Staff

Jo Ann Emerson, Executive Director
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Jo Ann Emerson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Metropolitan State College of Denver. She made Lincoln her home six years ago. She has over ten year non-profit management experience which includes strategic planning, program development, business planning, and grant writing. She was hired as the executive director in 2007. Her vision for LUX Center for the Arts is to provide a place where the community can come together to learn about art. Jo Ann says, “We have worked hard to create an environment in which everyone feels as though they have a place. From the skilled art collector to the novice, everyone can come to the LUX to make new discoveries. Watching students’ expressions when they learn a new technique or master a challenging form has been the most rewarding part of my job here. Our students and visitor reinforce our mission everyday.”

Carlos Guerrero, Membership and Marketing Coordinator
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Carlos Guerrero grew up in Georgia and received his MFA from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln in the spring of 2006. After graduating, Carlos became an Artist-in-Residence and taught art to youth and adults at the LUX Center. In April of 2009, Carlos was hired as the Marketing and Membership Coordinator. He has always used creativity as a path of self-discovery and personal growth and believes everyone should have a chance to do so. This is why he is passionate about sharing information about what the LUX Center has to offer to the community. He says, “We have such a welcoming atmosphere for people to experience art on a variety of levels. Anyone can feel comfortable here, whether you are a beginner or a professional.” When Carlos is not working at the LUX Center, he teaches drawing at Metro Community College in Omaha, NE and makes paintings in his home studio. He has shown his work both locally and nationally. He was recently nominated for Emerging Artist at the Omaha Entertainment Awards.

Stephanie Leach Vendetti, Gallery Director
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Stephanie Leach Vendetti received her MFA in Ceramics in 2006 at The School for American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Stephanie came to LUX Center for the Arts as an Artist-in-Residence after graduation. She was hired as the Gallery Assistant and also taught ceramics classes for Doane College and for LUX Center community adult and children’s classes. Leach Vendetti became the Education and Exhibitions Director; in 2008 Stephanie focused her attention on the Gallery. Leach Vendetti says, “Working with artists and the community in Lincoln has been a tremendously rewarding experience. Discussing the art we show with community members and seeing them connect with the artist or a shared idea, experience or feeling present in the work is the highlight of what I do at the LUX.”

Natalie Nelson, Education Director
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Natalie Nelson spent her childhood in Northern California and received her Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Apparel Design with an Art History emphasis from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008. Her involvement with the LUX Center began after graduation as a fiber arts instructor to youth and adults, following as an Artist-In-Residence shortly after. Nelson says, “Lincoln has such a diverse community and I am passionate about sharing the visual arts and enriching individuals through the arts, but also see the intrinsic value art education holds in creating a thriving community.” Nelson creates weavings based on environment and cultural issues in her home studio and coordinates the LUX Center’s Friends & Fibers program working with Karen women from Burma in a cultural exchange.

Susan Soriente, Lux Museum Curator
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Susan J. Soriente earned her MA in Museum Studies from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln in 2002. She began working at the LUX Center for the Arts as a volunteer cataloging the LUX doll collection in 2003. In 2005, Susan was hired as Curator of the Gladys M. Lux Historical Collections. She also works as the Coordinator for Sheldon Statewide an outreach program of the Sheldon Museum of Art at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Susan said, “I believe that the Lux Center for the Arts is a great resource for our community. From the historical prints given by its benefactor, Ms Lux, to its forward thinking staff, resident artists, and classes, the LUX’s benefits and possibilities for the arts are without limit.”