LEWISTON — Odelle Bowman of Lewiston, a professional actor/director, storyteller and arts educator, has been named executive director of L/A Arts, assuming her new position on Tuesday, March 22.

She has been executive director of A Company of Girls, an award-winning, nationally recognized after-school, theater-and-arts program for low-income, high-risk and special needs girls ages 7-18 in the Portland area, for 16 years.

The nonprofit’s program received the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities Coming up Taller Award, distinguishing it as one of the top 10 after-school programs in the United States.

Bowman believes in the power of the arts to transform, strengthen and foster positive growth in communities.

“Lewiston-Auburn is at a crossroads and poised for growth. We are a community that has many hidden treasures and new ones to develop. As we look to the future and hope to draw new community members and businesses to our area, quality of life must be considered,” Bowman said.

People are seeking a quality of life that includes “a cultural life filled with the arts, good schools that have enriching curriculum and opportunities for quality community interaction,” she said.

Bowman founded and has co-produced the Cassandra Project, a women’s performing arts festival in Portland. She founded and produced the Maine Women and Girls Film Festival and for six years was director of the Maine Humanities program Girls Going Places, bringing the arts and humanities to youth incarcerated at Long Creek Development Center.

In 2002, she was one of three women honored with the Maine Women’s Fund Award, given to women and girls who, by their accomplishments, serve as role models and who advance the well-being of women in Maine.

She is a member of the governor’s Commission on the Status of Women.

“The board and I are delighted to welcome Odelle to L/A Arts. She will not only bring her many years of leadership experience to the organization but also her passion and enthusiasm for infusing the arts into our communities, thereby enhancing our quality of life,” said L/A Arts Board Chairwoman Sandra Marquis.

Bowman succeeds Jim Handy, who has served as interim executive director since the fall of 2010.