Office and Facilities Staff
Hillary Tully, Executive Director
Hillary is a writer and folklorist originally from Tallahassee, Florida. She brings experience in arts administration, communications, and education and she holds a Master’s in Folklore from the University of Oregon. With a love of folklife and a passion for supporting local arts and artists, she joined Arbutus in October of 2020.
Julie Stutzman, Design & Communications Lead
Julie is a photographer and designer with a background in higher education administration. She brings to Arbutus her love for visual storytelling and passion for creating community. Julie is currently on family leave.
Jessie Knorr, Marketing & Events Coordinator
Jessie manages our newsletter, social media, flyering, and other promotional efforts, while also supporting events such as Open Mic Night, Arts Walk, and more. She was a 2024 Ceramics Artist-in-Residence and a featured artist for Arbutus Folk School’s October 2024 Arts Walk exhibition.
Cheryl Upshaw, Administrative Coordinator
Cheryl reviews and responds to emails and phone calls from the community and supports behind-the-scenes efforts such as in-kind donation processing, scholarship management, class registrations, and more. She also teaches knitting at Arbutus Folk School and across the region.
Elizabeth Mauro, Ceramics Studio Manager
Elizabeth is the host for most Open Studio sessions, runs the kilns and orders supplies, manages storage and organization, cleans, leads the studio team, and much more. They were a 2023 Ceramics Artist-in-Residence and the featured artist for Arbutus Folk School’s April 2024 Arts Walk exhibition.
Ken Nance, Programming Manager – Woodshop
Ken joined Arbutus in January 2026 as the part-time woodshop manager. Ken works as a substance use counselor full-time and is an amateur woodworker who loves to work on DIY projects around the house! He lives in Olympia with his wife, two dogs, and five cats who love the deluxe “catio” he built for them.
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View our Woodworking, Ceramics, Fiber Arts, and other Arts Instructor Staff here.
Board of Directors
April 29th, 2026: Board Recruitment Event
Sign up Here!
What is a board of directors? This group ensures proper compliance, oversight of the Executive Director and the organization’s financials, and strategic planning. From filing taxes to navigating a tight budget to setting goals for the future, this work is the foundation that allows Arbutus Folk School to offer our programming for the community and thrive.
David Paul
Retired school administrator. Prior board service includes Council for Exceptional Children, Washington State Special Education Coalition, and Maritime Heritage Foundation.
Mary Soltman
Retired, Dean of Humanities and Communications at South Puget Sound Community College.
Annie Barrett
Self-employed wellness coach and yoga instructor, supporter of traditional music and community arts.
Tamara Kubacki
Folklorist with experience in museum education and cultural event programming; grief educator and coach at Listening to Grief.
Monica Taylor
Monica Taylor joined our board in 2024 and is the Creative Manager at Olympia Federal Savings, bringing experience in communications, design, and fundraising. She is excited to join the Arbutus team to support local arts!
Kaleen Cottingham
Kaleen Cottingham is a retired attorney and former Director of the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office.
Riley Gibson
Filmmaker, producer, and co-founder of Sky Bear Media. Former film and English teacher, and founding board member of the Olympia Film Collective.
Jonathan Bradshaw
Field technician, community organizer, lifelong resident of Lewis County. Plays Old Time music, calls dances, farms, works to promote and practice ordinary folklife.
