Executive Director

Kristin was born and raised in Southeast Wisconsin. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing and General Business with an international emphasis, along with a minor in French, from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. In 2022, she further enhanced her professional skills by completing a certificate in Project Management from UW–Parkside.

Kristin’s journey in the nonprofit sector began during her final year of university when she felt a strong call to serve. Since then, she has dedicated her career to this field, gaining extensive experience across various roles. Starting in fundraising, Kristin has worn many hats within nonprofit organizations, including development, marketing, program development, and management.

Kristin has a deep passion for the arts, often transforming her home into a hub of creativity with art projects shared with her young son. Her unwavering commitment to giving back to the community continues to drive her forward in her career.

In her current role as Executive Director of Donna Lexa Art Centers, Kristin oversees all aspects of organizational operations. Her responsibilities include fund development, financial planning, marketing, and organizational leadership.

Outside of work, Kristin enjoys spending quality time with her husband and son and indulging in a good book whenever possible.

Program Manager

Maggie was born and raised in Milwaukee. She received a bachelor’s degree in both studio art and art therapy, and then continued her career path with a master’s degree in art therapy. Maggie realized early on that combining her love for art and helping others was a necessity for her future adventures. Within the last 12 years, she’s worked mostly with populations involving different abilities like memory care facilities, alternative and transitional schools, and community centers with varying populations. Donna Lexa Art Centers has always been in Maggie’s peripherals, but it wasn’t until November 2022, that she officially began her career here. The drive and passion that is so deeply embedded in DLAC was a huge motivator to become a member of such an amazing team. 

As the program manager, Maggie hopes to continue to support the creative passions of the students and staff, but also help drive the growth and progress in future opportunities within the community.

After all, no matter what our abilities, art is a language that we can all speak. 

Business Manager + Executive Assistant

Susanna was born and raised in Milwaukee, eventually moving to Wauwatosa and then Mukwonago where she raised three beautiful daughters as a single parent. She has held various positions in the Telecommunications Industry including District level and Medical Secretary, Staff Assistant and lastly as a Telecommunications Specialist, wearing blue jeans and a tool belt for 25 years keeping the Network up and running, before retiring on December 31, 2022.

Susanna became interested in drawing and art a couple of decades ago but only started focusing on developing her drawing talent within the last year. She has served in the Lay Counseling Ministry at her local Church, developing and leading two support Groups for women and is currently involved in Prayer Ministry, Bible study and writing inspirational poetry. She also spends her free time developing her drawing ability, gardening, crocheting, family time and enjoying her poodle Lily, and caring for her 92-year-old father.

As Business Manager, Susanna is responsible for office management, billing, bookkeeping, administrative support to the Board of Directors and assisting the Executive Director by maintaining donor files, tracking Grant monies and special projects. She is delighted to be investing her time keeping DLAC up and running and now she proudly wears a Donna Lexa T-shirt.

Art Therapist, ATR, LPC

Sarah joined DLAC in 2021. She is a former applied arts teacher, where she taught students from 1st-8th grade skills in fibers arts and textiles. Sarah was drawn to art therapy because of her experiences as a teacher, where she observed the way art making helped her students regulate their minds and bodies, as well as gave them a way to express themselves. Her ultimate goal when working with any student, is providing opportunities for success in order to build feelings self-worth and accomplishment. Sarah personally enjoys knitting, crocheting, and sewing, as well as painting and drawing. She loves getting to know her students, and sharing skills and ideas with them.

Art Therapist, ATR-BC, LPC

Erin is a board-certified Art Therapist and a licensed professional Counselor.  She graduated from Mount Mary University with her master’s degree in 2012. Erin believes that art has the power to get into our soul and reveal hidden truths about whom we are.  When we take part in the creation of art, we learn more about ourselves, while also establishing an identity of being an artist. In her own time, Erin creates art through painting, quilting, photography, and mixed media pieces. 

Art Therapist, ATR

Jenna is a Registered Art Therapist and a certified level 2 Reiki practitioner. Using these healing modalities, Jenna helps others uncover the highest and healthiest version of self.  She  empowers each person to recognize their own ability to heal and communicate on a soul level through artmaking and energy work.

 Jenna has practiced art therapy and also operated a decorative painting business since 1999.  She specializes in working with adults who have been diagnosed with substance abuse disorders and dual diagnoses. She’s had the opportunity to witness the healing power of art therapy while working with children, adolescents and adults during her clinical experience in both individual and group settings.  She believes it’s her mission to use her intuition, empathy, experience and enthusiasm for all art processes as therapeutic tools to help others heal, rediscover, and live their best lives.

