After a competitive search process, the Arts & Business Council is thrilled to announce the selection of Jesse Harbison as Director of Legal Services and Jonathan Harwell-Dye as Program Manager.
Bringing a wealth of varied experiences in arts administration and passion for our mission, these two talents will contribute to the Arts & Business Council’s strong, artist-centric foundation and drive the organization’s continued growth. We’re excited to have them on board!
Photo credit: Mirror, Mirror
Jesse Harbison comes to the Arts & Business Council from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, a state agency that enforces the laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. In her role as Associate General Counsel for the THRC, she oversaw the work of thirteen investigators and educated the public on the Commission’s mission and objectives. Prior to working for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, she was an associate at Baker Donelson, where she represented employers in cases involving violations of employment laws, trade secret protection, and business torts. While at Baker Donelson, she also had the opportunity to represent a local non-profit arts organization.
Jesse graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a member of the Tennessee Law Review. After graduating from law school, she served a one-year term as a judicial law clerk in Hamilton County Chancery Court. She graduated cum laude from Belmont University, where she studied public relations and art history. She is admitted to the Tennessee bar.
In her free time, Jesse hosts a bi-weekly interview-based podcast, Mirror Mirror, about the beauty routines of interesting women. She is a native Nashvillian and lives in East Nashville with her husband, Jay, who is also a lawyer.
Photo credit: Matt Odom
Jonathan Harwell-Dye is an arts administrator with nearly 14 years of combined experience in the arts and creative industries. He was previously senior communications manager for a global art and design university and director of communications for a nonprofit arts organization and local arts agency. He began his career as a graphic artist in the newspaper industry and went on to be online manager, creative director, and editor. Trained as an illustrator, Jonathan was a co-founder of the Three Cities Group Artist Collective and gallery curator at the Contemporary Arts Exchange in Macon, GA. An advocate for the economic and social benefits of the arts, he was named a GeorgiaForward Young Gamechanger in 2014 and commissioned as a regional leader by the Middle Georgia Regional Commission in 2015.
Jonathan holds a B.F.A. in interdisciplinary studies/scientific illustration from the University of Georgia, certification in creative placemaking from The Ohio State University in partnership with the National Consortium for Creative Placemaking, and is currently pursuing an M.A. in business design and arts leadership at SCAD. He is married to Stacey Harwell-Dye, minister of missions and outreach at West End United Methodist Church (starting August 1). They share their home with Colby, a Shetland Sheepdog, who’s excited about the possibility of snow this winter. They are all looking forward to being active participants in the Nashville community.