DeMarcus Akeem Suggs is new Director of Development and Kyle Mullins Promoted
By Margaret A. Keough
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) is pleased to announce that DeMarcus Akeem Suggs has joined the organization as its Director of Development. Suggs until recently served as Director of Development for Alternate ROOTS, an Atlanta-based arts organization that supports the creation and presentation of original art rooted in communities of place, tradition, or spirit. Additionally, M-AAA has promoted Kyle Mullins to Artist Services Program Officer, overseeing the Artists 360 and Interchange programs.
“DeMarcus Akeem Suggs brings enthusiasm and expertise, based in cultural equity, to Mid-America Arts Alliance at a time of unprecedented evolution for the organization, and we are thrilled to welcome him,” said Todd Stein, President and CEO of Mid-America Arts Alliance. “There is no greater joy than being able to see an employee expand their role with the organization, and we are so pleased to promote Kyle Mullins to his new role at M-AAA.”
Suggs has more than ten years of experience in the nonprofit cultural sector, and while at Alternate ROOTS, grew governmental funding by 375% and institutional funding by 240%. He is a dance artist, educator, and arts administrator fueled by a passion to cultivate and sustain a vibrant, equitable, accessible, and people-centric arts sector. A native of Minneapolis, MN, he holds a BFA in dance from Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, and an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Akron, Akron, OH. In addition to his experience at Alternate ROOTS, Suggs has worked at the National Center for Choreography in Akron, OH; Neos Dance Theatre, Oberlin, OH; Dayton Live, Dayton, OH; and the Victory Project, Dayton, OH. He has performed with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Ballet, Verb Ballets, Neos Dance Theatre, and various independent projects. Suggs has also taught at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH; Cleveland School for the Arts, Cleveland, OH; Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH; and Neos Center for Dance, Oberlin, OH.
About his new appointment, Suggs said, “I am excited to join Mid-America Arts Alliance as we celebrate our fiftieth-year milestone of providing ‘more art for more people.’ I’m honored to join such a passionate staff and Board of Directors committed to ensuring that artists, cultural organizations, and communities in our region have the vital resources needed to thrive.”
Kyle Mullins was recently promoted to Artist Services Program Officer, overseeing the Interchange and Artists 360 programs at M-AAA. He had served as M-AAA’s Artist Services Program Associate since July 2021. In addition to being an arts administrator, Mullins is also a dance artist and performance producer in Kansas City, MO. He is director of the monthly dance series Making Moves and Art Director for Kansas City’s public art exhibition Art in the Loop. Mullins performs his own dance works as a soloist, creates works of dance-theater with his company Cerca Trova, and makes dance films. His work has been commissioned by dance companies, galleries, botanical gardens, university programs, professional theater stages in both New York City and Kansas City, and more. Kyle holds an MFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
About his role at M-AAA, Mullins said, “When I see something amazing my first instinct is to run and tell everyone about it. I have to remind myself to slow down and enjoy it, too. When I love it, I want everyone to love it. That’s why I love the work I do as an arts administrator—I get to support and lift up artists, art-making, and art work. And I get to tell everyone about it.”
