Museum Advisory Council

Project-based advisory feedback gathers broad community input on exhibitions as part of the formal exhibition approval process. This ensures exhibitions move forward with community context before significant design or production investments are made.

At this level, community insight helps shape exhibition direction early, ensuring that decisions are informed before moving into design and production.

Inform exhibition approval by testing concepts, themes, narratives, and interpretive framing.

• Focuses on exhibition-wide feedback 

• Does not address individual labels, assets, or final execution details

Occurs at defined checkpoints, such as concept approval or narrative framework review.

• Time-bound advisory sessions or short engagement series 

• Participants may include council members, community partners, or topic-specific stakeholders

A synthesized feedback memo identifying strengths, concerns, and key questions to address before approval.

Focused advisory input is tightly scoped and short-term. It is used when targeted community perspectives are needed to inform a specific exhibition or project deliverable within a defined decision window.

At this level, engagement supports quick, informed decision-making, ensuring that specific details reflect relevant community perspectives.

Gather focused, audience-specific feedback tied directly to a specific deliverable.

• Limited to one exhibition or project 

• Questions are narrow, specific, and clearly defined

Very small group (typically 1–3 participants) engaged through one or two touchpoints.

Occurs within a specific project phase, such as label testing or a pre-opening accessibility review.

A brief summary outlining what was heard, what will change, and what will not change, including rationale.

Each level plays a distinct role within a connected system of community engagement:

• Advisory Councils   Builds long-term relationships and informs institutional priorities

• Project-Based Advisory Feedback  Ensures exhibitions align with community context before advancing

• Focused Advisory Input  Refines specific decisions during project execution

No single level replaces another. Together, they ensure that community voice is embedded throughout the museum’s work, from big-picture strategy to the details of the visitor experience.

Srividya Venkatasubramanya

Srividya is a founding member and the Executive Director for Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation. Her exposure to Indian music and dance in her formative years helped shape a lifelong love and appreciation for the performing arts. For several years, she organized an annual event called ‘Sargam’ to bring Indian classical performances to Northwest Arkansas. As a tribute to her parents and in honor of their legacy of service, Srividya named the foundation Ra-Ve, an amalgamation of their first names, Raji and Venkat. ​Srividya’s background as an educator, prompted her to start Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation to help and support the next generation’s efforts to learn Indian music and dance, by increasing exposure and opportunity. “For me, it is important that we nurture our cultural identity and give it voice in a multicultural space like Northwest Arkansas” Srividya’s academic background is in Spanish, foreign language learning and teaching and Curriculum design. She speaks and understands 5 languages.

Whitney Burgess Scales

Whitney Burgess Scales is an award-winning and enthusiastic marketing strategist committed to maximizing growth with measurable results for clients. As vice president of marketing strategy and shareholder at mhp.si, Whitney leads strategy development and oversees execution for clients, monitoring performance and marketing insights that can be leveraged to make business decisions to drive overall success. Over the last decade, she has counseled clients of all sizes, driving a better return on investment with strategy-first, performance marketing. Whitney earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence from the School of Business in 2020. Whitney’s expertise in performance marketing and social media has established her as a thought leader in the industry, with multiple speaking engagements at top conferences nationwide. In 2024, Whitney was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Arkansas by Women We Admire. She is graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock (Class XXXIII), sits on the inaugural Community Advisory Council for Crystal Bridges Museum & The Momentary and is a board member of the Trojan Athletic Council for UA-Little Rock. Whitney also serves as Member At Large and Interim Secretary for Rotaract Little Rock Chapter, is an active member of Create Little Rock, and is member of the Google Ads Advisors Panel and National Society of Leadership Success. Outside of the office, Whitney and her husband, Wendell, volunteer much of their time working with women-owned and minority-owned businesses as strategic thought partners as well as creating programing and pathways for students in underrepresented communities. They also split their time between Little Rock and Fayetteville and can be spotted cheering on the Hogs and the Trojans, supporting local restaurants, or onstage singing karaoke.

