As Artist Engagement Coordinator at the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Lo Bruner oversees the agency’s rolling grant programs and Artist Rosters. With great respect for Virginia’s cultural heritage, she is dedicated to supporting and promoting the state’s artistic talent. A proud Virginian, Lo has interned at Smithsonian Folkways, holds a BFA in Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University, and continued her education in Multimedia and Information Resources Design at the Corcoran College of Art + Design. Outside of work, Lo enjoys attending arts events and taking long walks with her rescue greyhound. 

Shauna Friend joined VCA in 2023 as Fiscal and Compliance Officer.  She is responsible for overseeing and managing all fiscal process of the VCA. In this role she leads all agency functions focusing on strategic planning, general accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, budget forecasting and management, federal/state grants management, procurement of goods and services and other agency financial-related administrative operations. Prior to joining the VCA Shauna brings over 20+ years of service with State Government in Finance. Shauna enjoys working at the Virginia Commission for the Arts because the mission aligns with her purpose in life to helping those in the community to appreciate, invest, and support the arts and its culture. She also enjoys building strong relationships by providing strategic leadership in fiscal operations and support to executive leadership, Commissioners and staff to ensure efficient operations. She holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems, Minor in Management from Norfolk State University. Shauna enjoys spending time with her family.

Dawn joined the VCA in April of 2024 as the Administrative and Communications Coordinator. She manages all aspects of the agency’s social media accounts, website, and monthly newsletters and provides administrative support to the agency and the Board Commissioners. She has a lifelong involvement in the arts both personally and professionally and is excited to be working with the VCA where she can help support their mission of investing in the arts. She holds a BM in Music Therapy from Alverno College in WI and an MBA with a Marketing Concentration from Edgewood College in WI and has been working in Arts Administration in Richmond for 10 years. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, photography, traveling, and spending time with her three cats.

Colleen Dugan Messick was appointed by Governor Youngkin in October to serve as Executive Director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector, from strategic leader to fundraising roles, with a commitment to fostering, enhancing, and expanding relationships to serve and elevate communities. Colleen is honored and inspired to utilize and grow investments to empower communities, arts organizations, and arts-centric programs to drive cultural and economic vitality across the Commonwealth of Virginia. She believes the arts are uniquely poised to foster creativity, empathy, and cultural understanding while also strengthening communities socially, educationally, and economically, and contributing to better health and well-being. Colleen has enjoyed reconnecting with her flute and calligraphy of late!

As the VCA’s Deputy Director, Casey Polczynski, Ph.D. has served the Commonwealth’s arts and culture sector for over twelve years currently overseeing the agency’s operations, information technology, federal appropriations, and accessibility. Before taking on this executive leadership role, she served as the Artists in Education Coordinator overseeing a portfolio of arts education and fellowship grant programs, as well as the teaching artist roster and Poetry Out Loud program. With over 20 years of experience as an educator, Casey has developed and lead community-based arts education programs as well as taught at all levels of Pre-K-12 both nationally and internationally specializing in curriculum development, mentoring student teachers, and leading new curriculum initiatives such as the International Baccalaureate Program. Casey earned her B.F.A. in Sculpture and Education from Seton Hill University, a M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University, and a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Casey enjoys podcasts, volunteering, and traveling with friends and family.

As Senior Grants Officer at the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Cathy Welborn oversees the agency’s grantmaking efforts, managing more than 700+ applications each year, and a $5.3 million portfolio that supports artists and arts organizations across Virginia. Since joining the agency in 2006, she has been a steady force behind the scenes helping modernize grant systems, guiding strategy, and ensuring that public funding reaches communities throughout the Commonwealth. Her three decades in arts administration began in the world of opera and theater, where she held senior marketing and public relations roles with Opera Philadelphia, the Academy of Vocal Arts, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, and the Emmy Award winning Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition. Outside of work, Cathy enjoys live performances of all kinds, meandering through art museums and galleries, and finding the best coffee wherever she travels.