[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 210 (Monday, December 6, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ANN ``ANDI'' MATHIS

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I stand today to extend my heartiest 
congratulations to Ann Mathis--``Andi''--as she prepares to retire from 
the National Endowment for the Arts--NEA--after 42 years of dedicated 
service.
  A resident of Bethesda, MD, Andi has served as the NEA's program 
specialist for States and regions, using her expertise in arts 
management and best practices in grantmaking to support the work of 50 
State arts agencies, six regional arts organizations, and six U.S. 
Territories.
  Andi first joined the NEA after graduating from Cornell University 
and then earning a master's degree in community arts management from 
the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Andi began her career in 
the NEA's Grants Office and Office of Management Analysis before 
settling into her role with States and regions in the Partnership 
Division.
  During her distinguished tenure, Andi has nurtured partnerships with 
State arts agencies and regional arts organizations, building a network 
that has extended the reach of Federal support for the arts. As a 
guiding force in the NEA's Partnership Division and a font of 
institutional knowledge, Andi's expertise, dedication, and sense of 
humor have made her a beloved icon in national arts funding. Often, 
State and local officials would line up, literally, to obtain Andi's 
guidance and insight.
  Andi's efforts have included extensive work with both the Maryland 
Arts Council and Maryland's Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. She was also 
instrumental in centering the role of arts and culture in Federal 
disaster relief and recovery efforts, representing the NEA on disaster 
preparedness task forces and Federal Government working groups. Her 
outstanding work at the NEA has earned her numerous Distinguished 
Service Awards and other commendations over the years.
  Andi's greatest pleasure has always been her beautiful family. While 
at the NEA, she married, had two daughters, Allison and Melinda, and 
now delights in her daughters' growing families, which enabled Andi to 
become ``Grandi.'' A devoted mother and grandmother, Andi is renowned 
for her sewing prowess and her own line of ``Grandi'' children's 
clothing.
  After more than four decades in the Federal Government, Andi plans to 
continue her legacy of service in retirement, working in the area of 
adult literacy, which will include tutoring through the Literacy 
Council of Montgomery County. We know that she will take seriously the 
Jewish tradition of tikkun olam, repairing the world, as she continues 
to make a difference in the lives of others.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our gratitude to Andi 
Mathis for her outstanding service to our Nation and in sending our 
best wishes to her as she begins her next adventure.

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