SAEAS OFFICERS
Theresa Newsome
President
Theresa Newsome explores pivotal moments in black American history, examining how these events and narratives continue to shape contemporary Black culture. Through her photographic series In Full Color, Teaching Myself Manners, What My Grandmother Told Me…, and her most recent work, we were their property, Newsome reflects on personal and collective stories within Black and African American contexts, highlighting the persistence of these histories in the present. Her practice combines traditional and interdisciplinary methods, including textiles, historical photographic processes, and bookmaking. Newsome received her BFA in Studio Art from the University of the Incarnate Word and her MFA with a concentration in Photography from Texas Woman’s University. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in both public and private collections across the United States. Newsome is currently based in San Antonio, TX, where she works as both an artist and educator.
Cheryl Handy
Vice President
Cheryl Handy is a multi-disciplinary artist working in most media and all genres as she enjoys experimenting and exploring all facets of visual art. A former gallery owner, Cheryl has been creating art and fostering artists for more than 50 years. She has exhibited in multiple states, been affiliated with several arts councils, and sat on various boards. Ms. Handy relocated from Pennsylvania in 2019. Since arriving in Texas, three of her works have been acquired by Texas A&M San Antonio (2022) and are exhibited in the school's library. Cheryl published her first coffee table book in 2024 showcasing a history of her artwork, poetry and micro-stories.
he has been a member of SAEAS since 2023.
Deborah Harris
Treasurer
Deborah Harris is a self-taught fiber artist, quilter, mixed media arts instructor, speaker, and activist whose work powerfully blends storytelling with social and political commentary. Inspired by her grandmother’s gift of fabric and a needle, she evolved from sewing doll clothes to discovering quilting’s narrative strength. Her first major quilt, "A Family Tree" for her mother, sparked her mission to preserve history through fiber art. Today, Deborah’s mixed-media quilts invite connection, reflection, and dialogue about culture and current events.
Lillian By a
Recording/Corresponding Secretary
Lillian Byas is an educator and advocate with over a decade of experience advancing equity for youth and marginalized communities. Her background spans juvenile justice, education, and community-based organizations, where she has led initiatives in restorative justice, cultural competency, and leadership development across Texas. Lillian has served on boards and volunteer leadership roles, including supporting statewide policy efforts centered on foster care, education, and youth homelessness. Currently as an educator, her work continues to center empowerment, advocacy, and sustainable systems of support for at-risk youth and communities.by African American women.
Lilian
Recording Secretary
Myown Sims
Curator
Myown Sims is a rising curator and mixed media artist who’s passionate about highlighting and celebrating the work of black and brown artists. Sims has a background in Fine Arts and holds a BFA in Animation. She’s currently studying art history in the MA program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Her goal as a curator is to advocate for inclusivity and spaces dedicated to artists of color within galleries and museums. Within her practice as an artist, her work often explores topics of mental health, identity, sexuality and celebrates black culture. She continues to build her career as a curator and an artist in San Antonio.
Aissatou Sidime-Blanton
Scholarship Committee Chair
Aissatou Sidime-Blanton is an art collector and curator dedicated to amplifying the work of African American women artists. A former reporter and art reviewer, she has organized acclaimed exhibitions, including "Her America" at the Carver Community Cultural Center and Re/Devaluing Colorism at the Southwest School of Art. Notably, her 2024 retrospective of Delita Martin received a NEA grant. In San Antonio, she and her husband also fund the SAEAS Abaraka Award for research and visual arts projects
by African American women.
Barbara Felix
Community Art Liaison Co-Chair
Barbara Felix is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice includes drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, animation, and experimental video, centering portraiture and the human figure through dance and movement as acts of joyous resilience. She holds a BFA from Texas State University and a certificate from the Southwest School of Art. Felix is fully committed to her art and community. Her notable works include The Glorious Way She Moves Permission to Play public mural collaboration in downtown San Antonio, and Bailando con Mi Misma - Dancing With Myself self portrait series. Felix's animations and experimental performance video works have been screened nationally and internationally. She is co-owner of The Beacon at Midtown Gallery & Studios.
Gary Young
Community Art Liaison Co-Chair
Gary Young is a Maryland native who later made Texas his home after proudly serving in the U.S. Navy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from The University of Texas at San Antonio and currently serves as the Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator for Art, Design, and Creative Technologies in the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. An artist at heart, Gary’s creative foundation is rooted in drawing, complemented by a growing passion for ceramics—particularly hand-building and sculptural work. Outside of his professional and creative endeavors, he enjoys hiking, exploring national and state parks with his dog, and setting out on road trips in search of new adventures.
Jared Taylor
Historian
Jared Taylor, is a photographer and writer from San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, in 2021 with a Bachelor of Business in Finance. When not working or watching sports, Jared is an avid artist through photography and creative writing. He finds photography fascinating because it incorporates technology and science to manipulate light, distance, and color, creating beautiful compositions that amaze and inspire discussion. As a person of Black, White, and Asian descent, culture and creativity are deeply ingrained in his art, food, personality, and interests. Jared advocates for neurodivergence, educational support, food security, animals, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Dominique Jordan
Chaplain
Dominique Jordan, a San Antonio mixed-media artist, fuses Abstract Expressionism with Street Art, Pop Art, and Portraiture. Shaped by her global upbringing and African American heritage, her work uniquely explores identity, resilience, and cultural heritage, focusing on people of color. A BFA candidate in Art Education/Fine Arts, Dominique creates inspiring, educational art, with work published in Release Me and exhibited in her first solo exhibition Souled Out, a reflection on African American soul-honoring faith,resilience, and identity while redefining what it means to be fully devoted, even in the face of struggle.
E'Randa B. Newsome
Annual Fundraiser Event Coordinator
E’Randa B. Newsome is a conceptual textile artist and founder of Diaspora Thredz, an art-forward brand exploring migration, memory, and ancestral reclamation through fabric, drag, and fusion cuisine. With a background in international education and global engagement, her work bridges cultural scholarship and creative practice. Her forthcoming cookbook, From Roots to Recipes: Parts of Me, reflects her commitment to storytelling through spice, stitch, and diasporic connection.