Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council
The Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council is a network of leaders and advisors around the United States and the world who believe in employing the arts and culture as a tool of diplomacy and global engagement. Council members are committed to supporting the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy, which serves the U.S. government, private sector, and the diplomatic community through creative programming, such as exhibitions, cultural exchanges, panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, and concerts.
By broadening the reach of our work around the world and gaining strategic guidance and partnerships for our programs, council members elevate awareness of the role of arts and culture in diplomacy. Specific benefits are outlined below.
Contact For More InformationUpcoming Exhibitions & Programs
Chair, Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy
Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council Advisors
"Meridian lives at the nexus of global partnerships between the public and private sector, the diplomatic community and leaders in media, education and advocacy from around the world. These connections form the foundation necessary for accelerated collaboration and consensus building among all stakeholders as we tackle today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities." - Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday, CEO, Meridian International Center
Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council Members
Laura Ballman, Founder, Capital Art Strategies
Joel Bergner, Co-Founder, Artolution
Lauren Bernstein, Founder, Culinary Diplomacy Project
Megan Beyer, former Executive Director of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Victoria Butler, Journalist and Writer
Carla Canales, Senior Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative
Devon Caraher, Jewelry Historian
The Honorable Tim Carney, Former U.S. Ambassador to Sudan
David Castillo, Founder, David Castillo Gallery
Meryl Chertoff, Former Chair of Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy
Tamsin Dillon, Executive Director, Socrates Sculpture Park
Deborah Driesman, Kennedy Center, Council Member
Caitlin Doherty, Executive Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville
Brady Doty, Senior Director, David Zwirner Gallery
Teresita Fernandez, Visual Artist
Luke Frazier, Founder and Music Director, American Pops Orchestra
Simon Godwin, Artistic Director, Shakespeare Theatre
Christiana Ine-Kimba Boyle, Senior Director of Sales and Online, Pace Gallery, NY
Frank Islam, Meridian Council Member
Nora Halpern, Independent Curator and Vice President of Leadership Alliances at Americans for the Arts.
Vicki Heyman, co-founder of Uncharted LLC
Allison Kahl, Principal, Director of Design, OTJ & Associates
Tessa Kaneene, Senior Advisor at Harvard University
Julie Kent, Artistic Director, The Washington Ballet
Krista Kim, Artist and Founder, Techism Movement
Gary Knell, Chairman, National Geographic Partners
Bonnie Larson, Meridian Board Member
Bonnie Lautenberg, Photographer
Rachel Lehmann, co-founder, Lehmann Maupin Gallery
Stacy Lieberman, Deputy Director, The Broad LA
Shahin Mafi, Founder and CEO, Home Health Connection
Ambassador Capricia Marshall, Ambassador-in-Residence, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council of the United States
Kimberly Marteau Emerson, Attorney and Civic Leader
Donna McLarty, Founding Member and Board Co-Chair, Vital Voices Global Partnership
Eva Meharry, Cambridge Heritage Research Centre
Clare Reichenbach, CEO, The James Beard Foundation
Jennifer Roberts, CEO, Design Miami
Stephanie Robinson, Commissioner, Commission on Presidential Scholars for the U.S. Department of Education.
Aviva Rosenthal, Director, The Smithsonian Office of International Relations and Global Programs
Deborah Rutter, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Damion Thomas, Museum Curator of Sports, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Fred Tomaselli, Artist
Lisa Sasaki, Director, Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum
Ambassador Cynthia Schneider, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Nada Shabout, Modern Arab and Middle Eastern Art, College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas
Virginia Shore, Independent Curator and former Director of Art in Embassies
Ana Sokolof, Independent Curator
The Honorable Ann Stock, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State
Sasha Suda, Director, National Gallery of Art, Canada
Vicki Match Suna, Executive Vice President & Vice Dean, Real Estate Development & Facilities at NYU Langone Health
Noor Al Suwaidi, Cultural Advisor and Curator
Jean Yves Thibaudet, Pianist
Mark Vlasic, Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Sue Wrigley, Former Editor in Chief of Art Basel Magazine
Heidi Zuckerman, CEO and Director, Orange County Museum of Art
