Meet the Staff

Ruth Dickey, Founding Executive Director

Ruth E. Dickey brings over 16 years of nonprofit experience and leadership to her role as the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC)'s Founding Executive Director. Ruth was drawn to CCAC because it allows her to work on her passion for creating just and vibrant communities. In addition to serving as an Executive Director, Ruth has also served as a consultant with nonprofits across the U.S. on issues of organizational development, strategic planning, board development and fundraising. Ruth holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetry from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and an MA in Latin American Studies and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Prior to CCAC, Ruth served as the Executive Director of New Futures in Burien, WA, a nonprofit that partners with families in low-income apartment complexes to create communities where children thrive. Under her leadership New Futures doubled the number of children and families served and was selected as "Organization of the Year" by the Washington State Association of Social Workers. New Futures was also awarded the $200,000 Neighborhood Excellence Award by Bank of America and attracted widespread attention for its evaluation work, including an article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. While at New Futures, Ruth was named one of "40 Under 40" by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Prior to starting her MFA, Ruth served as the Executive Director of Miriam's Kitchen, a breakfast and social service program for people who are homeless in Washington, DC. During her tenure, the organization executed a successful $1.4 million capital campaign to begin transitional housing, was selected as the Winner of the 2001 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, and she was awarded the Shayne Leadership Award for being an outstanding Executive Director.

Ruth has received a Mayor's Arts Award in Washington DC and an individual artist fellowship from the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities in support of her writing. When not at CCAC, Ruth enjoys cooking, reading The New Yorker, traveling to places near and far, and spending time with her partner and Bernese mountain dog (the unofficial CCAC mascot).

You can reach Ruth at ruth.dickey@cliftonculturalarts.org.

Missy Miller, Program Coordinator

Missy Miller, a Cincinnati native, stepped into her role at CCAC in September of 2011. She brings a dedication to asset-based community development, a background in grassroots organizing and professional writing, and a passion for people and empowerment through the arts. Missy first came to CCAC through AmeriCorps–referred to as the domestic PeaceCorps–with Public Allies, and was attracted to CCAC due to its holistic vision of art and culture as integral to building strong, just communities. Missy became CCAC's permanent Program Coordinator in July 2012.

Before joining CCAC's team, Missy worked with Children's Hunger Alliance (CHA) as part of a small self-directed force serving food-insecure families and neighborhoods. She developed and taught programming for K-8 students on food literacy, edible urban gardening, and healthy lifestyles. When she wasn't working directly with children, she was engaged in community capacity building projects such as urban sustenance gardening, creating and implementing a free adult culinary series within a food desert which focused on utilizing neighborhood-grown produce, and planning community events including CHA's premier Cincinnati Summer Field Day. Administratively, Missy was responsible for forging strong community partnerships, crafting organizational communications and promotional materials, and evaluating programming. Her work experience previous to CHA includes grassroots political organizing, technical writing, and freelance artwork. She studied literature and writing at the University of Cincinnati.

Missy lives with her husband in Pleasant Ridge where she spends her time gardening, cooking, reading, and painting. She is especially fond of 17th century literature, metaphysical poets, and any recipe that calls for avocados or dates! Driven by the desire to plant literal and figurative seeds of change, she's thrilled to support CCAC in its mission to provide meaningful cultural arts opportunities to children, adults, and communities!

You can reach Missy at missy.miller@cliftonculturalarts.org.

Margo Pierce, Events Manager

Margo Pierce is a journalist with experience in non-profit development and volunteer management. A former event and program director with the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Ohio Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Margo is also a former staff writer for CityBeat and has been published in newspapers across the United States and Canada. She is a 2009 Fellow of the Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and received the 2011 "Best News Article" Award from the North American Street Newspaper Association. Margo holds the title of "Chief Agitator" with the non-profit, community newspaper Article 25.

A native of Toledo, Margo is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, and a former Clifton resident. She is an admirer of Chihuly glass, a well-written book, freshly baked cookies and time on a hammock.

You can reach Margo to plan your next celebration at CCAC at margo.pierce@cliftonculturalarts.org.