Donna S. Collins

2014 Honoree - Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award

Biography

Donna S. Collins currently serves as Executive Director of Ohio Citizens for the Arts (OCA) and the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE) with offices in Columbus, Ohio. As a leader in the advocacy and arts education fields, Collins has had the opportunity to work extensively with national, statewide, and local organizations.    Through Collins’ leadership OAAE and OCA, both statewide not for profits, maintain strong relationships with Ohio’s statewide agencies and professional organizations to support the arts and arts education. Through these partnerships, Collins has helped to foster a diverse community of arts advocates, educators, artists, and professional organizations which cultivate local, statewide, and national initiatives and actions that directly impact children, families, communities, and the creative economy in and through the arts.

In February, 2014 the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) Board selected Collins as the new OAC executive director. Collins will succeed current OAC executive director Julie S. Henahan, who is retiring in July 2014 after 30 years of service to the agency.

Donna and her husband, Howard, have three sons: TJ, Joshua (Deidre), and Ryan. They are blessed with a grandgirl, Cierra, who is 9, and a grandboy, Chance, who is 4. The family lives in Glenford, Ohio and is actively involved in volunteer efforts to support the arts and arts education.