Our Board

Board of Directors

Access Arts relies on an active board to achieve our mission of 'creative learning experiences for everyone'. Our board uses their diverse skill sets to work on projects ranging from fund-raising to landscaping to firing up the wood kiln. They keep Access Arts moving forward!

Ready to join us? Contact us!

Board Officers

Mike Lising

president

Having called Columbia home since he was three years old, Mikey Lising has been creating artwork and supporting the arts in this community for years. Mikey uses his artistic skills every day in his professional career as Graphic Design Coordinator for the Missouri State Teacher's Association and Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Missouri. When not at his day job(s), Mikey keeps himself busy making things that move & fly, creating delicious meals, traveling the world, taking dance classes at DanceArts, riding mopeds & motorcycles, fixing things, lending a hand to those in need, and spending time with the people he loves. Mikey has been supporting the Access Arts mission since 2016, when he joined the Board of Directors. As a board member, he loves working with so many great people. In all of his endeavors, Mikey draws inspiration from one of his favorite artists, Buckminster Fuller, who once said, "How often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else."

Jordan Barnes

vice president

Jordan was born and raised in Columbia, and is a local realtor. She joined the board this year, and has loved to learn more about the positive effect Access Arts has on our community. She was drawn to the board after taking a clay class, loving it, and attending several CelebrARTy events. Her favorite piece of art is The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, probably because it ties in to her love of all things stars and outer space. Jordan’s favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family, regardless of what’s on the agenda.

Pablo Araujo

TREASURER

Pablo Araujo moved to Columbia sixteen years ago to attend College at Columbia College. After getting his bachelors in graphic design he obtained a graduate certificate in non-profit management from the University of Missouri. Pablo worked the following years as a house parent for Rainbow House and violence prevention advocate for True North. Later Pablo and wife Victoria decided to start a business downtown Columbia, Blanc Studio. For the past eight years he has helped manage the business as it continues to grow.

Directors

Jan Turner

Jan manages the Customer Service Center At Simmons Bank and has been on the board since 2015. She grew up in Moberly but considers Columbia her hometown after calling it home for over 30 years. Jan is a bit of an adventurer having been zip lining in Puerto Vallarta (twice), Belize, and Playa Del Carmen. Showing great depth of emotion, ranging from vibrant and energetic to deep and sad, Van Gough is by far her favorite artist.

When asked about why she continues to serve on the board, Jan says " I love how the board has grown since I joined. We have a great group of board members who work together to support Access Arts in so many ways. We all have our strengths (and weaknesses), but with all of us working together, we have made many great things happen at Access Arts. This year was my fifth year helping with our annual fundraiser, CelebrARTy event. I have enjoyed watching it grow year after year. "

Jet Ainsworth

You may recognize Jet Ainsworth as long-time radio talk show host “Jet Roberts,” but in the last few years Jet has continued his broadcasting career as a LIVE broadcast producer and on-air contributor for more than 100 college sports networks across America. Most notably, a member of the football gameday broadcast teams for the Indiana Hoosiers, Texas A&M Aggies, Colorado Buffaloes, Iowa State Cyclones and Oklahoma Sooners. He works as writer and producer for the longtime Columbia-based Marketing Firm Visionworks Marketing Group, owned by former Access Arts Board Member Lili Vianello. He is also an award-winning filmmaker, singer/songwriter and music producer.