“We consider it an honor and a responsibility to offer art as a way for our community members to explore their differences while uniting in common activities.”
Shawn Brevard
Shawn Brevard, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, received her B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia in 1979. She also has an Associate Degree in Merchandising and Production from the Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers in New York City. She worked for Saks 5th Avenue in New York City (1980-1983), prior to opening a business in her hometown
(S. Stewart Ltd, 1983-1986). Shawn married Tupelo native David Brevard in 1986 and moved with him to Tupelo where he runs his family concrete business and she has been active in nonprofit work for more than 30 years. She is a former member and past president of the Board of Directors for Tupelo Community Theatre, a founding board member and past president of Link Centre. She served on the Tupelo Public School District Board of Trustees from 2005-2009, the last two years as President. Other organizations with which she has partnered include the Association for Excellence in Education, Habitat for Humanity, numerous PTO/PTA groups, First United Methodist Church outreach, Cultural Alliance of Tupelo/Lee County (now Tupelo Arts Council), GumTree Museum of Art, Tupelo Symphony, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi, and the Lee County Library. She served as a Commissioner with the Mississippi Arts Commission and as a board member of The MAX. Shawn serves as volunteer chair of the Link Centre Performing Arts Commission, which plans and implements Link Centre's Monthly Music Mix, Words with Films, Annual Artist Residency, and other performance events She is a current co-president of the Tupelo Committee for Martin Luther King, Jr. In 2023, Mrs. Brevard received the IHL’s Karen Cummins Community Service Award during their Diversity and Inclusion Awards ceremony.