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!

Shauna Friend joined the Virginia Commission for the Arts in 2023 as the Fiscal and Compliance Officer. She is responsible for overseeing and managing all fiscal processes 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, a minor in Business Management from Norfolk State University. Shauna enjoys spending time with her family.

As the Fiscal and Grants Associate at the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Chris assists with fiscal processes, financial reporting, grant management, and administrative duties. Before joining the VCA, he worked as a fiscal specialist for the VCU Department of Neuroscience & Anatomy. Chris is a passionate supporter of the arts, especially live music. Outside of work, he enjoys performing and writing music as a drummer and cellist, playing basketball, and spending time with friends and family. 

As the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ 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 the 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.

As the Communications Coordinator and Office Manager at the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Tess oversees the agency’s external communications including press releases, website updates, newsletters, and social media posts. She also coordinates all aspects of quarterly Commission Board meetings in collaboration with the agency’s Executive Director. Prior to joining the VCA, she worked as an administrative assistant for VCU’s Art Foundation Program and an interdisciplinary art instructor for the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. She has a passion for needle-felting and 3D animation with an extensive body of work in both mediums. Outside of work, Tess enjoys line dancing, hosting themed parties for her friends, and attending Richmond’s local arts and culture events.