Julie is a recognized leader in nonprofit strategy, management and fundraising with a deep commitment to advancing social justice through art, culture, and community engagement. She brings a wealth of experience in advancement, strategic planning, and change management, including two decades as CEO of The NAMES Project Foundation, founding caretaker of the AIDS Memorial Quilt where she led the organization through significant change securing new homes for both the panels of The Quilt and their accompanying archives at the National AIDS Memorial and The American Folklife Center at The Library of Congress, respectively. 

“I am thrilled to join the Monument Lab team at this pivotal moment. Monument Lab's commitment to artists as thought leaders in advancing social justice is deeply aligned with my belief in the transformative power of art to pinpoint what really matters: our connections to and responsibility for one another."

Please join us in giving her a huge welcome to our team!

About Julie Rhoad
In her most recent position as Senior Director of Advancement and Philanthropy at MASS Design Group, Julie established the first professionally staffed fund development department and designed the highly successful overarching fundraising strategy and accompanying programmatic framework for the global and domestic studios and core work areas. 

For nearly two decades Julie served as CEO of The NAMES Project Foundation, caretaker of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, where she focused her time on two agency priorities – stewardship and strategic planning for the agency’s future; and keeping the issues of HIV & AIDS prevention, advocacy and social justice front and center with thought leaders and the public alike. Rhoad worked to expose the inherent value found in the stories contained in The Quilt to scholars, educators and other community leaders working in the fields of theology, art, public health, science, sociology, and civil and human rights and ultimately secured the Library of Congress as the permanent home for The AIDS Memorial Quilt and NAMES Project Archives and The National AIDS Memorial as the permanent home for The Quilt panels. 

Prior to joining The NAMES Project, she founded Candler Creative, a firm providing award winning communications strategies, designs, and media for corporate meetings, exhibits, new product launches and special events. 

Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her spouse and two dogs.