governance
The Clay Center of New Orleans is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that incorporated in the state of Louisiana in February of 2017. An all-volunteer Board of Directors governs the Clay Center, and currently consists of the following individuals:
Michelle Swafford, Founder and Board President
Michelle is a ceramic artist whose work has been in such venues as the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art, the American Museum of Ceramic Art, and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Colorado-Denver, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tulane University, where she was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of ceramics in the Newcomb Art Department for 9 years.
Michelle threw her first pots in a recreation center pottery class in 1997, and began teaching community-oriented classes in 2003. From 2011 to 2014, she was a Resident Artist and instructor at the nationally acclaimed Baltimore Clayworks in Maryland. She departed Baltimore in 2014 to join the Masters of Fine Arts program at Tulane University in New Orleans. After finishing her MFA, Michelle decided to bring the national model of a nonprofit ceramics art center to southeast Louisiana and founded the Clay Center to grow, support, and elevate ceramic art and artists by bringing high-quality ceramic art education, facilities, outreach, and professional opportunities to the city of New Orleans.
In addition to her experiences as a potter, sculptor, community educator, and professor, Michelle has a professional background in architecture, graphic design, office management, and human resources. Since moving to New Orleans more than a decade ago, Michelle has become adept at dodging potholes, eating po’ boys, and catching parade throws without spilling her drink.
Michelle is a ceramic artist whose work has been in such venues as the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art, the American Museum of Ceramic Art, and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Colorado-Denver, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tulane University, where she was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of ceramics in the Newcomb Art Department for 9 years.
Michelle threw her first pots in a recreation center pottery class in 1997, and began teaching community-oriented classes in 2003. From 2011 to 2014, she was a Resident Artist and instructor at the nationally acclaimed Baltimore Clayworks in Maryland. She departed Baltimore in 2014 to join the Masters of Fine Arts program at Tulane University in New Orleans. After finishing her MFA, Michelle decided to bring the national model of a nonprofit ceramics art center to southeast Louisiana and founded the Clay Center to grow, support, and elevate ceramic art and artists by bringing high-quality ceramic art education, facilities, outreach, and professional opportunities to the city of New Orleans.
In addition to her experiences as a potter, sculptor, community educator, and professor, Michelle has a professional background in architecture, graphic design, office management, and human resources. Since moving to New Orleans more than a decade ago, Michelle has become adept at dodging potholes, eating po’ boys, and catching parade throws without spilling her drink.
Tracey Bellina-Milazzo, Co-Founder and Vice President
While working at Tulane University, Tracey met Michelle in 2016 when she enrolled in Michelle's evening ceramics class. A native New Orleanian, Tracey found her passion for ceramics 16 years earlier while earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University. Though formally trained as a graphic designer, she never lost her desire to become a ceramicist.
Tracey has worked with nonprofit educational organizations in graphic design, publications, marketing, and communications for 20 years and currently serves as the Director of Marketing for Tulane University's Division of Student Affairs.
Tracey is a former Board Secretary for Beth’s Friends Forever, a nonprofit organization devoted to supplementing the resources of women fighting cancer in the greater New Orleans area. She is also an original co-founder and the past Creative Director at Nola Bulls, LLC, which hosts the wildly popular annual "Running of the Bulls" event in New Orleans. When she's not festing, parading, or running around town with her dog Guinness, Tracey can be found in her home studio, crafting away in clay and every other material under the sun.
While working at Tulane University, Tracey met Michelle in 2016 when she enrolled in Michelle's evening ceramics class. A native New Orleanian, Tracey found her passion for ceramics 16 years earlier while earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University. Though formally trained as a graphic designer, she never lost her desire to become a ceramicist.
Tracey has worked with nonprofit educational organizations in graphic design, publications, marketing, and communications for 20 years and currently serves as the Director of Marketing for Tulane University's Division of Student Affairs.
Tracey is a former Board Secretary for Beth’s Friends Forever, a nonprofit organization devoted to supplementing the resources of women fighting cancer in the greater New Orleans area. She is also an original co-founder and the past Creative Director at Nola Bulls, LLC, which hosts the wildly popular annual "Running of the Bulls" event in New Orleans. When she's not festing, parading, or running around town with her dog Guinness, Tracey can be found in her home studio, crafting away in clay and every other material under the sun.
Additional Board Members
Andrea Garcia
Beth Hanning
Andrea Garcia
Beth Hanning