Trystin Kier Francis
(Interim Chair)
Architectural + Interior Designer, and Visionary Entrepreneur
Trystin Kier Francis is a multi-faceted architect, designer, and entrepreneur whose work seamlessly blends cultural storytelling with modern innovation. With a career spanning architecture, interior design, and product development, he is the founder and design principal of House of Kier (HOK)—a creative studio that produces luxury plateware, retail collections, and compelling media content. Born and raised in New York City, Trystin’s journey has been marked by resilience, transformation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Trystin is a three-time HBCU graduate, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, a Master of Architecture, and an Executive MBA. His professional experience spans technical design, project management, and education, having served as an adjunct professor for nearly a decade before stepping into secondary education administration. In 2024, House of Kier debuted its first product line, "Equations in Africa," an exquisite bone China plateware collection inspired by the intersection of history, art, and African heritage. This launch marked a significant milestone, leading to a prestigious invitation to the Kaleidoscope Exhibition at renowned luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman, where House of Kier is now a vendor.
Donyelle T. Marshall
Business Consultant
Donyelle T. Marshall is a second-generation Washingtonian who has been immersed in the arts and entertainment space for over 40 years, beginning as a multidisciplinary artist and photojournalist. photographs are included in The People's Archive at DC Public Library, illustrating the District of Columbia’s local history and culture. Now a global business analyst and arts advocate, Marshall brings extensive experience at the intersection of creative industries, finance, and public policy. As Principal of REEDAPOINT LLC, he advises artists, entertainment executives, and cultural organizations on business development, tax strategy, and revenue diversification, with a particular focus on advancing the creative economy. With a career spanning leadership roles at the Florida Office of Film and Entertainment and esteemed cultural institutions like The Kennedy Center and the National Gallery of Art, Ms. Marshall has shaped policy and managed multimillion-dollar incentive programs that support artistic and economic growth. A trusted voice in the industry, Donyelle has contributed insights at major forums including the American Black Film Festival, NPR’s Jazz Night in America, and the Urban Film Festival.
Ms. Marshall remains deeply committed to championing arts advocacy, empowering emerging talent, and expanding access to resources that sustain creative communities worldwide.
Tashira Halyard
Lawyer, Equity Consultant, Multi-Platform Digital Creator
Tashira Halyard is a reformed attorney, multi-platform content creator and activist. She's a graduate of Georgetown University Law School and has a professional background as a child welfare attorney, public policy expert and racial justice trainer. She started her lifestyle blog, Politics and Fashion, while in law school as an outlet that combined her passions for justice and creative expression. Throughout the years, Politics & Fashion has become a home for Black women and femmes to find style and self-care inspiration, including her viral White Toenail Season rants on bodily autonomy. Today, she is a solopreneur who wears many hats including equity consultant, YouTuber, podcaster, content creator and most importantly, breast cancer survivor. She's been featured in the Washington Post, Washingtonian, Essence and multiple local news outlets. She, her fiancée and highly disobedient dog live in Alexandria, VA.
David Lowenstein
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Lionstone Consulting Group
David Lowenstein is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Lionstone Consulting Group and a senior advisor to a range of purpose-driven organizations, including Ad Astra Media, The Compound Art & Sound Gallery, E-Line Media, I2A2, The Jim Henson Company, Make Music Count, MathTalk, Mighty Picnic, the National Black Child Development Institute, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and the Steward Family Foundation. His work is grounded in a commitment to advancing educational opportunity and economic mobility through media, technology, and national-local partnerships.
Before launching Lionstone in 2024, David spent 13 years at PBS KIDS, where he served as Senior Director of Ready To Learn and Grants Strategy. He led high-impact, cross-sector initiatives that developed and distributed research-based content and family engagement experiences. Earlier in his career, David was a National Urban Fellow at Sesame Workshop’s Joan Ganz Cooney Center and spent five years at the National Urban League, where he worked on education and workforce development programs that expanded equitable access to learning technologies. David serves on the boards of the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network and the Canady Foundation for the Arts. He is also an active member of The Impact Guild’s Social Impact Professional Peer Group and co-founder of the Jamaica 2Gen Alliance, a cross-sector international collaboration advancing the economic mobility of families through simultaneous investments in the education of children and their caregivers.
Across his career, David has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge sectors, lead strategic collaborations, and design transformative solutions. Through Lionstone, he continues to champion the role of media and technology in building a more just, inclusive, and opportunity-rich society.