General Inquiries
Committee@michiganfai.com
Michigan Fine Arts Institute Board of directors
LaShawn D. Gary (Executive Director)– Emmy Award-Winning Producer, Composer, Smooth Jazz Artist, and Pianist. He is currently the Executive Director for the Michigan Fine Arts Institute. LaShawn is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Southern University A&M College, and earned a Master’s of Music Education Degree from the University of Louisville. He is a music educator with Southfield Public Schools and serves as the Director of Music at Oak Grove AME Church. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, The American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Barbara Chester (Secretary)
Dr. Betty Hines (Treasurer) Bachelor of Art and Master's of Art in Education from the University of Michigan. She later received an EdD in Education Leadership/Curriculum from Wayne State University. Dr. Hines has also earned a certification in Practical Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary and continued post-graduate studies at Harvard/John Hopkins University.
Dr. Hines held many roles in Detroit Public Schools, including teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent. She has also served as an associate professor at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Wayne Counter Community College.
Throughout the years, Dr. Hines has received recognition for her commitment to education. She has won MASSP Michigan Principal of the Year, Readers Digest's American Hero in Education, American Federation of School Administrators and Supervisors Administrator of the Year, and many other awards.
Henderson Williams (Treasurer) is a native of Detroit, MI, and Detroit Public Schools. In grade school, he was very active with visual arts (sculptures, paints, pencils, charcoal) as well as developing as a trumpet player. While playing the trumpet, Henderson participated in the original Camp Baber Fine Arts Program in 1997. While attending Detroit Renaissance High School from 1997 to 2001, he participated in the Jazz, Marching, Symphony, and Concert Bands, 2001 Peach Bowl Half Time Show, Detroit Thanksgiving Parades, and Noel Night. Since then, Henderson has served as a counselor for several years and is now a member of the Executive Board for MFAI.
Henderson obtained his BS in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and his MS in Chemistry from the University of Detroit Mercy. He is currently working for Electronics for Imaging in Ypsilanti, MI.
Booker McCain (Board Member) is a native of Lathrup Village, Michigan, and gained his early education from Southfield Public Schools. After high school, he attended Eastern Michigan University, earning both a BS in Language, Literature, and Writing and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction. Booker has worked as a Secondary English Language Arts Instructor in the Metro Detroit area for eight years and continues to serve his community as a counselor at the Michigan Fine Arts Institute and as one of its board members.
He has self-published a book of short stories titled Children of the Sun: Stories of Black Youth and owns Roseland Entertainment LLC, a mobile DJing business in the Metro Detroit Area.
ChaDawn Parker
Marilyn Gray (Board Member)
Katrina Grier (Board Member)
Advisors/Support Staff
Donnell “Breck” Johnson
Rev. Anthony B. Vinson
Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson
Beverly Thomas (Adviser)
Lawrence Jackson ( Financial Adviser)
Rev Tracy
Jeffery Smith