At the Augusta Heritage Center, we believe that our differences make us unique and bring richness to our communities. We aim to unite individuals from all backgrounds by educating and honoring the traditions, customs, and folklore of our communities. Through educational events, cultural celebrations, documentation, and community outreach programs, we strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can share their stories and appreciate the heritage of others. Let’s come together to build a brighter future, grounded in the rich histories of our past.
For inquires about the program please contact: info@augustaartsandculture.org or call 304-637-1209.
Seth Young
Chief Executive OfficerContact: Seth@augustaartsandculture.org
Seth Young is the Executive Director of the Augusta Heritage Center. Before this role, he was a career music educator specializing in preschool through 12th-grade band, jazz band, choir, and general music. In 2013, he was named master instrumental music instructor for the West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts and served three years in that position. Known for creating vibrant after school music programs for teens, he oversaw the music program at the Randolph County Arts Center from 2009-2016. A lifelong musician and performer, Young has toured extensively in the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. He holds a BA in music education from Davis and Elkins College and is pursuing an MMME in the Kodaly philosophy of music education at Capital University.
Emily Miller
Chief Creative OfficerContact: Emily@augustaartsandculture.org
Emily Miller is the Artistic Director of the Augusta Heritage Center, the string band director of the college’s Appalachian Ensemble, and a professional singer and fiddle player. At Augusta, Emily works with the director to oversee all programming and helps the theme week coordinators to execute a joint artistic vision. She received her BA in Anthropology-Linguistics from Brown University and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Vanderbilt University. In her career as a musician, she has toured with bands such as the Sweetback Sisters, The Starry Mountain Singers, and as a duo with Jesse Milnes, performing multiple times on national radio programs Mountain Stage and A Prairie Home Companion. She has released several albums of traditional and country music including In the Valley (2006), Chicken Ain’t Chicken (2009), Looking for a Fight (2012), Jesse Milnes & Emily Miller: Deep End Sessions (2015) and King of Killing Time (2017).
Eric Armstrong
Chief Operations OfficerContact: Eric@augustaartsandculture.org
Eric Armstrong is the Augusta Heritage Center’s Chief Operations Officer.
Ty Wilson
Office CoordinatorContact: Tyler.W@augustaartsandculture.org
Ty Wilson is the Office Coordinator for the Augusta Heritage Center. Ty assists the executive staff with a variety of tasks as needed and handles customer services inquires. Ty graduated from Davis and Elkins College in December 2023 with a bachelors degree in English with a concentration in Literature. Ty began at Augusta as a student employee in January 2022 before being hired as a full time employee in January 2024.
Lisa Gum
AmeriCorps Employee: Preservation CoordinatorContact: Gum.L@augustaartsandculture.org
Lisa Gum currently serves with AmeriCorps at the Augusta Heritage Center as the Preservations Coordinator. Lisa is a lifelong learner. This infinite curiosity has led to a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, becoming a certified yoga instructor, scholarly research on social movements, and a master’s degree in Anthropology and Social Change. Lisa’s vision is to recognize human connections with each other and the natural world.
Emilee Goodman
Wilt Building Capital Campaign Project ManagerContact: Goodman.E@augustaartsandculture.org
Emilee Marie Goodman is an Elkins, West Virginia-based multimedia artist and instructor. She holds a B.A. in Art and English from Davis and Elkins College and has worked as a teaching artist in her community since 2019. She brings her experience in sales and project management to the Augusta team and assists the executive team in their work. She is currently managing the Wilt Building redevelopment capital campaign. In her free time, Emilee can be found creating colorful works of art in her studio and enjoying the outdoors with her dog.
Maxie McCollam
Media and Operations CoordinatorContact: Maxie.M@augustaartsandculture.org
Maxie McCollam is the Media and Operations Coordinator for the Augusta Heritage Center.