SAN ANTONIO, TX.- The San Antonio Museum of Art announced today the addition of four new Trustees: Rebecca Cedillo, Kathleen Finck, Aleyda Kniestedt, and Jennifer Lee. They will officially begin their three-year terms of service on October 1, 2019. Each of them comes with significant connections to the city’s philanthropic and non-profit community, including support for and work with community foundations and local theater, art, and architectural organizations. All four are also of Hispanic heritage, increasing the Museum’s connections to the community that so defines San Antonio’s cultural identity.

“I am thrilled to welcome Rebecca, Kathleen, Aleyda, and Jennifer to our Board,” said Marie Halff, outgoing Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “They bring welcome points of view to the support of the Museum and ultimately give us a broader view of the community we serve. That, in turn, will help us to continue bringing more visitors to the Museum for enlivening experiences with original works of art from our city, the region, and around the world.”

In addition, the Board named four new officers: Edward A. Hart, Chair; Christian Herff, CoVice Chair; Lamont Jefferson, Co-Vice Chair; and Roxana M. Richardson, Secretary. The Board also recently held its annual gala for the Museum. Titled the “Super Art Ball,” this year's theme connected to the Museum's current exhibition Men of Steel, Women of Wonder. With more than 260 attendees, the event raised more than $400,000 in support of the Museum's operations and programs.

Following are abridged biographies for each of the new Trustees:

Rebecca Cedillo
Ms. Cedillo currently works for University Health System (UHS), serving as its Ombudsman for community and business groups in the region. Prior to her appointment at UHS, she was President of Strategic Initiatives Consulting, which provides urban planning, strategic planning, organizational development, community involvement, policy development and analysis, and management services for businesses and public agencies throughout South Central Texas. An expert in water resource management, Cedillo also served as the first Chief of Water Resources for the San Antonio Water System and as Director of Planning for the City of San Antonio, responsible for preparing the City’s Master Plan.

Cedillo is a native of San Antonio and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a MA in City Planning and Public Policy and a BA in Political Science with a minor in Economics from St. Mary’s University, where she graduated magna cum laude. In addition to her work with the Museum, she currently serves on the Boards of the San Antonio Medical Foundation and KLRN Public Broadcasting and is immediate past Chair of the 1300member San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she has also worked as Interim President/CEO. Cedillo is also a Trustee of SAMMinistries and of St. Mary’s University, where she is chair of its Academic Affairs Council.

Kathleen Finck
Kathleen Finck is Senior Vice President of Frost Wealth Advisors–San Antonio, where she provides private wealth management services and trust administration for private and charitable trusts. For the ten years prior to joining Frost, she was the Director of Gift Planning for the San Antonio Area Foundation, helping donors plan their charitable giving. Finck previously served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Antonio and as Assistant District Attorney for Bexar County.

Finck received a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a JD from St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Foundation, the San Antonio Estate Planners Council, and the Texas Bankers Association. In addition to her support for the Museum, Finck serves on the Boards of the New Braunfels Area Community Foundation and 4DogSakes Rescue and is a member of the Planned Giving Council for Musical Bridges Around the World.

Aleyda Kniestedt
Aleyda Tamez Kniestedt is an artist, art collector, architect, and amazing mother. She has focused on residential design, project management, and art collection management for clients in the region. She received her degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, she now lives in San Antonio and has three children with her husband Jim Kniestedt.

Jennifer Lee Jennifer
Lee is President and Chair of the JK Lee Family Foundation. She is currently a member of the Advisory Committee for the Board of the Magik Theater and has also served on the Education and Military Housing Boards of the San Antonio Area Foundation. A graduate of UNC–Chapel Hill with a degree in English Writing, Lee is a patron of the arts and an avid supporter of arts programs that engage and serve children and young adults.