About Us
Our mission is fostering art and culture in Acadiana.
“Our organization grows with the region, and our mission continually unfolds as we strive to foster arts and culture in Acadiana.” —Samuel Oliver, AcA Executive Director
Founded in 1975, Acadiana Center for the Arts (“AcA”) is a community-supported nonprofit organization that fosters art and culture in Acadiana. Since its founding, AcA has developed as a major force, shaping the future of public education and community development in South Louisiana.
AcA supports the creation of new works of art, exhibits, festivals, performances, and public art across an eight-parish region that includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.
AcA aims to bring equitable access to the arts and supports fair compensation of artists. On average, AcA serves over 300,000 people annually and provides fair compensation to 2,700 artists.
In 2013, the AcA merged with the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (“PASA”), whose mission was to educate, inspire, entertain, and culturally enrich the people of south Louisiana by providing local access to a diverse range of the performing arts. This merger supported the vision of both organizations and provided much-needed support to PASA’s programs. Founded in 1989, PASA served as a leading voice in the performing arts in South Louisiana for close to three decades.
Staff
Samuel Oliver, Executive Director
Program Staff
Aaron Briley, Performing Arts Coordinator
aaron@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Aaron Thomas, Production Manager
aaront@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Bethany Lejune, Preparator
bethany@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Bree Sargent, Education Director
bree@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Gwen Richard, Community Development Director
gwen@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Jaik Faulk, Visual Arts Director
jaik@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Kierra Kemper, Community Development Assistant
Paige Krause, Outreach Director
paige@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Operations Staff
Connie Petro, Office Manager
connie@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Emily Ponti, General Manager
emily@acadianaCcnterforthearts.org
Mark Ackal, Bar Manager
mark@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Jay Tetnowski, Production Assistant
jay@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Mike Drennan, Facility Engineer
facilitymanager@acadianacenterforthearts.org
Vicki Chrisman, Bookkeeper
Fundraising
Nancy Surosky, Donor Relations Officer
nancy@acadianacenterforthearts.org
BOARD of Directors
2020-2021
Board of Directors
Katie Bernhardt
Strategic Development, Standard Law
Charles Boudreaux
Partner, Kean Miller LLP
Richard Brauns
Senior Partner, JKR Advertising & Marketing
John N. Chappuis
Attorney; Voorhies & Labbé
Ronnie Daigle, MD
Physician
Taylor Davis
Northwestern Mutual
Karen deClouet
Artist
Danny Domingue, DDS
Drs. Smith and Domingue
Kenneth Douet
Retired Principal, Lafayette Parish School System
Matthew Dugas
Director of Finance, Lafayette Parish School System
Lyle Girouard
Dan Hare
Senior Director of Facilities and Special Events, University of Louisiana Lafayette
Robert John, Jr.
Partner, J&J Exterminating
Aleisha Johnson, MBA
Our Lady of the Lakes Hospital
Brandon “DJ Digital” Journet
Performing Artist; Host, XXL Higher Level Radio, Townsquare Media
Daphne Krampe
Administrator, MacLaff Inc.
Cliff LaCour
Partner, NeunerPate
Burnell Lemoine
Retired Superintendent, Lafayette Parish School System
Hannah Smith Mason
Artist; Community Outreach and Business Development, Smith Mason & Co.
Michael Munzing
Residential and Commercial Agent, BBC Insurance Services
Dr. Mary B. Neiheisel
Professor of Nursing, University of Louisiana Lafayette
Olivia Smith Regard
Division Assistant Vice President, Compliance Counsel; Arthur J. Gallagher
Sarah Gauthier Roy
Talented Teacher, Lafayette Parish School System; Director, Theatre Acadie
Sadie Shamsie
President/Owner, Standard Title
Austin M. Shumaker
Owner/CEO, Louisiana Home Lending
Dr. Annie Wingate Spell
Psychologist; Partner, Tides Medical
J’annine Sullivan
Partner, Senior Helpers
Marshal Reggie Thomas
Lafayette City Marshal; Deacon, St. James Baptist Church
Johnathan Williams
Owner, Quality of Life Services; Executive Director, Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation
2020-2021
Board Officers
Lyle Girouard
President
Ronnie Daigle, MD
President-Elect
Dan Hare
Immediate Past President
Cliff LaCour
Treasurer
Dr. Mary B. Neiheisel
Secretary
