The Council is comprised of up to 21 individuals who are appointed by the Governor and approved by the State Senate. Council members are appointed to five-year terms. The Council is currently made up of the following members.

Danny Simmons, Chair

Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Vice-Chair

Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel is an author, television interviewer and producer, preservationist, and civic activist. In 1966, Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel became the first Director of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, initiating the first public art exhibition by Tony Smith at Bryant Park and the first public performance in Central Park of the Metropolitan Opera. She also served as a Commissioner of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission from 1972 to 1987 and was Chair of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Foundation from 1987 to 1995. She served as a Member of the New York City Cultural Commission and a Member of the New York City Art Commission.

Since 1995, Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel has been the Chair of the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center (HLPC), creating a Cultural Medallion program documenting notable occurrences, distinguished individuals and other important aspects of New York City’s cultural, economic, political and social history. Among other programs, the HLPC initiated, created, designed and financed all of the terra cotta street signs in each of New York City’s Historic Districts. Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel was appointed by President Reagan to the Board of the United States Holocaust Museum in 1987 where she served as Chair of the subcommittee that commissioned all of the original art created for the museum. She was appointed to the United States Commission of Fine Arts in 1992 by President Clinton. In 2002, Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel became the first woman elected Vice Chair of the Commission.

Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel is the author of 19 books and the curator of seven international museum exhibitions, each based on one of her books. A current exhibit based on “The Landmarks of New York,” is being circulated by the U.S. Department of State to 62 countries on each of the five continents. Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Fresh Air Fund, Friends of the High Line, and the New York State Historic Archives Trust, among others. Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel earned her doctorate from New York University, and has received honorary doctorates from the Maryland Institute College of Art and Longwood University in Virginia. She was also elected an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects.

Jeff Soref, Vice-Chair

Jeff Soref is the President of Soref Associates, Inc., a private consulting firm located in New York City that specializes in public relations management. Mr. Soref is currently a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and also serves as a Member of the Museum's Visiting Committee for the Department of Asian Art. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and was Co-Chair of the Board’s Government Affairs Committee (2003-2006). Mr. Soref organized Lincoln Center's first salute to Gay Pride benefit as part of New York City's celebration of Gay Pride Week and he is a past Co-Chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Empire State Pride Agenda. He was also President of the Board of Directors of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (1991-1994). Mr Soref is a former member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Lenox Hill Neighborhood Association. Mr. Soref received his A.B. from Brandeis University and his Master of Science with distinction in Russian Government from the London School of Economics.

Laura L. Aswad

Laura L. Aswad is the Executive Director of Real Arts and Culture, a New York based company specializing in the performing and visual arts. Previously, she was producer of the Lincoln Center Festival, the international summer performing arts festival, where she produced numerous productions in all genres of the performing arts (1996-2004). Ms. Aswad has also served as associate producer of Lincoln Center’s Serious Fun! Festival (1993-1995), as the tour manager for numerous international and domestic productions, and as the senior associate at International Production Associates where she coordinated domestic and international tours for such artists as Sankai Juku and Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble (1989-1993). She is originally from Binghamton, New York and she received her B.A. in Theater from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Laura L. Ballori

Laura L. Ballori is the Executive Vice-President of Ballori Farre, a New York City based advertising and communications firm.  She is also the New York Correspondent for IMAGEN Magazine, Puerto Rico's leading monthly, where she writes about the arts, as well as cultural and lifestyle issues. Ms. Ballori also serves as both a member of the board and artistic director of The Children Foundation, which helps children with learning disabilities and whose Annual Autumn Gala – a classical music fundraising event – she has produced since 1998. She is also an operatic soprano who has trained at Juilliard, Strasberg and Stella Adler. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and a Master of Arts in Performance Studies from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Jill Erika Braufman

Jill Erika Braufman is the Board Chair of The Center for Arts Education. Before coming to The Center for Arts Education, Ms. Braufman founded and managed an interior design resource specializing in antique textiles. After managing the business for more than six years, in 2001 she turned her focus towards full-time political and philanthropic pursuits relating to the arts, education, public policy issues and women's health. Jill Braufman is a graduate of Brown University and Parson’s School of Design. 

Carol Enseki

Carol Enseki is currently an independent museum and education consultant.  In 2009, Ms. Enseki stepped down from her position as president of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum where she served for more than 20 years. She led the museum’s efforts to increase educational opportunities for urban children through interactive science and cultural exhibitions and programs, innovative use of collections, and strategic collaborations with both local community organizations and national partners. In 2005, she was appointed to the Accreditation Commission of the American Association of Museums and has been active in the creation of a field-wide Museums and Diversity National Initiative. Ms. Enseki has served on the boards of the American Association of Museums, the Association of Children’s Museums, the Arts & Business Council, Inc., the Brooklyn Arts Council, the Heart of Brooklyn cultural partnership, and the Cultural Institutions Group of New York City. She holds a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.A. in Environmental Design from Beacon College.