Benjamin Edwards

I have been employed and engaged in the Northwest Arkansas non-profit ecosystem, specifically related to the arts and education, for over twenty years. I am a full-time father of four children, an actively exhibiting visual artist, and an entrepreneur. I have over a decade of experience in exhibition management for art galleries and museums, including hiring and supervision of employees, volunteers, and interns. As a consultant I have worked to present exhibitions and programs for Visit Bentonville, Walton Arts Center, Downtown Bentonville Inc., and many other organizations and clients. I have a decade of experience as a classroom educator for all ages, cultures, and abilities of people.

Paola Lopez

Paola Lopez (she/her) is a dynamic leader with over 14 years of experience advancing business startups and higher education with a focus on belonging and leadership development. A proud Puerto Rican raised in Oklahoma, Paola has dedicated her career to creating equitable opportunities for underserved communities. At the University of Oklahoma, she increased Latino student enrollment by 7% through an innovative admissions model and the impactful “La Universidad de Oklahoma” campaign. At Hamilton College, she revitalized the Days-Massolo Center into a cultural hub serving over 25% of the student body, fostering inclusion and community. As an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma, Paola nurtures emerging leaders and advises youth-focused leadership conferences. Her commitment to equity extends to bilingual interpretation, public school advocacy, and youth mentorship. A 2018 Oklahoma Gazette Forty Under 40 honoree, Paola now leads LatinXNA at Serve2Perform, where her Talent Accelerator program achieved an 88% promotion rate among participants. She also serves on the Salvation Army Board in Northwest Arkansas, continuing her impactful work. When not working, Paola enjoys family time and exploring the outdoors in Northwest Arkansas.

Daymara Baker

Daymara Baker has an extensive background in Sales and Marketing, boasting over two decades of experience with international companies, leading promotional agencies, and social enterprises. In recognition of her exemplary contributions and dedication to empowerment and positive change, Daymara was honored as one of the “2023 Arkansas Top 100 Women of Impact” and emerged as a finalist for the prestigious Arkansas Latino Business Award. Beyond her corporate career, Daymara is a passionate social entrepreneur who founded “Rockin’ Baker,” an artisan bread bakery with a profound mission of creating a safe workplace for neurodivergents to thrive. This endeavor embodies her commitment to creating meaningful opportunities and making a positive impact on individuals’ lives. Daymara’s dedication to her community extends beyond Rockin’ Baker. She previously co-founded the “Community Creative Center” in Fayetteville, emphasizing her commitment to nurturing creativity and artistic expression within her community. Daymara Baker’s outstanding career and philanthropic endeavors reflect her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the business world, the neurodiverse community, and the broader NWA community.

Riley Posey

I am a current Honors student at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development with a minor in Theatre. Currently, I’m gaining hands-on experience as a Retail Merchandising intern with the Crystal Bridges Retail Team, while also serving as an Assistant Designer for the University of Arkansas Theatre Department. In addition to my academic and professional work, I’m actively involved in several campus organizations, including the Sustainable Fashion Club, the Fashion Apparel Board, and the Indian Cultural Association. With my degree, I aspire to pursue a career in retail or design, leveraging the skills I’ve gained through my internship at Crystal Bridges. I’m particularly passionate about expanding access to art in underprivileged communities, and I’m excited about the opportunity to help Crystal Bridges increase student engagement in the area. Combining my love for fashion, design, and community outreach, I hope to make a positive impact both in my future career and in the communities I serve.

