KHERN (Kentucky Heritage Emergency Response Network) has a volunteer advisory and steering committee, network administrators, and a no-cost general network membership. 

General Members

KHERN’s general membership is free, volunteer-based, and open to any individual or organization showing interest in KHERN who can dedicate time, resources, or expertise to respond in the event of an incident or emergency in the state of Kentucky. 

Join us today by filling out this form: General Membership Interest Form

Advisory Committee Members

Volunteer liaisons from state-serving arts and culture agencies who commit to receiving regular updates from KHERN and are prepared to respond to assistance requests should an emergency or disaster occur. 

Current Advisory Committee Members:

• Christina Cain - Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, Alliance for Response

• Tom Clareson - LYRASIS, Senior Consultant

• Jim Garrett - Kentucky VOAD

• Nana Kaneko - Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF)/FEMA

• Nicole Konkol - Site Protection Program Administrator, Kentucky Heritage Council

• Janet Newcomb - Performing Arts Readiness Project 

• Mollie Quinlan-Hayes - National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER)

• Becky Ryder - Co-founder, Phoenix Rising Lexington 

• Sarah Schmitt - Executive Staff Advisor, Kentucky Arts Council

• Alicia Soriano  - Recovery Coordination Specialist, FEMA

• Jennifer Wellock - Department of Interior, Natural and Cultural Resource Recovery

Steering Committee Members 

Active volunteer members, regardless of agency-affiliation, who commit to meeting on a regular basis (quarterly) to oversee network activities and policies.

Current Steering Committee Members:

• Arden Barnes - Special Programs Manager, LexArts

• Derek Beaven - Program and Administrative Assistant, Kentucky Humanities Council

• Leah Craig - Program Consultant, Kentucky Historical Society

• Cathrine Giles - State Records Branch Manager, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

• Becca Halbmaier - Local Records West Regional Administrator, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

• Rusty Heckaman - State Archivist, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives | Kentucky Council on Archives (Chair)

• Emily Moses - Arts Consultant 

• Deana Thomas - Colonel Harper Lecturer, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center

Network Administrators

Paid or grant-funded positions that commit to the activities stipulated in either the grant proposal or job description. 

Current Network Administrators:

• Leah Hamilton, KHERN Administrator - Assistant Professor, Department of Arts Administration, University of Kentucky 

• Melissa Bond, KHERN UK Extension Advisor - Director of Community and Economic Development, UK Cooperative Extension

• Ruth Bryan, KHERN Member Communications Facilitator -  University Archivist and Professor, UK Libraries 

• Mae Rearden, KHERN Network Coordinator Intern - B.A. in Arts Administration Student