November 9, 2026
The American Art Therapy Association Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the 2026 election slate for AATA leadership positions. Join us in congratulating these AATA Members who have been selected for inclusion on the upcoming ballot.
2027 – 2028 Candidates for AATA Leadership
Treasurer (1 position open)
Kathryn Snyder
Nominations Committee (1 position open)
Dana Elmendorf
MaKael White
Director (4 positions open)
Corinna “Cori” Costello
Leara Glinzak
Latoya Pegram
Ashley Rogols
Zachary Van Den Berg
Terri Willis
Jessica Woolhiser Stallings
The individuals listed have all confirmed their willingness to accept the candidacy and have completed the Candidate Questionnaire. Their responses to the questionnaire appear below, giving members additional detail on the skills, experience, and perspectives they would bring to AATA leadership.
About the Nominations Process
The Nominations Committee reviews applications and selects a slate of candidates for the ballot. The Committee considers multiple factors relevant to Board service, including each nominee’s professional qualifications and experience; their engagement with AATA and leadership experience; and their ability to fulfill the responsibilities and governance standards that come with serving on the Board or Nominations Committee. In support of AATA’s mission and strategic priorities, the Board of Directors and the Nominations Committee remain committed to increasing diverse representation across all volunteer positions.
Voting for the 2026 Annual Election begins November 11, 2026, and will remain open for 30 days, until December 11. All voting members will receive instructions via email from AssociationVoting.com. To help inform your vote, you’ll find each candidate’s biography and their responses to the Nominations Committee’s questions below. (To preserve each candidate’s own voice, their biographies and responses appear here unedited.) Full position descriptions are available here.
Thank you to the Nominations Committee for the time, energy, and dedication they brought to this work and for doing their jobs with integrity and care. Thank you as well to every nominee who submitted their name for consideration, to everyone who nominated a colleague, and to this year’s candidates for their willingness to serve.
Thank you as well for voting and for helping select AATA’s next volunteer leaders, who will help move our association — and the art therapy profession — forward.
Candidates for the Board of Directors
Corrina Costello
Hello all, I am ‘Cori’ Corinna Costello PhD, LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS and I have been a licensed mental health counselor and registered/board-certified art therapist for over 30 years. I earned my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2015 and earned a Masters of Art in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1994. My clinical work has been varied over the years to include inpatient and outpatient settings and with several different populations. Currently, I am a researcher and an Assistant Professor in Art Therapy at the University of Louisville. My research agenda is focused on various strength-based approaches to building resiliency level and reducing trauma-based responses. I also study the multicultural considerations in the clinical training process. My educational approach and my writing focuses on creating the evidence to support the emotional work that is occurring in each art therapy session. I have previously served on the AATA Board as a member of the board, the ACATE Representative, the Professional Affairs Committee, and on the Conference Committee for Charlotte, 2026.
Leara Glinzak
My professional experience includes clinical, higher education, research, and collaboration. Leadership positions I’ve held include the Wisconsin Art Therapy Association and the Michigan Association of Art Therapy. There, I was able to become more involved in advocacy on a state level with title protection and higher education where art therapy courses were being taught by non qualifying persons. Furthermore, I developed art therapy contracts with organizations to initiate the development of art therapy positions. In 2014, I found myself becoming a Board Member on the AATA Research Committee, which I am still active in today. My passion involves bringing the art therapy lens and voice into conversations where it is lacking to better advocate for the field. Recently, I completed my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision to continue to be that voice in those spaces. Additional examples include publishing in medical journals, presenting at MSU Denver Palliative Care and Hospice Conference, MD Anderson Palliative Care Symposium, and AAC&U Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference to name a few. Also, I developed art therapy modules for medical students and in the Master of Palliative Care program to inform others of art therapy services and how to collaborate in medical spaces.
