Welcome Incoming Board Vice President Karen Ernst
As a longtime member of The Furniture Society, Karen is optimistic about the potential TFS has to expand our reach and better connect, inspire, and serve all of the facets of our membership and our communities.
I am so honored and excited to take on the role of Vice President of the Furniture Society’s Board of Trustees! I attended my first FS conference in 2006 and left feeling inspired and motivated with new ideas to implement in my studio practice and classroom – I knew I had found “my people”. I have been a regular at conferences ever since and eventually joined the board in 2018, wanting to give more to this organization that I care so much about.
Though it was disappointing to not be able to have this year’s conference in Asheville, I think as an organization the Furniture Society was pushed to take new approaches to creating programming and engaging with our membership. Since initiating FS Connects back in March, we have added significantly to the virtual content offered on our website and social media, featuring the sketches and artwork of our members, as well as interviews/studio visits with a wide variety of makers. We have been working to foster communication and collaboration between educators in our field, as furniture programs all struggle to find ways to continue to engage with students. Craft for a Greater Good keeps growing in momentum, providing a chance to use our skills and creativity to interact with and make a positive change in the cities where we hold our conferences. With several other exciting new initiatives in the works, I am optimistic about the potential the FS has to expand our reach and better connect, inspire, and serve all of the facets of our membership and our communities.
Together with our newly expanded Board of Trustees, President Adam Manley, Executive Director Monica Hampton, Director of Education Pam Robinson, and our dedicated group of volunteers, I feel confident about our ability to continue to move forward and adapt to whatever the future has in store for us. I am stepping into this role with the (paraphrased) words of a wise woman (former VP Maggie Sasso) in my head – “An organization is/should be a reflection of its membership.” I am committed to doing what I can to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of our current and future members. I look forward to working with you!
Karen Ernst is a Professor in the Art Department at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, teaching Woodworking/Furniture Design. She holds an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and has over twenty years of woodworking and design experience. Her work has been exhibited across the US and is included in many private collections.