Board Members
Sheharazad Fleming
President and Board Chair
Sheharazad Fleming is an Iranian-American creative director with a background in strategic communications and visual storytelling. In her roles as the Director of Digital Communications for the Mayor of Los Angeles, or as Creative Director for institutions like USC and Otis College of Art and Design, her work has been steadfastly focused on uplifting the people that make Los Angeles a world-class city. She is currently the President of the community design studio WE MUST BE BOLD and Editor-in-Chief of The Great Discontent, a platform amplifying the work of emerging artists and underrepresented communities. She is also a professor at ArtCenter College of Design where she brings Corita's pedagogy into her classroom to support the next generation of artists and creative thinkers.
Tom Kennedy
Vice Chair
Tom Kennedy, as President of Wolverine Worldwide, drives transformation across three critical businesses. He elevated Sperry into a globally recognized lifestyle brand and established himself as a product expert, crafting Fossil, PacSun, Gap, and Old Navy into strong lifestyle brands. Aligning merchandising with business goals, he boosts global market share and customer loyalty. Tom's commitment to professional development keeps him abreast of industry trends, spanning operations, marketing, and e-commerce. He fosters continuous improvement, leveraging technology and analytics. Respected by boards and teams, he champions talent development and DEI initiatives. Tom's creative vision, strategic acumen, and team-building prowess propel businesses to success.
Errol Gerson
Treasurer
Errol Gerson, with over 52 years at Art Center, teaches Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Business Management, impacting 5,400+ students and mentoring over 3,000. With a BS in Accounting and an MBA from USC, he spent eight years in public accounting before co-founding a CPA Business Management firm in 1979, later selling it in 1992. He co-founded Cow Interactive in 1992, then joined CAA Agency in 1999 as Director of New Media. In 2004, he founded the Gerson Group, a Strategic Management Consulting company. Errol was the Senior Advisor at AIGA and conducts Entrepreneurship and Marketing workshops nationwide.
Juliette Bellocq
Secretary
Juliette Bellocq leads Handbuilt, a graphic design studio collaborating on common-good agendas in education, art, healthcare, and civic spaces. Her work takes on diverse formats, from print and digital to environmental and communal. It has been recognized by the AIGA, AIA, and SEGD. Juliette studied in Paris and Den Haag and received an MFA from CalArts.
Ben Barry
Director
Ben is the founder of the design studio Nonlinear. Previously, he was the design director for OpenAI, and was one of the first communication designers to join Facebook’s team in California. Notably, while working at Facebook, he cofounded the Facebook Analog Research Laboratory, an internal print studio and art program. He is also an alumnus and advisor of John Bielenberg’s experimental design education program, Project M, where he explores the role designers can play in encouraging social change.
Laurie Dowling
Director
Laurie Dowling serves as the Executive Director for the National Utilities Diversity Council, promoting diversity in the utilities industry through research and best practices. She leads The Dowling-Woo Company, consulting on strategic issues for non-profits and for-profits, including management, fundraising, and diversity. Laurie is of counsel to Arts Consulting Group and was Executive Director of UCLA Anderson School of Management's Executive Education Programs for eight years. She was previously the Development Director at Women’s Enterprise Development Corporation, aiding entrepreneurs. Laurie, a UNC graduate and UCLA Anderson Executive Program alumna, resides in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood.
Rick Griffith
Director
Rick Griffith is a British-West-Indian designer, collagist, writer, and letterpress printer who resides in Denver, Colorado. He has been the programming chair for the AIGA National Conference 2021 and 2022, and a 2022 Smithsonian National Design Awards Juror. Rick held the 2023 Acuff Chair of Excellence at Austin Peay State University. His works are collected worldwide and adorn prestigious collections including The Denver Art Museum and Columbia University's Butler Library of rare books and manuscripts. He co-founded MATTER the transdisciplinary design studio for the public good, with a strategic consultancy, letterpress printing studio, revolutionary bookstore, and event space.
Jean Scott, IHM
Director
Jean Scott, IHM, joined the Immaculate Heart Community in 1974, serving on its Board for nine years, four as Chairperson. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she spent 36 years at the LA County Department of Health Services, rising to Director of Clinical Social Work at Olive View-UCLA Medical Hospital. Inspired by patients' resilience, she chaired the House of Ruth, aiding homeless women and children. Retiring, she led Disaster Mental Health with the American Red Cross. Jean holds a BA in Social Work from Florida State University, an MA in Social and Service Administration from the University of Chicago, and a Certificate in Gerontology from UCLA.
Rod Stephens, IHM
Director
Rod Stephens is a member of the Immaculate Heart Community in Los Angeles. For 45 years, Rod has worked as a graphic, architectural, and interior designer for sacred spaces, specializing in the design of interiors used by a variety of religious traditions. His work has been recognized by the California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Rod was inspired by the work of Corita Kent in the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Rod participated in social justice ministries including the Catholic Worker movement founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, and he is also on the Board of Directors of Housing Works in Los Angeles.