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Alison Amick, Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions and collections

Photo of Alison Amick, Senior Manager of Exhibitions and Development, Chief Curator Alison Amick received her master’s in art history from Indiana University in 2002. Amick’s interest in outsider and self-taught art led her to Intuit, where she began as a volunteer. Prior to joining Intuit in 2016, she served as a curator at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art for more than a decade.

Eva Baldinger, Senior Manager of Operations

Eva Baldinger received a bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2015. Her love of self-taught art stemmed from a general appreciation for the arts and an interest in waste systems and creative reuse. Baldinger first joined Intuit as a development intern in 2016, returning over the years as a volunteer while pursuing a career as a sustainability consultant. She left the corporate realm in 2020 to dedicate time to a career in music as a member of the Chicago-based duo Lilla Sol and joined Intuit as a special projects coordinator in 2022. Baldinger is excited to support Intuit as senior manager of operations as the organization continues to grow and evolve.

Julie Blake, Intuit Store Manager

Julie Blake joined the Intuit staff in 2017 as a marketing intern through the museum studies program at Oakton Community College. A lifelong learner, Blake holds a bachelor’s in art from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She brings direct experience in business development, strategic planning, customer relationship management, and event and retail management to the Intuit Store. She loves collaborating in creative environments where she can combine her right- and left-brain functions. Blake began creating visual and performing art at an early age, and she is drawn to the power of outsider art and Intuit’s mission to promote its awareness.

Alexis dupree, Marketing and communications Manager

Alexis Dupree is an artist, wellness leader and seasoned nonprofit professional eclectically paving her way. She joins Intuit with more than a decade of experience in roles intersecting art, education and wellness through a community engagement lens. A recipient of the John Lewis: Making Good Trouble Scholarship, Dupree is earning her doctoral degree at Adler University; holds a master’s in organizational leadership (Adler University), a bachelor’s in communications studies (University of Missouri-Kansas City) and a 200-hour yoga teaching certification (Yoga Alliance). Her creative work is inspired by an exploration of radical love and has been seen in select Midwestern showcases. She keeps herself grounded by teaching and organizing community-based yoga classes throughout the city and remains inspired by the city’s rich culture.

Claire Fassnacht, Development director

Claire Fassnacht received her master’s degree in arts administration from Boston University in 2017. In the summer of 2015, Fassnacht co-facilitated the IntuiTeens summer youth program at Intuit, from which her exploration and interest for outsider art stemmed. While living in Boston, she was the student services administrator with Boston Ballet School, responsible for website building, data management and customer relations. An appreciator to many types of art, Fassnacht is also a gamelan musician and dancer and holds a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from Lawrence University.

Tina Horton, Membership and finance manager

Tina Horton received a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Florida in 2015 and a master’s of music in musicology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2019. She gained experience in event management and fundraising efforts through her involvement with various music ensembles and organizations. These opportunities sparked her interest in learning more generally about nonprofit work related to the arts. Before joining the staff, Horton was a development intern with Intuit in 2020, when she was introduced to the world of outsider art. She was quickly drawn to Intuit’s mission and its heartwarming community. She is also pursuing her doctoral studies in musicology and researching music-making in Filipino American communities.

Debra Kerr, President and CEO

Deb Kerr comes to Intuit from a 17-year career at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, where she held progressively responsible positions, including executive vice president from 1999–2010. Kerr serves as an instructor in the Museum Studies Certificate Program in Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies, teaching Successful Museum Management in Today’s Environment, for which she won a teaching excellence award in 2013. Kerr is a member of the American Alliance of Museums and a past board member of the Merit School of Music and the National Veterans Art Museum; past board member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and past chair and instructor for its Professional Development Committee and management courses; past chair of the Zoo and Aquarium committee for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions; and past member of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Leaders Council. She is a frequent guest speaker on issues related to museum relevance, teen empowerment and activating the public for social good.

