Since beginning her tenure as Saltonstall’s executive director in late 2011, Lesley has focused much of her efforts on making the residency more accessible and inclusive by eliminating barriers to entry. Her accomplishments include a six year effort to build an accessible studio and living space, which was completed in 2021. She led Saltonstall’s effort to eliminate their residency application fee and initiated an anonymous jurying process, shorter residencies, and residencies specifically for parents.  

Lesley also developed new programs to serve more State-wide artists and writers and to respond to community need: short free retreats for local teachers; a residency specifically for NYS circus artists, and a new collaboration with the Latinx Playwrights Circle in NYC. 

Previously, Lesley served as a program coordinator for Chautauqua Institution’s lecture series and as the director of the North Shore Arts Alliance in Chautauqua County, a grass-roots organization representing professional visual artists in all media. Lesley earned her BA in Cultural Studies from Hampshire College and a Master of Arts Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Rose lives just a stone’s throw away from Saltonstall with her son, Crosby, who is currently in Kindergarten at nearby Caroline Elementary. She moved to Ithaca back in 2013 while completing her MA in Creative Writing at Binghamton University. Since then, she has worked within the Ithaca City School District, most recently as a teaching artist for the Hangar Theater, and as a digital media transfer specialist and photographer. When she’s not reading, writing or participating in the local music scene as a singer/songwriter, Rose can be found exploring the hiking trails and running along with the Finger Lakes Running Club.

Mandy with her partner Josh and daughters Evelyn & Josie

Mandy Beem-Miller has been cooking for joy and wages since her first restaurant job in San Francisco 14 years ago. She has worked in award winning kitchens in Ithaca and California and studied culinary arts and food communications in Florence, Italy. Six years ago she opened a food truck and catering business called The Good Truck, a local favorite that serves high quality, local and seasonal “Ithaca-Mex” May through October. When she’s not cooking for work, Mandy loves to do cooking projects with her two daughters, Josie and Evelyn, and her partner Josh.