Staff & Board Members
Staff
Board Members
Tara Coyt, Board Member
Tara Coyt is the award-winning author of “Real Talk About LGBTQIAP,” and an award-winning artist and entrepreneur. She is also founder of the Tara Coyt Publishing Fund for Scholars Chronicling The Black Experience, The Write Author Coach, and Coyt Communications. She received the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Award, Atlanta Business League Super Tuesday Outstanding Business Achievement, Atlanta Daily World Women of Excellence, and a grant from Alternative Roots and The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Tara has collaborated with NBA All-Stars, a Death Row Records photographer, and several entrepreneurs to develop memoirs, art books, and other nonfiction publications. Her articles and editorials have appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Catalyst, Entrepreneur, Newsmakers Journal, Real Times Media publications, Rolling Out, and Validation Times. Tara produced the short documentary film, “Joe Barry Carroll,” which was commissioned by the South Fulton Institute. Her paintings and photographs have appeared in juried exhibits with Atlanta Photography/Audubon Society, Avondale Arts Alliance, Emma Darnell Aviation Museum, Dunwoody Fine Art Association, Georgia Nature Photographers Association/Roswell Fine Art Alliance, and Roswell Roots.
Non-profit board appointments include Atlanta Writers Club, Atlanta-Rio Sister Cities Foundation, Atlanta Technical College Foundation, and Decatur Book Festival. Tara is a member of Alternate Roots, Atlanta Film Festival Screening Committee, Atlanta Photography Group, Georgia Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, PEN America, Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and Working Title Playwrights. She is a GLAAD Media Institute alumnus, and graduate of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Volunteer Improvement Program. Other memberships have included Black Journalists Association, Black MBA Association, Georgia Equality, National Association of Minorities in Communications, and The Public Square.
Tara earned a BS, Natural Sciences, Xavier University (Ohio) and an MBA, Marketing, The Ohio State University. She is from Cleveland, OH and currently resides in Atlanta, GA.
Robin Morris, Board Member
ROBIN M. MORRIS is associate professor of history at Agnes Scott College. She researches gender and the political realignment of Georgia after World War II. Her work has appeared in Entering the Fray: Gender, Politics, and Culture in the New South. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
FeFe Handy, Vice President
Page Turners Make Great Learners has earned the respect of educators, generated support from national and local companies and increased demand for its services. She has been a frequent guest on local news station CBS46 where the organization is a community partner of CBS46 Books to Kids.
FeFe Handy’s primary goal is to reach students who are disinterested in reading by introducing and providing culturally diverse books that give voice, empower and uplift the human spirit. It is equally important to her to help students connect the skill of reading to the wider world by providing access to professionals who share the importance of reading in their personal and professional lives.
FeFe Handy is the mother of three beautiful children.
Shelbia Jackson, Board Member
Shelbia Jackson is the founding Director of DeKalb County’s TV/Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office also known as the DeKalb Entertainment Commission tasked with the implementation of the DeKalb Entertainment Strategic Plan. Over the last five years, she has secured and managed cumulative budget of $1.5M, worked with over 500 production companies to process over 1K film permit applications that generated over $1M direct film permit revenue. She has hosted or participated in over 700 cumulative meetings, presentations, events, panels, and conferences over last the five years. Under her leadership her office has had a direct positive impact on DeKalb’s creative economy estimated by the Atlanta Region Commission to to reach $1.377B economic output by 2023.
Shelbia has helped established a unified consistent film administration process across the 13 cities and unincorporated areas of DeKalb to successfully establish DeKalb as the premier location for entertainment and film production. A few of these critically acclaimed projects include: Bad Boys 3, Raising Dion, The Passage, MacGyver, Doom Patrol, P-Valley, Green Leaf, Black Lightning, Love Craft Country, Ozark, Star Girl, Dynasty, Legacies, Stranger Things, Venom, and Black Widow.
