AWE Staff and Board

Executive Director –
Mark H. Campbell

Mark H. Campbell, Executive Director, has been the Artistic Director of Art With Elders since September of 1997. In 2013, he took the reins as Executive Director after the passing of our founder, Brent Nettle. In addition, he teaches four AWE classes at Laguna Honda Hospital. Mark earned an MFA degree at Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 1998 and a BFA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida in 1990. His work is sold in prominent galleries throughout the country, is frequently purchased by private collectors and by some museums and has been published in American Art Collector and Masters of Today.

Operations Director –
Jason Varner

Jason Varner, Director of Operations, started at AWE in June of 2017. He earned his BA in History of Modern Art from U.C. Berkeley just prior to joining AWE. Prior to earning his degree, Jason worked for more than 15 years in the private finance sector as a fraud identity theft investigator and a funding specialist. Bringing a strong customer service orientation and analytical view, Jason has worked to streamline key business processes in the business office. In addition, Jason is an amateur oil painter, photographer, and gardener who loves to interact with the AWE students and takes inspiration from their accomplishments.

Exhibitions Director –
Darcie O’Brien

Darcie manages AWE exhibitions, events, and digital media as well as teaching the Monday Online Open Studio. She first joined AWE as a volunteer in 2012. In addition to her role at AWE, she teaches art and photography for K-8 grade youth in the Vallejo Unified School District. Darcie earned a BFA in painting and photography from the University of Colorado. Experienced in traditional and digital art media, she previously worked as a freelance graphic artist and corporate proposal consultant.  “Working with Art With Elders provides me with the opportunity build community through art and creativity, which is my passion.”

DAS Program Manager –
Crystal Booth

Crystal joined the AWE team in January 2024 with the role of managing the two and a half year contract with the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services to expand our offering of classes. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Cal State Fullerton and a Masters in Gerontology from San Francisco State University, she has fifteen years’ experience serving the older adult population in the realm of non-profit administration and social service. Although not an artist herself, she finds a lot of joy in collecting and appreciating art. She lives with her wife and two children in Benicia, CA.