Charlene Lachicotte has over six years of experience managing academic galleries, including her role at Tennessee Tech University’s Joan Derryberry Art Gallery, where she coordinated and prepared exhibitions, and as the Gallery Operations Coordinator at the Appalachian Center for Craft, where she managed the retail gallery, oversaw scheduling, and supervised four exhibition spaces. 

Originally from Middle Tennessee, Lachicotte first studied photography and philosophy at Middle Tennessee State University before spending a decade in Nashville, actively engaging in the city’s art and music scene. Her passion for art jewelry was sparked after discovering Metalsmith magazine, which led her to take a metalsmithing workshop at Vanderbilt University’s Sarratt Student Center—an experience that ultimately shaped her artistic and professional path. 

She earned a BFA in 2018 from Tennessee Tech University and is currently pursuing an MBA at Tennessee Tech. She currently resides in East Tennessee, with her three dogs: Hugo Grey, Fox Mulder, and Einstein.