CLEVELAND (April 14, 2026) – Dr. Shenise Johnson Thomas was appointed, and Daniel Blakemore was reappointed, by County Executive Chris Ronayne and approved by County Council to serve on the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) Board of Trustees.

CAC is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of five members who serve rotating three-year terms without compensation.  The appointments for Dr. Johnson Thomas and Mr. Blakemore extend through March 31, 2029. All Board members are nominated by the Cuyahoga County Executive and confirmed by Cuyahoga County Council. 

Dr. Shenise Johnson Thomas serves as Chief External Relations & Development Officer for Cleveland Public Library and the inaugural President of the Cleveland Public Library Foundation. Before joining the library, Dr. Johnson Thomas held leadership roles at United Way of Greater Cleveland and Cuyahoga Community College’s Eastern Campus. With more than two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, Dr. Johnson Thomas is recognized for her strategic insight, ability to unify diverse stakeholders, and commitment to transformational outcomes.

“We are pleased to welcome Shenise to the CAC Board of Trustees,” said Jill M. Paulsen, Executive Director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. “Her deep experience in the public sector will be a valuable contribution to CAC’s work of supporting a vibrant community of nonprofit arts and culture organizations.” 

Dr. Johnson Thomas replaces Dr. Michele Scott Taylor, who served six years on the CAC Board of Trustees.

Daniel Blakemore, CFRE has served on CAC’s Board since 2023 and is currently the Board Vice President. Mr. Blakemore is a professional arts administrator who has more than 15 years of experience working in nonprofits and philanthropy, spanning the natural sciences, history, music education, and museums. Dan is the Vice President of Philanthropy at the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which enriches people’s lives and enhances our region by inspiring use, preservation, and support of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

“Dan has been a valued member of the CAC Board over the last three years,” said CAC Board President Karolyn Isenhart. “We appreciate his continued leadership and efforts to best position CAC as a consistent resource for our local arts and culture nonprofits.”

All CAC Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public. Learn more and view a schedule of upcoming meetings at cacgrants.org/about-us/board.

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is the region’s largest funder for arts and culture, helping hundreds of organizations in Cuyahoga County connect millions of people to cultural experiences each year. Since 2006, CAC has invested more than $270 million in over 500 organizations, making our community a more vibrant place to live, work and play. For more information, visit cacgrants.org. 

###

View Shenise Johnson Thomas’s bio and headshot here.

View Dan Blakemore’s bio and headshot here.