St. Angelo named GAAC executive director

GRINNELL -- The Board of Directors of the Grinnell Area Arts Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Monica St. Angelo as its full-time executive director effective July 1.

St. Angelo has worked as the Operations Director for GAAC since 2018 and has a long history in the arts. She is classically trained dancer, who studied at the Kansas City Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Since moving to Grinnell in 1999, she has taught ballet at Grinnell College, choreographed for Grinnell Community Theatre, and owned her own yoga studio. She holds a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin and has worked in academic and development office at Grinnell College and Brown University.

The function of executive director has been held by Tom Lacina as a volunteer for many years, but both Lacina, as president of GAAC, and the GAAC Board of Directors believe it is time to transition to new full-time executive leadership.

“The GAAC Board is so pleased to advance Monica to the executive leadership position of GAAC,” said Lacina. “She has been passionate about supporting the arts in Grinnell, and we think she will be a great leader for the coming years. Monica’s advancement is part of an ongoing assessment of GAAC’s programming, physical space and operations, so it can better serve the role of arts champion for the community of Grinnell during the coming decades.”

In addition to working with the GAAC Board of Directors to envision the future of the arts in Grinnell, St. Anglo will continue to coordinate and work with GAAC staff, volunteers and collaborators to make the many GAAC programs successful, including Stewart Gallery, Thursday Music in the Park, Turlach Ur Pipe Band, Grinnell Community Theatre, Stew Markerspace, youth and adult education and various individual outreach programs.

“GAAC has been an important and beloved institution in Grinnell for more than 45 years,” St Angelo said.

“I’m honored the board of directors trusts me to lead this organization in which so many community members have invested years of time, energy and money,” St. Angelo said. “I’ve learned a lot over the past seven years here, and I look forward to working with our board, staff and community to grow GAAC’s cultural and economic contributions to Grinnell, as well as our capacity to serve as a creative hub and home for all Grinnellians.”