The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Announces Five New Trustees

With these five appointments, the Museum now has a board made up of 15 trustees from around the country, with each trustee typically serving a three-year term on the board.

“I am excited to welcome these exceptional leaders to our board of trustees,” said William Gorth, chairman of The Carle’s board of trustees. “Their diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and shared commitment to our mission will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward.”

“Our new trustees’ passion for picture book art, storytelling, and scholarship aligns perfectly with our mission at the Museum of Picture Book Art,” said Jennifer Schantz, director of The Carle. “I look forward to collaborating with them as we continue to inspire creativity and imagination in visitors of all ages.”

David Bittler is Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications for Paramount Global’s Kids & Family division, which spans content and platforms across Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Paramount Pictures and all related digital, location-based experiences, global consumer products and pro-social initiatives. He is responsible for crafting dynamic brand narratives for global, billion-dollar franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Dora the Explorer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the NFL Wild Card Games on Nick, Kids’ Choice Awards, among others. Bittler joined Paramount (formerly Viacom) in 2000 and served in myriad key roles throughout the organization. Previously, Bittler began his career in news, managing communications for CNBC and CNN.

Shelley Isaacson is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Simmons University, the co-director for the 2025 Simmons Summer Institute in Children’s Literature, and a part-time lecturer at Tufts University. She focuses on the academic study of picture books, including the depiction of people with disabilities, the relationship between humans and the natural environment, and international and translated picture books. She is a freelance editor of books for young people, a reviewer for The Horn Book, and was a Trinkett Clark Intern at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art during COVID. She also sits on the board of the SeriousFun network, an organization founded by Paul Newman that provides traditional camp experiences for children living with serious illnesses.

Ajuan Mance is an artist, writer, and Professor of Illustration at California College of the Arts. She uses humor and bright colors in her art, illustration, and comics to explore race, gender, power, and the people and places in which they intersect. She is widely known for her portrait series 1001 Black Men, her picture books Living While Black (2022) and What Do Brothas Do All Day? (2023), which is inspired by Richard Scarry’s 1968 classic What Do People Do All Day? and celebrates Black men engaged in everyday activities in African American communities. She has created numerous zines including The Ancestors’ Jubilee series, as well as a graphic novel-style memoir Gender Studies: The Confessions of an Accidental Outlaw (2024) that reflects on her life as a Queer Black person growing up and in academia.

Waleska Santiago-Centeno, an award-winning educator and librarian in Amherst, Massachusetts, was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. After moving to Springfield, MA in 1989, where she learned English and raised a family, Santiago-Centeno was accepted to the Frances Perkins program at Mount Holyoke College where she received a B.A. in Art History. In 2016, Santiago-Centeno completed a Master’s degree in Museum Studies at Harvard University. Santiago-Centeno’s work as a librarian at the Crocker Farm Elementary School in Amherst weaves together her interests and passions around cultural heritage, children’s literature, art history, and education. She is interested in how issues of access and identity are negotiated in the world of art and educational institutions. Santiago-Centeno is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes, including the 2024 Roger L. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award, given to one outstanding elementary school teacher in Amherst or Pelham each year.

Gabe M. Wolosky is a Partner in the Tax, Advisory Services, and International Departments of Prager Metis CPAs. Practicing since 1976, he continues to be a trusted advisor to individuals, closely held businesses, foundations, and fiduciaries on tax and financial planning as well as business matters. He has special expertise in advising art and antique dealers and collectors, as well as estates and trusts. He has presented and participated in panels for the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. He has served on Planned Giving Advisory Committees at The New-York Historical Society and the Hospital for Special Surgery. He has served as an officer and/or director of Estate Planning Councils in NYC and Westchester County and New York Chapter of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

About The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Founded by Eric and Barbara Carle in 2002, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is the international champion of picture book art. Situated on 7.5 acres in Amherst, Massachusetts, The Carle houses a rich and deep collection of art of more than 300 picture book artists, including Eric Carle (author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar), and illuminates its collection through exhibitions, education, programming, and art-making—making it a critical resource for picture book artists and authors, and art-loving communities locally, nationally, and abroad. The Carle’s mission is to elevate picture book art and inspire a love of art and art creation. Since opening its doors more than 20 years ago, The Carle has welcomed more than one million visitors—plus more than four million additional museumgoers who have enjoyed its touring exhibitions around the world.

For further information, please contact: Amanda Domizio, Amanda Domizio Communications, 347-229-2877 / amanda@domiziopr.com