What Others Have Said
on stewardship
“Oshun came into our work at a time when our organization needed a steady voice, thoughtful guidance, and a clear path forward as we established our arts and culture programming. She not only provided that leadership, but consistently exceeded our expectations. Through her expertise, creativity, and commitment, she helped us build processes and systems that continue to strengthen our work today. Oshun's impact extends far beyond the projects she led—she has made our organization better, more intentional, and more effective as a team.”
Chenee Jospeh,
President and CEO of Historic Development District Corporation (HDDC)
on trust
“Oshun’s leadership is measured, decisive, and deeply empathetic. She acts with a level of thoughtful transparency that makes leaders trust her and makes her team motivated to do their greatest work. Working with Oshun will make you want to do the right thing, push for the big dreams, and build anything you put your mind to. She gets shit done, and anything you throw her way is simply handled. I would work with Oshun a thousand times over, because she’s exactly the kind of person you want on your team, no matter the task.”
Emily Pidgeon,
Design Program Manager, Intuit; Former Board Member, Dashboard
on care
“I cannot speak more highly of Oshun. Working with her is a joy; it's more fun and pleasurable than work should feel. She's organized, considerate, and thoughtful. She anticipates the needs of every conversation and is able to make sure that goals are met, action items are planned, and everyone feels heard, whether it's planning for the next meeting or facilitating a large-scale public art installation.
Oshun may also be the kindest and most generous person I've ever met (and I'm not being hyperbolic). I cannot think of a time when I've seen Oshun pass up an opportunity to help a stranger or spend time talking through an idea with an old friend. I've known and worked closely with Oshun for nearly two decades, and I actively look forward to any chance to work with her in the future.”
Dana Haugaard,
Visual Artist, Director of the Emory Visual Arts Program, and Associate Teaching Professor
on possibility
“I’ve had the privilege of a multi-year collaborative relationship with Oshun that spans several projects and modes. Oshun has the uncanny ability to meet you at the unmade parts of your vision and see a clear path to making it happen. I have seen her do this with artists and institutions alike. She has an intuition for nitty-gritty logistics and brings them with a generosity of spirit that puts your goals first.
On the Verdant Fund, she was the management muscle on a complex panel review process for the last 4 years. In that process, we needed both rigor and sensitivity to the nuances and differences of Deep South arts ecosystems. She brought a rare combination of hard institutional knowledge and soft skills that gave her a holistic management style. She served the process and our goals greatly. She organized chaos, made it legible, and empowered everyone she touched through the process. I think she is a benefit to any situation she enters.”
Elizabet Elliot,
Executive Director and Curator, Alabama Contemporary Arts Center
on artist advocacy
“I met Oshun in 2021 when I was invited to create a public art sculpture for The Nicholson Project in Washington, DC. At a time when we were all burnt out on Zoom, I looked forward to our meetings. Oshun led with a warm persistence and a side of humor. She taught me the value of having a project manager, which allowed me to focus on making the art. Recognizing that I don’t have my own studio team, Oshun gave me useful processes to balance my project load while being human. Even after our project was over, Oshun continued to support my practice, recommending me for an unrestricted artist grant (which I received!) and acting as a professional reference on subsequent projects. I felt seen and fully supported as an artist, a colleague, and as a human!”
April Banks,
Visual Artists