Quahana Hendree, the founder and president of Q. Hendree Art Consulting, aims to help corporate, commercial and government groups transform their workspaces so they convey each organization’s culture, community and personality. (Photo courtesy of Quahana Hendree)

By Kala Dunn, University Advancement

Inspiration strikes in unlikely places. For art consultant and theological art historian Quahana Hendree, that place was a dental office.

“When I was in graduate school, I went to get a routine cleaning at a new dentist. It was nothing big, but I could hear drilling in the background that sounded invasive and scary, and on his lobby walls he had this bright cherry red pop art. It was horrifying,” said Hendree, who earned her BSBA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1996. “If I had been there for something like a root canal, I would have run out the door. It was not promoting calm and peace and serenity.”

While Hendree described the dentist’s work as wonderful, the atmosphere in the office was so unsettling that she never returned.

Reflecting on that and similar experiences made her consider how the mood created by artwork in corporate spaces can make or break a business. That inspiration eventually led her to become the founder and president of Q. Hendree Art Consulting.

While it took several years of working in other industries to reach the point of starting her own business, Hendree always had a clear understanding of her diverse talents and interests. As an undergraduate at UMSL, she found a way to design her own educational journey by combining disciplines.

“I was trying to decide what to study,” Hendree said. “I knew art had to be part of it in some way, and I wanted to connect people with art, but there really was no major at the time that did that. And so I thought, ‘Well, I’m just going to do it myself.’”

That determination to blaze her own trail was supported and celebrated at UMSL. As an architecture transfer student, she essentially found a way to major in arts management before the degree was widely available, obtaining a BSBA – focused on marketing, management and organizational behavior – while minoring in art history.

Hendree set herself up for success not only by deepening her knowledge of existing interests but also by finding ways to explore new subjects that sparked her curiosity. As a student in the Pierre Laclede Honors College, Hendree received a broad education encompassing a range of subjects from Hungarian literature to the African diaspora.

“The best experience of my life at UMSL was the Honors College,” she said. “Not only did I have a scholarship, which was amazing, but I also had opportunities to be in classes that I never would have taken otherwise. I had gone to a college prep high school, so rigorous academia was something I knew and loved, and the Honors College continued to feed that for me. It was like the cherry on top of what I was getting in the business school.”

Hendree immersed herself fully in her studies and collected valuable internship experiences, and her hard work paid off. She was on the Dean’s and President’s Lists each semester, received the Dik Twedt Marketing Award and graduated first in her class for the College of Business with a near-perfect GPA, serving as the student marshal for the college at commencement.

Following graduation, Hendree spent time working in museums, galleries and nonprofits, then used her degree to find success in the business world. She also continued to pursue higher education along the way, earning a graduate degree in arts management as well as a doctorate in theology. But professionally, she felt she had not yet found her niche.

The opportunity to revisit the insight that occurred that day in the dental office came after her marketing executive position at a health company was dissolved. Instead of being dismayed by the setback, Hendree’s trademark tenacity propelled her to take a bold step toward integrating all of her academic interests and finally realizing her dream.

“I realized I can do what I want, so I am going to give myself permission to start my own business,” Hendree said. “I wanted to partner with organizations — corporate organizations, government organizations, commercial organizations, educational institutions — to get artwork in their space that supported their mission, their mandate and their personality.”

As an art consultant, Hendree spends her days doing exactly that. She helps organizations understand the benefits of creating an aligned environment that supports inspiration and innovation while being welcoming to all who enter. She utilizes her knowledge of art, relationship-building skills and business acumen to provide a customized client experience.

With gratitude for having found her place in the world, Hendree feels strongly about giving back to college-bound youth, with whom she spends a considerable amount of time volunteering.

“Speaking into the lives of kids and supporting them in whatever way I can is something I am honored to do,” Hendree said. She continues to show her gratitude for the support she received during her time at UMSL by volunteering as a mentor with the Honors College’s annual professional development event and in other university capacities when able. She also encourages others to become volunteers, noting the benefits for both those who offer help and those who receive it.

“Volunteer opportunities can turn into fantastic connections and relationships — and sometimes job opportunities,” Hendree said. “If you’re in a volunteer capacity, they can see your work ethic when you’re not making any money. So if you work hard for free, you’re certainly going to work hard when you’re getting paid for it. If you can serve people, you will establish fantastic connections that can turn into something wonderful and authentic. And if they don’t, at least you have the opportunity to serve.”

Hendree has built a life that is marked by her faith in God, determination and a singular focus on her desire to connect people with meaningful artwork. Her advice to others embodies the UMSL values of innovation and success.

“Always think about how you can develop the skills to support what you want to do,” she said. “If you have to cobble things together to get to what you see yourself doing in the future, then just be creative in doing that. And don’t give up, you know? Don’t give up. That is the key.”