LISA LINDVAY, DIRECTOR OF learning and engagement

Lisa Lindvay is a practicing artist, education and youth advocate. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from Columbia College Chicago in 2009 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Applied Media Arts from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2006. Prior to joining Intuit in 2023, she served as Education Director at Weinberg/Newton Gallery, Associate Manager of Digital Learning at Marwen and has been an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College since 2008. Lindvay’s photographs have been exhibited in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Johalla Projects, Hyde Park Art Center; nationally at Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC; Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover Massachusetts; and Internationally at Turner Contemporary, Margate England; among others. She received the 3Arts Artist Award in 2011 and Chicago Artadia Award in 2012.

Caroline lee liu, assistant registrar

Caroline Lee Liu received her BFA in 2019 from the School of Art Institute of Chicago. While pursuing her degree, she was introduced to self-taught art at the Roger Brown Study Collection. After graduating, Le Liu worked at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago and discovered her love for collections work. She continues to further her own artistic practice by learning new ways of making and looking at the world around her.

Ellie lyons, development intern

Ellie Lyons graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Art History. Ellie was heavily involved in the arts at Northwestern, working as a student supervisor and gallery manager for the Dittmar Memorial Gallery on campus. Her passion for outsider art began with a visit to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where the self-taught and outsider art gallery blew her away. She is thrilled to help provide meaningful experiences to Intuit guests and supporters.

Xochitl ramirez, emerging museum professional fellow

Xo is pursuing her associate’s degree in fine arts at Harold Washington College. She is a ceramic and performing artist focusing on social justice issues and identity. She has participated in multiple youth community-based organizations for the arts, such as Yollocalli Arts Reach and ALMA Creates. Pursuing non-profit work has led her to work as an administrative assistant at Firebird Community Arts, whose work focuses on healing gun violence-induced trauma through glassblowing and ceramics. This has led her to find Intuit, and she recently joined as the new Emerging Museum Professional Fellow.

Christina Stavros, Registrar and Curatorial Assistant

Christina Stavros received a BFA in printmaking with a minor in art history from Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Stavros’ lifelong passion for the arts led her to Intuit, where she began as an intern in the Collections and Exhibitions Department. Christina comes to Intuit with past gallery and events experience. She also continues to practice the arts through painting and mixed media works.

Dani Wieder, Guest Services Associate and Public Programs Associate

Dani Wieder is an interdisciplinary dramaturg, director and audience engagement programmer, working across performance, dance, film and visual art. Prior to Intuit, she was the experience manager for Hebru Brantley’s Nevermore Park. Other dramaturgy and engagement collaborations have included Erin Kilmurray’s THE FUNCTION (MCA’s Chicago Performs), Jackalope Theatre, The Fly Honey Show, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Art21 and musicians Hard Femme. Wieder holds a bachelor’s in theater and performance studies from the University of Chicago, with a focus on material cultures in performance.

Joshua Willis, Guest Services Associate

Joshua Willis received his bachelor’s degree in art history from Berry College in 2016. Growing up in rural Georgia surrounded by folk and outsider art, he developed a passion for self-taught art at a young age, eventually specializing in the genre in college. Willis first joined Intuit in 2018 as an intern and member of the Young Professionals Board. He is excited to share the power of outsider art with audiences at one of the premier museums of its kind in the world.

Kevina xiao, mba board fellow

Kevina Xiao is a current MBA candidate at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and has joined Intuit as a Golub Capital Board Fellow. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and business administration from UC Berkeley, Kevina brings a diverse academic background and extensive experience in management consulting and strategy operations for a tech firm. Passionate about art accessibility and cultural art, Kevina is particularly fascinated by the unique perspectives of self-taught artists. Her creative pursuits extend to crafting and painting, hobbies that allow her to explore and express her artistic vision.

Julia Yrkoski, Guest Services Associate

Julia Yrkoski was raised on traditional Slavic fables and Soviet cartoons in Warsaw, Poland. She was inspired to draw and create stories from an early age. Encouraged to pursue an education by her family of aspiring artists, she graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in illustration. Yrkoski’s work ranges from digital to pastel to watercolor, portraying imagery she remembers from her upbringing in Europe. After finishing her degree, Yrkoski’s path led her to Intuit, fascinated by the range of outsider art. Here, she hopes to support self-taught artists and unique perspectives and learn along the way.