Miller tapped to lead Columbus Arts Council

The Columbus Arts Council on Thursday announced Jan Miller of Columbus as the new executive director for the organization.

The organization said in a media release that Miller has worked in the nonprofit world for nearly three decades, serving in leadership positions with Main Street Columbus, the Tenn-tom Chapter of the American Red Cross and United Way of Lowndes County.

Miller most recently worked in leadership roles with Mississippi Main Street Association, providing support and training for more than 50 communities across the state.

As executive director at Main Street Columbus, Miller helped develop Market Street Festival over the years. Market Street Festival is consistently recognized as one of the top events in the Southeast. She also managed the $1.7 million phase one development of the

Miller Columbus Riverwalk project.

Miller was recognized as one of the Top 50 Business Women in Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2015.

“I am so glad to be back home working in the community I love,” Miller said. “I have always been passionate about the arts so this is the perfect opportunity to be in the place I love most, working with an organization with an established track record.”

Miller will start Aug. 1 and will oversee all CAC operations, working with staff in planning programing, grant writing, community outreach and achieving the organization's mission of arts for all.

She was selected from a pool of applicants after a nationwide search.

Board President Mike Arzamendi expressed his excitement to have Miller enter the leadership role.

“Her 29-plus years of non-profit leadership experience will greatly enhance and impact our art community,” he said. “I look forward to working with Jan in this endeavor.”