Nov. 1, 2023 - Pittsburgh Public Theater expanded its Board of Trustees as five celebrated community leaders and field experts join the organization’s governing body. The Public’s newest Trustees come to the organization at a moment of strategic advancement and optimism as Pittsburgh’s oldest resident theater prepares to celebrate its 50th season in 2024/2025.
“A strong and diverse Board of Trustees is vital to the success of any organization,” said Board Chair Angela Blanton, who is also the vice president for finance and chief financial officer of Carnegie Mellon University. “At The Public I’m excited and proud to serve alongside such a wonderful group of people and to welcome our new Trustees, each of whom brings a unique voice and distinct leadership insight to one of Pittsburgh’s most vibrant and important cultural institutions.”
New members of the Pittsburgh Public Theater Board of Trustees include former U.S. Representative Conor Lamb, The Heinz Endowments’ Josie Innamorato, attorney Jessica Priselac, arts leader Ayisha Morgan-Lee, EdD., and entrepreneur John Bettis. This class of Trustees invigorates The Public with ample experience in the public and philanthropic sectors, sharp financial acumen, as well as decades of passion and support for a strong arts community and thriving economy.
“Arts organizations like Pittsburgh Public Theater are part of what keeps this city thriving and growing, and they’re not possible without strong public support,” Conor Lamb said. “I’m looking forward to working with the Board to help The Public keep making the great art that keeps Pittsburgh alive.”
Historically led by some of the city’s most dignified leaders and arts advocates, The Public’s Board of Trustees consists of 38 trustees and 20 emeritus trustees. Trustees advise leadership at across departments, including financial and strategic planning, fundraising, executive management, marketing, and more. The joint efforts of the board’s members help guide The Public’s strategic vision and provide pathways to continued long-term stability. As theaters across America continue experiencing lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s strategy to sustainability reflects the experience and perspective of its artists, staff, and board members.
“In order for Pittsburgh Public Theater to more fully realize its mission, vision, and values, the work requires active participation from a wide variety of distinguished individuals with diverse lived experiences,” Managing Director Shaunda McDill said. “We are grateful for Trustees past and present, and look forward to the multitude of ways this new class will catapult The Public toward greater levels of efficacy, accountability, and achievement.”
Pittsburgh Public Theater Trustees Class of Fall 2023
Conor Lamb represented Western Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022. He has also served as an officer in the Marines and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. He is now a partner at the plaintiffs' law firm Kline & Specter, and an adjunct professor at Duquesne University's Kline School of Law. Conor has previously served the community as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Amachi. He lives in Mount Lebanon with his wife Hayley and their children Matthew and Theodora.
Josie Innamorato is the Director of Learning, Evaluation, and Research for The Heinz Endowments. Prior to joining the Endowments, she worked as a program evaluator and policy analyst for local governments and nonprofits, as a classroom educator for high school students and incarcerated adults, and as an engineer in city infrastructure. Josie holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. Josie is a Pittsburgh-area native, and though she has lived in many places, she has always considered Pittsburgh to be home.
Jessica Priselac is an attorney at Duane Morris LLP specializing in complex commercial litigation. She is a graduate of Emory University School of Law, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University (M.A.), and Dickinson College (B.A.). Jessica grew up in the Monongahela Valley and recently returned to Pittsburgh after spending several years working in Philadelphia. Jessica is active in civic and charitable organizations throughout Pennsylvania, and currently serves as a Trustee of Carlow University.
Ayisha A. Morgan-Lee, EdD. is the Founder, CEO, and Artistic Director of Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT). Ayisha received her BFA in Dance and Theatre from Howard University, earned her Masters of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and her EdD from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2022, she received the YWCA Equity Award, and the 40 Under 40 Pittsburgh Magazine Award; in 2023 she received CMU's Tartans on the Rise Alumni Award. Ayisha purchased a 29,000 square foot former Catholic school in 2021 and The Heinz Endowments joined the Ford Foundation in recognizing Hill Dance Academy Theatre as a Pittsburgh Cultural Treasure. Ayisha is the board chair of The International Association of Blacks in Dance, a member of Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Pierian, Inc. Ayisha, her husband Eric, and their daughter Aniyah reside in Pittsburgh's Hill District community.
John Bettis III serves as Owner and President of multiple companies including Plus Real Estate Solutions, Bettis Brothers Sand and Gravel (BBSG), Bettis Group. Mr. Bettis found his love of the theater from his mother after seeing The Wiz at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, and is a longtime Pittsburgh Public Theater subscriber. A 30-year business professional, John's passion is business and family.
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Pittsburgh Public Theater strives to serve as a true public theater to the Pittsburgh region, producing more than 120 performances each season and welcoming more than 70,000 guests through the O’Reilly Theater’s doors every year. The theater is renowned for its exceptional mix of programming, featuring international classics, fresh new works, and favorite musicals. Its commitment to education and engagement initiatives is a hallmark and includes the signature Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest and innovative community partnerships. The organization, under the leadership of Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski and Managing Director Shaunda McDill, celebrates its 49th season in 2023.