Sean Kent

Sean Kent is the founder of the Ozark Adaptive Sports Association (OZASA), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing adaptive sports opportunities to individuals with physical disabilities. Born in 1985, Sean’s life took a dramatic turn in 2011 when he broke his neck, leaving him a quadriplegic. Through his recovery, he discovered the life-changing impact of adaptive sports, particularly wheelchair rugby, which gave him a sense of community, empowerment, and purpose. In 2018, Sean relocated to Northwest Arkansas, where he realized there was a lack of adaptive sports programs in the region. Motivated by his passion for inclusion and recreation, he founded OZASA in December 2019 with the mission to bring adaptive sports to the area. Since then, the organization has flourished, providing individuals with disabilities the chance to engage in sports, build friendships, and achieve personal growth. Under Sean's leadership, OZASA has become a cornerstone of the local adaptive sports community, continuing to grow and expand in line with the region’s increasing demand for accessible recreational opportunities.

Irma Chavez

Irma Chavez, was born in Santa Ana, El Salvador, prior to relocating to Los Angeles, California at 18 years old. She has lived in the US for 30 years. She is the proud mother of four young men. She is passionate to help and serve others. She dedicates her life and work to strengthen her community. She has worked hard all her life. Her first job was babysitting and housekeeping. She also worked in a restaurant for many years. In 2009 she moved to Northwest Arkansas (NWA), and worked at a Chiropractic Clinic. More recently, she worked at Advocacy Organization as an Operations Director helping our community through advocacy and services. In 2016 she established Conexión de Negocios Latinos as a networking group. Finally, in June, 2021 Conexion was established as a nonprofit organization, for which. Irma is the Founder Executive Director. SHe is deeply involved in different community organizations: Founder of Conexión de Negocios Latinos (CNL) which is a networking group to support and promote the latino businesses in NWA. Founder of “Grupo de Apoyo” which is a support group that provides help to people in need and assists them with available resources whenever possible. Founder of Kids Pro-Life/Niños-Pro-Vida in which we help children and young people with low incomes in El Salvador. Chair board member of Valle Pino Foundation.

Victoria Daugherty

Victoria Daugherty has lived in the Ozarks the entirety of her life, graduating from a rural high school in southwest Missouri in 2015 before receiving her bachelor's of arts in Religious Studies and Writing from Missouri State University, Springfield. She has volunteered with Harmony House domestic violence services, and recently began spending time with Beautiful Lives boutique in Bentonville. She aims to incorporate accessibility and economic equity in her work, to make more meaning of the hurdles she faced as a single parent. In her free time Victoria enjoys adding native wildflowers to her garden and writing poetry and short stories. She and her family call Bentonville home.

Chris Seawood

Chris Seawood is the Corporate & Institutional Giving Manager at TheatreSquared. In his role he leads in establishing and managing all corporate and institutional giving programs and relationships. Chris also worked at Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated for nine years in various operational and supply chain management roles. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Chris also serves as treasurer of the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Council and is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Juneteenth Committee. He has been married for 23 years to his lovely wife Maranda, an educator, in the Fayetteville School District and is the father to three boys: Caleb, Micah and Joshua.

Alex Davis

Alex Davis is a proud citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Alex is a senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in agriculture business pre-law. She currently serves as the President for the UARK Native American Student Association and as a Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences Senator for the Association Student Government. Over the summer Alex interned as the Indian Arts and Crafts Act Intelligence Fellow. Alex has been awarded the Udall Scholarship for tribal public policy and is passionate about advocating for Indigenous agriculture across Indian Country.

Whitney Burgess Scales

Whitney Burgess Scales, vice president of strategy at MHP/Team SI, is an award-winning and enthusiastic marketing strategist committed to maximizing growth with measurable results for clients.

Debi Osment

Debi Osment was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. After a career working in healthcare, she moved to Austin, TX with her husband and two children. While in Austin, she became known for her organizing abilities and became a key community member. She has a large breadth of interests that range from sports to health care to art and local politics. If there was a group project or a fundraising event that needed organizing, Debi was there.

After moving to Bella Vista five years ago, Debi became a volunteer at Crystal Bridges, donating her with time to create an enjoyable experience for all visitors. She loves giving guided tours at the Museum, especially to new guests. Art has always been a lifelong interest, and Debi is so excited to be a part of this Museum's volunteer staff and the new community board.

