The Seattle Arts Commission has announced two new members, Priya Frank and Kelly Rodriguez. Frank was appointed by City Council, and Rodriguez was appointed by Mayor Ed Murray; both will serve until Dec. 31, 2016 when they will be up for reappointment. Acting in an advisory capacity to the mayor and City Council, Seattle Arts Commissioners help shape policy decisions, make recommendations, and provide citizen participation in city government.

Priya Frank

Priya Frank is the Associate Director for Advancement for the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at the University of Washington Bothell, where she is responsible for philanthropy, alumni engagement and industry/community partnerships for the school’s undergraduate and graduate programs. She is also Art Director at LUCID Lounge in the University District, curating art exhibits and designing interactive components that provide opportunities for interaction. Previous work at the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and the UW World Series fueled a passion around inclusion, community building and the arts. Priya is a board member and Diversity Committee Chair at On the Boards, has co-founded a local women of color in the arts gathering group, and is a member of Leadership Tomorrow’s class of 2015. She holds a B.A. in Communications and American Ethnic Studies from University of Washington Seattle and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from University of Washington Bothell.

Kelly Rodriguez

Kelly Rodriguez is the executive director and editor of ARCADE, a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to reinforce the principle that thoughtful design at every scale of human endeavor improves our quality of life. A native of Los Angeles, California, Kelly’s professional and educational accomplishments have afforded her opportunities to regularly serve the art, design and architecture communities in Seattle, including as a member of the architect selection advisory committee for the revolutionary Bullitt Center; and as artist selection panelist for King County’s cultural services agency 4Culture, and the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts and Culture. Kelly holds a bachelor and master of architecture and has been a ballet dancer for 37 years (and counting).