Board Members and Staff
2022-2023 Buckham Arts Collective. Front Row (L-R): Brandon Dotson, Phillip Walker II, Nic Custer, Amanda Edwards, Babak Elahi, Michele Leclaire, Matthew Osmon. Back Row (L-R), Ken Milito, Karen Milito, Aisha Changezi, Guy Adamec, Chris Waters, Carly Aldridge, Nancy Pennell, Brian Spolans, Janice McCoy, Mike Parker, Donovan Entrekin, Cliff Hughes, Taylor Glenn, Roy Richard, Alexander Glenn, Bob Campbell.
Board of Directors
Nic Custer, President
A writer and performer, Nic Custer has previously been awarded a residency by the Poetry Foundation, published a book of poetry, contributed to seven site-specific and verbatim plays, and serves on several community boards including Court Street Village Non-profit Housing Corporation. Additionally, Nic is a University of Michigan-Flint MBA and MSLOD recipient, and is employed by UM-Flint's Office of Economic Development.
Janice McCoy, Vice President
Janice McCoy is an interdisciplinary artist with interests in printmaking, drawing and painting. Her work has been exhibited across the state of Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint, holding degrees in Visual Arts Education (BS 2018) and General Studio Art (BFA 2018). Janice works at the Flint Institute of Arts as the 2-D Programs Manager for the Art School, where she teaches and oversees studio operations and programming for two-dimensional media. Additionally, she is an artist collaborator with the Buckham Fine Arts Project, where she also serves as Vice President for the Board of Directors for Buckham Gallery.
Donovan Entrekin, Secretary (BOD through 6/2023)
Donovan is the Director of the Art School at the Flint Institute of Arts. He earned an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has worked in non-profit arts education at various institutions since 2004, including Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy. Donovan is an accomplished painter, sculptor, and printmaker. His large-scale figurative works have been exhibited throughout the country.
H. Michael Parker, Treasurer (BOD through 6/2023)
A life-long Flint resident, Michael Parker worked in the manufacturing industry before devoting himself to his interest in art and being a maker. With a focus on ceramics, glassblowing, and lamp working, Michael enjoys classes at the Flint Institute of Art.
Carly Aldridge
Carly Aldridge is a graphic designer and artist. She has worked in the world of graphic design and marketing for more than 5 years and is currently part of an acclaimed East Lansing-based ad agency. Carly has a passion for typography, printmaking, and illustration. When she’s not refining designs for her clients, she can be found in her garage, experimenting with new designs with her 100-year-old letterpress. A Flint resident, she holds a degree in visual communication from the University of Michigan-Flint. Carly is a sustaining member of the Buckham Fine Arts Project and is thrilled to support contemporary artists in the city she loves.
Brandon Dotson
Brandon Dotson is a lifelong resident and advocate for the great City of Flint! He Graduated from Flint Central H.S., attended Mott Community College and Eastern Michigan University. He has worked on several campaigns of various great leaders of the city, and worked for the City of Flint Police Dept. Brandon currently works for General Motors, and enjoys volunteering and working on committees within the UAW! Brandon is also a, Real Estate investor, and Consultant, focusing on Community Development, Low income housing and financial literacy. Brandon is passionate about his community and is a major supporter of the many Small Businesses that the city of Flint holds.
Babak Elahi
Babak Elahi joined Kettering University in 2019 as Head of the Department of Liberal Arts and currently serves as the interim Dean of the college of sciences and liberal arts at KU. He holds a PhD in American literature from the University of Rochester. Babak teaches literature, film studies, technical communication, as well as both Sophomore and Senior Seminar in the Department of Liberal Arts. His scholarship encompasses the areas of American literature and popular culture, Iranian diasporic life writing, modern Iranian fiction, and documentary film. He has translated Iranian fiction from Persian to English, and his most recent academic article, “Reorienting Grass” (Afterimage, Sept. 2022), is an extended study of the 1925 documentary film, Grass: A Nation’s Battle for Life, and the subsequent musical score composed by Iranian musicians in 1992. Babak is also a musician, himself, whose credits include writing and performing the musical score for the
independent documentary film The House of Stronzo (2018).
