VISION

Our vision is to be a sanctuary where writing is encouraged, shared, honored, and respected.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow (WCDH) is to provide uninterrupted residency time for writers of all genres, including culinary, composers, and artists without discrimination. The WCDH will foster an environment that allows writers to work, interact with the wider community, stimulate new thinking, and energize creative expression.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peggy Kjelgaard

President of the Board

Peggy Kjelgaard is a writer with a Ph.D. in education and has been a teacher and consultant in Knowledge Management. She moved to Eureka From Dallas in 2004 and was Executive Director for the Eureka Springs School of the Arts for 10 years. She has served on various boards, including the Eureka Springs Arts Council, Equity Bank Advisory Board and local school boards. Peggy received the 2018 Arkansas Governor’s Award for Arts Community Development.

Woody Barlow

Board member

Woody Barlow was born in Kansas City, Missouri, raised in the Midwest, and educated as a civil engineering draftsman before serving two years in Vietnam. He served thirty-two years as an air traffic controller and watch supervisor for the FAA, before retiring to Eureka Springs, Ark. Woody has written three books: a memoir, a nonfiction novel, and a book of poetry. He is a staunch believer in the transformative power of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow.

Allyn Lord

Board member

Allyn Lord is director of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. She has spent over 35 years in Northwest Arkansas museums, including the University of Arkansas Museum and Rogers Historical Museum. The author of several history and museum books, she published the book "Historic Monte Ne" in 2006 and is now writing a biography of "Coin" Harvey. She recently received two lifetime achievement awards for museum work.

Teresa P. DeVito

Board member

Teresa moved to Eureka Springs in 2007 when she began managing the front of the house at DeVito’s of Eureka Springs. When she’s not welcoming guests at the restaurant, she is likely in her studio creating whimsical art. She loves the art of story whether it be expressed in paint, words, film, etc. She is inspired by nature and would be perfectly content living in her little camper in the woods.

KJ Zumwalt

Board member

KJ Zumwalt is a long-time Eureka Springs resident. She has been an award-winning restaurateur for more than 20 years, currently chef/owner of KJ's Caribe Restaurant and Cantina Mexican Restaurant in Eureka Springs. She is originally from Arkansas and attended Harding University, where she received  a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Marketing. She loves to kayak, hike, and swim in the great outdoors of the Ozarks in Northwest Arkansas.

Sharon Spurlin

Board member

Sharon served the Writers’ Colony beginning in 2005 and has served on numerous boards, including Clear Spring School and the Carroll County Community Foundation. Sharon has taught communication skills, global issues, and experiential theology over a period of 15 years in 10 different states. She became a personal and small group coach in 1997. She was named in the 10 outstanding women of Carroll County in 2000.

Charles Templeton

Board member

Charles Templeton is a retired school administrator from Texas. He served in the Marine Corps from 1967-71, doing a tour of duty in Vietnam and serving in the Presidential Helicopter squadron. He has served on the Historic District Commission, the Eureka Springs School Board, Carnegie Library Board and Clear Spring School Board. Charles and Sandra have 3 daughters and 6
granddaughters. Charles also belongs to a writers' group.

Not pictured

Elise Roenigk, Treasurer

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John-Michael Scurio

Board member

John-Michael Scurio is a Human Resource Executive at George’s Inc. in Springdale, AR and serves on the board for the Rogers/Lowell Chamber of Commerce. Born and raised in the Wellington Station neighborhood of Medford, MA, John-Michael spent his twenties sailing the high seas as an entertainer on Holland America Line, his thirties in Seattle, WA, and his forties in Dallas, TX. Now John-Michael is living his best years in Eureka Springs where he an avid local blogger (www.iloveureka.com) writing about community, making memories, curating culture, living well, spreading joy and love. John-Michael, his partner Jeff, and their Chihuahua Kirby have resided in downtown Eureka Springs since June 2018.