Under her leadership, DEC has established strong strategic partnerships with local, regional, and global organizations such as the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, the Association of Film Commissioners International, Atlanta Film Society, the ten entertainment organizations that comprise the DeKalb Entertainment Commission, as well as other county, regional and state partners including DeKalb’s 6 entertainment stages. This also includes participating in public speaking and marketing events that promote DeKalb County as a “camera-ready” community.
Leslie Wingate, Executive Director
Prior to serving in the role of executive director of the Decatur Book Festival, Leslie Wingate worked at her alma mater, Emory University, for 20 years with the Emory Alumni Association and Emory Libraries.
When Leslie isn’t working, she loves to read, practice yoga, walk in Piedmont Park, and spend time with her two grown daughters who live in Charleston.
Denise Auger, Director of Programming
Denise Vivian Auger has been the Director of Programming for the Decatur Book Festival since 2022. During that time she was also working as the Adult Programming and Community Partnership Manager for the Gwinnett County Public Library System from August 2007 to 2023. She served as the Decatur Book Festival Retail Book Store Coordinator from 2007 to 2021. Additionally, she serves on the Georgia Center for the Book‘s Advisory Council.
Denise is the proud owner of three cats and about 2,000 signed first edition books!
James Diedrick, Board Member
James Diedrick is Professor Emeritus of English at Agnes Scott College, where he served as Associate Dean of the College from 2005-2013. He was a Decatur Book Festival board member from 2012–17 and board president from 2017-20. His research interests encompass 19th-21st century British literature and film. He has authored books on British writers Mathilde Blind and Martin Amis, and co-edited a collection of essays on Stanley Kubrick. Before moving to Decatur, he was on the faculty at Albion College in Michigan from 1980-2004, where he also served as Associate Dean of the Faculty for two years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Western Washington University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
Mike Miller, Festival Manager
After graduating with a degree in general biology in 1972, Michael determined that working trade shows was both more lucrative and more gratifying than conducting tests on lab animals. Leaving the lab, he turned his talents to the trade show industry and accumulated more than 40 years of experience managing events on 5 different continents.
Michael gained great creative problem-solving skills and insight into the human psyche in the late 70s. During which he split his time between working for a traveling circus and as an IATSE member (stagehand) in Orlando, Florida and the trade show industry.
Mike moved to Decatur from Florida in 1983 and started working with the Decatur Book Festival in 2008.
Mathwon R. Howard, President Emeritus
Mathwon R. Howard serves as Associate Vice President for Development Programs at Emory University. Mathwon oversees Annual Giving, Gift Planning, Donor Relations, Development Communications, Corporate Relations, Foundation Relations and three development units Carlos Museum, Center for Ethics and Emory Libraries and Information Technology. Mathwon also provides leadership for the next Emory University comprehensive campaign.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in leadership and public administration from Adrian College and enjoys public speaking, reading, writing, nature, and any activity that captivates his children. Mathwon lives in Tucker with his wife Bethany and their three children.
Rosemary M. Magee, Executive Director
Rosemary M. Magee is currently the Executive Director of the 2021 Decatur Book Festival, the director of its Strategic Directions committee, and a former member of the Board.
She serves as Director of Emory’s Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library (MARBL) overseeing the collection and development of significant literary and historical materials. Previously, she served as Vice President and Secretary at Emory, where she oversaw university governance processes, and also as Senior Associate Dean of Resources and Planning in Emory College of Arts and Sciences. A leader in Emory’s creative community, Rosemary is chair of Creativity: Art and Innovation, a framing principle of the University’s Strategic Plan, committed to supporting arts performances, scholarship, research, and conversations across campus.
In recognition for her service and leadership, in 2008, Rosemary received the Thomas Jefferson Award, one of the University’s highest honors. She holds a Ph.D. from Emory and both a B.A. and M.A. from Florida State University. An artist-in-residence at the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, she has published two edited volumes along with essays, reviews, and short stories in a variety of journals and literary magazines.
Tracy Delgado, Board Member
When Tracy Delgado’s not reading, she works as the Director of Development at Academe of the Oaks high school in Decatur.
