Roanoke Cultural Endowment is pleased to announce the addition of Dustin Eshelman as our newest City-appointed member to our Board of Directors. Dustin serves as the Health Sciences and Technology Coordinator of Experiential Learning & Student Development at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and brings a fresh perspective to our organization. As a long-time resident of Roanoke, Dustin has dedicated much of her time to giving back to the community she loves.
Q: We are so excited to have you as a member of the Roanoke Cultural Endowment board, and we would love to hear how you became involved with the RCE.
My husband and I have been deeply involved in the outdoors (outdoor recreation, outdoor adventure, environmental education, etc.) since the day we met in our early 20s. In fact, we have both built a large part of our careers in this arena throughout our “adult life”. As it goes, outdoorsy folks are stereotypically drawn to live music venues, outdoor festivals, and beer. Well, as it also goes, live music, outdoor festivals and beer intertwine on the regular with cultural performances, art installations, diversity initiatives, neighborhood organizations, local non-profits, and most importantly, caring and passionate individuals seeking to uplift the quality of life for those in our region.
To put it short, I have come to create a strong sense of place for the Roanoke Region that has involved countless connections and a deep appreciation for the diverse landscape of outdoor adventure, art, and cultural opportunities.
Q: What is a day in the life of Dustin Eshelman? Tell us about yourself!
These days, I spend the majority of my working hours supporting Virginia Tech students and faculty who work here in Roanoke within labs at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. I thrive on personal connections, mentorship, and problem solving. In addition to supporting VT students and faculty, I keep my hands involved in Sweet Donkey Coffee, a small business I had the thrill of co-creating 13 years ago in South Roanoke. When work is done, I love to relax outside with my husband and two dogs whether on the trails or on the porch with the birds. On weekends, we’re out and about in Roanoke finding all the live music, outdoor festivals, and beer 😉 Fall football season means Hokie tailgates with our daughter, a rising senior, and occasional visits to Houston to visit our son.
Q: Can you share an instance when arts and culture made a difference in your life (or to you)?
Growing up, my mother was an artist while my dad taught English Lit, therefore passing along their deep appreciation for literature and music. Between the two, I’ve spent countless days with my hands dipped in paper mâché while listening to everything from Pavarotti to Bob Dylan. While I took these influences for granted at the time, I am deeply grateful for the perspectives I’ve gained from my parents and the desire to sit quietly and appreciate works of beauty in all its forms.
Q: What is your creative outlet?
My creative outlet is most certainly expressed through design and the construction of small projects. I feel I was likely a woodworker in one of my previous lives as I swoon in the presence of fresh cut lumber and revel in the gratification of a precisely measured corner-cut. I’ve laid walkways, built shelving, wired lamps, and reupholstered chairs.
I suppose I’m a problem-solver at heart and never at a loss for things to do.
Q: What about the Endowment and its mission resonates with you the most? What do you hope to see in the future?
Above all, I believe in the power of community: when we lift up one another, we all benefit.
Our small-ish city is absolutely teaming with a collective of small, passionate, dedicated organizations committed to engaging and educating our community in music, the arts, and our diverse cultural history. Yet each of these organizations work tirelessly to secure operational funding, often drawing from the same limited pool of resources.
It is our hope and mission to have the Endowment one day serve as a beast of burden for this beautiful, local, collective – relieving competition, promoting collaboration, and providing sustained support across organizations. “If everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.”~ Askhari Johnson Hodari
