Staff & Board

Susan Denson-Guy

Executive Director

For more than four decades, Susan has advocated for the arts with a strong belief in their power to serve as a springboard for engaging thoughtful conversations and community transformations. Through the course of her career, she has worked for land-grant universities, state agencies, and local non-profits promoting the benefits of arts and culture. She has served as the Executive Director of the Emerson Center for the Arts & culture for more than a decade with a palpable passion for the Emerson’s creative community. Away from the office, she enjoys tagging along on her husband’s research projects, exploring the wilds of Montana, gaming, and being mom to their two sons and pack of Australian Shepherds.

Erik Hansen

Maintenance Technician

With more than three decades working in construction and renovation, and a BFA in Sculpture from MSU, Erik Hansen is uniquely qualified to care for the Emerson’s historic building and its tenant’s artistic needs. As the Emerson’s Maintenance Technician, Erik enjoys being surrounded by like-minded creatives and appreciates being able to use his skills to benefit the community. After the boiler has been diligently tended to, minor plumbing catastrophes averted, and the grand old building is tucked in safe and sound, Erik likes to explore Montana’s backroads and unique places with his family and his dogs.

Dacotah Stordahl

Theater Manager

Dacotah Stordahl discovered his passion for audio and visual tech as a teenager, in the Emerson’s own Crawford Theater. After studying at MSU’s School of Film and Photography and gaining years of behind-the-scenes experience, Dacotah has returned to the Emerson as the Theater Manager. His skills in studio and live audio engineering; lighting design; stage management; show control system design; and graphic design equip him to tackle almost any production project. Outside of the theater, Dacotah plays in a local electronic band, Best Korea; scopes out Bozeman’s underground music scene; teaches K-12 students about theater tech; and enjoys the local terrain.

Tina Radovich

Director of Operations

Born and raised in Montana, Tina has spent her life exploring many opportunities expanding her expertise, contributing to the community and learning new skills. She has a diverse work history and has filled many roles in the public, private, government and non-profit sectors. Originally from Choteau, Montana, Tina earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Montana State University (MSU), and is a lifetime member of the MSU Alumni Association. Her hobbies include crafting, party planning, wood working and creating things that are beautiful. Tina spends the majority of her free time with her husband and two children enjoying the outdoors and making memories.

Carolyn Hopkins

Education Curator

Carolyn Hopkins holds an MFA in Sculpture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute. She spearheaded the foundation of Carnation Contemporary, a co-op gallery in Portland Oregon, to which she remains an active member and shows her work annually. She has collaborated with Mark Dion and has been an Artist in Residence at the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC, the Vermont Studio Center, Caldera, and many others. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Carolyn splits her free time between her studio and the saddle, and often combines her two passions by creating artwork with her horses.

Emily Wrotny

Director of Outreach & Marketing

With a background in marketing, graphic design, and art direction, Emily brings a versatile outlook that she is eager to contribute. She holds a dual BBA in Marketing and International business, and received her Masters in Graphic Design in Italy. With a passion for storytelling and communication, Emily resonates with the Emerson’s namesake in her belief that execution of thought into artistic expression depends on the simplicity of one’s character; their love of truth and the desire to communicate that truth without loss or dilution from secondary distractions of duplicity or falsehood. A love of nature drives the spirit of her life and work; a kindred connection that also fuels her family.

Lumay Wang Murphy

Vice President

Lumay Wang Murphy is an Investment Principal at ZX Ventures' Growth Equity Fund. As a corporate strategy expert, she has gained much experience in consumer product and retail industries through previous positions at Anheuser-Busch InBev and Monitor Deloitte. Lumay has served on the legislative staff of Senator John Kerry and Congressman Scott Peters. She received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and graduated from Tufts University summa cum laude where she was awarded two department prizes for her art history thesis. Lumay also serves on Bozeman's Sustainability Citizen Advisory and The Ocean Foundation board. Her first paying job was an Art Educator Assistant at the National Gallery of Art where she supported children's programs. She lives in Bozeman with her husband and young son.

Mark Melief

Treasurer

The Emerson continues to be a large part of Mark’s family. His mother is an Emerson tenant, former board member, and long-time supporter. Now, his own children attend summer art camps. He grew up spending the school year in New York, and summers and vacations in the west. Mark earned a BA in economics from Pomona College in Los Angeles and has lived and worked in Seattle, San Francisco, and Napa Valley. When his father passed away in 2018, he joined his brother-in-law in taking the reins of the family business, Quinn’s Hot Spring Resort in western Montana. Mark and his young family moved to Bozeman 2020. Mark is passionate about the outdoors, energy technology, and the arts – especially performing arts. He is excited to bring his experience in marketing, program development and events, and financial management to the Emerson.

Lucas Swart

Director

Lucas Swart grew up in Bozeman before moving to Washington for college and to pursue a degree in Geology at Whitman College. After college, Lucas moved to Seattle where he worked for 10 years in geotechnical and environmental consulting. He moved back to Bozeman 4 years ago to lay fresh roots for his newly growing family. Lucas is a construction management professional and works in Big Sky. MT. His personal interests include photography, climbing, skiing, and mountain biking as well as other outdoor activities.

Our Team

Emerson Staff