LaToya Pegram
My AATA service began as a scholarship attendee assistant for Integrating the Arts in Therapy: An Intimate Weekend of Workshops with Pioneer Practitioners with Barry Cohen. As a graduate student, at that time, reading texts of those I identified as among the greats in the field, it was surreal to not only hear about their works in person but to be able to meet individuals who were just as personable as they were iconic. My entry into the field came with its challenges but connecting with AATA gave me the opportunity to build community in a way that fueled my motivation to continue my pursuit. My hope is that AATA can remain a place for connection, collaboration, and community. I realize I am only one person, but the hope is that, as the art therapy community and AATA membership grows, AATA will evolve and remain relevant to service scholarly, societal, patient, and art therapists needs.
Additionally, my AATA service has included being a committee member, conference special sessions chair, national office multicultural committee chair, AATA board of director, nominations committee chair, and collaborations with the conference committee, research committee, doctoral committee, and supporting AATA membership growth and benefits.
Ashley Rogols
Ashley Rogols, MA, LPAT, LPCC-S, ATR-BC, ATCS is an art therapist, counselor, educator, and organizational leader committed to advancing the art therapy profession through advocacy and professional development. She currently serves as the Scholarships Committee Chair and a member of the Honors Committee for the American Art Therapy Association, supporting initiatives that recognize professional achievement, connect emerging professionals, and expand member opportunities.
Her commitment to professional advocacy is reflected in twelve years of leadership with the Buckeye Art Therapy Association, including serving as President from 2018 to 2022, First Vice President, Resources Chair, and currently as Bylaws Chair. During her presidency, she collaborated on sustained legislative efforts to secure licensure for art therapists in Ohio, while guiding strategic planning, organizational governance, statewide engagement, and policy development.
Professionally, Ashley is the Training and Development Operations Manager at OhioGuidestone and an Adjunct Professor in Ursuline College’s graduate Counseling and Art Therapy program. She also continues to engage in clinical practice and supervision, maintaining a connection to the experiences and needs of practitioners and clients. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that advancing the profession requires both a strong collective voice and meaningful investment in the people who shape its future.
Zachary Van Den Berg
Zachary D. Van Den Berg, MA, LPC, ATR-BC® (they/he), is a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist℠ and Licensed Professional Counselor at Community Arts in Austin, Texas. Their work connects clinical practice, scholarship, and advocacy for a more inclusive art therapy profession. They are Founder and President of the Coalition for Queer Creative Arts Therapies and Founder and Program Chair of Expressing Pride, an annual symposium advancing accessible, queer-affirming professional education.
Within the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), Van Den Berg has served on the Multicultural Committee since 2020, including as chair in 2022. They have facilitated LGBTQIA+ Special Interest Group sessions, contributed conference workshops and opening plenaries, and coauthored digital resources on cultural humility and social justice. They received AATA’s Outstanding Applied Creative Practice Award in 2023.
Van Den Berg has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, edited Queer Worldmaking in Art Therapy: Theory and Praxis, and is co-editing the forthcoming fourth edition of Approaches to Art Therapy: Theory and Technique with Judith A. Rubin. Their Invisible Histories video series preserves LGBTQIA+ art therapists’ lives and contributions, reflecting a broader commitment to professional learning, community engagement, and underrepresented histories.
Terri Willis
I am interested in serving on the American Art Therapy Board because I value my experience as an Art Therapist, AATA member, and advocate for the power of creative expression. Since graduating from George Washington University in 1988, I have witnessed significant changes, persistent challenges, and an ongoing struggle for professional identity within our field. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to advancing Art Therapy and giving back to a profession that has brought me lasting joy and growth. As the owner of The Creativity Lab, LLC, a clinical art therapy and consulting practice in Delaware, I offer broad experience in inpatient, day treatment, outpatient, public school and community-based psychiatric services. My work in both for-profit and nonprofit management has also given me valuable insight into program development, organizational leadership, and funding. In 2018, I helped secure licensure for art therapists in Delaware. I am helping reorganize art therapists in our state to pursue reimbursement opportunities and representation on the state licensing board. I would bring to the Board decades of clinical, administrative, advocacy, and leadership experience, along with a practical understanding of the challenges art therapists face. I am ready to support the profession’s continued growth, visibility, and impact.
Jessica Woolhiser Stallings
I am an experienced art therapist and systems-level behavioral health leader committed to education, research, advocacy, and advancing the profession. I would bring to the AATA Board clinical leadership, professional advocacy, research expertise, and a strong understanding of practitioners’ needs.