Irma Chavez

Irma Chavez was born in Santa Ana, El Salvador, prior to relocating to Los Angeles, California at 18 years old. She has lived in the US for almost 30 years. She is the proud mother of four young men. She is passionate about helping and serving others. She dedicates her life and work to strengthening her community. She has worked hard all her life. Her first job was babysitting and housekeeping. She also worked in a restaurant for many years. 15 years ago, she moved to Northwest Arkansas (NWA) and worked at a Chiropractic Clinic. More recently, she worked at Arkansas United as an Operations Director helping our community through advocacy and services. In 2016 she established Conexión de Negocios Latinos as a networking group. Finally, in June 2021 Conexion was established as a nonprofit organization, for which Irma is the Founder Executive Director. She is deeply involved in different community organizations:

• Founder of Kids Pro-Life/Niños-Pro-Vida in which we help children and young people with low incomes in El Salvador.

• Founder of Conexión de Negocios Latinos (CNL) which is a networking group to support and promote the latino businesses in NWA.

• Founder of “Grupo de Apoyo” which is a support group that provides help to people in need and assists them with available resources whenever possible.

• Chair board member of Valle Pino Foundation (new mental health nonprofit)

• Chair board member WFA Women's Foundation of Arkansas

Daymara Baker

Daymara Baker is a remarkable individual with an extensive background in Sales and Marketing, boasting over two decades of experience with international companies, leading promotional agencies, and social enterprises. In recognition of her exemplary contributions and dedication to empowerment and positive change, Daymara was recently honored as one of the “2023 Arkansas Top 100 Women of Impact" and emerged as a finalist for the prestigious Arkansas Latino Business Award. Beyond her corporate career, Daymara is a passionate social entrepreneur who founded "Rockin' Baker," an artisan bread bakery with a profound mission of creating a safe workplace for neurodivergents to thrive. This endeavor embodies her commitment to creating meaningful opportunities and making a positive impact on individuals' lives.

Daymara's dedication to her community extends beyond Rockin' Baker. She previously co-founded the "Community Creative Center" in Fayetteville, emphasizing her commitment to nurturing creativity and artistic expression within her community. Daymara Baker's outstanding career and philanthropic endeavors reflect her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the business world, the neurodiverse community, and the broader NWA community.

Melisa Laelan, Executive Director of Arkansas Coalition of the Marshallese

Melisa Laelan is a native Marshall Islander, born and raised in the Marshall Islands. At only 17 she enlisted into the Armed Services where she served for ten years. She moved to Arkansas to attend the University of Arkansas in 2004 and immediately fell in love with Northwest Arkansas. In 2011, along with other Marshallese leaders, Laelan founded the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese (ACOM) and in the year 2015, ACOM received its non-profit status, making it the first organization founded and directed by native Marshall Islanders. As the executive director of ACOM, she has become a resource contact in both Marshallese and non-Marshallese communities. As the Marshallese community continues to grow in Arkansas, she is frequently visited by many from the Marshallese community and has a great depth of knowledge of the community.

Emilio Rivera

Emilio Rivera is from Puerto Rico and moved to NWA with his family 11 years ago. He possesses a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in human resources. After moving to NWA, he worked in HR roles at Walmart Global team and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and he currently works at The Jones Center for Families as Director of People & Inclusion. He loves to support local non-profits and serves as a board member of Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville. As a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience, he is passionate about fostering a positive workplace culture, creating inclusive and supportive work environments, and facilitating employee development. Emilio is an avid photographer and loves spending time traveling and doing exercises.

Kelly Robbins

Kelly Robbins proudly served both stateside and overseas as an active-duty military police officer in the US Army. While serving, she developed strong leadership and organizational skills. Her time abroad allowed her to gain valuable international experience while enriching her global perspective.

Her banking career began in 2013. She currently serves as Business Development Officer at United Bank in Northwest Arkansas. Her role involves cultivating meaningful relationships with clients, developing and implementing tailored financial solutions to meet the diverse needs of her clients, and collaborating with internal teams to ensure seamless execution of business development strategies.