Art Instructor + Artist

Debbie grew up in North Prairie, WI, attended UW-Whitewater for her bachelors in Art Education k-12 and a minor in Recreation. She added an Adaptive Art Certification through St. Norbert’s soon after while working with children with emotional and behavioral disabilities at a residential treatment facility for 10.5 years. Debbie has an additional 15 years of experience working with adults who have the Prader-Willi Syndrome in Oconomowoc, WI.  She has enjoyed teaching about new artists and getting the students’ mind working, creating and moving through a plethora of art expressions. Funny thing is….”My Mom introduced me to Donna Lexa years ago when she had her store in Genesee Depot and I have been ‘dropping by’ the Wales Art Fair for years.  Then a close mutual friend of mine reminded me that, 'DLAC will be waiting for you when you are ready’.  Circumstances changed in my last job and here I am!” Deb is looking forward to bringing art experiences to the artists at DLAC and has so enjoyed the camaraderie, smiles, laughter and excitement in the Waukesha studio so far.

Art Instructor + Artist

Rose Lange is a professional artist and educator living, teaching and creating in her home town, of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Rose earned a BA in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1987 and has added continuing education classes at several Wisconsin institutions of higher learning since then.

Rose has been teaching art  for over 30 years to students ranging from kindergarten through adult in Wisconsin and Illinois.  In 2014, while teaching art  at Waukesha Catholic, Rose was one of 100 teachers in Wisconsin to be awarded the Herb Kohl Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching.

Rose is currently working with mixed media, creating whimsical mosaics, and figurative sculptures using up-cycled chip bags, sells and exhibits her work at the Almont gallery in Waukesha, and is an active member of the Waukesha West End Artists Association. 

Art Therapist, ATR-BC, LPC

Rachel is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated from Mount Mary with her master’s degree in 2014. Since then, she has worked in a variety of clinical and community settings, helping people of all ages experience the benefits of art making. Prior to getting her master’s, Rachel worked in museum education at the Toledo Museum of Art (Toledo, OH).

When collaborating with students in their creative pursuits, Rachel takes inspiration from the Henri Matisse quote, “creativity takes courage.” Matisse was a French artist who experienced major setbacks due to illness. He persevered and identified new ways of expressing himself through art. Rachel believes that creativity can help people access their most authentic self, build confidence, and improve connections with others. She was thrilled to join the Donna Lexa team on Halloween 2024! 

Rachel specializes in making mixed media collages and “sock monsters.” She also enjoys working with clay and watercolors. When she’s not making art, she loves watching documentaries with her husband, spending time with her dog, Nutmeg,  and playing “Just Dance.”

Art Instructor + Artist

Maddie began at Donna Lexa in April of 2023. She studied in San Francisco to attain her BFA in drawing and painting in 2013 and then returned to her hometown of Milwaukee. She participated in group shows, solo exhibitions, and juried competitions around the Milwaukee area. She completed numerous commissions until 2019 when she realized the dream of being a career studio artist did not fit with her values anymore. Art has the power to bring people together and provide comfort, healing, and joy. The life of a studio painter often felt lonely and hollow, so she began teaching a number of art classes to individuals and groups of all ages. She is now working towards her Masters in Art Therapy from Mount Mary University and loving every minute of it. Her favorite thing about working at Donna Lexa is witnessing the confidence that grows through art making. The happiness generated and the way students exceed their own expectations is a very precious thing to be a part of. In her time off, Maddie loves running, reading, going to the beach with her dog Pickles, and working on art projects which range in media, but usually involve some paint.   

Art Instructor + Artist

Keighley is an artist, illustrator, and muralist currently living in Milwaukee. Having spent the last few years developing her career, Keighley found herself missing working with people in a therapeutic contex. She had previously worked in a school setting for individuals with disabilities. As well as an ABA therapist, and as a tutor in a homeless shelter. When she saw the opening for DLAC, she jumped at the opportunity. At Donna Lexa, Keighley loves getting to form meaningful connections with the students, creating a joyful environment where everyone has the power and ability to make anything they want, and helping people challenge their negative self-perceptions to booster confidence and mood. 

Art is a way to process, to connect, to explore, to challenge, and to grow. Doing art in a community of people makes all of that even better, and Donna Lexa provides exactly that environment.

Studio Assistant

Connie first heard about Donna Lexa from her sister Theresa, who was an art instructor at DLAC. Connie started as a volunteer helping her sister with outreach groups and studio groups.
Years later, she was hired on as a studio assistant.
Although she came with no art background, she quickly learned from her sister, other staff, and even the students. Some things she’s proud to have learned is using a knitting loom, latch-hooking, clay, and different techniques for drawing.
She truly enjoys being with the staff and students learning new art media.
Outside of the studio, she enjoys spending time with her daughter Jodi and her grandchildren and son-in-law. They like to spend a lot of time outside doing fun stuff, exploring nature and having lots of cookouts. In the football season they get together for Packer games in their Packer gear!
On a daily basis, she likes to be outside, walk, and explore nature and all of God‘s beauty and sounds that surround us.
At home, she does different crafts and gives a lot of them away or sells them.
She also gets together with friends to play games weekly.
She has learned so much from staff and students in the years she’s been at Donna Lexa and loves going there each week.