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

dmerkowitz@ohiohumanities.org

A Cincinnati-born professor and writer, David teaches part-time at Otterbein University and carries out planning and oversight of Ohio Humanities' program activities and grants. He lives in Columbus with his wife and two sons.

David is reading Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America by Sam Tanenhaus.

Marc Smith

Business Manager

msmith@ohiohumanities.org

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

lmyers@ohiohumanities.org

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.

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)
Rafeala Flatow | Cincinnati
- Leadership Development Professional
Stacia Kuceyeski | Columbus
- Chief Operating Officer, Ohio History Connection
Kevin Scott Miller, EdD | New Albany
- 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.