Meet the Team

Montgomery County native, Bethany Goldy, is entering her 8th year with GRAC. As Assistant Director she manages GRAC events & programming, curates gallery exhibits, manages operations, and acts as 2nd in command. Beth believes in fostering a sense of community across the region, and that the arts should be accessible for all.

Coming from a 17 year background as an IT specialist, Beth first dipped her toes in the world of nonprofits with the Montgomery County History Museum before finding her eventual home at GRAC.

Outside of the GRAC, Beth enjoys trivia, reading, craft beer, & musical theatre.

CONTACT BETH: beth@grackentucky.org | (859) 295-7895

Jillian (Jill) Kohr is a Kentucky-based performer and arts advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Western Kentucky University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Arts Administration at the University of Kentucky.

Jill has performed both professionally and non-professionally across the state and is a proud alumna of the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. She is passionate about making the arts more accessible and believes in their power to inspire, connect, and create meaningful change.

She is also a committed mental health advocate, with human rights and animal rescue causes close to her heart. In her free time, Jill enjoys playing with her dogs, watching old movies, sipping iced coffee, and catching up on the latest crime dramas.

CONTACT JILL: jill@grackentucky.org | (859) 287-0279

Joshua is a published poet originally from the Washington DC area writing under the name Joshua Gray. Josh has a background in Web development, IT, and operations, and served as President of the Berea Arts Council, bringing a unique blend of creative and administrative skills to GRAC.

At GRAC, he focuses on relationship building, community enhancement, emergency management, and equity issues. He holds a BA in Fine Arts/Theater from Warren Wilson College and a Master’s in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky.

Joshua currently lives in Berea with his wife, three cats, and sometimes his grown children.

CONTACT JOSHUA: joshua@grackentucky.org | (859) 287-1066

Jennifer was born in Morehead and after 10 years in Florida and Texas, decided to move back home with her husband, Kevin, and their three dogs, Indy, Hank and Mabel. She also has an adult daughter, Avery who is a talented pastry chef.

She has spent over 30 years in finance working for a large bank, then in local government finance.  She owned an antiques business for over 10 years and still loves to antique and thrift. She also has a dual licensure Bachelor's degree in K-8 and Special Education.

Upon returning to Kentucky, Jennifer almost immediately signed up for classes at GRAC and was struck by how much the organization lives its mission. It's truly a magical place where "All the arts for all the people" comes to fruition when you walk in the doors.  

CONTACT JENNIFER: jennifer@grackentucky.org | (859) 208-5692

Yu-Ming was born in Taiwan and moved to Mt. Sterling where her husband is from in 2018. She graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in Sociology and Philosophy. After graduation, she was an Insurance Manager at Nan Shan Life Insurance for many years. Before immigrating to the US, she also spent several years as an ESL Instructor, tutoring high school students preparing for college and studying abroad. 

After participating in events at GRAC, Yu-Ming decided to join the staff as an Events Intern in 2024 as she enjoys assisting in the many cross-cultural events held at the art center. Outside of work, Yu-Ming enjoys reading, writing poetry, and photography. She hopes to resume playing the Guzheng (Chinese zither) and one day have her own concert.

CONTACT YU-MING: yuming@grackentucky.org

Savannah is a student studying surgical tech at Bluegrass Community & Technical College while also serving as Guest Services and all around helper at GRAC.

Though, her favorite role is mommy to her daughter, Blake.

CONTACT SAVANNAH: savannah@grackentucky.org

Ashleigh Ferguson is originally from Mt. Sterling, KY and has had a passion for visual art since the age of 5. She is a multidisciplinary artist who uses graphite, oil paint, ink, and digital media to blend realism and illustration to explore themes of grief, connection, and beauty in everyday moments and invites viewers into quiet, emotional spaces that reflect the human experience.

Ashleigh also has experience in working with young artists through her work at Governor’s School for the Arts. Ashleigh is looking forward to collaborating with other artists and expanding artforms in rural settings as an ArtistYear AmeriCorps Resident Teaching Artist in Kentucky.

CONTACT ASHLEIGH: ashleigh.ferguson@artistyear.org

Kelly Ward graduated from West Virginia University with her Master’s Degree in creative writing, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Eastern Kentucky University. Her writing explores rural identities and how generational trauma, isolation, otherness, and the unique landscape of Appalachia gives life to horrifying and fabulist elements in her characters’ narratives. Her work has appeared in Reed Magazine, Anti-Heroin Chic, and Midsummer Magazine, among others. Her print chapbook, Rapture, was published in 2022 by Appalachia Book Company.

With her award-winning teaching and writing experiences, Kelly is looking forward to using her skills as a writer to help other Appalachian writers share their unique stories and perspectives with the world.

CONTACT KELLY: kelly.ward@artistyear.org

Tyler Henderson is originally from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and has had a passion for painting since 2015. Tyler graduated from Morehead State University with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics and a minor in Mathematics. They are a Surrealist artist who uses acrylic paint to explore consciousness and how you feel at a particular moment.

Tyler also has experience in Technical Theatre and Computer Programming through their work at the Gateway Regional Arts Center and freelance opportunities. Tyler is looking forward to bringing and teaching the power of Art as an ArtistYear AmeriCorps Resident Teaching Artist in Mt. Sterling!

CONTACT TYLER: tyler.henderson@artistyear.org