You can find her book recommendations on her blog: https://wellreadneck.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @WellReadNeck.
Ian Webb, Board Member
Ian Webb is an Emmy Award-winning strategic communicator and collaborative higher education leader who currently serves as the Director of Institute Strategic Priority Communications at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In his role, Webb acts as the primary liaison and stakeholder for communicating the Institute’s core values and mission, specifically through the lens of the Institute Strategic Plan. Focused on telling the story of Tech’s dynamic faculty, staff, and students, he also serves as advisor to the Vice President of Institute Communications.
A two-time graduate of the University of Georgia, Webb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising and a Master of Arts degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, as well as a graduate certificate in generative AI leadership from Vanderbilt University. His work and campaigns have been featured in and by NBC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, New America, Biltmore Radio, and the Mellon Foundation.
Christian Sager, Marketing & Social Media Manager
Christian Sager is a storyteller living in Portland, Oregon who has spent 16+ years managing communication and creative content for social media, print publishing, podcasting and higher education. Independently, he’s crowd funded and published several graphic novels, as well as a weekly podcast about media and popular culture. When he’s not telling stories, he tries to be a friend to both animals and libraries.
Diane Capriola, Manager of Children and Teen Programming
Diane Capriola is co-owner of Little Shop of Stories, an award winning, independent bookstore for children in Decatur. She is also “that girl from ‘You’ve Got Mail'”. She grew up on Long Island but has called Decatur her home for over 20 years and lives there with her three children and two dogs, Jem and Scout Finch.
Diane serves on the American Booksellers Association (ABA) advisory board as well as the advisory board of the ABA’s ABC Children’s Group, which provides “programs specifically aimed at growing and expanding the reach of children’s books to a wide audience of both consumers and booksellers.” Her favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird, but you already knew that.
Alison Weissinger, President
Alison Weissinger is the Director at the DeKalb County Public Library. As Director, she oversees the administration of 22 DeKalb County branch libraries, and a $54,540,000 Library Bond program approved by DeKalb voters in November, 2005. Alison also manages the Georgia Center for the Book program at the DeKalb County Public Library which brings more than 100 author programs a year to DeKalb County.
Alison is a seasoned library veteran. She joined DeKalb County Public Library in 1997 as a youth services librarian. Additionally, Alison has served as a branch manager at several branches, including the Decatur Library, the county’s main library branch. Prior to being appointed Director, Alison served as the system’s Adult Services Coordinator, directing adult programming, literacy and outreach services, and the library’s website.
Alison earned her bachelor’s degree in German Literature from the University of California at Davis and her master’s degree in Library Science from Florida State University. She lives in Decatur, GA with her husband Chris and two children.
Adam Rosenkoetter, Treasurer
In 2001, entrepreneur Adam Rosenkoetter co-founded Sol Design, a successful branding and marketing consultancy based in Atlanta. Since then, he’s built the company from ground up, now advising an impressive roster of clientele. As Co-Founder and Technical Director, Adam is Sol Design’s clients’ digital guide. Whether he recommends a custom CMS, a marketing automation tool or an internet marketing strategy, he keeps the business objective in mind and the best technology in the forefront.
When Adam is not working, he’s off running, biking, being a yogi or enjoying time with his lovely wife and two young daughters at home in Decatur.
Jeff Steely, Secretary
Jeff Steely is Dean of Libraries at Georgia State University. Prior to coming to Georgia State, Mr. Steely served as Associate Dean and Director of Central Libraries at Baylor University in Waco, TX. Earlier positions at Baylor included Assistant Dean, Director of Central Libraries, Assistant Director for Client Services, and Outreach Services Librarian. Jeff began his professional career as the serials librarian for the Library of the U.S. Courts in Chicago, IL.
Dean Steely is a graduate of Bethel College (KS) and holds an MLIS from the University of Texas at Austin. He has participated in the Harvard/ACRL Leadership Institute and was a 2014 CLIR/EDUCAUSE Leading Change Institute fellow. Mr. Steely is active in numerous regional and national organizations, and served as the 2015-2016 president of the Library Leadership and Management Association.
