Conrhonda’s passion for the performing arts is grounded in her dance background, sparked by taking after-school classes at a county-wide recreational facility in rural northeast Georgia. Having grown up with limited access to the arts, she understands the importance of exposing children to creative outlets and creating opportunities for artistic expression. Before joining the Howard Gilman Foundation in May 2018, she gained fundraising, government affairs, and program development experience through working with South Arts, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Alabama Dance Council, Vulcan Park and Museum, Birmingham Museum of Art, and Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. She is also the Chief Copy Editor at The Bese Saka, an arts and culture grant proofreading and copy-editing service. In addition to being a member of Women of Color in the Arts and Association of Black Foundation Executives, her philanthropic commitments include serving with the Junior League of Montclair-Newark and the inaugural Port Authority Bus Terminal Advisory Committee. She holds a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University in addition to a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and Sociology with a minor in Dance Education from The University of Georgia (class of 2005). Students interested in connecting with Conrhonda may reach out via the UGA Mentor Program platform.