As a Clinical Director, I lead quality improvement, program development, clinical policy, supervision, and interdisciplinary initiatives. My research examining art therapy with autistic individuals has contributed to publications, presentations, and professional education supporting evidence-informed practice.
My advocacy includes serving as President of the Kansas Art Therapy Association, advancing licensure efforts in Kansas and Nebraska, and consulting with other states pursuing professional licensure. In recognition of successfully achieving art therapy licensure in Nebraska, I was a co-recipient of the 2024 AATA Nancy Schoebel Distinguished Legislative Service Award. Nearly two decades of teaching and supervision have strengthened my commitment to developing future art therapists.
As a Director, I would champion professional standards, workforce development, licensure advocacy, and access to care while advancing neurodiversity-affirming, inclusive practices. I would strengthen connections between research and clinical practice, promote meaningful member engagement, and bring a collaborative, outcomes-focused approach to advancing AATA and the profession.
Questions for the Candidates for Board of Directors
Question 1: What ethical principles, leadership values and governance practices would you rely on to guide your decision-making as a board member, support the mission of the organization, and strengthen our commitment to cultural proficiency and inclusion?
Corinna Costello: I have had the privilege of serving in leadership positions in both my professional mental health organizations and in my art therapy professional association. I have viewed this role as an advocate for the art therapy field and as an advocate for the clients that will be receiving the appropriate treatments for mental health improvement. I recognize the importance of having a supportive organization that understands the difficult work that is done by art therapy clinicians. Having a fiscally and professionally focused organization to support and advocate is what moves the art therapy field forward.
Leara Glinzak: We are trained to be active listeners and to engage in art as reflexive practices. Using these skills on a board enhances the ability to seek understanding to respond rather than react which cultivates a more grounded decision-making practice. Cultural proficiency cannot move in a proficient direction without humility and genuine curiosity to learn, hear, acknowledge when adjustments need to be made and improved on and then incorporate that information to increase inclusivity. The ethical principles this leans into are beneficence and justice. Having conversations about organization improvement is essential to the sustainability of any organization.
LaToya Pegram: As a board member, I would rely on integrity, transparency, accountability, clear communication, and adaptability to guide my decisions, adjusting strategies and approaches as circumstances change. I would serve the organization by prioritizing ethical standards, inclusive decision making, and cultural competence, while staying informed through ongoing education. My governance approach would emphasize strategic oversight, risk management, collaboration, teamwork, and delivering results through careful analysis rather than intuition alone. To support the mission and inclusion, I would continue our initiative to review formal resolutions before voting on policies that affect members. When possible, I would also seek members’ input through surveys.
Ashley Rogols: I value leadership grounded in integrity, collaboration, accountability, and openness to perspectives that challenge my own. Effective leadership requires balancing member needs, organizational responsibilities, and the long-term interests of the profession. I approach decisions with curiosity and willingness to listen, recognizing that our profession is strengthened by the diverse experiences of its members. This means fostering constructive dialogue, elevating voices that might otherwise go unheard, and addressing barriers to engagement. I believe strong board leadership requires thoughtful stewardship, a willingness to navigate difficult conversations, and a commitment to moving our profession forward while ensuring members feel valued, represented, and heard.
Zachary Van Den Berg: I would ground decisions in fidelity, justice, and creativity: honoring commitments, examining power, and remaining accountable to colleagues and members. I would bring creative process into governance as a practice of curiosity, reflection, generative dissent, and openness to possibilities not yet imagined. I would support responsible stewardship, fiscal accountability, transparent governance, and accessible participation. Cultural humility and inclusion require sharing decision-making power with those most affected and changing structures that perpetuate barriers or harm. I would also advocate for artmaking as central to education and continuing professional development, supporting skill, practitioner well-being, and sustained self-reflexivity.
Terri Willis: Drawing on 39 years as a practicing art therapist, I would help AATA grow as a diverse mental health organization that advances art therapists’ careers, professional value, and standing within the mental health continuum. My experience includes nonprofit board service and leadership in nonprofit and for-profit psychiatric hospitals. I believe listening to and understanding all perspectives is essential to a healthy organization. Guided by AATA’s mission statement, I would work with fellow board members to strengthen the profession, expand membership, and foster a positive, welcoming atmosphere where art therapists feel encouraged to volunteer and contribute to the organization’s continued growth.
