2026 NCECA BOARD CANDIDATES AND E-BALLOT
NCECA Board and Staff Members, 2025 Formation Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah.
All active members of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Art have the opportunity to cast e-ballots to select the next Director at Large (2026-2029) and Student Director at Large (2026-2028).
The individuals in these roles will exercise fiduciary responsibility for the organization, actively fullfill critical operational functions, and participate in governance, strategic planning, and public engagement. Participation in this election is not dependent on conference registration. Your membership must be active as of March 26, 2026, to be eligible to cast one ballot for each of these two positions.
The e-ballot for this election opens in early March and closes on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 4:00PM/ET, and takes place via SurveyMonkey. A link to the e-ballot will be transmitted to the email address associated with your NCECA Membership profile.
If your NCECA membership is active and you did not receive an invitation to the ballot, please check your spam folder and then log into your user profile to verify that your membership has not lapsed. Once you have ascertained that your membership is active, please email office@nceca.net to request a ballot invitation. Should you discover that your membership has become inactive, please renew by March 26 to cast a vote in the 2026 election.
Meet the 2026 Director at Large Candidates.
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2026 NCECA Director at Large Candidate
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“As Director at Large, I will create new pathways and professional opportunities for NCECA’s Emerging Artists through a visiting artist program. This will impact the field at large by increasing Emerging Artist time with young artists and work to strengthen the connection between education, professional experience, and NCECA. I will work to create internship opportunities between recent graduates and art institutions. In addition, I will work toward facilitating a curriculum library for NCECA members. I believe increased emphasis on professional opportunities, creating connections between contemporary art and ceramics, and strategic relationships with educational institutions will drive NCECA into the future.”
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Board ratified Director at Large candidate Alex Ferrante is a faculty member at Dallas College. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo and Resident Artist and teaching fellow at Midwestern State University (Texas). He was the recipient of the Zeldin Fellowship from The Clay Studio. Alex holds an MFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
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2026 NCECA Director at Large Candidate
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“I envision my service to NCECA as grounded, responsive, and community-centered. I aim to support accessible, rigorous ceramic education across career stages by strengthening professional development, continuing education, and inclusive programming. Drawing on my experience in higher education, arts administration, and community-based practice, I hope to amplify underrepresented voices, support sustainable pathways for artists and educators, and help NCECA remain a vital, evolving resource for the field.”
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Board ratified Director at Large candidate Julia Harmon is a ceramic artist, educator, and arts administrator whose practice bridges functional ceramics, material research, and community engagement. With experience in higher education, professional programs, and artist residencies, she advocates for accessible, rigorous craft education and sustainable, inclusive artist communities across the United States and national educational leadership.
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2026 NCECA Director at Large Candidate
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“As an arts organization, NCECA needs to set term goals and plan its future path. I understand that a board consists of differing opinions, and it is the members' responsibility to work together to guide the organization based on these many points of view. I am also aware of the many financial restraints that affect both short- and long-term planning, as well as keeping the organization pertinent to its members. We stay relevant by being good listeners and understanding that the diversity of our members is our strength. There are many differing opinions, all are relevant to the organization’s success.”
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Director at Large candidate standing from the floor, Jonathan Kaplan's studio practice is based in Denver, Colorado, where he also curates Plinth Gallery. Jonathan holds a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He has been active in the ceramic field for 59 years as a ceramic designer, mold and model maker, potter, educator, and mentor. Jonathan is the author of The Mold Making Manual, published by The American Ceramic Society.
Meet the 2026 Student Director at Large Candidates.
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2026 NCECA Candidate
Student Director at Large -
“I envision my service to NCECA as one rooted in building inclusive, collaborative communities and amplifying student voices. My background in wood firing and organizing large-scale, community-centered events has shown me how shared labor and dialogue create lasting connections. From leading firings to co-organizing the Ohio University Atmospheric Conference, I bring experience in adaptability, creative problem-solving, and mentorship. As Student Director, I aim to expand access, support emerging artists, and help foster spaces where students feel welcomed, represented, and empowered to shape the future of ceramics.”
