Michael Carson

President

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 275
Email: michael@storytellingcenter.net

Michael Carson is the President of the International Storytelling Center. Michael began his post with ISC in April 2024.

Carson’s leadership and development experience has been with organizations across the nonprofit and NGO sectors. He has served as a catalyst for community building and a passionate advocate for critical infrastructure, including health care services, education, and access to clean water in emerging economies. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Stanford University’s Social Innovation Review.

Sandy Reaves

Director of Finance & Operations

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 279
Email: sandy@storytellingcenter.net

As Director of Finance and Operations, Sandy Reaves oversees the financial health and day-to-day functioning of the International Storytelling Center. Her responsibilities include managing all accounting practices, maintaining accurate financial records, and preparing financial reports. In her operations role, Sandy provides strategic direction and coordination across departments, with a focus on organizational growth, expense management, staff supervision, and facilities oversight.

Sandy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from East Tennessee State University and has been a vital member of the ISC team since 2003.

Krystal Hawkins

Director of Programs

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 282
Email: krystal@storytellingcenter.net

Krystal is responsible for the overall direction and artistic programming of both Storytelling Live! and the National Storytelling Festival. She serves on the management team of ISC. She is a graduate of East Tennessee State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Master of Business Administration degree. Krystal has been a member of the ISC team since 2017.

Lesley McDavid

Facility Director

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 226
Email: lesley@storytellingcenter.net

Lesley is responsible for planning, coordinating and directing all Center activities including facility rentals, gift shop stock and staff management for the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall.

Lesley has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management from East Tennessee State University. Lesley joined the ISC staff in July 2020.

Lisa Whaley

Director of Development

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 224
Email: lisa@storytellingcenter.net

Lisa oversees all aspects of Fund Development at the International Storytelling Center. This includes procuring, developing, and managing relationships with donors and sponsors, as well as developing new and innovative ways to seek funding sources, including grants and gifts.

Lisa helps to strengthen and build visibility at local, national and international levels and to all constituents, while also strengthening and diversifying communications with target audiences through community relations, speaking engagements, and the ways we tell ISC’s stories.

Marianne Huff

Festival Registration Coordinator

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 283
Email: marianne@storytellingcenter.net

Marianne is responsible for overseeing all mail, phone, and online registrations for the National Storytelling Festival as well as on-site Festival registration. Marianne joined the staff in 2012.

Carrie Miller

Program Administrator

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 284
Email: Carrie@storytellingcenter.net

Carrie is responsible for coordinating the talent logistics for the National Storytelling Festival, managing the daily operations for the Storytelling Live Series, and providing general administrative support for all programs. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. Carrie has been a member of the ISC team since 2016.  

Angela White

Communications Associate

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 230
Email: angela@storytellingcenter.net

Angela manages and maintains marketing and media activities including ISC’s website and program event calendars. Angela is a graduate of East Tennessee State University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Media & Communications and Master of Arts in Brand & Media Strategy. Angela has been a member of the ISC team since 2021.  

Sarah Bethea

Customer Service Host

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 222
Email: frontdesk@storytellingcenter.net

Sarah is responsible for welcoming and serving our on-site visitors at the ISC, providing information and support for registrants of the National Storytelling Festival and the Teller-In-Residence Series. Sarah is responsible for overseeing the vast volunteer program at the Center. She also assists the facility director with various activities. Sarah joined the staff in 2021.

Emily Katt

Program Assistant

Phone: 800-952-8392 ext. 271
Email: emily@storytellingcenter.net

Emily oversees ISC’s outreach work with community-based organizations. Emily holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Storytelling Studies from East Tennessee State University. A former elementary school teacher, she is an award-winning writer and an adjunct instructor in the Communications Department at ETSU. Emily has been a member of the ISC team since 2023. 

Susan O’Connor

Email: susan@storytellingcenter.net

Susan O’Connor held the position of ISC’s Director of Programs for 35 years and now consults with ISC on special projects. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, where she received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees.