Alexander Glenn
Alexander Floyd Glenn, a seasoned Business Intelligence Solutions Engineer, working 10-years at Huntington National Bank. Specializing in data visualization, Automation, and Enterprise Analysis. Alexander has committed his career to harnessing data for business decision-making. A seven-year leadership run as President of an Inclusion Council in Michigan highlighted his commitment to diversity and inclusion. In this role, Glenn fostered the expansion of the bank's business resource groups, working to bring together unique skill sets and leadership to those who needed it most.
Education and continuous professional development form the bedrock of Glenn's ethos. His certification roster is extensive, spanning from Microsoft Office to Tableau, SQL, and project management, embodying a lifelong commitment to honing his craft. His business analysis credentials and sales pipeline management expertise serve as testament to his diverse skill set and adaptability. Currently serving on the board of the Buckham Gallery, Alexander applies his expertise and passion to further the gallery's mission and rejuvenate Flint.
Art has always held a special place in Glenn's heart, dating back to his high school years as a street artist in Flint. This lifelong passion now finds an outlet in his role on the board of the Buckham Gallery. There, Alexander will work to blend his professional acumen and artistic zeal to amplify the gallery's mission injecting fresh vitality into the heart of Flint - Buckham.
Taylor Glenn
Taylor Glenn is a current State of Michigan employee and resident of Genesee County. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint in 2013 with a BA in Social Science and minor in Business. She is a life time Girl Scout with a strong sense of community involvement. She has a passion for the arts and is a sustaining member of Buckham Gallery.
Matthew Osmon
Matthew Osmon is the Director of Education at the Flint Institute of Arts. Matthew holds a BA from Columbia College Chicago and an MA from the University of Michigan-Flint. He is a lecturer at the University of Michigan-Flint and has been extensively involved in the Flint arts community for many years, serving as an instructor at Factory Two and curator at the original Red Ink Studios Flint. His artistic practice, board in scope, includes work in watercolor, silk-screening, graphic design, puppet-making, drawing, and screen printing.
Roy Richard
Roy Richard is a retired Journeyman Die Maker from General Motors. A lifelong resident of Genesee County, Roy graduated from Carman Senior High School and received his AAS from Mott Community College. He has volunteered in the past in various UAW positions, the local General Baptist Denomination and Kearlsey Schools. He currently is active working with the Davison Band Boosters and Buckham Gallery. Since retirement he has filled his time with grandchildren, his love of working in wood and writing poetry.
Christine Waters
Christine Waters is the former Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Acting Chair, Program of Art and Art History, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan. Her Academic Credentials include Master of Fine Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Master of Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science-Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, she has participated in many Workshops/Institutes, University Service, Committee work, and related activities.
Phillip Walker, II
Phillip Walker II is a multi-talented creative who has excelled in music, management, and media. He graduated from Flint Powers Catholic and Mott Community College, where he honed his business skills and developed a passion for design. He was once part of the music duo "PhZD," releasing several projects and becoming a familiar face in the local Flint music scene.
Aside from his musical pursuits, Phillip also possesses extensive experience in graphic design and videography. He has a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of visual communication. During the day, Phillip works as a Program Assistant of Youth Services at Mott Community College Workforce and Economic Development. Additionally, he holds a position as a Supervisor at BD's Mongolian Grill during the night.
Phillip is driven by his constant devotion to the community. Whether it's through hospitality, guiding the youth, or creating better support systems for artists, he is dedicated to serving the community. Currently, Phillip serves on the Board of Directors at Buckham Gallery.