Betty Levin

Betty Levin is the president and founder of Corporate Art Directions. She is co-chair of the board of The Jewish Museum, chair of its Development Committee and a sitting member of its Acquisitions and Exhibitions Committees. She is also a board member at the Lincoln Center Institute.  Ms. Levin earned her Bachelor’s degree from Wells College.

Jeffrey H. Lynford

Jeffrey H. Lynford is the Chairman of Reis, Inc. (NASDAQ: REIS), an internet-based business information firm which provides real estate data and analytics to the nation’s largest commercial and investment banks and other leading financial institutions. Mr. Lynford has over 20 years of executive corporate experience as co-founder of the Wellsford group of publicly-traded real estate corporations and private equity partnerships. Also, he has served as an independent director on the boards of Equity Residential Properties Trust (NYSE: EQR), and numerous open and closed end real estate mutual funds sponsored by the investment management firm of Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS). Mr. Lynford currently serves as a trustee of New York University, the Vice Chair of the Global Heritage Fund and has been appointed by the Governor to the New York State Council on the Arts. He is an emeritus trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Citizens Budget Commission and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Inc. The Lynford Family Charitable Trust supports numerous eleemosynary organizations with both domestic and international missions, including endowment of fellowship programs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University and Weill Cornell Medical School and formation of the Institute for Mathematics and Advanced Super-computing. He holds three university degrees, including a law degree from Fordham University and Masters in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University. He is married to Tondra Lynford who is a psychotherapist and co-founder of Resources for Children with Special needs, Inc. They are the parents of four children.

Laudelina Martinez

Laudelina Martinez is currently the Owner and Director of the Martinez Gallery. She has owned and directed this art gallery since 2001, focusing on Latino and Latin American art. She has served as curator at more than 40 exhibitions while conducting an on-going public education program in the area of art and culture. She was the President and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities from 1992-1995 where she represented Hispanic-serving institutions, associate colleges and universities, and international members. Ms. Martinez received her B.A. from the College of New Rochelle, her M.A. from Fordham University and conducted additional doctoral coursework the University at Albany.

Natalie Merchant

Natalie Merchant is an award winning singer and songwriter as well as a public advocate. She has worked with organizations such as Scenic Hudson and Robert Kennedy Jr.'s Riverkeeper, The Center for Constitutional Rights, Doctors Without Borders, Tibet House, Greenpeace, and The Southern Center for Human Rights. She contributes support to several children’s organizations including The Association to Benefit Children in Manhattan. In her hometown of Jamestown, the Boys & Girls Club, and the YMCA and YWCA continue to benefit from her annual gifts. She is best known for her work as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the pop music band 10,000 Maniacs. Ms. Merchant released six albums with the 10,000 Maniacs between 1981 and 1993 (The Wishing Chair, In My Tribe, Blind Man's Zoo, Hope Chest, Our Time in Eden & MTV Unplugged). Ms. Merchant has also released a number of solo albums including Motherland (2001), Ophelia (1998), and 1995’s critically acclaimed Tigerlily.

Linda Mondello

Linda Mondello is the former director of Education Resources in the Development Office at Hofstra University. She is a member of the Diane Lindner-Goldberg Child Care Institute, the Hofstra Advisory Board and the University Fine Arts Museum. Ms. Mondello is also a member of New York State Committee of Women, the Nassau County Federation of Republican Women, and the Syosette Garden Club.  She is a former member of the Rock Hall Museum. She has also served as a Council member for the Goodwill Games. Ms. Mondello earned an A.A. in Fine Art from Stratford Jr. College, a B.S. in Fine Art from Hofstra University and is pursuing an M.S. degree in Art Education at Hofstra University.

John Morning

John Morning has been a graphic designer in Manhattan since 1960, specializing in publications and materials for leading arts, cultural and philanthropic institutions. From 1997-2002 Morning was the Trustee to the City University of New York. He was appointed by Governor Pataki to the 17-member board of the third-largest public system in the country. Mr. Morning was a director of Dime Savings Bank of New York for 23, years which led the way for his future leadership positions. Mr. Morning received his B.A. at Pratt Institute and also attended Wayne State University and Harvard Business School Institute for Arts Administration.

