You can learn a lot about a nonprofit organization by looking at how effective and engaged its board is. At A4L, our board is an integral part of planning, dreaming, and the execution of every plan. This September, our wonderful board chair of three years, Sheelagh Allston, concluded her term at the helm. Under her leadership, Arts for Learning reached major milestones, including opening an arts-integrated public charter school, growing the number of full-time teaching artist positions on staff to 15, and expanding our popular Access for All grant to every county in Maryland, benefiting over 37,314 students last year alone.

Why are the arts so important to education and student achievement?
“The arts cultivate creativity and compassion,” Sheelagh shares. “Creativity allows students to ask questions, examine issues critically, and explore ideas. Compassion allows students to understand, appreciate, and respect different perspectives. Through the arts, students can create and realize different opportunities, and they are engaged and excited about learning. Arts-integrated learning is also critical to developing good character and creating knowledgeable, empathetic people who contribute to strong communities.”

What does she think makes Arts for Learning so successful?
“The special sauce is the people. From the board members who show up and support A4L, to the artists who share their wonderful talents in Maryland schools and with all of us, to the dedicated A4L staff who work hard every day. It’s everyone’s commitment to A4L’s mission and making sure we get it right for the children throughout the State of Maryland.”

Sheelagh has handed the torch to longtime Arts for Learning board colleague, Dr. Nancy Kass, who is also JHU Phoebe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics and Public Health & Deputy Director, Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins.

As a veteran beginning her tenure as leader, we asked Nancy to think back to what first drew her to the organization:
“Childhood is precious,” Nancy says, “and it should be full of creativity and joy. Arts for Learning brings that creativity, joy, and energy to schools and kids. And as a bonus, data show our work also improves academic outcomes: students have fun, want to come to school, attendance rises, and math and reading scores improve. It’s an amazing organization, and I’m honored to be part of it.”

And does Sheelagh have advice for Nancy?
“I am surprised at how quickly my time as board chair went by. There have been so many different successes, challenges, and unique issues, and I was too engaged and having too much fun to count the years! I am so grateful for the opportunity to have served as Board chair. I’m excited to see all that A4L will continue to accomplish. I look forward to supporting Nancy as the new Board chair!”

Our New Board Officers assumed their positions on September 23, 2026:

Chair: Nancy Kass, JHU Phoebe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics and Public Health & Deputy Director, Berman Institute of Bioethics

Vice Chair: Denise Galambos, Retired Senior Vice President and Chief People and Equity Officer, Exelon

Vice Chair: Mark Paul Lehman, Vice President & Senior Legal Counsel, Americas Chart Industries, Inc.

Treasurer: Eric Pripstein, Owner, Pripstein & Associates, LLC

Secretary: Brain Chappell, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Member at Large: Chris Wallace, Retired Speech-Language Pathologist

To see a full list of our board members, please visit our board page.