Directing the arts

Melissa Miller grew up in Jackson, pursued a career in journalism and marketing and returned to her hometown. Her new job is executive director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. The arts council board that hired her believes Miller has all the qualifications it was looking for during a yearlong search, particularly her skills in communication, marketing and grant writing.

Welcome, Melissa Miller. We look forward to your contributions to such a vital part of our community.

Miller realizes the importance of the arts scene here, and she would like to spread the word. Her background leaves her well-suited for the task. Most recently, Miller was director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau in Indiana, promoting both the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln and the amusement parks that have become so popular at Santa Claus, Ind.

One of her first projects at the arts council is to create Facebook and Twitter pages online in an effort to reach a younger audience. "I think she'll be a fresh new face for us," said Utahna Hancock, chairwoman of the arts council board.

It's good that our arts community has such positive champions.