Staff
Michele Leclaire, Executive Director
Michele Leclaire is in her fourth year as Executive Director of the Buckham Fine Arts Project, also known as Buckham Gallery. In that role she provides leadership and direction, fiscal oversight, and oversees all aspects of the artistic programming. She partners with the Board to translate Buckham’s mission and strategies into sustainable services and programs that maintain broad artistic outreach. In 2021, Michele created the Writer In Residence project that supports Flint’s BIPOC literary artists to engage with their interest in visual art while creating original literary works to be compiled with exhibition images in a book at the residency’s completion.
Prior to serving as the ED, she was the Exhibition Director for Buckham Gallery. Her responsibilities include building the exhibition season, recruiting exhibiting artists, and working with outside jurors and curators to bring high-level contemporary art to Flint. Additionally Michele has developed new programming such as the Cider & Slides art talks to provide our community with opportunities to more deeply engage with contemporary artistic practice and ideas. She has introduced to Flint major artistic voices such as Kresge Fellow Ed Fraga, Guggenheim Fellow Anne Harris, and author and critic John Seed.
Michele earned an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2006, where she studied painting with Katherine Bradford, Vincent Desidario, and Irving Petlin. Michele widely exhibits her paintings and is represented in public and private collections throughout the country.
A Flint Michigan resident since 2015 and Buckham Member since 2016, Michele lives in the College Cultural Neighborhood with her spouse and two children. She currently serves on the board of directors for Flint’s Downtown Small Business Association.
Katie Cotton, Projects and Communications Coordinator
Katie Cotton joined our staff in November 2020. She attended the University of Michigan-Flint with a Communication major with a concentration in photography. She has been a member of Flint Roller Derby for 14+ years serving as Captain and several board positions; in addition to skating she has organized and created all design and social media for FRD. Katie resides in the College Cultural neighborhood of Flint with her husband, two dogs, and a lot of plants.
Nalani C. Duarte, Gallery Intern
Nalani C. Duarte is a Master of Arts Administration candidate at the University of Michigan-Flint, focusing on museum and gallery studies. She works as a Student Research Associate for the Arts and Culture Research Cluster at UM-Flint, helping with the daily operations of the storefront gallery space, Riverbank Arts, located in the Northbank Center in Flint. Additionally, she earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from UM-Flint in 2021. She has lived in Genesee county since 2019 and has just permanently relocated to the Flint area in August 2023.
Nic Custer, President
A writer and performer, Nic Custer has previously been awarded a residency by the Poetry Foundation, published a book of poetry, contributed to seven site-specific and verbatim plays, and serves on several community boards including Court Street Village Non-profit Housing Corporation. Additionally, Nic is a University of Michigan-Flint MBA and MSLOD recipient, and is employed by UM-Flint's Office of Economic Development.
Janice McCoy, Vice President
Janice McCoy is an interdisciplinary artist with interests in printmaking, drawing and painting. Her work has been exhibited across the state of Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint, holding degrees in Visual Arts Education (BS 2018) and General Studio Art (BFA 2018). Janice works at the Flint Institute of Arts as the 2-D Programs Manager for the Art School, where she teaches and oversees studio operations and programming for two-dimensional media. Additionally, she is an artist collaborator with the Buckham Fine Arts Project, where she also serves as Vice President for the Board of Directors for Buckham Gallery.
Donovan Entrekin, Secretary (BOD through 6/2023)
Donovan is the Director of the Art School at the Flint Institute of Arts. He earned an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has worked in non-profit arts education at various institutions since 2004, including Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy. Donovan is an accomplished painter, sculptor, and printmaker. His large-scale figurative works have been exhibited throughout the country.
H. Michael Parker, Treasurer (BOD through 6/2023)
A life-long Flint resident, Michael Parker worked in the manufacturing industry before devoting himself to his interest in art and being a maker. With a focus on ceramics, glassblowing, and lamp working, Michael enjoys classes at the Flint Institute of Art.
