Jasmine Colbert joined the Perry County Council of the Arts team in 2003. She is a graduate of Lycoming College with a double major in photography and commercial design, and she was recently enrolled in Professional Development for Arts Programming at UMass Amherst. Jasmine previously served as Office Manager and Gallery Manager, leading PCCA Gallery to a NICHE Magazine Top Retailer Award for Best Guild Store in 2006.

In her previous role as Creative Programs Director, she coordinated programming at both PCCA Gallery and Landis House, including exhibitions, concerts, presentations and workshops. She has spent significant time with member artists to develop their work and encourage pursuit of their artistic passion. While not on the job, she enjoys reading, gardening, creating art and spending time with her husband and two young children.

Kathleen Meglio has been volunteering for PCCA since 2004, collecting tickets at Little Buffalo Festival, leading the Country Casual fundraising committee as chair and guiding the board as president. She officially joined PCCA staff in 2020, where she took over the role of Finace Manager from longtime PCCA advocate and employee Teena Beutel. Kathleen comes to PCCA with both a love of the arts and numbers.

She graduated from Penn State University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Art, with a concentration in Printmaking. Although she has not had the opportunity to do intaglio or lithography since she graduated, they are still her two favorite techniques. Relief prints, throwing pottery and kitchen creations have been where she continues to study and evaluate her art. As for the numbers, since graduation her employment has been in the accounting field. Her experiences include cash and customer service in retail, bookkeeping, and working as assistant to controller for her family run Wendy’s franchise.

Most recently, she departed MSC Business Services, a service available to members of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, after holding roles as Payroll Technician, Tax accountant, Director of Training, and lastly, Assistant Manager. She holds and maintains her credential as an Enrolled Agent, giving her the privilege to practice before the IRS.

“This position is like my unicorn, it’s one of those magical spots where I can use both my left and right brain experiences to contribute to an organization and mission I really believe in.”

Leah Keilman, born and raised in Newport, PA, joined the PCCA staff in September 2018. She attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she graduated in 2007 with a degree in Art Education and a minor in Painting and Printmaking. She lived in Pittsburgh for several years where she married her husband and started a family. She moved back to Newport in 2018 and loves living and working in Perry County.

Leah heads up management of PCCA Gallery and supports marketing and social media initiatives, while commissioning paintings and enjoying time with her four kids. She paints her popular commissioned pet portraits in acrylics, but also dabbles in landscapes and other subject matter and media. “I think my art is most successful when I paint something with a real connection to my life.”

Rachel Barron, originally from Southeastern Pennsylvania in Montgomery County, joined the PCCA staff in June of 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a minor in Creative Writing from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She participated in the Berkshire Hills Internship Program through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 2015, which ignited her interest in arts administration. Rachel went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from Boston University in 2018. After living in Los Angeles, California for two years and completing an artist residency there, she settled down in Central Pennsylvania and joined the PCCA team.

Over the years, she has held titles such as Summer Camp Art Instructor, Gallery Manager and Teaching Assistant. Rachel is passionate about coordinating behind-the-scenes to give artists opportunities for growth and professional development. She is an oil painter and installation artist, and has exhibited in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and various online platforms.

“I am so grateful to be able to work in a position that offers opportunities to artists across seven counties of Pennsylvania. It allows me to foster amazing connections and get to know my home state in a new way.”

Ariana Koch joined the PCCA team in August 2022.  A native of south-central Pennsylvania, Ariana grew up with a paint brush in one hand and a pencil in the other.  She holds her Associate in Fine Art from Harrisburg Area Community college, 2019, and her Bachelor in Fine Art with a concentration in ceramics from Alfred University, 2021.  Most recently, she finished a two-month long studio assistantship at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, and is gearing up to teach clay classes at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, in Carlisle, PA .

Interested in working with her hands from a young age, Ariana found clay during her 2^nd semester at community college and has never looked back.  Primarily working within the realm of functional ceramics, she focuses on vessels for your home, table, and daily life.  It is the connection to family, community, nature, as well as the lineage of craft that informs the direction of her work.  Moving forward, Ariana says she is most excited for the opportunity to work with PCCA and share her knowledge as well as love of art with the Perry County community and its neighbors.

Marissa McGuire, from Newport, PA, joined the PCCA staff in early October 2022. She just graduated from Newport High school and plans on going to college to study art and arts management. Marissa moved from Newport to Louisiana for a few years with her family which sparked her interest to travel. Since then, she’s never passed up an opportunity to travel and see the world! Marissa loves to see different forms of art and what nature has to offer in new places, this gives her the desire and inspiration to create art.

Marissa has loved art for as long as she can remember. She grew up loving all things art and has always taken an art class. Her favorite art forms are painting using acrylic on canvas and drawing using graphite and colored pencil. Generally, she focuses on realism but would like to experiment more with abstraction. Her most recent painting is of a lionfish which was displayed in Youth Art Day 2023 at West Perry High School. Lionfish also went on to be selected and exhibited in PCCA’s Annual Director’s Choice Exhibition at Landis House.  Director’s Choice features highlighted works from that year’s Youth Art Day submissions. Congratulations, Marissa!