Staff
Samantha has been the Executive Director and Curator at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center since 2015. She holds a certificate in Arts Development and Program Management from the University of Denver, an MFA from Lesley University College of Art & Design, and a BFA from Alfred University. Prior to joining CPAC, she taught photography and visual arts for 12 years at high schools in Boston and Denver.
She has curated exhibitions with contemporary artists such as Jess T. Dugan, Daniel Coburn, Barbara Ciurej & Lindsay Lochman, and Zora Murff. Samantha has served as a reviewer at Houston FotoFest, Review Santa Fe, PhotoPlus New York, Medium, Filter, PhotoNola, and Month of Photography Denver (MOP). She has juried several exhibitions including Critical Mass and The Fence.
She has been a supporter of the Society for Photographic Education, and served as Treasurer of the Southwest region from 2013-2016 and Co-Chair of SPE’s 2013 Southwest regional conference in Denver. She was named one of Colorado’s Top 100 Creatives 3.0 by Westword and has been featured in Lenscratch.
Megan Ross, Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships
With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit development and communications, Megan plays a key role in advancing CPAC’s mission through strategic partnerships and institutional support. Since joining CPAC in 2015, she has played a leadership role in major initiatives including a comprehensive rebrand, strategic planning, and the successful Framing the Future Capital Campaign, which funded CPAC’s relocation and expansion.
Megan’s career spans leadership roles in both the environmental and arts sectors. Prior to CPAC, she was Director of Marketing & Communications at the Southern Environmental Law Center, where she managed a team of five and led numerous marketing and communications initiatives across a six-state region. Her experience also includes communications positions at the National Wildlife Federation, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, and Corcoran Gallery of Art. She holds a BA in Media Arts & Design from James Madison University, is a graduate of the Board Development Academy at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and became a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2025.
megan@cpacphoto.org
Desanka (Desa) Beslic, Communications & Development Manager
Desa has a background in art museum operations, fundraising, and marketing. Prior to joining CPAC in February 2020, she worked for three years in higher education advancement as a Development Coordinator at Occidental College (Los Angeles) and a Development Assistant at California Institute of the Arts. She also has a strong grasp of contemporary art from previously being a Content Creator and Sales Associate at the Denver Art Museum. She holds a BA in Classics and Art History from Lewis & Clark College (Oregon), where she took several darkroom photography classes that inspired her to pursue a career in the arts.
Preston Utley, Education & Programming Manager
Preston Utley is a photographer, educator, and arts advocate with over two decades of experience in photojournalism, fine art, and client-based work. He earned his B.A. in Photography from the Art Institute of Colorado and began his career at the Vail Daily, where he advanced to Photo Editor before launching his own photography business in 2009. His personal work explores themes of memory, time, and daily life, and he has exhibited nationally and self-published several photo books. A longtime member and instructor at CPAC, Preston now serves as Education & Programming Manager. He is committed to fostering inclusivity, diversity, and equity in the arts and believes in building creative community through accessible, engaging programming. He lives in Denver with his wife, Dana, and continues to maintain an active artistic practice rooted in both digital and analog photography.
Em Warnock, Administrative & Communications Coordinator
Em is a multidisciplinary artist and educator, with a strong focus in analog photography. They received their B.A. in Photography and Sculpture from Hampshire College in 2018. After graduating, Em launched their photography business, and began their career as an exhibiting artist and curator. Em has shown their work in two solo exhibitions, and over 20 group exhibitions, including ‘What Remains’ at CPAC, and The Big Picture Colorado and Denver Night Lights during Month of Photography 2025. Em’s work has also been shown in print — as the Featured Artist in Better Off Zine, various group zines, and four self-published photo books. In addition to making and showing their artwork, Em has been working as an arts educator since 2020. They have taught photography workshops with CPAC, Mike’s Camera, and Not Another Film Lab, as well as hosted classes and community events with various local studios in Denver.
Photos by From the Hip Photo