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Effective January 1: Masks are Optional in VisArts’ Classrooms and Studios
ROCKVILLE, Md., September 4, 2024 – VisArts is pleased to announce new Board appointments and the selection of Sonal J. Mehta Verma as President of the Board of Directors. With deep roots in the Montgomery County community, Verma brings a love for the arts and a commitment to VisArts’ mission of transforming lives through visual arts.
Verma, co-founder and partner at Verma Cortes LLC, a boutique immigration firm in Rockville, Maryland, has supported VisArts for more than a decade. Her involvement spans from sending her child to summer camps and hosting family and firm events in the Buchanan Room to attending the annual Rockville Arts Festival and supporting Visibility Art Lab, VisArts’ supported studio for neurodiverse adult artists. In addition, she has been a member of VisArts’ Board of Directors since 2020. Her lifelong passion for the performing and visual arts aligns with her belief in the transformative power of art.
Verma shared, “I’m honored to serve as Board President. VisArts is truly special – a world-class visual arts organization in our backyard. I’m excited to work alongside VisArts’ board members, staff, and community volunteers to expand our impact on the Washington, D.C. metro area’s cultural landscape.”
Joining Verma on the Board are Claire Louis and Anand Vaishnav. Louis, Director of the Thome Aging Well Program, brings extensive experience in human services and philanthropy. Her background includes leadership roles with Northern Virginia Family Service and Community Living and Resident Services, alongside active volunteer work with The Arc Montgomery County and Special Olympics Montgomery County.
Anand Vaishnav, a Principal and Senior Director at Education First, a national education policy consulting firm, adds a rich background in advocacy, strategy, and management. Previously, he was Chief of Staff for Boston Public Schools and an education reporter for the Boston Globe. In addition to launching EdReports.org, he has been a panelist for Aspen Institute, Urban Literacy Leadership Network and America Achieves Fellowship Convening.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Sonal as new Board President and Claire and Anand as Board members,” says Alice Nappy, Executive Director of VisArts. “Their diverse expertise and dedication to community service will enhance our efforts to broaden our reach and continue making a positive impact through the visual arts.”
