Our Services:

We at Museum Search & Reference recognize the multifaceted attributes museums look for in their leaders. We can help you identify professionals who want to work at your museum and who have experience with a broad range of activities: managing people and budgets, raising money, overseeing construction and renovation projects, building strong relationships with stakeholders, and inspiring audiences and staff while keeping your museum’s mission central.

We work for you to recruit top-notch talent. We recruit an inclusive pool of both experienced and up-and-coming museum leaders. Whether the pool is current directors or senior professionals, we understand the importance of finding the best candidates to match your museum’s needs.

In addition to placing dozens of museum directors, we have also placed chief curators, curators, deputy directors, directors of education, and other museum leadership, trained and experienced in content-specific areas. We have helped our clients recruit curators of American art, East Asian and South Asian art, contemporary art, European art, Islamic art, Latin American art, fashion, and decorative art, as well as museum education and engagement specialists and museum librarians.

We do not conduct searches for Development or Advancement professionals, but we can refer you to other firms who do.

We work nationally and internationally from our office in the greater Boston area and our search consultants are located in Boston, Providence, RI, Meridian, MS, San Francisco, CA, and Manchester, NH.

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  • Executive Searches

    From drafting the job description and placing ads to recruiting exceptional candidates and writing the employment contract, we provide a full range of search services.

  • Managing Transition

    We recognize that managing transition goes hand-in-hand with changes in leadership and we assist clients in developing a well-managed path forward.

  • Process

    We work side-by-side with you from start to finish. With your designated trustees or senior manager, we together establish the scope of services and, if desired, offer advice on forming a Search Committee. We guide you step-by-step to a successful hire. We do the advertising, recruiting and reference checks for desirable candidates through our extensive networks, and we prepare you to interview candidates and ultimately hire a finalist. We actively stay in touch throughout the process and solicit your ongoing feedback. In addition to taking care of the details of the search process, we can help your Search Committee plan and manage transition tasks that may result with the new hire.

  • Fees

    Our museum-only business focus insures you have our undivided attention for a more reasonable fee than other firms. We always use a fixed fee and never a percentage of salary, and we work with you to determine the scope and fee before the project begins. Except in unusual conditions, we offer a warranty for all of our hires.

  • Our clients retain us for repeat business.

    We have conducted multiple searches for a number of museums, including the Peabody Essex Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada.

  • Our database contains over 4,000 museum and art professionals.

    We have direct access to current directors, chief curators, curators, education directors, and other high-level talent. Our insider contacts in the field ensure that we recruit the highest caliber people who are “happy where they are” but are open to the right opportunity match at the right time.

  • We know where the talent is.

    Candidates and nominators return our calls, and are candid with us because we are former museum professionals. Our clients often say our detailed vetting and analysis of candidates surpasses that of other firms. Moreover, our experience and insight as former museum directors insures the best talent available matches institutional needs.

  • We have personal relationships with hundreds of museum directors, senior-level museum leaders, and other museum colleagues.

    Museum industry relationships ensure an experienced candidate pool thoroughly vetted by Museum Search & Reference’s team. Because we are uniquely connected to the museum world, we get immediate responses of nominations and inquiries targeted to the client’s needs.

  • We recruit nationwide and internationally.

    We are online, in-person, wireless and connected utilizing the latest digital tools, social media, and other resources to insure a deep dive into candidate research.

  • Clients say that our detailed screening and analysis of candidates surpasses that of other firms.

    We do extensive reference-checking early on, ensuring clients fewer surprises during interviews and on the job once hired.

  • We have experience with searches throughout the United States.

    Museum Search & Reference has presented candidates from California and Alaska to New York and Florida, and internationally including Canada, Europe and the Middle East.

  • We have met the demands of recruiting to challenging locations.

    Great communities exist everywhere. Places where we have conducted successful searches include Vermillion, SD; Lincoln, NE; St. Johnsbury, VT; and Grand Rapids and Holland, MI. We have worldwide contacts, but we also discover which candidates prefer smaller cities or large metropolitan areas.

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Why Museum Search & Reference

 
 

Museum Search & Reference is devoted to the long-term success of American museums. Our own careers as directors in the museum and non-profit world give us an insider’s leg up from which to recruit the leadership you seek.  We are hands-on and deeply networked, and our decades of experience placing talent in museums of all sizes and character, across North America, has led to a distinguished track record.

 

 

 
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Our Team

 
 

Our team of former museum directors and senior leaders knows the museum field inside out. We know the nuts and bolts of executive leadership, and the challenges of today’s job market. We are here to help.

Finding new leadership for museums is one part of the challenge. Finding the right leaders with vision to match the goals and aspirations of those museums is what distinguishes Museum Search & Reference.