Kelly’s passion is to help people meet their personal and professional goals. She has dedicated her life to supporting numerous causes while ensuring that all people know their value. She currently serves as a board member of OneCommunity, is a member of the Springdale American Legion, and champions causes that support law enforcement agencies in Northwest Arkansas.

She supports her husband, Nick, in his nonprofit work and their two sons, Alex and Andrew, who are both active-duty military. Kelly and Nick enjoy spending time at home on their farm and staying active within their community.

Talicia Richardson

Talicia serves as the Executive Director of 64.6 Downtown a non-profit organization specializing in creative placement in downtown Fort Smith. Talicia understands business and the keys to success in the workplace and marketplace. She has acquired a wealth of knowledge crossing multiple business disciplines possessing over 20 years of experience in operations, quality control, and counseling in the industries of hospitality and health care. Her experience and infectious enthusiasm engage all levels of an organization, from CEO to line employees. She is committed to passing on the knowledge she has acquired over the years to others.

A graduate of historically black all female institution Spelman College receiving a BA in Sociology, Talicia also attained a MS from the University of Arkansas in Counseling. She is a License Associate Counselor, with experience as well as a speaker in the subjective matter of Diversity-Equity-Inclusive, long before the concept was formalized. Her philosophy simply stated, “how can we work together with kindness and respect while sustaining a greater a place for all to coexist”? Talicia is serving her third term on the Fort Smith School Board, an advisory board member with the UCA Community Development Institute, Arkansans for the Arts, former Advertising & Promotion commissioner, DEI committee member with Fort Kids Museum, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Hellen Verjerano Molina

I am an international student from Panama pursuing a degree in animal sciences. I describe myself as passionate about the search for new experiences that can help me improve myself every day, and due to the circumstances, that come through new experiences, the inclusion and tolerance of the word cannot be missing from my vocabulary since they are a fundamental part of the process. Furthermore, I consider myself passionate about agriculture and all the magic that lies behind this term, with the objective of instructing new generations so that they can understand the importance of this field of study.

Jessica Walden

This is Jessica Walden, while she currently resides in Fayetteville, Arkansas she is originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She is attending the University of Arkansas completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with a dual minor in Psychology and Medical Humanities. During her time at the University of Arkansas, she has been able to become involved with numerous organizations and held various leadership positions on campus. Due to being a tribal citizen of the Choctaw Nation, she had the opportunity to become heavily involved in the Native American Student Association. While being involved in the Native American Student Association she was able to hold numerous positions within the organization such as Vice President, President, and Director of Communications. Jessica is thankful to have the chance to represent her culture and thoughts to Crystal Bridges Museum. She is looking forward to working with different council members and hearing different views and cultures.

Victoria Daugherty

Victoria Daugherty has lived in the Ozarks the entirety of her life, graduating from a rural high school in southwest Missouri in 2015 before receiving her bachelor's of arts in Religious Studies and Writing from Missouri State University, Springfield. She has volunteered with Harmony House domestic violence services, and recently began spending time with Beautiful Lives boutique in Bentonville. She aims to incorporate accessibility and economic equity in her work, to make more meaning of the hurdles she faced as a single parent. In her free time Victoria enjoys adding native wildflowers to her garden and writing poetry and short stories. She and her family call Bentonville home.

Dr. Coby Davis

Dr. Coby Davis serves as the President of the Northwest Arkansas branch of the NAACP. Dr. Davis also serves on the Welcome Health Board, serves as treasurer for the National Alternative Education Association and is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Professionally, he has spent ten years in the Springdale School District, including three as a math teacher at Sonora Middle School before becoming an instructional facilitator for a year, then assistant principal and now principal at the Archer Learning Center. Davis is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University. He earned his master’s degree from Tennessee State and his doctorate from Trevecca Nazarene. He taught for five years in the Williamson County (Tennessee) school system before teaching for nine years in the education department at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.