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:

• Jon Allen - President, Kentucky Emergency Management Association

• Tiffani Emig - Deputy Director, American Institute for Conservation

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

• Michael Martin - Recovery Coordination Specialist, FEMA

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

• Becky Ryder - Co-founder, Phoenix Rising Lexington 

• Sarah Schmitt - Executive Staff Advisor, Kentucky Arts Council

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:

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

• Gay Bindocci - Disaster Recovery Specialist for Natural and Cultural Resources, Independent Contractor

• Susan Brown - Director, Transylvania University Libraries 

• 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 

• Arden Barnes, KHERN Network Coordinator - Independent Photographer and LexArts PhotoVoice Coordinator