Jessica Woolhiser Stallings: I embrace servant leadership, prioritizing the growth, well-being, empowerment, and diverse perspectives of others through collaborative, member-centered decision-making. My leadership is grounded in accountability, transparency, fairness, equity, and ethical responsibility. I am particularly committed to upholding AATA’s Ethical Principles, Section 7.0, regarding multicultural and diversity competence. I believe we must continually strengthen our cultural proficiency and inclusion, particularly through improved disability accommodations, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and accessibility for diverse learners. Drawing on my clinical, educational, and systems-level leadership experience, I would champion equitable governance, meaningful member engagement, and decisions that reflect our profession’s diverse needs and values.
Question 2: Professional associations sometimes face sensitive circumstances in which confidentiality, legal obligations, or fiduciary responsibilities may limit what can be publicly disclosed. How would you work to maintain transparency, accountability, and trust throughout that process?
Corinna Costello: Very much like the work that we must do as professional and ethical clinicians, some work work is time-sensitive, confidential, or legally not available for disclosure at a moment in time. As clinicians we recognize the responsibility to follow these larger ethical and professional mandates for the sake of the client’s experience. We have to do similar work when serving on a not-for-profit, non-partisan, professional, and educational organization that serves the needs of the art therapy community such as AATA. Disclosure and transparency are vital, but not always an option so a healthy monitoring of the fiduciary responsibility is required.
Leara Glinzak: Being a board member involves consideration of all stakeholders. Determining the balance of factors: transparency, accountability, and trust, within my process includes the consideration of the best interest of all stakeholders in the forefront while having continuous conversations with those on the board that address positionality. Being on a board also brings various perspectives and voices to the table. Collectively, discussion should involve an agreed on approach that considers all affected persons. If this involves addressing current policies they may also bring the need to adjust those protocols for the betterment of the whole to have organizational growth.
LaToya Pegram: First and foremost, as a board member servicing AATA members, I would consider the needs of all AATA members, the board, and the AATA Association in my actions and decisions. I would maintain transparency and trust by limiting such conversations to board members only and being honest about any limitations during conversations. When approached by non-board members about topics specific to the board, I would explain that I am unable to comment. I would take responsibility by openly disclosing when my behaviors do not align with my pledge, agreements, or commitments to my service as an AATA board of Director.
Ashley Rogols: Transparency and confidentiality are responsibilities that must be held together, not treated as competing priorities. Board service sometimes requires making difficult decisions with information that cannot be shared publicly, but confidentiality should never become a substitute for accountability. I would prioritize communicating what can be shared, explaining the processes and responsibilities guiding decisions, and ensuring members understand how concerns are being addressed. When circumstances are challenging, I believe members deserve honest communication, the opportunity to be heard, and confidence that decisions are being made thoughtfully, responsibly, and in the best interests of the organization and profession.
Zachary Van Den Berg: I would protect confidentiality while sustaining accountability to members. Informed by harm-reduction and restorative justice principles, I would approach difficult circumstances with care, recognizing our responsibility to reduce harm, remain responsive when harm occurs, and work toward repair. With the President, Board, staff, and legal counsel, I would support timely, accessible communication about what can be disclosed, why limits exist, and what happens next, revisiting those limits as circumstances change. I would support documented decisions, conflict-of-interest safeguards, appropriate oversight, and accessible channels for concerns. Trust requires humility, responsiveness, and sustained follow-through on corrective action and repair.
Terri Willis: If elected as an AATA board member, I would strive to communicate information promptly and professionally, guided by AATA’s legal representation. While organizations must follow prescribed procedures when responding to concerns, I would seek to be as open as professionally possible. I would listen carefully to all perspectives and approach concerns and issues with respect. My goal would be to balance responsible communication with openness, ensuring that members’ concerns are heard while honoring the organization’s obligations and the guidance of its legal representation.