 

 

 

Marilyn Hoffman

Marilyn Hoffman brings over 40 years of experience in museums and executive search. Marilyn’s network, combined with her deep knowledge of museum governance and staffing, makes her a respected advisor in executive recruitment. She founded Museum Search & Reference in 2005 after a 25-year museum career, capped by 18 years as a successful and respected museum director. At age 27, she became Director of the Fuller Art (now Craft) Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. She then took the helm of one of the then top 100 art museums in North America, The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire. She previously held two curator posts and educator roles at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the RISD Museum in Providence, Rhode Island.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Art History from Brown University, Providence, serves on numerous boards and professional committees, and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Museum Association. She is based in Metro-Boston, near Manchester, New Hampshire.

Kathy Fredrickson

Having served in leadership positions in major museums and private business for nearly 40 years, Kathy Fredrickson brings a remarkable perspective to executive search. As Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs at the Corning Museum of Glass and, prior to that, Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Director of Exhibition Research and Publishing at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, she gained deep experience in strategic hiring and has mentored scores of museum professionals. As a partner at Studio Blue, a Chicago design firm, Kathy oversaw design and strategy for institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago; the Driehaus Museum (Chicago); the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the Terra Foundation for American Art. These experiences have given Kathy unique insight into team building, creative problem solving, institutional culture, and strategic planning.

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and a Master’s in Arts Administration from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is now based in western Massachusetts.

 

Dana Friis-Hansen

Dana Friis-Hansen brings nearly 40 years of leadership and curatorial experience to his role in executive search. He is committed to helping museums recruit visionary leaders who align with the institution’s values and communities. Dana served as Director/CEO at the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Austin Museum of Art (now The Contemporary, Austin) and led curatorial teams at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and MIT List Center. His international experience includes projects with the Venice Biennale and Asia-Pacific Triennial.

Dana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Carleton College in Minnesota, and he was awarded the Helena Rubenstein Fellowship at the Whitney Museum of American Art Museum Studies Program. He also attended the Museum Leadership Institute at the Getty Center. Now based in Austin, Texas, Dana continues writing, research, curating, and consulting projects with a focus on Japan. He also develops and leads cultural itineraries for Tiny World Tours.

Suzanne Tan

Suzanne Tan brings extensive experience in museum leadership, transition planning, and executive search. Suzanne began her career at SFMOMA and has since served in leadership positions at the Japanese American National Museum, the Santa Monica Museum of Art, the Armory Center for the Arts, and the Richmond Art Center in California where she was Executive Director. As a senior consultant with Marcum’s Search, Transition and Planning group, she led executive searches and strategic planning for national nonprofits. Suzanne has also served as an interim executive director, and for over 10 years she was a Museum Assessment Program consultant for American Alliance of Museums.

Suzanne holds a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the John F. Kennedy University in California, where she also taught graduate courses in Museum Studies. She is based in the San Franciso Bay region.

 

Ida Tomlin

Ida Tomlin offers over 30 years of museum and nonprofit executive experience, specializing in operations, human resources, and leadership transitions. She most recently served as Director of Operations and HR at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, where she recruited and led the staff of a new $40M facility. In 2022, Ida was honored with the title "Operations Director Emeritus." Her past roles include Chief Operating Officer at the Detroit Zoo, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at the Detroit (now Michigan) Science Center, and Assistant Director and Head of Public Programs at Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Ida brings expertise in talent recruitment, DEAI, and unions. She has served on multiple boards and is a peer reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums.

Ida holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications/Media from Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan, Dearborn. She is now based in Mississippi.

 

Lora Urbanelli

Lora Urbanelli brings nearly 40 years of museum experience, including almost 12 years as Director of the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey where she led a $12M campaign and equity-focused institutional planning. She previously served as Director of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Maine and held senior roles at the Yale University Art Gallery and RISD Museum. Lora’s expertise spans fundraising, leadership development, and talent recruitment. She brings deep insight into executive transitions.

Lora holds a Master in Fine Arts in Museum Studies and Art History from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University. She is currently based in the Providence, Rhode Island area.

Ken Turino

Ken Turino is a national expert in historic site interpretation and museum education. Before joining Museum Search & Reference, he led exhibitions and community partnerships for Historic New England. A longtime adjunct faculty member at Tufts University, Ken also teaches nationally on museum studies and best practices. His leadership roles include Executive Director of the Lynn Museum in Massachusetts and Assistant Director of The Lyceum in Virginia. Ken’s wide network and experience mentoring museum professionals is advantageous when identifying exceptional leaders. He is also a published author and active board member in the field.

Ken holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Museum Education from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is currently based in the Boston region, Massachusetts.

 

Dan Yaeger

Dan Yaeger brings two decades of museum leadership and association experience to executive search. As Executive Director of the New England Museum Association for 12 years, he supported thousands of museum professionals with strategic planning, board engagement, and leadership development. He previously directed the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham, Massachusetts, and consulted on marketing and institutional strategy for major museums nationwide. Dan’s expertise lies in connecting boards with innovative and mission-aligned leaders.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Art, and English from Gettysburg College and a Master of Theological Studies in Ethics from Harvard University. He is based in New York and Massachusetts.

