Executive Director

Martha Henson | martha@artreachfoundation.org

Martha became the Executive Director of The ArtReach Foundation in January 2014.  Prior to ArtReach, she spent nearly two decades managing and implementing national Fortune 500 and regional businesses marketing plans.  At 24 she launched, KNOW/Atlanta Magazine as co-founder and publisher, it was the first national relocation publication targeting newcomers to the growing city, and at that time an untapped niche.

She went on to work with the Trousdell Agency, a premier National marketing firm where she worked with accounts such as Stephen Fuller Design | Architectural Firm, Kimberly Clark, Georgia Pacific, Bank of America, Long Aldridge & Norman, Coca-Cola, and CNN. She managed and produced corporate collateral materials, annual reports, and advertising campaigns as well facilitating the branding of businesses with award winning identity programs.

Following this she worked as marketing director of the Atlanta residential home designer, Stephen Fuller, where she worked to elevate the Stephen Fuller brand as the leading national home plan designer and gaining recognition as an iconic leader in custom residential design nationally.

After an eight-year ‘stay at home mom’ position, she rejoined the work force with Atlanta based SPANX Inc., in-house marketing and public relations team, where she contributed to the marketing and public relations department to promote SPANX consumer products.  While Martha found firming women’s butts a very rewarding challenge, her true inspiration was the launch of the Sara Blakely Foundation, Giving Women a Leg-Up, with Sara Blakely, Richard Branson and the Virgin Unite team. Martha says, “Empowering women through entrepreneurship while working with the Virgin Unite team was an exhilarating, exciting and rewarding experience.”

Martha became so influenced by the work with the Sara Blakely Foundation/Leg-Up that she shifted her career focus to humanitarian work and became community relations director with Atlanta nonprofit Create Your Dreams, who provide opportunities, resources and hope for youth living in poverty in order to reach their potential. This exposure was a natural segue to her current role with The ArtReach Foundation. Her understanding of education and needs for underserved youth enables her to facilitate the important work of implementing the ArtReach programs through the use of therapeutic arts activities for the growth and development of children faced with trauma from war, violence or natural disaster.

ArtReach Executive Director, Martha Henson in Haiti 2014 | Ideal example of the spontaneity that is derived from an ArtReach program.

ArtReach Executive Director, Martha Henson in Haiti 2014 | Ideal example of the spontaneity that is derived from an ArtReach program.

BOARD of Directors

Melissa Walker | President, CEO

Brooks M.W. Ensminger | Director

Juliet L. King, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, LMHC | Director

Kate McElligott | Director

Dixie Noonan | Director

FOUNDER

Susan M. Anderson

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International Advisors & Ambassadors

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HRH Princess Rajwa Bint Ali

Majed Yaghi

Faris Nimry, Ph.D

Ken Dutter

Omar Lattouf, M.D.

Mohannad Malas

Rima Houssami, M.D.

Salaam Semaan, M.D., Ph.D

Meisa Haytaneh

Ma’ani Haifa Najjar

Khalid Khreis, Ph.D

Sirene Khurma

Lina Arafat

Samar Dodin

Rosemary Bdeir

Rabia’s Daou

Taghreeed Fakhouri

FOrmer Directors | ADVISORS

Lucinda W. Bunnen | Director/Emeritus

Jessica Knight Douglas

Shean Phelps, M.D., MPH, FAAFP

Elaine Dalton Korn

Susan Underwood

Michael Grady, M.D. 

Elizabeth Dennis

Brian Green

Christopher Morley, M.P.H.

Melissa Walker, MA, A.T.R.

Erik Fisher, Ph.D

Linden Longino

Scott Brady

Michele Urban

Terri Whitesel

Christiane O’Hara, Ph.D

Calvert Johnson, Ph.D

William Stanhope

Bing Zeng, GSU

Cynthia Pols, McKesson

Gary Lucas

George Wieder, Lt.Col. USAF (Ret)

Debbara Dingmann, Ph.D

Karimah Dillard, R.D.T., Clinical Faculty

Stacey Cohen, MA, LPC

William (Bill) Howerton, Maj. USA (Ret)

John San Miguel

Clydette Clayton

John Burson, M.D.

Buford (Buff) Blount, III, Maj. Gen. USA (Ret)

James (Jim) Stapleton, Col. USA (Ret)

Hugo Patrocinio, Sgt.USMC (Ret)

Raymond (Ray) Scurfield, DSW, USA (Ret)

LTC Joseph Wood, M.D., Ph.D USA

Francine Jennings, Ed.D

Erin Mason, Ph.D

Sally Bailey, M.S.W., R.D.T.

Sejdefa Dozic

Jim Proeller, The Weather Channel

Barbara Bazemore, USAF (Ret)