Densil Porteous Hones the Craft of Storytelling at the Wexner Center

Interview by Steph Greegor

Name: Densil R. R. Porteous, II
Age: 37
Profession: Director of Marketing/Communications & Outreach at the Wexner Center for the Arts
Neighborhood: Short North / Victorian Village
One-word description: Pragmatic
Quote: “I am a fan of a good, hand-crafted cocktail and those I love to get at Mouton.”
Connect: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Blog

Densil Porteous, 37, is a jack of all trades and a master storyteller who weaves the fabric of the arts community into a beautiful tale through his role as Director of Marketing/Communications & Outreach at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

“My first job was as an admissions officer, at my alma mater, and it was over a period of ten plus years, during which I earned my MBA in marketing/communications, working in the admissions field that I came to embrace the idea of storytelling (marketing/communications) and its importance,” said Porteous, who was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, before eventually making his way to Ohio for an education at Kenyon College and then later, work.

“When I left my last job, in the admissions field, I wanted to continue helping people find community through connection while telling the story of a unique institution,” said Porteous. “I found that opportunity by turning to a purely marketing/communications role.”

Porteous also prides himself in the volunteer work he has been able to perform over his lifetime so far. He’s now in his third, two-year, term with the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality.

“In my volunteer life I call myself a ‘Social Change Advocate/Capacity Builder,’” said Porteous, who lives in the Short North/Victorian Village area.

He also sits on the board of directors for Equitas Health as its Vice-Chair; the board of the Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation; and is a member of the Create Columbus Commission. Porteous also serves as a start-up advisor through Rev1 Ventures and independently.

And when it’s time to eat, Porteous heads for Barcelona—the restaurant.

“I think it’s a secret gem that many new folks to Columbus may not really know,” he said. He also enjoys taking guests to the North Market, a local staple, to get that “great Columbus experience.”

Densil was named to our annual list of 52 Young Professionals You Should Know in Columbus – one for every week in the year!
Meet the entire “Class of 2018” »