Gabriela Case

Office Assistant and Bookkeeper

Gabriela Case supports the firm with administrative logistics, database management, candidate tracking, and bookkeeping. She brings over 13 years of museum administration experience from the Currier Museum of Art and the New Hampshire Historical Society. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Gabriela plays a vital role in ensuring smooth operations throughout the search process. She is now based in Georgia.

Carla Morgan

Office Manager

Carla Morgan joined MS&R in 2024, bringing 12 years of office management experience in nonprofit and corporate settings. She oversees scheduling, project logistics, and document preparation. Carla began her museum career at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with a focus in Art History from Florida State University. She is proficient in Spanish and is based in Washington, D.C.

 

MaryAnn Delgado

Office Assistant

MaryAnn Delgado joined the firm in 2023. She assists with administrative and office tasks, such as database management, document preparation, placing job ads, and consultant support. She has over 30 years of experience working in office administration, retail, and real estate.

Laurie Pasteryak

Business Development Manager

Laurie Pasteryak leads business and client development and marketing. With 20 years of experience in museums, she has held roles at the Fairfield Museum and Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Connecticut, and USS Constitution Museum in Boston. Laurie brings extensive project management experience in technology, as well as a background in sales and recruitment while with a national marketing agency.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Anthropology from UConn and a Master of Arts in Museum Education from Tufts University. She is based in Connecticut.

 
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FAQs

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

+ We’ve never used a Search Firm before. How does it work?

We can submit a proposal describing our approach, process and scope of work, based on your search needs. You provide the Search Committee or Team. Once familiar with your goals, we partner with you step-by-step to draft a job/candidate profile and to determine how best to advertise the position. After that, we do the pro-active recruiting and candidate vetting, including reference checks. We submit a vetted pool of candidates to your search committee, so you can chose whom to interview. We work with the search committee all the way through to the hire, helping you to design interviews (and often attending them) and offering counsel when it is time to make an offer. After the offer is accepted, we can help you announce the position and set up onboarding steps – everything you need to ensure a successful and lasting hire.

+ How long does a search generally take?

Searches can vary depending on many factors. However, generally speaking, searches take six months from the time of engaging our firm to candidate hiring and relocation. Once we have agreed to a timeline, we are known for keeping the search on track.

+ How are candidates presented to the search committee?

We present a pool of candidates, each with their own dossier, to the Search Committee for an agreed-upon deadline. Active, qualified candidates are thoroughly vetted beforehand, and their dossiers will include a CV, cover letter, and detailed analytical profile from us including overview narrative, career history, salary requirement, strengths and weaknesses, reference feedback, fit and interest, and the intangibles that help make the case for the candidate. These profiles are used by the search committee for comparative analysis, to select semifinalists and conduct interviews. Clients tell us our presentations and reports surpass those of other firms.

+ How deep are your networks for recruiting nationally and internationally, and for diversity?

Our team of consultants has uniquely deep ties in the museum industry and beyond into the nonprofit, university and trustee worlds. We network regularly through AAM, AAMD, AASLH and regional organizations, and we actively recruit for diversity. We recruit nationwide and internationally and have placed international candidates.

+ What is your record of successful placements?

We offer a warranty with all our searches, and our track record of successful searches is top-notch, and one of the best in the industry. Success comes from listening well to our clients, properly scoping the nature of the job and the goals of the museum, and recruiting and vetting candidates for the best match possible.

+ Who in the firm would actually lead our search?

While growing, our firm remains small enough to provide exceptional service to our clients. Principal Marilyn Hoffman oversees and participates in all searches, usually attending “scoping interviews” at the start and facilitating search-committee meetings and interviews. A Senior Search Consultant who is the best fit to your needs will partner with you as well, bringing additional strength to the recruiting and vetting process. Our entire consultant team and staff contribute to exceeding your expectations for availability and service.

+ How do you follow the ethics of the executive-transition and search professions?

We belong to the national organization of Executive Transition Management Consultants, and follow their professional ethics and practices, as well as those of the museum profession. We avoid “parallel processing,” that is, accepting searches that could result in a conflict of interest. Beyond just following the rules, we are mission-driven. Our work is not just a business. Helping your museum to thrive is paramount.

+ How are your fees established?

We always charge a fixed fee for our search services – never a percentage of negotiated salary – to avoid a conflict of interest and to ensure you can control costs. Our fees vary depending on position level, organizational scale, and scope of services needed. Contact us if you’d like an estimate of fees, including estimated expenses.

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Land Acknowledgment

 
 

We acknowledge the contributions of the Penacook, the First Peoples on the land where our office is located. We acknowledge their land stewardship, contributions, and continuing presence today, along with other Indigenous peoples in the region we now call New Hampshire. 

Our office is located in a colonial Scots Irish farmhouse begun in 1728 on land that was then called Massachusetts and is now called Londonderry, NH.

We intend this Land Acknowledgment to be a launch for further discussions and work toward proactive actions for respect, inclusion, accessibility, and welcoming, which we are committed to pursuing in our search work and with our clients.