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Raised in Southern Utah, Student Director at Large candidate Sam McCall earned his BFA from Utah State University in 2021. Since then, he has attended various workshops and residencies, including the Red Lodge Clay Center and Guldagergaard - International Ceramic Research Center. He is currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Ohio University.
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2026 NCECA Candidate
Student Director at Large -
“I bring a perspective shaped by my experiences in production pottery, coaching field hockey, and pursuing an MFA in ceramics. Balancing a personal studio practice with leadership roles has given me firsthand insight into both the challenges and rewards of creative work. Through mentorship, studio leadership, and engagement with contemporary ceramic practices, I’ve developed the skills to support emerging artists, create inclusive programs, and strengthen community connections. I share NCECA’s commitment to education, innovation, and accessibility, and hope to foster knowledge sharing and mentorship to build a welcoming, collaborative ceramics community where everyone feels valued.”
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Student Director at Large candidate Hadley Wiktor graduated from Kutztown University in 2020 with a BFA in Crafts and a BA in Art History. The pandemic redirected her from pursuing an MA to working as a production potter in Vermont, fostering four years of growth. She lives in Edinboro and is pursuing an MFA in Ceramics.
Watch the 2026 Candidates.
“Hello, NCECA. My name is Alex Ferrante, and I'm excited to share that I'm a Board Candidate for NCECA Director at Large. As an artist, I explore how our sense of self emerges from the material world—the world of objects. Through my work, I ask the question: How does the non-human world create us rather than reflect us?
Currently, I'm based in Dallas, Texas, where I'm a full-time faculty member at Dallas College.
I believe that varied experience, both in life and in approach to art, is a power to be emphasized across the ceramic community, and it’s largely due to ceramics’ connection to community that I found motivation as a young artist. I'm a longtime NCECA participant, and as a young student I presented a lecture titled Clay and Soluble Salts at the Houston NCECA conference. I have also since participated in and curated exhibitions across conferences.
My current position at Dallas College makes me aware of the importance of institutional support, visibility, and giving voice to artists who are actively pursuing personal and cultural change. I believe NCECA could further strengthen the Emerging Artist program by partnering with universities to give selected artists the opportunity to become visiting artists. This would also help to increase the visibility of NCECA to young students. I envision an internship program that helps pair recent graduates with opportunities to work as studio assistants and technicians across residencies, galleries, and museums.
I also believe NCECA could create a curriculum library for both undergraduate and K–12 educators. The creation of this library will continue to help educators attend the conference.
I've worked as an artist both inside and outside of educational institutions, and I strongly believe that it is each of our responsibilities to help make opportunities possible. At its core, education in the arts arms practitioners with the agency to locate and place themselves in positions to affect change. It is the cultivation of varied experience within communities that empowers this.
Thank you for this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to work within NCECA.”
- Alex Ferrante
“Hi everyone, my name is Julia Harmon, and I’m very excited to be a board candidate for the NCECA Director-at-Large position.
I’m based in San Antonio, Texas, and I currently wear many hats. I cook on a food truck making smashburgers, assist my mom with her interior design firm, teach ceramics at a local university, and maintain a full-time studio practice. I like to say I’m in my “gig era.”
My practice moves in two directions. I have a functional body of work that is collaborative, often created in partnership with chefs. Alongside that, I maintain a conceptual practice that explores heritage and trauma. I’m interested in linking these two approaches, and much of my work bridges ceramics and textiles.
I’m excited to be a candidate because I bring experience in nonprofit work and arts administration. I worked in membership for two years with the McNay and the Briscoe here in San Antonio, and I’ve also served as a grant writer. I hold a master’s degree in Visual Arts Administration from New York University and have experience with strategic planning.
I’m eager for the opportunity to serve on the board, learn more about how NCECA operates, and better understand the work that goes into organizing the annual conferences. Ceramic education is deeply important to me, and NCECA plays a vital role in bringing ceramic artists together in community—to share ideas, inspire one another, and stay connected. I’m honored to be considered and excited about the possibility of contributing on the other side of that experience.”
