Fayetteville Community Center/ Theatre Welcomes Gully as Inaugural Executive Director

The Fayetteville Community Center and Performance Theater proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Crystal Gully as its first Executive Director.

Dr. Gully brings more than 28 years of experience designing and leading educational and developmental programs for youth and adults in a wide range of settings. Her distinguished career spans public education, corporate learning, and global leadership development — including eight years abroad in the Middle East. She completed her Ph.D. in Adult Education at Texas A&M University, with research focused on learning technology, wisdom transfer, and international women’s career development.

After years of very long commute, Dr. Gully returned to Fayetteville fulltime in January, joining her husband, Patrick, and their two sons, Tyler and Travis. “Leading the Fayetteville Community Center & Performance Theater is truly a dream come true,” she said. “This role allows me to serve the community I love while using my experience to create meaningful, transformational opportunities for others.”

Her connection to Fayetteville runs deep. In fact, her love story with the town began in 1994 during Lickskillet Weekend, when she and Patrick first danced together on the town square — a moment that changed her life and planted the seeds for her future in the heart of Fayette County. “It’s the opportunity to create experiences like that — moments of connection, inspiration, and belonging — that excites me most about this role,” she added.

“We look forward to Dr. Gully’s leadership as she helps shape the Community Center, and eventually the Performance Theater, into a vibrant cultural and civic hub, enriching the lives of residents and welcoming visitors from across the region,” stated Joan Herring, Secretary and a founding member of the nonprofit Fayetteville Community Center Group.

Phase I of the Community Center & Performance Theater project, the rebuilding of the E.J. Knesek Building, will open in September and begin hosting events. Phase II, the building of the attached 150seat Performance Theater, will begin when funds are in hand. Fundraising continues for the project. The fifth annual Gala on behalf of the project will take place Saturday, Feb. 7.

“We have been incredibly pleased and encouraged by the wide range of community support shown for the project,” said Board member Bob Axelrod, “and having Dr. Gully join us to help take us forward is just one more milestone we have achieved.”