Jessica Woolhiser Stallings: I would identify in conjunction with other board members and legal counsel the level of information that is appropriate to share while also considering what words of support the members need through the specific circumstances. Providing a statement of support for members and survivors go a long way to maintain trust without violating the confidentiality of sensitive situations.
Question 3: The art therapy profession is evolving within a rapidly changing mental health landscape. What do you believe are the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the art therapy profession today, and how should AATA respond?
Corinna Costello: As a private practitioner and owner of my own art therapy business, I recognize that the mental health community, the educational world, the financial and the governmental stakeholders are not always speaking the same language or seeking similar goals. The art therapy profession has to be able to communicate effectively about our effectiveness, our goals, and ultimately, why it is important. As the mental health system shifts and evolves, we as art therapists need to be present and at the table to communicate, educate, and guide the treatment considerations for our incoming clients, and our new art therapy professionals.
Leara Glinzak: One of the most pressing challenges is sustainability of the field and research could improve this challenge. Opportunities include highlighting research to increase motivation and incentive. For example, an actionable item among others could include a nomination recognition of researchers in the art therapy field at the AATA Conference. I appreciate the more recent efforts that have been made that brings us towards this direction. However, continuing and building upon this will only support our field’s sustainability and foster more attraction to conduct research which increases credibility and understanding of the scope of art therapy to non art therapy professions.
LaToya Pegram: I see ten priorities for the art therapy profession: state licensure, insurance coverage for art therapy patients, AATA member culture and cohesion, artificial intelligence (AI), funding, art therapy education and awareness, art therapy research, and the use of art as art therapy in medical treatment without art therapists or art therapy specific training. To respond to the challenges and opportunities these priorities present, AATA should examine the barriers, limitations, ethical considerations, and potential possibilities that exist. It should then identify feasible responses and ways to implement them while considering membership, member needs, AATA’s strategic plan, and the profession’s longevity.
Ashley Rogols: I believe the profession’s greatest challenges include continued efforts toward licensure, equitable reimbursement, public recognition, and meaningful professional opportunities. Simultaneously, there is tremendous potential to expand our impact and access to services as the mental health field recognizes the value of integrative, evidence-informed, and culturally responsive care. AATA should continue championing legislative advocacy, strengthening research and public awareness, and building partnerships that elevate art therapy’s contributions. Equally important is listening and responding to members’ diverse needs through accessible education, mentorship, and meaningful connection. Our profession’s growth depends on ensuring art therapists feel supported, valued, and empowered to shape the future.
Zachary Van Den Berg:
I see interconnected challenges: unequal access to care and the profession, inequitable compensation, and legal and political threats to affirming practice. AATA should help art therapists navigate changing legal constraints while sustaining ethical commitments to beneficence and nonmaleficence, and advocate for sustainable livelihoods, accessible education, mentorship, and financial literacy. As arts in health expands, AATA should articulate art therapy’s distinctive creative, clinical, and relational contributions while strengthening reciprocal partnerships across professions. Our opportunity is to build with members and future colleagues: sharing authority to define priorities, shape services, and evaluate outcomes while connecting professional recognition with public accountability.
Terri Willis: AATA must lead efforts to strengthen recognition of Art Therapy as a mental health profession through public education and relationships with other professions. As the field evolves, outside entities sometimes promote certificates and training programs as shortcuts to certification, risking the devaluation of art therapy degrees and degree holders’ recognition as mental health clinicians. AATA must clearly communicate the education and training these degrees require to the public and other mental health professionals. Its advocacy must remain assertive and steadfast, protecting the profession’s standing while fostering collaboration across disciplines and emphasizing the value of rigorous preparation for mental health practice.
Jessica Woolhiser Stallings:
As has been for the last 20 years, licensure and third party reimbursement remain some of the biggest challenges to our profession. With that we also face the continued need to articulate how what we do is different from someone with a social work or counseling degree including art in their sessions. I believe AATA should continue to provide support for legislative action and educational and promotional information to answer questions, as well as support for research particularly in neuroscience and art therapy as arts impact on the brain is one of the clearest ways we can distinguish ourselves.