- Julia Harmon
“Hello, my name is Jonathan, and I’m based in Denver, Colorado. I’m honored to share that I am a candidate for the NCECA Director at Large position.
I have been involved in ceramics for 59 years in many capacities—as a practicing studio artist, technician, consultant, author, educator, and mentor. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to supporting artists at every stage of their development.
In addition to my studio practice, I serve as a board member of the nonprofit Art District organization here in Denver, where I live, work, and maintain my studio. My experience with local arts leadership has strengthened my belief in the importance of community-centered organizations that advocate for artists and foster meaningful connection.
I see NCECA as an organization for everyone involved in ceramics—one that can provide guidance and direction for those just entering the field, while also offering purpose and relevance for those with decades of experience.
I hope to bring my many years of professional and nonprofit leadership experience to help NCECA continue to grow, evolve, and flourish in service to our ceramics community.”
- Jonathan Kaplan
“Hello, NCECA. My name is Sam McCall, and I’m excited to share that I’m a candidate for the NCECA Student Director at Large position. I’m based in Athens, Ohio, where I’m currently pursuing my Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Ohio University.
My background in ceramics is deeply rooted in wood firing, a practice I’ve been committed to for the past seven years. What has kept me invested isn’t just the material or the process, but the strong sense of community that wood firing cultivates. It’s always a collective effort—people working together toward a shared goal. That camaraderie is what initially drew me to clay.
As I’ve grown into leadership roles—organizing firings and workshops—I’ve found real purpose in helping create those same meaningful experiences for others. Most recently, I co-organized the Ohio University Atmospheric Conference, which brought together ten guest artists and more than seventy students and participants for firings, demonstrations, and lectures. Serving on the organizing side taught me how collaborative and creative community-building can be, and how events like NCECA spark connection and belonging across our field.
I see NCECA as a vital space where students, educators, and artists come together across diverse backgrounds and experiences. I’ve been volunteering with NCECA since 2022, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how the organization empowers students to shape the future of ceramics.
As Student Director-at-Large, I hope to amplify student voices and expand access by increasing opportunities to showcase student work, engage in dialogue, and connect with the broader ceramics community. I’m especially motivated to support inclusive programming, scholarships, and digital engagement so that more students can participate meaningfully.
I bring values of inclusivity, collaboration, and mentorship to this role, and I’m committed to representing students with openness and accountability. I would be honored to serve NCECA and help ensure that students continue to feel represented, supported, and inspired within our field. Thank you.”
- Sam McCall
“Hello, NCECA. My name is Hadley Wiktor, and I’m excited to share that I am currently a candidate for the Student Director-at-Large position.
I’m based in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, where I am pursuing my MFA in Ceramics at PennWest Edinboro. I bring a diverse background, with experience as a production potter, studio mentor, ceramic artist, and field hockey coach. I hope to bring my values of hard work, innovation, and kindness to NCECA—combining hands-on studio experience with leadership to support mentorship programs and strengthen community building.
I see NCECA as a vital space for education and dialogue across generations and geographies, where all ceramic voices are celebrated.
If elected, I would work to expand knowledge sharing beyond traditional academic spaces, build stronger regional and digital networks, and create opportunities that make the ceramics field even more accessible. My vision is grounded in the belief that ceramics can educate, connect, and empower—and that NCECA has the ability to amplify this impact for artists at every stage of their careers.
I am committed to representing NCECA’s members with curiosity, collaboration, and integrity. With experience in both studio practice and leadership, I bring a collaborative approach to advocating for the ceramics field and supporting NCECA’s mission alongside the board.
I would be honored to contribute my perspective, enthusiasm, and energy to help grow an even more vibrant and welcoming ceramics community.
Thank you so much for watching. I’ll be at Edinboro’s booth during NCECA—please come say hello.”
- Hadley Wiktor