NSN Kathryn Windham Conference Scholarship

Jodi French-Burr

Helping people find connections through stories is the focus of Jodi French-Burr’s work in the arts, including storytelling. French-Burr strives to raise awareness of the importance of heritage storytelling, be that on stage or behind the scenes, through her work with the National Park Service, the Storytelling Resource Place, the West Virginia Storytelling Guild, and regional community groups like the
Heritage Alliance and New River Gorge Historical Society. From telling tales trailside to conducting find-your-stories workshops, Jodi knows everyone has a story to tell. Her work champions these efforts, encouraging others to tell their stories too, be these around a kitchen table or in a public performance venue.

Mary Louise Hughes

In 2018, Mary Louise stumbled upon a workshop offered by Story
Crossroads in Salt Lake City, Utah, and fell in love with storytelling. In 2020 she started voiceover work and recording audiobooks. But it never compared with telling stories to a live audience, so storytelling remains as her main focus. She tells in schools, private events, and regional Storytelling Festivals throughout Utah and Idaho. Her initial interest was in personal and family stories, to share her own family history. When someone tells her of a significant life experience, she encourages them to, “Write it down and tell it to your kids!” She’s expanded her repertoire, taking 3rd place in the Timpanogos Hauntings, competing as a finalist in Utah’s Biggest Liar Contest, and learning world folktales. Recently returned from serving a church mission with her husband, she resumes telling stories of a variety of
genres.

Dada Maheshvarananda

A yogic monk, activist, and author of six books, Dada blends spiritual wisdom with a passion for social change. He has traveled the world, leading workshops and seminars on activism and transformation. Now based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, he serves as the director of the Prout Research Institute and is the president of The Asheville Storytelling Circle. His stories are invitations to reflect, grow, and awaken to a greater purpose.

Nicholas Pawlowski

Nicholas Pawlowski M. Ed. is a storyteller & educator who founded the Story Table Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes mental and emotional wellbeing through interactive storytelling & makes space for great storytellers from around the world.  Through improvisation, drawing & music, his facilitated events spark joy, connect generations and explore values like compassion and gratitude.  He lives in Minneapolis and is the current President of Story Arts of Minnesota.

Helen Yang

Helen Yang is an artist, educator, and cultural storyteller based in Silicon Valley, and the founder of Visionary Arts and Visionary Friends, platforms that position art as a bridge between science, culture, and community impact. Raised in a family of artists and educators, Helen began working on cultural heritage sites alongside her parents, both art professors, at the age of twelve. This early immersion shaped her lifelong commitment to using art as a vehicle for storytelling,
preservation, and public engagement. With over eight years of experience as a museum docent at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Helen is also a newly appointed storyteller at the Asian Art Museum, where she brings history and culture to life through engaging, human-centered narratives. Her work transforms complex ideas into accessible, emotionally resonant experiences that inspire connection and action. Helen has led more than 70 community exhibitions and initiatives, engaging hundreds of thousands of participants through programs that integrate art, environmental
conservation, and youth leadership. She collaborates with organizations including the United Nations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to translate global challenges into meaningful, community-driven storytelling experiences. As a speaker, Helen explores how storytelling, especially when combined with visual art, can build empathy, strengthen cultural understanding, and cultivate the next generation of leaders. In the age of AI, she advocates for art as a uniquely human force that shapes values, fosters responsibility, and creates lasting social impact.