Georgia Humanities welcomes four new members to its Board of Directors in 2026: Ember Bentley (Macon), Jeff P. Garland (Statesboro), Milton “M. Jay” Hall Jr. (Tifton), and John Knapp (St. Marys). Representing communities across Georgia, these new members contribute significant experience in higher education, public service, and nonprofit leadership.

The organization is also pleased to announce its newly elected executive committee: Joseph B. Alonso, chair; Phil Smith, vice chair; Lara Bush Davis, treasurer; and Michelle Johnson, secretary.

The Board of Directors shapes Georgia Humanities’ strategic vision, stewards its resources, and brings a breadth of perspective to its work. Members serve three-year terms and are selected for their knowledge, expertise, and dedication to the humanities.

"We are so fortunate to welcome this group to the board," said Mary Wearn, Georgia Humanities president. "They bring wisdom, vision, and a deep commitment to the people of Georgia, and we are better for it."

New Board Members

Ember Bentley serves as executive director of the Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance and vice president for external affairs at Mercer University. Her previous roles include chief of staff at Middle Georgia State University, executive director of the Georgia Forestry Foundation, and deputy commissioner for international relations at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Shorter College and a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia College and State University. Bentley serves on several boards, including the Jekyll Island Foundation, and is a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Rural Prosperity Council.

Jeff P. Garland is the associate dean of faculty affairs and research in the College of Arts and Humanities at Georgia Southern University. A sculptor and educator, he brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education, with a focus on faculty development, student success, and program building in the humanities. Garland holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Illinois State University and a master’s in sculpture from Washington University in St. Louis. He maintains an active artistic practice alongside his work in academic leadership.

Milton “M. Jay” Hall Jr. serves as executive director of Mims Kids Inc., a nonprofit focused on youth life skills training and arts enrichment. He also manages several local small businesses and is currently in his second term on the Tifton City Council, where his focus includes economic development and historic preservation. Hall sits on the boards of the Tifton Arts Council, Tift County Homeless Coalition, and Tifton Urban Redevelopment Agency, among others. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Georgia State University and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia.

John Knapp is a consultant, speaker, and author with extensive leadership experience in higher education and the nonprofit sector. He served for 11 years as a college president, at Washington and Jefferson College and at Hope College, where he led academic initiatives, enrollment growth, and major fundraising efforts totaling more than $150 million. A former Georgia Humanities board member in the late 1990s, Knapp helped establish the New Georgia Encyclopedia and received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities. He holds degrees from Georgia State University, Columbia Theological Seminary, and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.