Staff
TARI HUGHES
President
Since January 2005, major accomplishments include raising $6.9 million to enhance the Nashville Public Library, developing the Nashville Public Library Literary Award Gala into a premier philanthropic event, and leading the creative team for Nashville's International Puppet Festival.
Before joining NPLF, she spent nearly 5 years as vice president of development for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center where she was responsible for raising approximately $2.5 million annually for TPAC Education and Tennessee Repertory Theatre. Hughes worked at Vanderbilt University for 12 years beginning in 1986. She served in several alumni and development capacities, most notably with the Owen Graduate School of Management and the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies.
On a national level, Hughes took a leadership role through Urban Libraries Council in twice organizing an annual conference for Library Foundation executives to share best practices and learn from one another. In November 2009, she was a featured speaker on "The Art of Fundraising" for an Alliance Library System conference. Hughes was twice elected chair of the ANE Council for the Center for Nonprofit Management and served on the CNM board and executive committee through December 2009. She continues to serve on the council.
In her third term on the board of directors for Tennesseans for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy group, she was recently elected secretary. The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Nashville chapter, elected her to the board as secretary in 2010.
She grew up in Nashville and graduated from Hillsboro High School and DePauw University. She is married to James G. Hughes, Jr. They have 4 daughters.
ELIZABETH SHERRARD
Campaign Coordinator
Elizabeth graduated from Furman University with a BA in Political Science and moved to Nashville to work for H.G. Hill Realty Company. She moved to Louisville KY with her husband and worked as Kentucky Country Day School’s Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events before moving back to Nashville and joining the Nashville Public Library Foundation.
STEPHANIE KOEHLER
Development Coordinator
Before joining NPLF in 2009, Stephanie was the Library Without Walls Coordinator with Book'em, a Nashville children's literacy organization and also served as website manager for All About Women. She graduated with B.A. in English from Texas A&M University and an M.A. from the University of Chicago.
CLAUDIA SCHENCK Administrator
Claudia comes to NPLF with a background in the banking and insurance business and most recently worked for the Tennessee Environmental Council. She graduated from the Technical University Dresden, Germany and Belmont University with a B.A. in English and Business Administration. Claudia’s love for libraries started in her childhood and she, her husband and two children are frequent visitors of the library, story time and puppet plays.