Seena Hodges. Photo: Desireé Benton of the Dash Collective
The Walker Art Center today announced the election of Seena Hodges as President of the Board of Trustees at their annual meeting on September 13, 2021. Hodges is the first person of color to hold the position. The Walker also elected a new slate of officers, including Vice Presidents Karen Heithoff and D. Ellen Wilson, Treasurer Sarah Lynn Oquist, and Secretary Teresa Rasmussen. While women have held leadership positions throughout the Walker’s history, this is the first time that all of the officers are women. The board also approved a new five-year strategic plan at the meeting.
“Seena Hodges is exactly the right leader for the Walker in this moment as we embark on a new strategic plan that focuses on connecting the brilliant creativity of artists to the lived experiences of our audiences. I am looking forward to working with Seena and the entire board to build a Walker that creates space for all and builds bridges between artists and cultural producers from around the world and our local communities,” said Mary Ceruti, Walker Art Center Executive Director.
Hodges, an indefatigable champion of the arts, commented, “I have always been fascinated by how art, particularly contemporary art, connects us to others through its ability to simultaneously shift and broaden our understanding and perspectives. It allows us to engage with difference and see beyond it at the very same time. When you spend time in the Walker you can’t help but feel the passion, the tenacity, the fervor for experimentation and risk-taking. I am honored to take on this role at this time when the Walker is starting a new chapter and looking forward to supporting this important institution and its contributions to our cities.”
Hodges joined the Walker board in 2017 after co-chairing the museum’s annual gala, Avant Garden. As co-chair in 2016, she initiated the BIPOC Artist Fund to ensure and encourage participation of BIPOC creatives in all aspects of the Walker. Since that time, the Walker has provided more than 400 yearlong memberships to local BIPOC artists, along with nearly 700 tickets to the annual benefit event. During her tenure on the Walker board, Hodges has served on the Executive Search Committee, the Racial Equity Committee, and the Executive Committee and has chaired the Individual Gifts and the Governance and Nominating Committees.
Seena Hodges (she/her) is a connector who loves people and is passionate about art, equity, intersectional feminism, and access to brave spaces for all. She founded the Woke Coach® in 2018, through which she and her team engage with clients to facilitate conversations and complete projects that live at the intersection of equity, diversity, inclusion, antiracism, and empowerment.
Hodges is a graduate of Columbia College (Columbia, SC) and earned her master’s degree in Theatre Management & Producing at Columbia University, New York. She has worked in both the commercial and nonprofit theater industry as a producer, marketing director, publicist, and development director. Hodges began her career at the Columbia Urban League—a nonprofit organization committed to issues of social justice. Prior to starting the Woke Coach, she worked in various capacities for the Guthrie Theater, Theater Latté Da, Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Pillsbury House Theatre, and Artistry MN. She was most recently Associate Vice President of Strategy and Communications at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Community Foundations (now Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation).
Hodges is also a member of the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums (BTA), an organization created to increase the inclusion of Black perspectives and narratives in North American art museums. Hodges is currently writing her first book, From Ally to Accomplice: How to Lead as a Fierce Antiracist, to be released in early 2022.
Hodges replaces John Christakos, Founder and CEO of Blu Dot, who served as President for three years. Christakos will remain on the board and will continue to serve on the Executive Committee.
Newly Appointed Walker Board Officers
Vice Presidents – Karen Heithoff & D. Ellen Wilson
Karen Heithoff – For 20 years, arts advocate Karen Heithoff was the owner of the fashion design store Intoto, located in Uptown Minneapolis. She is actively involved with the GO Project in New York and has supported the Telluride Film Festival for many years. Heithoff and her husband, Ken, have also been avid collectors of contemporary art for more than 25 years. In addition to the Walker Art Center, Heifhoff currently serves on the boards of Midway Contemporary Art and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival.
Ellen Wilson – Ellen Wilson serves as Executive Vice President in the Office of the Chief Executive, UnitedHealth Group, focusing on strategic enterprise initiatives. Previously, Wilson served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, UnitedHealth Group, where she oversaw all aspects of human resources from June 2013 until November 2019. Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, she served for 17 years at Fidelity Investments, concluding her tenure there as head of Human Resources. Wilson earned a bachelor of science in business administration from Bryant University and a master’s degree in business administration from Babson College. She currently serves on the boards of the Walker Art Center, Boston Ballet, and Bryant University.
Treasurer – Sarah Lynn Oquist
Sarah Oquist is a national speaker, corporate attorney, executive coach, and business consultant. She currently serves on the board of directors of six companies and teaches business law at Mitchell Hamline Law School in St. Paul. She started her legal/business career more than 20 years ago, first as a finance lawyer at Faegre, then as primary international lawyer for U.S. Bank, then CEO of a quarter-billion dollar hospitality conglomerate, and most recently cofounder/COO for a local commercial litigation law firm. For the past 15 years, Oquist has served on various company board of directors and numerous board committees as well as in board officer positions and committee chair roles. She is also a Corporate Governance Fellow as certified through the National Association of Corporate Directors for demonstrating her commitment to exemplary corporate governance. Passionate about equipping leaders to transform their corporate environments for positive, sustainable growth, Oquist is most often asked to speak on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion; leadership and success; and corporate governance.
Secretary – Teresa “Terry” Rasmussen
Teresa Rasmussen is President of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the country’s largest fraternal benefit society. Formerly she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Before joining Thrivent in 2005, Rasmussen served in progressively responsible legal positions with American Express and Ameriprise Financial. She began her legal career in 1984 as part of the US Attorney General’s honors program, where she was a trial attorney in the tax division of the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. After passing the CPA exam, Rasmussen earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota. She is a member of the bar in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Rasmussen married Jon Trangsrud in 1983. She has also served on the boards of American Fraternal Alliance, the trade association for fraternal benefit societies; MacPhail Center for Music; Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota; Association of Life Insurance Counsel; Lutheran Community Foundation; Americas Board of the International Cooperative; and the Mutual Insurance Federation.