Kelly Caudle, Board Member
Kelly Caudle has been a vice president at Georgia Humanities since 2015, and oversees strategy, programs, and communications for the statewide nonprofit organization.
Previously, as project director and managing editor for more than a decade, she helped to launch the digital New Georgia Encyclopedia, a first-of-its-kind undertaking to capture and share the diverse stories of the state through history, literature, folklife, the arts, and more. She began her career at the University of Georgia Press, and after ten years in scholarly book publishing, moved on to a small, award-winning literary magazine, The Oxford American, and then to Cooking Light, the largest food magazine in the country.
Angela Threadgill, Board Member
Angela serves as the Assistant City Manager of Community and Economic Development for the City of Decatur. Angela started on her career path nearly 25 years ago in the city planning departments of Asheville, Atlanta, and San Francisco, before she came to the City of Decatur in 2015. Among her job duties, she leads her department in the areas of planning and zoning, permitting, code enforcement, special events, tourism, parking management, and economic development. She works to implement the community vision for an equitable, thriving, and welcoming city for all as outlined in Decatur’s 2020 Strategic Plan.
Elisa Iannilli, Operations Director
Elisa Iannilli was born in Taranto, Italy, but she spent many years in Milledgeville, GA, where she earned her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Georgia College & State University. She moved to Decatur in 2015 to become General Manager at Decatur CoWorks. She helped grow the membership through increased member relations and community involvement, including representing Decatur CoWorks at multiple festivals. She was first introduced to the Decatur Book Festival when founder Daren Wang asked for Decatur CoWorks to house the Decatur Writers Studio classes and workshops. Elisa is active in the business community and currently holds the position of Membership Chair with the Decatur Business Association Board. She was co-chair for the 2019 Decatur Beach Party, the DBA’s annual fundraiser. Elisa is excited to now be a part of the DBF. Her favorite genre is young adult fiction and she’s always welcome to suggestions.
Joy Pope, Interim Executive Director
Joy is a native of Powder Springs. She holds a dual-genre MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She previously earned a Master’s degree in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College, famous for its Great Books curriculum, and she has a BA in English from the University of Oregon. Prior to joining the festival, she was the Journalism Educator at the Andrew P. Stewart Center’s after-school studio program that serves the children of Atlanta’s Pittsburgh neighborhood. She has lived in Decatur with her husband and two daughters since 2006.
Pearl McHaney, Board Member
Pearl Amelia McHaney is the Kenneth M. England Professor of Southern Literature at Georgia State University in Atlanta where she also directs the Center for Collaborative and International Arts (CENCIA). In 2014, her book-length study A Tyrannous Eye: Eudora Welty’s Nonfiction and Photography was published and she received the Phoenix Award for outstanding achievement in Welty Studies from the Eudora Welty Society.
She is the editor of Eudora Welty as Photographer, winner of the Eudora Welty Prize; Occasions: Selected Writings by Eudora Welty; Eudora Welty: Contemporary Reviews; A Writer’s Eye: Collected Reviews by Eudora; and the Eudora Welty Review, an annual peer-reviewed journal. She has also lectured and published on work by William Faulkner, Barry Hannah, David Mamet, Sindiwe Magona, Alice Munro, Natasha Tretheway, and Tennessee Williams. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Rialto Center for the Arts and directs an international student exchange program between Georgia State University and the University of Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Jina DuVernay, Board Member
Jina DuVernay is a librarian and arts and cultural consultant. As the Adult Services Manager for Gwinnett County Public Library, DuVernay manages programs and services for adults including author talks. She has published several professional articles and book chapters and is a freelance writer for Sisters from AARP and American Greetings. DuVernay is also an editor for midnight & indigo literary journal. Her creative writing has appeared in Kweli Journal.
DuVernay holds a Master’s degree in Liberal Arts from Auburn University at Montgomery and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Alabama. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Humanities at Clark Atlanta University.