem State University, Silva previously held several senior leadership positions at The University of Texas at Arlington, including Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Department Chair, and Program Director within the Department of Linguistics and TESOL. Silva is a distinguished scholar in linguistics and has held faculty appointments at institutions including Kyung Hee University and Syracuse University. His work has included securing and overseeing grants supporting multilingual education, college access initiatives, and international academic collaboration.
RIANI SUAREZ is a development and communications professional with experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement, grant research, and community outreach. Suarez currently serves as Development Associate at Project STEP, she supports institutional fundraising, donor communications, and event planning while helping amplify organizational impact through social media and storytelling. Previously, she held development and communications roles at Hyde Square Task Force, where she contributed to fundraising strategy and helped coordinate a successful annual campaign, raising $120,000. Suarez is a graduate of Clark University where she earned both a Master of Science in Management and a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Geography with a minor in Studio Art, graduating summa cum laude with consistent Dean’s List honors. Her background combines nonprofit development, creative engagement, sustainability planning, and arts administration, reflecting a strong commitment to community impact and collaborative leadership.