Sumner Bender

Sumner Bender, a Columbia native, is the Executive Director of the Nickelodeon
theater, South Carolina’s only nonprofit art house cinema located right here on Main St.
Bender Is the past president of the Board of Directors for Trustus Theatre, and has been
a part of Trustus’ company for over 20 years. She is Vice President of the SC Theatre
Association, and a board member for The Contemporaries of the Columbia Museum of
Art.
Prior to joining the staff at The Nick she was the lead theatre teacher, and professional
development facilitator, in Richland County School District Five at Spring Hill High
School. Bender received her Master of Education- Teaching and Learning from Clemson
University. She received her B.A. from USC’s School of Mass Communication and
information studies with a major in public relations and a minor in english. She is
certified in nonprofit management from Winthrop College as well as certified in Gifted
Education from Converse College.
Bender believes in the power of the arts to help communities grow and change in
meaningful and intentional ways. Places like The Nick are helping attract and maintain
younger generations to Columbia, “Show me a thriving city and I will show you its
flourishing arts community,” says Bender. The theater isn’t just somewhere to go on a
Friday night, it is an experience that you share with your community. Storytelling is the
oldest form of art and The Nick is bringing that art to life on the big screen.