Thurber House Staff
Barbara Fant
Executive Director
Contact Me About…
+ Media inquiries/public relations
+ Grants
+ Sponsorships
+ Planned giving
+ Organizational partnerships/collaborations
+ Board of Trustees membership
+ Advisory Committee membership
Barbara’s Bio
A nationally recognized poet with deep roots in Columbus and over 20 years of nonprofit experience, Barbara Fant was named Executive Director in 2026. Previously, she held leadership roles at The Columbus Foundation, Harmony Project, and Homeboy Industries. Barbara’s other work includes founding the Black Women Rise Poetry Collective (now The Giovanni Collective) and co-founding Network Ohio for Arts and Healing (NOAH), as well as collaborations with Lincoln Theatre, The King Arts Complex, Streetlight Guild, Maroon Arts Group, TRANSIT ARTS, the Wexner Center for the Arts, and the Columbus Museum of Art.
Leah Wharton
Deputy Director
Contact Me About…
+ General donation questions
+ Event bookings/author talks
+ Adult workshop teaching
+ Adult workshops for libraries, K-12 teachers, community centers, etc.
+ Adult programming community partnerships
+ The Thurber Prize for American Humor
+ Marketing and social media
+ Marketing/social media or development internships
+ John E. Nance Adult Writer-in-Residence Program
Leah’s Bio
Leah Wharton joined Thurber House in 2017. She has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit arts community most of her life, but has also spent time in the event production and film industries. She currently serves on the Word Is Art Stage Committee for the Columbus Arts Festival, manages a polling location on Election Day, and loves to travel. Her favorite things about Thurber House are its atmosphere of creativity and humor, and all of the wonderful people who make Thurber House the incredibly special place that it is.
Meg Brown
Children’s Education Director
Contact Me About…
+ Children’s programs (ages 7-12)
+ Teen programs (ages 13-18)
+ Children’s and teen workshops for schools, libraries, community centers, etc.
+ School field trips
+ Flip the Page: Central Ohio’s Teen Literary Journal
+ Youth programming community partnerships
+ Youth workshop/camp teaching
+ Children’s education programming internships
+ Wayne P. Lawson Children’s Writer-in-Residence Program
Meg’s Bio
Meg Brown joined the Thurber House staff in 2006 after spending three years as a volunteer. A friend and mentor to all, Meg has been the backbone of Thurber House for over two decades (which is AGES, as her kids and teens like to remind her). Outside of work, Meg serves on the boards of the Discovery District Civic Association and the Heart of the City Foundation. An avid reader, Meg also works with the Ohioana Library Association and the State Library as a Choose to Read Ohio reader and committee member.
Jess Cox
Program & Event Coordinator
Contact Me About…
+ Event tickets and questions
+ Adult program registrations and questions
+ Facility rentals
+ Private ghost investigations
+ Volunteering
+ Event/adult programming internships
Jess’s Bio
Jess Cox has been with Thurber House since 2023, where they help create programs and events that bring people together in the spirit of creativity and community. With a background in media production and live event coordination, they thrive on crafting experiences that spark connection and conversation. A Virgo sun, Aquarius moon, and Aries rising, Jess is a storyteller at heart who can wax poetic about astrology, music, and the many mysteries of being human. When they’re not planning events, you can usually find them outdoors, dancing, or laughing over a good beer.
Anna Jahn
General House Administrator
Contact Me About…
+ General questions
+ Thurber House museum/tours
+ Thurber House store
+ James Thurber questions
+ Website questions
+ Operations internships
Anna’s Bio
Anna Jahn got involved with Thurber House as an intern during her time at Ohio State and stayed on after graduating. Having volunteered and worked with various nonprofits in the Columbus community, Anna was particularly inspired by Thurber House’s intersection between community services and creative expression. A lifelong lover of reading and writing, she is dedicated to fostering connection through language and creating an encouraging environment for writers of all ages. Outside of work, Anna enjoys travel, spending time in nature, and learning new languages.