Amy Newman

Amy Newman is an art historian, consultant and writer specializing in 19th and 20th Century American art.  She co-edited the writings of the founding director of the Museum of Modern Art, Defining Modern Art: Selected Writings of Alfred H. Barr, Jr. (Harry N. Abrams, 1986); is the author of Challenging Art: Artforum 1962-1974 (Soho Press, 2003), and is currently preparing a biography of  the abstract expressionist, Barnett Newman (no relation to her). She is the curator of the New York and London collections of Cravath, Swaine and Moore, Ltd., for which she has written a catalogue, and the curator of the New York collection of Davis Wright Tremaine, Ltd. Ms. Newman is the editor of numerous catalogues, and has written for the Arts and Leisure section of The New York Times. In the 1970s and 1980s she was managing editor at Artnews magazine. She has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Graduate School of Journalism. She is a member of the boards of Landmark West!, a historical preservation organization, and Exit Art, which was founded as a visual arts alternative space in the 1982, but which has evolved into a multidisciplinary cultural space concerned with aesthetic, social, political and environmental issues. Ms. Newman has an A.B. from Barnard College and an M.A. in art history from Columbia University Graduate Faculties.

Rita Paniagua

Ms. Paniagua is currently Executive Director of the Spanish Action League and has been involved with the organization since 2003. Prior to working with the Spanish Action League, she was the owner of Backstage Productions in San Juan, Puerto Rico for several years. She has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for leadership in public advocacy and community service. Among her many honors, she has been recognized by the Alliance Network with the Bea Gonzalez Award, Labor Religion Coalition Community Service Award and ACIU Outstanding Community Involvement Award. Currently, Ms. Paniagua is serving on the Latino Upstate Summit Organizing Committee, Boys Scouts of America Syracuse Board, Near West Side Imitative Board, La Casita Cultural Center Board and the Imagine Syracuse Board. Ms. Paniagua attended Virginia Intermont College.

Hal D. Payne

Hal D. Payne is currently the Vice President for Student Affairs at SUNY College at Buffalo where he has served for 20 years. Currently, Payne is on the President’s Executive Council, the College Planning Council, the Budget Priorities Committee, the Enrollment Management Steering Group, the Intercollegiate Athletics Board, and the College Priorities Task Force. Also, Mr. Payne is involved in the U.S. Department of Education/Council for Opportunity in Education Legislation and Regulations Seminars and received The Walter O. Mason Jr. Award (Highest Annual Award of the Council for Opportunity in Education) in September of 1996. Mr. Payne received his B.A. at Western Reserve University and his law degree at Cleveland State University.

Dennis M. Penman

Dennis M. Penman is Executive Vice President of M.J. Peterson Real Estate Corp. in Amherst, New York and is Chairman of the Board of Western New York Public Broadcasting. Penman has served on the Executive Committee of Shea’s Buffalo Theater and as Vice President of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also received an Emmy Award (2004-2005) for his contribution to Reading Rainbow. His past work includes playing key roles in Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 and Elderly Housing programs, and service as President of the New York State Builders Association, President of the Buffalo Niagara Builders Association, Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders, and head of the US Congress Millennial Housing Commission.

Deborah  Ronnen

Deborah Ronnen is an attorney and owner of Deborah Ronnen Fine Art in Rochester, NY, specializing in modern and contemporary art.   As an independent curator, Ms. Ronnen has organized exhibitions in conjunction with the Collector's Gallery at The Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, at The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester,and at The Nazareth College Arts Center, all in Rochester, NY. Currently, she serves on the board of The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. She is  a community activist and a longtime advocate for the upstate cultural community.

She holds an LL.B. ( JD equivalent) from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where she was admitted to the Bar and was the Director of The Jerusalem Mediation Center. She also holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Boston University.

Judith O. Rubin

Judith O. Rubin is Chair of Playwrights Horizons and a member of the Tony Awards Administration Committee. She serves on the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission of New York City, the University’s Council Committee on Theater at Yale, and the Board of Overseers of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Ms. Rubin is also a Trustee of Mount Sinai Medical Center and a former Trustee of Public Radio International and the Center for Arts and Culture. She has previously served on the NEA’s National Council on the Arts, on the board of Theatre Communications Group, as Manhattan representative on the Board of Regents of New York State, and as President of the 92^nd Street Y. Ms. Rubin has also served as Commissioner for Protocol under Mayor David Dinkins (1984-1988). She is a graduate of Wellesley College and is listed in Who’s Who of American Women. Judith Rubin was appointed to the council by Governor Mario Cuomo in 1989.

Dr. Marta Moreno Vega