Sarah Fizell has been the Executive Director of ArtsConnect since 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications studies and is a ceramic artist. Her career has included issue-based advocacy on a variety of issues, political organizing and public relations. Sarah is a true believer in the power of the arts to transform interactions, communities and lives.
Lindsay Benacka is the Director of Arts and Cultural Services for the City of Wichita where she oversees a dynamic roster of programs, collections, facilities, and various public/private partnerships including Botanica, CityArts, Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, Mid-American All-Indian Museum, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita Art Museum, and the City’s Percent for Art Program.
Benacka was recognized by the Wichita Business Journal as a 40 under 40 honoree and is part of the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Wichita Class of 2024. She received the 2020 Arizona Governor’s Art Award for Outstanding Arts Organization/Arts Administrator and the 2018 Employee of the Year Award from the City of Yuma, Arizona where she served as the Director of the Yuma Art Center and Historic Yuma Theatre.
In the community, she serves as on the boards of the Kansas Arts Network, Wichita Asian Association, and Friends University School of Business Advisory Board, and is a member of the Wichita Rotary Club. She is also a dedicated educator who regularly adjuncts at several colleges and served in the Peace Corps as a Youth Development Advisor in Kampong Cham, Cambodia. Benacka holds a BA in Theater from Columbia College Chicago and a MA in Performance Studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
She is honored to have been appointed to the serve on the Kansas Arts Commission by Governor Laura Kelly and is grateful for the opportunity to support the arts sector across the state.
Karem Gallo Garcia is Executive Director of High Plains Heritage Foundation. She is also owner of Prairie Mermaid & Watercolor, an art supply store and studio in Liberal, KS.
Caryl Hale has worked as a freelance content writer and photojournalist sharing stories of life in rural Kansas. She believes that content creation has been one of the most underestimated needs for small businesses and community organizations especially in rural communities.
Caryl now works as the Grant Coordinator and Executive Director at Norton Regional Health Foundation.
Rachel Harden is a writer and communications professional with an extensive background in public relations, strategic messaging, and storytelling. Her career spans journalism and public service, where she shaped communications for the Kansas House of Representatives, the Department of Revenue, and the Office of the Governor.
Rachel specializes in translating complex policy and program information into accessible, engaging content. Her work reflects a deep understanding of audience engagement, brand voice, and mission-driven messaging.
She lives in Topeka with her husband, BJ, their son, and an energetic German Shepherd.
She was appointed to the Kansas Arts Commission in 2023.
Anna Pauscher Morawitz is the Operations & Development Manager at Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina. Her professional experience includes fundraising, marketing, program development, grant administration, and event management. She holds a BS in Sociology from Wichita State University and an MLS in Arts & Culture from the University of Denver. Creatively, she is a musician and poet and practices alternative photography. Community participation and interdisciplinary arts integration inform a significant part of her work while advocating for creative opportunities for all.
Justin Rorabaugh is a creative leader who has successfully developed and grown multiple programs across a variety of disciplines including education and mental health. He describes his role as “executive cat herder.” Justin is very adept at bringing talented, creative individuals together to create amazing, beautiful things. He has been with Wichita State University since 2007 and has engaged in roles ranging from grant development and scholarship coordination to currently serving as the Director of the School of Digital Arts and Shocker Studios. He has a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Education in Educational Psychology, a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration and Leadership, and Executive Certificates in Cyber Security Leadership and Strategy.
Sierra is a veteran TV news anchor with more than 37 years of broadcast experience who currently hosts a TV show called “Positively Kansas!” that features uplifting stories about people, places, companies and organizations here in the Sunflower State. She formerly co-hosted a show with the Kansas Lieutenant Governor called “The LG Desk Concert Series” that featured successful Kansans like Melissa Ethridge.
Sierra is an award-winning journalist, whose work premiered at the Film Festival in Toronto as well as the United Nations.
In addition, Sierra recently starred in what’s believed to be the nation’s first local TV sitcom called “Wichita Madhouse.”
Sierra has appeared in two movies, two national TV shows and two national talk shows. She’s also starred in a music video, hosts her own Podcast, has walked the runway in both Paris Fashion week and New York Fashion week. She’s also been seen on stage in productions for Music Theatre Wichita, the Wichita Grand Opera, the Wichita Ballet and the Wichita Symphony.
Sierra was also featured on the cover of an international magazine called “Shoeholics” that focuses on her favorite addiction…shoes…of which she has 1,000 pair.
Sarah VanLanduyt is Executive Director of The Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC). In her role, she’s focused on strengthening the arts, championing cross-sector partnerships, and advocating for arts and creativity at the state and local level. Sarah holds a master’s in museum administration. Prior to joining ACJC, Sarah served as Program Manager for Organizational Support at the Kansas Arts Commission. Throughout her professional career she has served on local nonprofit boards and state and national advisory committees including the Youth Symphony of Kansas City board, University of Saint Mary Business Department Advisory Board, and Americans for the Arts’ County Arts Network Steering Committee. In addition to serving on the Kansas Arts Commission she’s also the Kansas co-captain for federal arts advocacy and the president of the Kansas Arts Network board.
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