Three new staff members have begun work recently at Salina Arts and Humanities (SAH)

Kylen Laws, a native of Minneapolis, serves as the SAH Program Assistant. She oversees the Artyopolis children’s area at River Festival and supports Visual Arts preparation for each year’s Festival. Laws holds a degree in Cinema Art & Science from Columbia College in Chicago, with a focus on 3D environmental modeling. She studied graphic design at the Harrington College of Design, also in Chicago. Laws specializes in visual effects, 3-D modeling and motion graphics, among other skills. She enjoys camping, hiking, and horseback riding.

Hannah Mahnken is the registrar at the Smoky Hill Museum, a division of SAH. A native of Nebraska, Mahnken recently completed a master’s degree in history and museum studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mahnken also has lived in Iowa and Missouri, where she received a bachelor’s degree in history and public history from Northwest Missouri State.

In recent years, Mahnken sharpened her collections-care, preservation, and conservation skills at The Truman Presidential Library and Museum, the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Among Mahnken’s interests are sports, reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Anna V. Pauscher is the Arts Education Coordinator at SAH. Born in Nebraska, Pauscher completed a master’s degree in arts development and program management at the University of Denver. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from Wichita State University. Pauscher worked most recently at the Denver Art Museum. She served a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA member after graduating from WSU.

At SAH, Pauscher coordinates the Arts Infusion Program in local schools, oversees the Horizons Grants program, and serves as the staff liaison for Friday Night Live entertainment and activities. Pauscher also oversees entertainment booking and scheduling for the Smoky Hill River Festival. In her spare time, Pauscher enjoys playing the viola and ukulele, poetry, trying new recipes, and being outdoors.

Salina Arts and Humanities, a department of the City of Salina, has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966.  The Smoky Hill River Festival, Horizons Grants Program, Smoky Hill Museum, Arts Infusion Program in schools, Community Art and Design, Cultural Connections, and Friday Night Live performance series are among the programs of SAH, located at 211 W. Iron Avenue.