Erinn Gavaghan

Executive Director

Erinn has a PhD in Art History from the University of Oklahoma and began as the Executive Director of The Arts Center in July 2024. She also teaches Arts Management and Entrepreneurship in OU’s online MA program.

Before her move to Oregon, she was the director of the Norman Arts Council in Oklahoma for fourteen years. While new to living in Oregon, she has family here and has loved visiting for many years. Living in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine region is a dream come true!

Andrea Adamson

Finance Manager

Andrea Adamson joined TAC 2024. Andrea’s background in corporate finance, grant administration, and non-profit accounting made her a great fit for our organization. When she’s not crunching numbers or homeschooling.

Andrea enjoys nature walks, photography and British crime dramas. She recommends visiting Mary’s Peak on a clear night for a great view of the Milky Way, shooting stars and the occasional comet.

Jen Bouton

Community Engagement Coordinator

Jen has a B.S. in Human Development from Northwestern University and returned to The Arts Center in 2017 as Community Engagement Coordinator. She’s a seasoned community volunteer and enjoys improving each volunteer’s experience. Jen has lived in both hemispheres where she’s milked cows, sold fancy Oregon wine, and written biographies of stuffed animals. Jen thinks Willamette Park has the best recreational opportunities for dogs and humans.

Jennie Castle

Associate Director + Curator

Jennie brought her passion for curation and collaboration to The Arts Center in 2022. With the help of a volunteer exhibition committee, she plans and installs approximately 20 exhibitions a year, as well as oversees the development of TAC’s Community Arts Learning and Artist Resources programming.

Jennie has an MFA in photography from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Despite her busy schedule, she still makes time for her personal creative practice, and runs a few miles here and there.

Willow Cogan

Visitor Services Assistant

Willow is a self-taught oil painter and ceramic artist. She has a great passion for creativity and fine art and loves seeing how it can unite a community.

Claire Elam

Creative Resources Manager

Claire (she/her) joined The Arts Center in 2017 as the Artist Accelerator director supporting professional development and community for artists through career-building workshops and meetups. Claire comes to The Arts Center with a diverse background in non-profits, startup sustainability, and a BFA from Bennington College in Painting & Ceramics.

Dawn Figueroa

ArtShop Manager

Dawn (she/her) has a BA in Visual Communications. She worked with several university museum collections over the past 18 years. She also managed small businesses selling artifacts and beads.

Jill Meyer

Development Manager

Jill earned her BFA from the U of Montana. She was a 2020 AAP Artist in Residence graduate and has first-hand experience of the importance of TAC’s mission to the community. She resides in Newport where she paints and wanders on the beach with her dog, Princess Roxy Rose, a hound dog with a penchant for rolling in terrible things.

Maggie Seldera-Bahnson

Administrative Assistant

Originally from Wisconsin, Maggie moved to the West Coast in the mid-’90s and settled in Corvallis over 12 years ago. Before joining The Arts Center, she was a public elementary school teacher, worked as a campaign coordinator for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and most recently served as the Enrollment Director at Corvallis Waldorf School.

Vanessa Smith

Marketing Manger + Graphic Designer

Vanessa (she/her) has a strong background in fine arts and graphic design and is a true asset to the organization. She enjoys spending time with her partner and their dog Oblio, as well as learning to play the violin.