Board Members

Terry Anderson (founder) is a writer and journalist, and has been a professor of journalism at Ohio University and Columbia University for the past six years. He is author of "Den of Lions," an account of his seven years as a hostage of pro-Iranian radicals in Lebanon; and writer and director of the CNN and PBS documentary "Return to the Den of Lions," about his first trip back to that country after his release. He is currently co-chairman of the Vietnam Children's Fund, which builds elementary schools in Vietnam, where Anderson served as a U.S. Marine during the Vietnam War, and vice-chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists, which works on behalf of journalists under attack around the world. He has received numerous awards for journalism and for community service.

Brenna Randel (recording secretary) is a Northeast Ohio native who fell in love with Appalachia when she came to Ohio University in 2000. After graduating from the College of Fine Arts with a concentration in sculpture Brenna chose to stay in Athens. She appreciates the small town sense of community and the rich artistic influence in the area.

Kelee Riesbeck is a 1991 graduate of Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and former freelance science and general writer. Kelee moved back to Athens, Ohio in 2000 and enjoys raising her three children with her husband in a place not far from her hometown of Marietta, Ohio. Kelee is the founding co-chair of the Friends of the Festival, a volunteer group that hosts Oscar Night in Athens, a fundraiser benefiting the Athens International Film and Video Festival. She is honored to serve on the board of a charitable organization founded by a former journalist and to serve with talented, giving individuals. Kelee is the Executive Director of the Athens County Historical Society & Museum and the Athens County Military Museum.

Kim Sands, a native of Appalachia, gives back to the region through her efforts at marketing, fundraising and promoting the region's artistic talent. She is co-owner of Only from Ohio retail arts store and website located in Nelsonville and recently opened SandsCastle Design Solutions, an image development company. Kim is actively involved in marketing events, special opportunities and businesses in the Appalachian region through WWS Communications. She is co-owner of the Hocking Valley Voice and Sales manager for Ohio Brew Week.

Melody Sands has written about and marketed the Appalachian region for more than 25 years. As the Editor and part-owner of a twice-weekly newspaper she raised public awareness of economic, environmental, political and social issues in the region. In 1982, Sands was awarded the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award for Print Journalism from the Playboy Foundation for championing the public's right to know and have access to government records. Following her belief that the arts of the Appalachian region are a viable economic stimulus, Sands opened Only from Ohio retail stores and Art from the Heartland catalog and corporate sales. She ran this business for more than 10 years, then returned to Ohio University where she obtained a Master's in Journalism. Her thesis revolved around the concepts of public journalism and community building. She has served as a community development specialist in the 29 county region for two years, and now teaches communications part-time, and freelance writes and develops marketing strategies for the Appalachian region.

Bob Stewart (webmaster) has lived in Athens, Ohio for 20 years, teaching journalism at Ohio University. He's a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Athens, plays in a band, and manages ATHENSi.com. He grew up in Thailand, the son of missionaries. He lives with his wife, Penny Shelton, in Athens, Ohio.