Staff
Rebecca Brown Asmo
Executive Director
Rebecca is an experienced nonprofit and development leader with a passion for art, history, and community development. An alumna of Georgetown University and an adopted Ohioan since 2004, she lives in Columbus' Fifth by Northwest neighborhood with her two children.
Rebecca is currently reading On Morrison by Namwali Serpell.
David Merkowitz, PhD
Director of Grants, Programs, and Operations
A Cincinnati-born historian and writer, David is the grant officer and manages program portfolio of the Ohio Humanities Alliance. He teaches part-time at Otterbein University. He lives in Columbus with his wife and two sons.
David is reading The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl Popper.
Marc Smith
Business Manager
A former auditor at Huntington National Bank and current Senior Lecturer in accounting at the Ohio State University, Marc manages council funds and is the glue that holds Ohio Humanities together. He lives in Grandview Heights.
Marc is currently curating his fantasy football team.
Linda Myers
Membership and Partnership Manager
Linda brings a wealth of sales leadership and a passion for mission-driven work to the Alliance, where she specializes in sustainable, strategic, long-term partnership development. When she isn't busy growing our statewide network, the Upper Arlington resident can be found practicing yoga, catching live music, or hanging out with her Doodle, Ginger.
She's also a fan of local laughs, currently reading My Life and Hard Times by one of Columbus’s favorite sons, James Thurber.
Martha Trydahl
With a background in writing and editing, Martha brings strong communication and project management skills to her role as Project Coordinator. When she’s not in the office, you can find her on the tennis court working on her forehand. Martha lives in Columbus with her husband, two kids, and a doodle that loves to hide their socks.
Martha is currently reading Whistler by Ann Patchett.
Board of Trustees
Ohio Humanities board members serve as advocates for the public humanities by promoting the mission and vision of Ohio Humanities to sustain vibrant communities and foster lifelong learning. The Board of Trustees is the fiduciary steward of the organization; as a whole, the board establishes policy and ensures the financial health of the organization.
- Lance Grahn, PhD | Cortland | Chair
- Retired Dean and Chief Administrative Officer and Professor of History, Kent State University-Trumbull
- Susan F. Smith | Cleveland | Vice Chair
- Writer and Speaker
- Vladimir Kogan, PhD | Columbus | Secretary
- Associate Professor of Political Science, The Ohio State University
- Brodi Conover, JD | Lebanon
- Partner, Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP
- Ann Donnelly Hamilton | Ada
- Project Manager, Small Nation
- Deena Epstein | Shaker Heights
- Retired Senior Program Officer, The George Gund Foundation
- Katherine Fell | Findlay
- President, University of Findlay (Retired)
- Raphaela Platow | Cincinnati
- Leadership Development Professional
- Interim Executive Director, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
- Stacia Kuceyeski | Columbus
- Chief Operating Officer, Ohio History Connection
- Kevin Scott Miller, EdD | New Albany
- Superintendent, Licking Heights Local School District
- Superintendent, Licking Heights Local School District
- Dan Moder | Newark
- Executive Director, Explore Licking County
- Tony Sanfilippo | Bexley
- Director, The Ohio State University Press
- Ruth Wasem, PhD | Cleveland
- Senior Fellow, Cleveland State University Levin College of Public Affairs and Education
- John Wirchanski | Bexley
- Philanthropist
Support more stories
With your support, Ohio Humanities hosts programs and awards grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. Donate today to help us tell more stories.