A Fond Farewell: Emily Dennis
Published: July 17, 2019
Categories: Board & Staff
In August, we are saying a fond farewell to Emily, our Annual Fund & Events Manager. Read on to learn more about her favorite Artist Trust memories, what’s next, and more.
How long have you been at Artist Trust?
I started as the Communications Intern in November 2016, did a little stint as the Interim Communications Manager in the spring of 2017, then came back in my current role in August 2017!
What has been your most memorable moment at Artist Trust?
Paul Rucker getting up at the end of Gather in 2018 to announce a challenge match for event attendees. Paul is such an accomplished artist and leader, and he’s put so much faith and love into this organization for decades; to see him get up and say this was something he believed in enough to not only make a gift but invite others to join him, was just the best.
What will you miss most?
I have two, but they’re related – laughter and the Development team! The whole staff has great fun with each other, and so many of my favorite moments are little things like washing dishes and cracking jokes with Kristina after a donor event or kicking off a meeting with Gems by googling “unusual Pringle flavors.” I especially love my Devo team – we work hard with a light heart, and we never go more than a few hours without making each other laugh.
What have you learned here that you’ll take with you?
I’ve learned so much from the AT staff about how to be a more self-reflective, capacious, and empathetic co-worker and advocate, and about what it takes to build a workplace that works for everyone equitably. Folks have been patient and honest with me in a way that’s challenged and supported my growth, and I look forward to building on that.
What’s next for you?
I’m starting law school in the fall at UC Davis, which will also bring me closer to my girlfriend in the Bay Area! It might seem like a dive away from my work at AT, but my deepest-held belief is that we are all experts on our own stories, and we deserve to have the tools we need to tell and live them with depth, community, and capacity. To me, that’s what great art, and great advocacy, is all about.
Describe your experience with Artist Trust in one word.
Grounding.
