| Our Board |
Gail Mangham, Chairman, The Artist’s Path, Inc.
In 2005 Gail Mangham returned to Prescott following an absence of five years spent abroad. She operates a business,
Naturally Speaking, offering consulting and coaching in presentation skills, voice for the stage and media, and acting. Gail
has worked as an actor, theatre instructor, arts manager, and consultant in voice and presentation skills for over thirty years.
Prior to that time she was a teacher of French and English.
Ms. Mangham holds degrees from the University of Texas (BA with Distinction in French and English) and the University of
Oklahoma (Master of Fine Arts in Drama) and has also studied at McGill University in Montreal and Colorado College. In
1999 while serving as interim artistic director of The Elks Opera House, she completed an Arts Management certificate at
Duke University. While a graduate student in theater Gail was a nominee for the prestigious Irene Ryan Award, the recipient
of the Kirk Acting Award and was appointed a Teaching Fellow in Voice and Acting. She has directed and performed in
regional theatres across the country and toured two plays while overseas to raise money for Doctors Without Borders. Since
her return she has directed Tuesdays with Morrie, two anniversary galas for the Elks Opera House, performed two solo
shows, Tea with ‘ZaZa’ and Golda’s Balcony. In September of 2008 she starred in Doubt, A Parable and in the spring of
2009 founded The Artist’s Path, a non profit to build bridges between cultures through the arts. When the need arises, she
teaches communications at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University as an adjunct. For four years Ms. Mangham has served on
the Board of The Elks Opera House Foundation and is a past board member of the Prescott Area Arts and Humanities
Council.
Ms Mangham has three sons residing in Japan, Scotland, and Washington state. She and her husband, Neal, live in
Prescott.
A. Neal Mangham, Ph. D, Vice Chairman, The Artist’s Path, Inc.
After serving for five years as Director of Management Development for the Arabian American Oil Company Dr. Mangham
returned to the United States and reentered the University arena as Dean of the Kellogg Center for Extended Education at the
University of Oklahoma. Neal then served in executive roles at private universities in the US and for fifteen years as President
of universities in the United States and abroad. In 2006 he was appointed the first director of the US government’s effort to
revitalize the higher education system of Afghanistan (USAID’s Higher Education Project) which he led through its inception
and first two years of operation. Throughout his career Dr. Mangham has worked as an advisor and consultant in
organization and community development to groups in the US and abroad, ranging from the Eight Northern Pueblos of New
Mexico to the Japan Center for Non-Governmental Organizations and the largest indigenous NGO in Southern Africa, ORAP.
Neal’s research interests lie in history of Central Europe, including such social movements as Zionism and the development
of nationalist movements in the early 20th century as well as the history of the Middle East. He speaks frequently on
intercultural and international affairs widely and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in several countries. Dr.
Mangham lives in Prescott, Arizona.
Elisabeth Ruffner, Secretary Treasurer, The Artist’s Path, Inc.
Elisabeth Ruffner’s accomplishments go back to 1940 when she arrived in Prescott and set out on a path that saved more
than 700 historic structures in the area over the past 70 years. She has spearheaded many non profit organizations
including the Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council. Currently she is working daily on behalf of the Elks Opera House
which, thanks to her hard work and the many generous donations from the community, will open in July 2010 completely
restored to its former elegance. Her enthusiasm for the concept of The Artist’s Path led her to volunteer as Secretary
Treasurer.
Founder of the following non-profit corporations:
• Prescott Public Library Friends
• Prescott Community Hospital and Auxiliary
• Yavapai Heritage Foundation
• Prescott Area Arts & Humanities Council
• Arizona Preservation Foundation
• Friends of Arizona Highways Magazine
Appointments/Honors:
• Advisor Emerita to the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• National White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services (Appointed by President
Ford)
• Citation from U.S. Department of Interior for work in historic preservation, American Library
Trustees Award
• Arizona Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation
• First of 10 Classes of Culture Keepers leading to presentation of 100 Arizonans for State
Centennial
• Arizona Historical Society Phoenix Chapter as a History Maker
