Assistant Academic Specialist Michelle Conceison received the annual Spirit of Folk Award from Folk Alliance International. These awards are presented to honor and celebrate people and organizations actively involved in the promotion and preservation of folk music through their creative work, their community building, and their demonstrated leadership. At the ceremony in Kansas City MO on February 15th, Matt Smith of Club Passim presented Conceison with the award saying, “Michelle is a fan and advocate who is moved by songs and inspired to help the artists who write them. She started managing artists in 2001 and launched Market Monkeys in 2004, providing management and marketing services to a wide range of artists including Rose Cousins, Kris Delmhorst, Winterbloom, Lucy Kaplansky and many more. Michelle has served on the FAI board of directors since 2010, serving as an exemplary President and leader the past two years.”