Shari Merten is a community-minded leader who believes everyone deserves to feel welcome and supported in the places they live, work, and explore. She is passionate about inclusion, accessibility, and creating connections that strengthen local communities. She has coordinated hundreds of programs in partnership with local artists, schools, and nonprofits: first at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, and later with the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, where she helped distribute grants and support the region’s creative sector.

Shari now brings her collaboration and outreach experience to REACH Studio Art Center, where she is excited to help Lansing’s creative community thrive. In her role, she supports REACH’s mission of providing vibrant, accessible arts experiences for people of all ages and abilities, from studio classes and workshops with local teaching artists to free and sliding scale programs that meet people where they are, whether on campus in REO Town or out in the community through the REACH Art Truck.

Outside of work, Shari dabbles in many creative crafts, including macramé, clay, and crochet. She loves Lansing’s natural landscapes and is often found walking one of the many great local trails. She and her partner love fostering kittens and dogs!