Meet the UMMA Leadership Board
The UMMA Leadership Board (ULB) is a volunteer advisory board created and supported by UMMA to provide strategic guidance on issues of advocacy and fundraising for the Museum. ULB members assist in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of potential donors to UMMA. Additionally, board members are asked to provide guidance on their particular community’s social and business culture and on effective ways to engage with Michigan alumni and parents, other arts patrons, foundations, artists, and others who may help advance the mission of the Museum.
Membership may include University of Michigan alumni and non-alumni, arts patrons and experts, artists, chairs of other Museum committees, and others who have demonstrated a commitment to UMMA and its mission. Members serve a renewable term of three years.
UMMA Leadership Board Members
Candace Carmel Barasch is a passionate collector of contemporary art and philanthropist. She attended Amherst College and the Cardozo School of Law. She sits on the board of the Sculpture Center in New York and is a partner of Via Art Fund.
Candy Barasch
New York, NY
Peter is a Founding Partner and Board Member of leading talent and literary agency United Talent Agency. Benedek sits on the Boards of the Hammer Museum, the Board of Governors of the L.A. Saban Free Clinic, and the Board of the UTA Foundation.
Peter Benedek
Los Angeles, CA
BA ‘70
Gwendolyn Hatten Butler is an Independent Director of Mutual of America Financial Group, Wells Enterprises, Inc., and Ferguson Partners. She received a M.B.A. in Finance from Northwestern University.
Gwendolyn Hatten Butler
Chicago, IL
BA ‘77
Elaine is a graduate of the University of Washington, and retired from a career in international education, including in higher education, nonprofits, museums, and the travel industry.
Elaine Chang
Seattle, WA
Wayee is a General Partner at Reach Capital, a venture fund focused on early stage education technology start-ups. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
Wayee Chu
San Francisco, CA
BA ‘97
Kaywin Feldman is director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. She serves on the boards of the Terra Foundation for American Art, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the White House Historical Association, and the Chipstone Foundation. She holds degrees from the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Institute of Archaeology at the University of London.
Kaywin Feldman
Washington, DC
Catherine began her career as an interior designer and also worked in the fashion field. She serves on the board for Friends of Prints, Drawings and Photographs at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Fashion Advisory Board at the College for Creative Studies, and Camp Māk-A-Dream.
Catherine Forbes
Franklin, MI
Paola Luptak Jakobson oversees The Beztak Companies’ multifamily residential, commercial and retail portfolio. She holds a a JD from the University of Detroit School of Law, and a Master of Law degree in real estate development and finance from the University of Miami School of Law.
Paola Luptak
Boca Raton, FL
BA ‘88
Erica is an art collector and philanthropist. She serves on various boards including The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The Boston Children’s Museum, The Epiphany School, and served on former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s leadership council for cultural initiatives, Boston Creates.
Erica Gervais Pappendick
Cambridge, MA
BA ‘91
Julie currently serves as principal and owner of a Miami-based commercial real estate holding company. Julie spent 12 years in higher education advancement, most recently as senior associate vice president of the University of Central Florida. Her past board service includes the Dean’s Advisory Council of the U-M College of Literature, Science and the Arts, and the U-M Alumni Association as both treasurer and chair. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Miami.
Julie Childress Stroh
Coral Gables, FL
BA ‘73
Billy Susman worked at Salomon Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Financo before launching Threadstone Capital in 2011, which was acquired by Cascadia in 2024. Billy holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School at Northwestern.
Billy Susman
New York, NY
BBA ‘86
Jordan Tabach-Bank is a secondary market dealer with a focus on contemporary artwork. Jordan received a JD from Loyola Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of California and sits on the Board of Directors of LIFT-LA
Jordan Tabach-Bank
Los Angeles, CA
BA ‘00
Lizzie Tisch worked in insurance and banking before shifting her focus to fashion. She serves on the boards of of Citymeals on Wheels, New York–Presbyterian Hospital, and The Town School. She is also actively involved with The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Lizzie Tisch
New York, NY
BA ‘94
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None of the important work UMMA does would be possible without the support of incredibly dedicated members and donors such as you. UMMA is able to change lives and re-imagine what a campus art museum can mean for its community because of the generous support from people around the world–people like you.
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