Sumner Bender is an arts and nonprofit leader dedicated to community engagement through film, theater, and cultural programming. As Executive Director of The Nickelodeon Theatre, she has revitalized Columbia’s only independent cinema by balancing arthouse and mainstream films, strengthening partnerships, and navigating industry shifts.
A Columbia native, Sumner’s career spans public relations, arts leadership, and education. She served as board president and interim executive director of Trustus Theatre, taught high school theater in Chapin, SC, and was Vice President of the South Carolina Theatre Association. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations from USC and a Master’s in Teaching from Clemson University.
Sumner serves on The Contemporaries board at the Columbia Museum of Art and the USC Women’s and Gender Studies Partnership Council. Recognized for her impact, she has been named to The State’s “Top 20 Under 40” and the Free Times Power List multiple times.