June 01, 2023 Image The Minneapolis College of Art and Design has welcomed six new candidates to serve on the Board of Trustees. Kobby Appiah ’11 he/him Kobby is a technology leader who blends technology with creativity to build human-centric products. In his current role, Kobby leads a team of mobile app engineers who work on the member-facing app for the e-commerce delivery platform, Shipt. In past roles, Kobby has been in various arenas in software engineering having built websites, apps, video games, interactive installations, and even custom video processing software for generating visual effects in films. Kobby graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Web and Multimedia Environments from MCAD. In his freelance practice, Kobby prefers to work with small local institutions doing work to benefit the community. Kobby also co-runs a scholarship program at his high school aimed at supporting students interested in the arts and technology. LinkedIn Brian Childs he/him Brian lives in Minneapolis with his wife and three children. He is an owner and the Chief Strategy Officer of Limb Lab, a medical services and devices company. Before joining Limb Lab, Brian was an attorney in private practice for about 15 years. He began his legal career as a litigator, focusing on financial disputes. His practice evolved such that he served as outside general counsel to several closely-held entities. He has invested his time and energy in organizations that reflect his values. He served as president of Princeton University’s regional alumni associations in both New England and Minnesota. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Princeton University Alumni Association. He currently chairs the board of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. Prior to this service, he co-chaired St. Mark’s Racial Justice and Equity Commission. He is also a director of Graywolf Press, a Minneapolis-based literary press focused on publishing diverse authors. LinkedIn Batala McFarlane she/her Batala is the publisher of Insight News, Minnesota’s largest ethnic publication and one of Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned companies. She brings more than 20 years of experience in small business and newsroom leadership, media, marketing, and community organizing. Under her leadership, Insight News has won several awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association and the National Newspaper Publishers Association including best column writing, best website, and general excellence. Batala is also the co-host of “Heart-to-Heart Conversations,” a podcast that aims to improve heart health outcomes in Black and Brown communities. She is driven by her passion for fostering relationships and creating networks that support building communities where everyone can enjoy the opportunity to thrive and survive. Batala was a founding board member of the Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, served on the board of directors for KMOJ and Healthcare for All, and currently serves as a board member of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. She is also a member of the Hennepin Healthcare Community Advisory Board and a chartering member of The Greater Twin Cities Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. LinkedIn Kenneth (Ken) Piper he/him Ken is a founding partner at Tanek, Inc, a full service Architecture and Interior Design firm based in the Twin Cities. Ken’s career as an architect spans over twenty five years with experience in the areas of Corporate, Retail, Industrial, Non-Profit and Mixed-Use multi family residential design. Born in Nigeria, West Africa Ken has lived in England and The Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean. Arriving in Minnesota in the mid 1970’s to study Architecture at the University of Minnesota. Ken sincerely found his place in the Twin Cities, which has been home ever since. Ken and his wife Ann reside in Bloomington and are active in their community, supporting local nonprofit and charitable organizations. They have five adult and teenage children. LinkedIn Roderic Southall he/him Roderic Southall has been a cultural citizen in the Minneapolis – St. Paul area for many years. Born in Denver, Colorado he moved to Minneapolis in the 1990s. He has primarily worked in the public sector in the areas of community engagement and mobilization. Joining the Metropolitan Council in the early 2000s he was responsible for the maintenance of healthy relationships with small businesses and impacted communities for large and small construction projects as well as the development and implementation of organization-wide training for staff on policy compliance and management skills. Today, he is a manager in the Environmental Services division’s Workforce and Equity Department providing management consultation in performance management, employee recognition, and leadership development. His nonprofit board experience includes service for the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, COMPAS Community Arts, Graywolf Press, United Theological Seminary, Voyagers’ Outward Bound, Fathers’ Resource Center, and Obsidian Arts. Typically he serves on the advancement, governance, and human capital committees. LinkedIn Neil Tuli he/him Neil Tuli has spent the past 12 years in the film, animation, and commercial arts industries starting his career as an editor and motion designer for agencies in Boston, MA before joining Harvard Business School's online education platform as a producer. Neil then attended business school to move into studio strategy and financial management spending the past six years across Dreamworks, Illumination, and more recently at Netflix where he has led and supported strategic analysis and investment decisions into animation & VFX pipeline technology, mergers and acquisitions activity (including Netflix's acquisition of Animal Logic), and integrations of subsidiaries such as Scanline VFX. Neil is currently writing and directing a feature film. LinkedIn