Johanna Bringhurst
Director of Programs
Jessica Evett
Development & Communications Officer
Jessica Evett joined the Idaho Humanities Council as Development and Communications Officer in September 2021. Previously, she spent six years serving as General Manager of Radio Boise (KRBX 89.9/93.5FM), a nonprofit community radio station serving the Treasure Valley and parts of Eastern Oregon. Prior to that, Evett spent 16 years in Montana and Colorado (1999-2015), with a career spanning natural resource work, communications, fundraising, and management at several outdoor stewardship organizations. Born and raised in Boise, she holds a B.A. degree in Psychology and Creative Writing from the College of Idaho, and an M.A. degree in Mass Communications/Public Relations from the University of Denver. She currently resides in Boise with her husband, son, and two heelers of vastly differing size.
Recommended Book Title: Goodbye, Sweet Girl by Kelly Sundberg or The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Recommended Movie/TV Title: The Leftovers (HBO); Wings of Desire (Wim Wenders)
Doug Exton
Grants manager
Doug Exton joined the Idaho Humanities Council in 2020 after graduating with his B.A. in History with minors in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) & Urban Studies/Community Development. Doug is currently attending Johns Hopkins University for a M.S. in GIS. Hailing from Northern Virginia, Doug fell in love with the open spaces and accessible outdoors in Idaho. Being a resident of Idaho since 2016, he currently resides in Eagle.
Recommended Book Title: Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart or Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Recommended Movie/TV Title: Barbie or Bridgerton
David Pettyjohn
Executive Director
David Pettyjohn became the Executive Director of the Idaho Humanities Council in January 2018. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of Preservation Oklahoma, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and coordinating historic preservation activities in the state. Prior to joining Preservation Oklahoma, he served 11 years (2001-2012) as Program Officer and later as Assistant Director for the Oklahoma Humanities Council. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in History from the University of Tulsa. He served on the board of the Federation of State Humanities Councils from 2019-2023. He resides in Boise with his husband, Geoffrey Parks, and two miniature schnauzers, Haskell and Fiyero.
Recommended Book Title: Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present, Author David Treuer
Recommended Movie/TV Title: The White Lotus (HBOMAX); Hacks (HBOMAX)
Debra Schlechte
Office Manager
Debra Schlechte became the Office Manager at the Idaho Humanities Council in September 2011. Previously, Schlechte worked as a Technical Writer at Micon Technology in Boise, and an Office Manager at Motive Power, Inc. She holds an Associate’s degree in Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene from Carrington College in Boise. She was born and raised in the Boise area, but grew up part time in Nebraska. She previously lived in Florida for seven years, and then moved to Utah, where she worked for a contractor on Hill AFB as a Technical Writer. After living in Utah for nine years (1995-2004), Schlechte moved back to the Boise area. She has three grown children, two boys and one girl, and two granddaughters and one grandson. She currently resides in Meridian with her husband Shain, and her three dogs, Minnie Moo, Little Pea, and Lucy Loo.
Recommended Book Title: Currently reading anything by Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout.
Recommended Movie/TV Title: Jungle Cruise
Cindy Wang
Director of Operations
Cindy Wang is the Director of Operations for the Idaho Humanities Council. Wang’s career with state humanities councils spans over 30 years, first in Kansas and then in Idaho. In between years with humanities councils, she worked in curriculum and testing with the West Ada School District. Wang appreciates her affiliation with an organization that shares her value of education and life-long learning and affords opportunities to offer her own enthusiasm and unique skillset to benefit others. Wang holds a B.A. in Humanities with a major in English from Brigham Young University. She has three grown children and three grandchildren. She works remotely and lives near the ocean in Florence, Oregon with her husband, Mark.
Recommended Book Title: Little Women. Author Louisa May Alcott
Recommended Movie/TV Title: Little Women, and Knives Out