Candidate for Treasurer
Kathryn Snyder
Kathryn F. Snyder, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, is an Assistant Professor at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture, where she teaches and conducts research at the intersection of art therapy, art education, and community-based practice. Her work focuses on relational approaches to art therapy, early childhood development, creative health, and expanding access to the therapeutic benefits of the arts in museums and community settings. She is particularly interested in advancing the role of art therapists as contributors to interdisciplinary conversations about health, education, and community well-being.
Dr. Snyder is actively involved in the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), serving as Treasurer since 2025 and previously as a member of the Board of Directors. Her service includes participation on the Executive, Seal of Approval, Communications, and Wellness Initiatives Committees. She also founded and hosts AATA’s Museum Art Therapy Special Interest Group, fostering professional dialogue, collaboration, and visibility for art therapy in museum and cultural settings. Through her scholarship, teaching, professional leadership, and advocacy, Dr. Snyder is committed to strengthening the profession, supporting emerging practitioners, and advancing recognition of art therapy’s contributions to individual and collective well-being.
Questions for the Candidate for Treasurer
Question 1: What ethical principles, leadership values and governance practices would you rely on to guide your decision-making as a board member, support the mission of the organization, and strengthen our commitment to cultural proficiency and inclusion?
Kathryn Snyder: I would ground my leadership in integrity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and care. I believe effective governance requires thoughtful listening, informed decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to the long-term sustainability of the organization. I would approach board service with cultural humility, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives, and equitable representation. I value inclusive, relational leadership that creates space for constructive dialogue, shared responsibility, and meaningful engagement. My goal is to support AATA’s mission while strengthening trust, advancing cultural proficiency, and ensuring that the organization remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members and the communities we serve.
Question 2: Professional associations sometimes face sensitive circumstances in which confidentiality, legal obligations, or fiduciary responsibilities may limit what can be publicly disclosed. How would you work to maintain transparency, accountability, and trust throughout that process?
Kathryn Snyder: I believe transparency and confidentiality are complementary responsibilities of governance. I would approach sensitive matters with discretion, integrity, and a clear understanding of my fiduciary and legal obligations. While respecting appropriate boundaries around confidential information, I would advocate for timely, honest communication about what can be shared, why certain information must remain confidential, and how decisions are being addressed. I would support consistent governance processes, documented decision-making, and appropriate oversight to ensure accountability. Ultimately, maintaining trust requires not only protecting the organization and its members but also demonstrating that decisions are made thoughtfully, ethically, and in service of AATA’s mission.
Question 3: The art therapy profession is evolving within a rapidly changing mental health landscape. What do you believe are the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the art therapy profession today, and how should AATA respond?
Kathryn Snyder: The profession faces challenges related to public recognition, equitable access, workforce sustainability, licensure and reimbursement, and the need to articulate the evidence supporting art therapy’s distinct contributions. At the same time, there are significant opportunities to expand our presence in interdisciplinary healthcare, education, museums, and community settings, particularly as creative health and arts-based approaches gain broader recognition. AATA should respond through strategic advocacy, research dissemination, public education, and stronger partnerships across sectors. I believe we must also invest in emerging professionals, support diverse practice models, and embrace innovation while protecting the profession’s ethical foundations and clinical identity.
Candidates for the Nominating Committee
Dana Elmendorf
I am recently retired (though by no means inactive) with 30+ years clinical art therapy and adult education experience, including as director of an art therapy program. My work has also included experience in international art therapy, trauma processing, anxiety treatment and substance use supports as well as provision of community-based arts programming. Throughout this time I have consistently devoted additional time to volunteer committee work for AATA, my state chapter and local networking and received awards for dedicated service from both AATA and my state chapter. Perhaps most significantly I was a founding chair and longterm member of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education from 2015-2023 and co-chair of the AATA Master’s Education Task Force. I am interested in joining the Nominations committee so that I can support the “next generation” of art therapists in becoming involved in their professional association and to offer support to the process of engaging a range of professionals who offer diverse perspectives and skills. I have been mentored and thrive through the collegial relationships of the professional association and would look forward to fostering the continued growth of AATA to be an association that is responsive and relevant.
