Meet our board
Behind the scenes at NWA Book Fest is a team of passionate bookworms who strive to bring exciting bookish programming to NWA.
Our organization is 100% volunteer-run because we love books and the people who write them, and we want to share that love with as many of you as possible.
If you want to get involved, reach out to us at hello@nwabookfest.com. We’d love to have you join us!
Our board
Founder
Courtney ulrich smith
Courtney started NWA Book Fest in 2023, and grew that vision by establishing the organization as a non-profit in 2024. She served as Board President until 2026, continuing to hone the vision of building a community for readers and authors to come together to celebrate their love of books. Today, she serves as our trusted advisor to guide us along our journey of growth.
Amelia Schembra
Amelia joined the NWA Book Fest board in January 2025 and took on the challenge of serving as Chair of the inaugural NWA Book Fest Kids.
In 2026, Amelia stepped into the role of Board President and seeks to grow the organization’s reach and visibility during her tenure.
Board PresidentLiz Schieffler, Secretary
Alex Treat, Treasurer
Felicia Maldonado, Fundraising
Rachel Stuckey Slaton, Author Relations
Annie Bennett, Kid’s Event Coordinator
Jessica Whalen, Marketing
Dominique Mastrototoro, Media Relations
Tori Cooper, Social Media Coordinator
Jennifer Pope, Volunteer Coordinator
Kelsey Bain, Volunteer Coordinator