Administration

Nehemiah Dixon III, Director, Phillips@THEARC

Nehemiah Dixon III is the Director of Phillips@THEARC, where he leads community engagement initiatives, public programs, exhibitions, and strategic collaborations. As chair of the Community Action Committee, he forges meaningful partnerships with local artists, educators, and stakeholders to align programming with community aspirations. His projects to spotlight DMV artists include the CARD Fellowship, Digital Intersections, and the Centennial Artist Commissions. A DC native, Nehemiah is an alumnus of the School Without Walls Senior High School and the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Bradley Freedman, Chief Operating Officer

Bradley joined The Phillips Collection in October 2024 in a role that oversees all aspects of the museum’s internal operations. Prior to the Phillips, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Easterseals DC MD VA, a leading nonprofit entity, and was also a member of the executive team at The Salvation Army - National Capital Area Command. Before transitioning to the nonprofit arena, Bradley worked in the institutional investment management department of some of the most respected global financial organizations.

Angela Gillespie, Director of Human Resources

Angela leads talent, recruitment, orientation, onboarding, payroll/HRIS, health and welfare, total rewards, retirement planning, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and DEAI learning efforts for 200+ employees. Prior to The Phillips Collection, Angela lead recruitment, employee benefits, payroll, IT, office construction planning, procurement, and design efforts for the Center for Global Development. She also served at WWF-US, Development Department during their $150M Living Planet Campaign. Angela is SHRM-CP and PHR certified.

Renée Littleton, Chief Communications Officer and Director of Marketing

Renée joined The Phillips Collection in 2021. She oversees strategic communications, media relations, marketing, and design, as well as digital communications including the website and social media. Renée also leads the guest experience teams including admissions and retail to enhance visibility and engagement with audiences on-site and online. A Virginia native, Renée has over 20 years of experience in the cultural sector, having worked in several performing arts organizations in the DC region, including Arena Stage and the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

Cherie Nichols, Chief Financial Officer

Cherie joined The Phillips Collection in 2000 and has held several positions prior to becoming CFO in 2019. As CFO, Cherie overseas the Finance and Human Resource departments and is responsible for all things financial, including budgeting, cash management, internal and external reporting, forecasting, investments, commercial and tax-exempt debt and related covenants, contractual obligations, insurance coverage, and legal compliance and filings. Cherie oversees three board committees and works with colleagues in all areas of the museum in accomplishing strategic priorities.

Elizabeth Racheva, Chief Advancement Officer

Elizabeth joined The Phillips Collection in 2023. In this role, Racheva serves in a senior leadership position, overseeing the development and execution of the Phillips’s fundraising efforts that support the museum’s mission. She leads capital campaigns and advancement opportunities for all areas of the museum including exhibitions, public programs, membership, and content-based initiatives. Racheva was previously the Vice President of Strategic Planning and Chief Advancement Officer at Washington Performing Arts and has also served in leadership and comprehensive capital campaign roles for other higher education and arts and culture institutions.

Elsa Smithgall, Chief Curator

Since 2022, Elsa has served as the Chief Curator of The Phillips Collection with oversight of the curatorial department. Over her more than 25-year tenure, Smithgall has curated such critically acclaimed exhibitions as Bonnard to Vuillard—The Nabis Collection of Vicki and Roger Sant; Jacob Lawrence: The Migration Series; Ten Americans: After Paul Klee; and Whitfield Lovell: The Kin Series and Related Works. Smithgall directed the museum’s landmark centennial project, Seeing Differently: The Phillips Collects for a New Century and edited its accompanying scholarly publication.

Yuma I. Tomes, PhD, Horning Chair for Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion

Yuma joined The Phillips Collection in 2022. In this role, he advances diversity and inclusion practices with staff and trustees while building relationships with key stakeholders in the field and other professions. Yuma has accumulated a diverse range of work experiences in the fields of psychology, education, and DEAI over the past 20 years. Prior to joining the Phillips, he was chair of the Department of Psychology & Philosophy at Sam Houston State University. He is certified and/or licensed as a psychologist.