MaKael White
MaKael White’s professional experience spans community mental health, private practice, state services, nonprofit leadership, higher education, and professional service. They helped launch a community mental health nonprofit serving rural Washington, where he contributed to an agency model centering Gender, Sex, and Relational Diversity and integrating expressive arts therapies into clinical services and supervision. They have also launched a private practice and artists’ collective and worked in protective and rehabilitative services, harm reduction, homelessness services, supportive housing, and intensive wraparound care.
His contributions to the profession include teaching in graduate programs, guest lecturing on gender development in art therapy, presenting professionally, and training a state emergency response department on intersections among mental health, LGBTQIA+ communities, and crisis response. His professional service includes volunteering with AATA conferences, serving as an ATCB Subject Matter Expert, contributing to IEATA’s Educational Resource Committee and conference, serving on nonprofit boards, and most recently joining the board of the Coalition for Queer Creative Arts Therapies. Across these roles, he has advocated for accessible, ethical, and community-responsive mental health and expressive arts services.
Questions for Candidates for the Nominating Committee
Question 1: What principles of leadership and governance would guide you in the work of this committee?
Dana Elmendorf: My eye for details could potentially assist with the work of the committee, as I am able to review and compile materials fairly quickly. I have also completed my own independent research into what engages younger members in professional associations, at a time when such interest is waning across many professional groups. Finally, I have experience with committee work along with longstanding membership in AATA and a knowledge of the overall processes of the organization, given I have carefully reviewed the By-Laws, P&P’s, and been an engaged member for many years.
MaKael White: Accessibility and representation in art therapy are cornerstones of my career. I believe we create the future we need by showing up and making space for others to do the same. Extensive barriers to entering our field and accessing the conversations and decision-making spaces where systemic change happens remain. Across nonprofit, healthcare, and community leadership, I’ve learned to address these barriers by seeking and uplifting varied perspectives and experiences. I would bring that commitment to the Nominations Committee: inviting more hands and minds into the work, approaching decisions collaboratively and transparently, and recognizing collective action as essential to meaningful progress.
Question 2: How would you work to minimize the influence of your own biases as you select the candidates most able to support the organization in meeting its mission?
Dana Elmendorf: I am known to often mention a “framework for freedom” in our work as art therapists. This translates into the importance of protocols when considering the work of the committee. Maintaining established written processes for review of applicants is essential. At the same time, remembering that AATA is a membership organization would also encourage me to consider ways applicants might represent perspectives that may be overlooked. I seek to stay curious when difficult questions are asked and would seek to maintain this with applicants who might challenge what I personally “think” the association should be.
MaKael White: I am not an expert in anything beyond my own experience. I approach decisions with humble curiosity, actively seeking consultation and guidance from mentors, peers, and those whose perspectives differ from my own. In selecting candidates, I would apply consistent criteria, remain attentive to how my assumptions may shape my judgments, and welcome being challenged by fellow members. My strengths include critical thinking, holding space for the experiences of others to shine, and co-creating pathways for progress. My goal is to support a nominations process that recognizes the broadest possible spectrum of perspectives, experiences, and ways of leading.
Question 3: What experience and vision do you think are important for Association leaders to possess?
Dana Elmendorf: Given that AATA is a membership association, developing an association that seems relevant and responsive to the “next generation” of new professionals is an essential commitment for association leaders to possess. This includes responsive processes where members can engage in frank conversations with the board, have a clear sense of how decisions are made, and have opportunities to participate in the direction and focus of the group’s work.
MaKael White: AATA leaders must be responsive to the breadth of our field—from clients and community partners to students, educators, practitioners, researchers, and retired professionals—and hold central our responsibilities as ethical healthcare professionals. Leaders should bring varied experiences and perspectives, a willingness to listen and learn, and the capacity to collaborate across differences. They must be committed to identifying and reducing barriers, bias, and discriminatory impacts within the systems we create and facilitate. True leadership requires step-up commitment in the face of uncertainty. When the demands grow heavy, effective leaders don’t burn out—they expand the team. By proactively cultivating relationships and building community, we create an environment where every member feels at home, safe, and heard. When people feel connected to their professional home, they invest deeply in our shared success and drive real collective action.