Carly Aldridge
Carly Aldridge is a graphic designer and artist. She has worked in the world of graphic design and marketing for more than 5 years and is currently part of an acclaimed East Lansing-based ad agency. Carly has a passion for typography, printmaking, and illustration. When she’s not refining designs for her clients, she can be found in her garage, experimenting with new designs with her 100-year-old letterpress. A Flint resident, she holds a degree in visual communication from the University of Michigan-Flint. Carly is a sustaining member of the Buckham Fine Arts Project and is thrilled to support contemporary artists in the city she loves.
Brandon Dotson
Brandon Dotson is a lifelong resident and advocate for the great City of Flint! He Graduated from Flint Central H.S., attended Mott Community College and Eastern Michigan University. He has worked on several campaigns of various great leaders of the city, and worked for the City of Flint Police Dept. Brandon currently works for General Motors, and enjoys volunteering and working on committees within the UAW! Brandon is also a, Real Estate investor, and Consultant, focusing on Community Development, Low income housing and financial literacy. Brandon is passionate about his community and is a major supporter of the many Small Businesses that the city of Flint holds.
Babak Elahi
Babak Elahi joined Kettering University in 2019 as Head of the Department of Liberal Arts and currently serves as the interim Dean of the college of sciences and liberal arts at KU. He holds a PhD in American literature from the University of Rochester. Babak teaches literature, film studies, technical communication, as well as both Sophomore and Senior Seminar in the Department of Liberal Arts. His scholarship encompasses the areas of American literature and popular culture, Iranian diasporic life writing, modern Iranian fiction, and documentary film. He has translated Iranian fiction from Persian to English, and his most recent academic article, “Reorienting Grass” (Afterimage, Sept. 2022), is an extended study of the 1925 documentary film, Grass: A Nation’s Battle for Life, and the subsequent musical score composed by Iranian musicians in 1992. Babak is also a musician, himself, whose credits include writing and performing the musical score for the
independent documentary film The House of Stronzo (2018).
Alexander Glenn
Alexander Floyd Glenn, a seasoned Business Intelligence Solutions Engineer, working 10-years at Huntington National Bank. Specializing in data visualization, Automation, and Enterprise Analysis. Alexander has committed his career to harnessing data for business decision-making. A seven-year leadership run as President of an Inclusion Council in Michigan highlighted his commitment to diversity and inclusion. In this role, Glenn fostered the expansion of the bank's business resource groups, working to bring together unique skill sets and leadership to those who needed it most.
Education and continuous professional development form the bedrock of Glenn's ethos. His certification roster is extensive, spanning from Microsoft Office to Tableau, SQL, and project management, embodying a lifelong commitment to honing his craft. His business analysis credentials and sales pipeline management expertise serve as testament to his diverse skill set and adaptability. Currently serving on the board of the Buckham Gallery, Alexander applies his expertise and passion to further the gallery's mission and rejuvenate Flint.
Art has always held a special place in Glenn's heart, dating back to his high school years as a street artist in Flint. This lifelong passion now finds an outlet in his role on the board of the Buckham Gallery. There, Alexander will work to blend his professional acumen and artistic zeal to amplify the gallery's mission injecting fresh vitality into the heart of Flint - Buckham.
Taylor Glenn
Taylor Glenn is a current State of Michigan employee and resident of Genesee County. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint in 2013 with a BA in Social Science and minor in Business. She is a life time Girl Scout with a strong sense of community involvement. She has a passion for the arts and is a sustaining member of Buckham Gallery.
Matthew Osmon
Matthew Osmon is the Director of Education at the Flint Institute of Arts. Matthew holds a BA from Columbia College Chicago and an MA from the University of Michigan-Flint. He is a lecturer at the University of Michigan-Flint and has been extensively involved in the Flint arts community for many years, serving as an instructor at Factory Two and curator at the original Red Ink Studios Flint. His artistic practice, board in scope, includes work in watercolor, silk-screening, graphic design, puppet-making, drawing, and screen printing.
