Board & Staff
Ulysses Marshall, Black Vets
NVAM STAFF BRINGS DIVERSE EXPERIENCES
Meet Brendan | Executive Director
bfoster@nvam.org
Brendan P. Foster provides overall leadership at NVAM, having responsibility for the strategic development, fiscal management, and implementing the vision of the organization. Brendan holds an MBA and an MNA (Nonprofit Administration). In addition to his role at NVAM he is an adjunct professor at North Park University.
Meet Moki | Education and Programs Manager
mtantoco@nvam.org
Moki Tantoco delivers NVAM’s education and programs and represents NVAM as a museum administrator, educator, artist, and researcher. As a certified K-12 Visual Arts Education in Illinois and with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Moki encourages exploring social justice issues, multiculturalism, and socially engaged art practices through interdisciplinary means such as public art, writing, performance, photography, and installation. Moki is currently researching post 9/11 veteran artists' place in contemporary art history.
Meet Megan | Collection and Gallery Coordinator
mowoc@nvam.org
Megan Owoc coordinates exhibitions at NVAM and is the steward of its collection, providing oversight of all collection management activities and preservation campaigns. Megan holds an M.A in Art History, Theory and Criticism from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She brings to NVAM extensive experience in the conservation and preservation field, and organization of museum exhibitions.
Meet Jen | Development Director
jhufnagel@nvam.org
Jennifer Hufnagel, U.S. Air Force veteran and nonprofit fundraising professional, is thrilled to have joined the National Veterans Art Museum’s team as its Development Director. Jennifer brings more than 14 years’ experience and expertise generating revenue and increasing support bases for expanding and advancing the missions of national, local, and grassroots nonprofit organizations. Jennifer is a second-generation alumni of Arizona State University, receiving her commission into the U.S. Air Force from the same AFROTC detachment as her father 38 years before her. More recently Jennifer graduated with distinction with a Master of Business Administration and Master of Organizational Leadership from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Administration. A north shore native, Jennifer returned to Chicago in 2007 after spending more than a decade living in Arizona, Florida, and Las Vegas. She currently resides in the Bucktown neighborhood with her pet cockatiel, Noodles.
Meet Stephany | Administrative Coordinator
smerlan@nvam.org
Stephany Merlan started at NVAM as a volunteer after graduating from Saint Mary's College with a BA in History. Her role began with visitor relations and has evolved with the needs of the museum.including museum operations, development, and social media research.
Meet Zachary | NVAM Media Intern
zkeltner@nvam.org
Zachary Keltner, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, moved to Chicago in 2017 to attend school at Columbia College where he is currently majoring in multimedia photojournalism.
The NVAM Board of Directors:
Meet Brendan | Executive Director
bfoster@nvam.org
Brendan P. Foster provides overall leadership at NVAM, having responsibility for the strategic development, fiscal management, and implementing the vision of the organization. Brendan holds an MBA and an MNA (Nonprofit Administration). In addition to his role at NVAM he is an adjunct professor at North Park University.
Meet Moki | Education and Programs Manager
mtantoco@nvam.org
Moki Tantoco delivers NVAM’s education and programs and represents NVAM as a museum administrator, educator, artist, and researcher. As a certified K-12 Visual Arts Education in Illinois and with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Moki encourages exploring social justice issues, multiculturalism, and socially engaged art practices through interdisciplinary means such as public art, writing, performance, photography, and installation. Moki is currently researching post 9/11 veteran artists' place in contemporary art history.
Meet Megan | Collection and Gallery Coordinator
mowoc@nvam.org
Megan Owoc coordinates exhibitions at NVAM and is the steward of its collection, providing oversight of all collection management activities and preservation campaigns. Megan holds an M.A in Art History, Theory and Criticism from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She brings to NVAM extensive experience in the conservation and preservation field, and organization of museum exhibitions.
Meet Jen | Development Director
jhufnagel@nvam.org
Jennifer Hufnagel, U.S. Air Force veteran and nonprofit fundraising professional, is thrilled to have joined the National Veterans Art Museum’s team as its Development Director. Jennifer brings more than 14 years’ experience and expertise generating revenue and increasing support bases for expanding and advancing the missions of national, local, and grassroots nonprofit organizations. Jennifer is a second-generation alumni of Arizona State University, receiving her commission into the U.S. Air Force from the same AFROTC detachment as her father 38 years before her. More recently Jennifer graduated with distinction with a Master of Business Administration and Master of Organizational Leadership from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Administration. A north shore native, Jennifer returned to Chicago in 2007 after spending more than a decade living in Arizona, Florida, and Las Vegas. She currently resides in the Bucktown neighborhood with her pet cockatiel, Noodles.
Meet Stephany | Administrative Coordinator
smerlan@nvam.org
Stephany Merlan started at NVAM as a volunteer after graduating from Saint Mary's College with a BA in History. Her role began with visitor relations and has evolved with the needs of the museum.including museum operations, development, and social media research.
Meet Zachary | NVAM Media Intern
zkeltner@nvam.org
Zachary Keltner, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, moved to Chicago in 2017 to attend school at Columbia College where he is currently majoring in multimedia photojournalism.
The NVAM Board of Directors:
- Lionel Rabb | Chairman
- Jim Moore | Vice Chairman
- Phil Maughan | Treasurer
- Nancy Ronquillo | Secretary
- Mike Helbing
- Julie Chavez
- Maurice Costello
- Sean Washington
- Joel Moore
- Lourdes Tiglao
- Hughes Turner
- Andrea Mac
- James Miranda
