Arts For Life Board Members

Kimberly is currently an independent consultant and Endowed Professor in the Department of Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University where she also teaches in the School of Business. Previously she served for 15 years as the Vice President of Marketing and External Relations with North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. Her experience includes writing, editing, project management, marketing plan development, quantitative and qualitative research, higher education curriculum development as well as board leadership specifically in fundraising and stakeholder development. She is currently on the Development Committee of the UNC Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media Foundation Board. Her board memberships include Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation and the Duke Health System Chancellor’s Advisory Committee. She also serves as the Chairman for Christian Education for North East Baptist Church. Kimberly grew up in Raleigh and has Bachelor’s and Ph. D. degrees from UNC Chapel Hill in Public Relations and a Master’s degree in English from NC State University. She lives in Durham with her husband, Eric, and sons, Elliott and Edward.

A pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Dr. Priola completed her pediatric residency at Case Western Medical School and her Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill. During her medical training, she also volunteered and worked with the American Red Cross/Americorps, and currently also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of Sebastian Strong.

“As a physician, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the incredible impact that Arts For Life has on my patients and their families. I have trained and practiced in many different medical centers and love how integrated the Arts for Life staff and volunteers are with the medical team. I will never be able to adequately thank the volunteers and staff that create that impact but I am excited for the tremendous opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of Arts for Life to advocate for the continue sustainability of this irreplaceable organization. While our kids and their families courageously battle their various illnesses, it is Arts For Life that engages their imagination to allow them to express their feelings and find the strength to continue their journey.”

Scott has been involved in business and sales for most of his career. His time outside of work is focused on family, but he also wants to make his community a better place to live. While he was not familiar with Arts for Life initially, he was drawn to the need that exists for families who have loved ones in the regional hospital systems. His volunteer time as an Arts for Life artist and as a member of the Board has far exceeded his expectations. Scott is a graduate of Clemson University and runs a freelance illustration and public speaking business. He helps artists better understand Business and Marketing 101 and the value of their work. He and his wife, Natalie, have two grown children and they live in Kernersville, NC.

Allison joined the financial services industry in 2003 and is currently an Assistant Vice President and Business Manager with Greiner, Ezell & Associates at the Merrill Lynch office in downtown Asheville.  Prior to joining Merrill in 2015, she held several compliance and operations roles at other firms.

Allison was born and raised in Johnson City, TN.  She completed her Bachelor of Science in Justice and Policy Studies at Guilford College and a Master of Science in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at Creighton University Law School.  Prior to her career in financial services, she worked as a relocation consultant in Beijing, China and Hong Kong for six years.  

She lives in Asheville with her husband, John, and their dogs, Sandy and Biggie.

Morgan Mathieu Tran is a devoted arts advocate and leader, serving the Charlotte community for nearly ten years in both nonprofit and commercial art realms. Morgan currently serves as the Director of Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art in South End Charlotte. In this role she executes the gallery’s vision through her curation of exhibitions and programming, as well as oversight of artist development, client relations, operations, staff management, and community outreach. As an artist herself, Tran is dedicated to amplifying and centering artistic voices, serving as a champion for both creators and collectors.

Tran earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts with a minor in Business Administration from Meredith College. She has previous experience in both associate and managerial roles at SOZO Gallery, LaCa Projects, and The New Gallery of Modern Art. She is a member of many of Charlotte’s arts museums and organizations, and is also an active volunteer with The Catawba Riverkeepers and her church.

When she isn’t attending art events and curating exhibitions, Morgan can frequently be spotted hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, getting lost in a new book, or creating in her home studio.

Amanda Wise is the Director of Nonprofit Partnerships for SHARE Charlotte, an online engagement platform that powers social good by connecting the community to more than 630 Charlotte-Mecklenburg nonprofits. Before coming to SHARE Charlotte, Amanda worked in foster care and at Electrolux on the Global Brand Licensing team as the Licensing Manager. For the past twenty years, she has worked in corporate relationship building, sales, and special events planning. In addition to her contributions in the professional realm, Amanda is heavily involved in her community. Both a volunteer and a leader, she serves through her involvement with Samaritan’s Feet, Foster Village Charlotte, and Suicide Prevention. Amanda’s other interests include rooting for the Carolina Panther’s football team, playing tennis, and learning to play Mahjong.