Roy Richard
Roy Richard is a retired Journeyman Die Maker from General Motors. A lifelong resident of Genesee County, Roy graduated from Carman Senior High School and received his AAS from Mott Community College. He has volunteered in the past in various UAW positions, the local General Baptist Denomination and Kearlsey Schools. He currently is active working with the Davison Band Boosters and Buckham Gallery. Since retirement he has filled his time with grandchildren, his love of working in wood and writing poetry.
Christine Waters
Christine Waters is the former Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Acting Chair, Program of Art and Art History, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan. Her Academic Credentials include Master of Fine Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Master of Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science-Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, she has participated in many Workshops/Institutes, University Service, Committee work, and related activities.
Phillip Walker, II
Phillip Walker II is a multi-talented creative who has excelled in music, management, and media. He graduated from Flint Powers Catholic and Mott Community College, where he honed his business skills and developed a passion for design. He was once part of the music duo "PhZD," releasing several projects and becoming a familiar face in the local Flint music scene.
Aside from his musical pursuits, Phillip also possesses extensive experience in graphic design and videography. He has a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of visual communication. During the day, Phillip works as a Program Assistant of Youth Services at Mott Community College Workforce and Economic Development. Additionally, he holds a position as a Supervisor at BD's Mongolian Grill during the night.
Phillip is driven by his constant devotion to the community. Whether it's through hospitality, guiding the youth, or creating better support systems for artists, he is dedicated to serving the community. Currently, Phillip serves on the Board of Directors at Buckham Gallery.
Staff
Michele Leclaire, Executive Director
Michele Leclaire is in her fourth year as Executive Director of the Buckham Fine Arts Project, also known as Buckham Gallery. In that role she provides leadership and direction, fiscal oversight, and oversees all aspects of the artistic programming. She partners with the Board to translate Buckham’s mission and strategies into sustainable services and programs that maintain broad artistic outreach. In 2021, Michele created the Writer In Residence project that supports Flint’s BIPOC literary artists to engage with their interest in visual art while creating original literary works to be compiled with exhibition images in a book at the residency’s completion.
Prior to serving as the ED, she was the Exhibition Director for Buckham Gallery. Her responsibilities include building the exhibition season, recruiting exhibiting artists, and working with outside jurors and curators to bring high-level contemporary art to Flint. Additionally Michele has developed new programming such as the Cider & Slides art talks to provide our community with opportunities to more deeply engage with contemporary artistic practice and ideas. She has introduced to Flint major artistic voices such as Kresge Fellow Ed Fraga, Guggenheim Fellow Anne Harris, and author and critic John Seed.
Michele earned an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2006, where she studied painting with Katherine Bradford, Vincent Desidario, and Irving Petlin. Michele widely exhibits her paintings and is represented in public and private collections throughout the country.
A Flint Michigan resident since 2015 and Buckham Member since 2016, Michele lives in the College Cultural Neighborhood with her spouse and two children. She currently serves on the board of directors for Flint’s Downtown Small Business Association.
Katie Cotton, Projects and Communications Coordinator
Katie Cotton joined our staff in November 2020. She attended the University of Michigan-Flint with a Communication major with a concentration in photography. She has been a member of Flint Roller Derby for 14+ years serving as Captain and several board positions; in addition to skating she has organized and created all design and social media for FRD. Katie resides in the College Cultural neighborhood of Flint with her husband, two dogs, and a lot of plants.
Nalani C. Duarte, Gallery Intern
Nalani C. Duarte is a Master of Arts Administration candidate at the University of Michigan-Flint, focusing on museum and gallery studies. She works as a Student Research Associate for the Arts and Culture Research Cluster at UM-Flint, helping with the daily operations of the storefront gallery space, Riverbank Arts, located in the Northbank Center in Flint. Additionally, she earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from UM-Flint in 2021. She has lived in Genesee county since 2019 and has just permanently relocated to the Flint area in August 2023.
2021-2022 Board Members L-R: Nic Custer, Janice McCoy, Matthew Osmon, Michele Leclaire, Chris Waters, Mike Parker, Kelli Crump and Marissa Pierce
Not Pictured: Katie Cotton and Donovan Entrekin