Lyn Ford

Second Term Ends 2027

Adam Booth

First Term Ends 2027

Storyteller

Adam Booth is the 2022 West Virginia Folk Artist of the Year, awarded at the Governor’s Arts Awards. Adam blends traditional mountain folklore, music, and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia to create original, forward-thinking story artistry. As a nationally touring artist, his professional telling appearances include premiere arts and storytelling events across the United States, including the 2024-2025 Mid Atlantic Arts Touring Roster, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the National Storytelling Festival, and as a Spoken Word Resident at the Banff Centre (Alberta, Canada). Adam serves as the inaugural Storyteller-In-Residence at Shepherd University and is the founding artistic director of Speak Story Series, a premier destination for storytelling in concert.

Terry Countermine

First Term Ends 2027

Retired Professor Emeritus, Department of Computing

East Tennessee State University

Lynda Harris, Chairwoman

Second Term Ends 2027

Lynda Harris retired to Jonesborough after a 30-year career with the American Red Cross, where she served in leadership roles including National Director of Volunteers and National Director of Operations for Health and Safety Services, earning the organization’s highest employee awards in 1992 and 2015. A former teacher and development director, Lynda has devoted her retirement to community service, holding leadership roles with the League of Women Voters, the Community Chest, the Storytelling Resource Place, and the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild. She co-led a bedside storytelling program with Ballad Health, which received the 2019 Hamilton Arts and Healing Award. A dedicated ISC volunteer, she also coordinated volunteers for the 2018 and 2019 National Storytelling Festivals and believes in storytelling as both an art form and a vital tool for human connection.

Adam Dickson, Vice Chairman

First Term Ends 2027

Director, Langston Centre

Adam Dickson is a community advocate and servant-leader. His professional experiences include local government, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. Adam currently works for the City of Johnson City, TN as Supervisor of the Langston Centre, a multicultural facility promoting community engagement through the arts, education, and leadership. He is Vice-Mayor on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for the Town of Jonesborough, and he is an Adjunct Instructor of Political Science at East TN State University.  Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Carson-Newman University, and he received a Master of Public Administration degree from East TN State University.

Dana Helvey

First Term Ends 2027

Dana’s background includes several original and successful business ventures, professional photographer specializing in Navajo Nation High School Seniors, “hanging out of a helicopter” for the Feds, and a 27 year Volunteer Fire Safety Officer/EMT in Colorado’s second largest (328 square miles) fire dept. Since moving to Jonesborough and purchasing a historic home several years ago, Dana has become Chair of the Jonesborough Board of Dwelling Standards, and serves on the Flag Committee.  

Sue O’Halloran

Second Term Ends 2027

Senior Consultant for The Kaleidoscope Group

Producer, Speaker and Storyteller – O’Halloran Diversity Productions

Since 1969, Sue O’Halloran has performed nationally and internationally and led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion seminars in both corporate and nonprofit settings. She is the author of several books and curricula, including Diversity in Our Schools, Common Cross-Cultural Mistakes, Kaleidoscope: Valuing Differences and Creating Inclusion, and Compelling Stories, Compelling Causes: Nonprofit Marketing Success. Sue has produced award-winning multicultural performances such as White, Black and Brown: Tribes & Bridges at Steppenwolf Theatre and More Alike Than Not: Stories of Three Americans – Christian, Jewish and Muslim. She also directs RaceBridgesStudio.com, a storytelling site featuring over 250 social justice videos with more than half a million annual visitors. A strong believer in storytelling as a force for unity, Sue was praised by The Chicago Reader for mastering “the Irish art of telling stories that are funny and heart-wrenching at the same time.”

Lee Patterson

First Term Ends 2027

Retired Attorney

Terry Countermine

Board Emeritus Member – 2020

Terry served on the ISC Board from 2013-2019, and is on active status again in 2024.

Thelma Kidd

Board Emeritus Member – 2020

Thelma served on the ISC Board from 2013-2019.