Erie Art Museum

EAM_lobbyInterior_pic.jpg (David Joseph copyright)

Erie Art Museum Front Entrance (Image ©: David Joseph)

ERIE ART MUSEUM

Laura Domencic named Executive Director

A Pittsburgh native, Domencic most recently worked as an independent arts consultant. She has led successful fundraising efforts for a variety of institutional and individual clients. For the past three years, she has also directed an artist residency program in Ambialet, France. She has curated and organized exhibitions, many of which garnered significant critical attention, including Emigration—Immigration—Migration (Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 2018-19), In the Air: Visualizing What We Breathe (Pittsburgh Filmmakers Galleries, 2015), and Marcellus Shale Documentary Project (ten-venue traveling exhibition, 2012-16).

Previously, Domencic served for 11 years as Director of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PCA), part of Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. At PCA, she managed operations for the arts center campus in Mellon Park, developing, curating and shepherding a full calendar of exhibitions, and building a wide range of community arts programming and workshops. She played a key role in overseeing operational logistics for the merger of the Center for the Arts and the Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

During her tenure at PCA, she built a deep bench of artist and institutional partners and brought robust programs into the community. In addition to her curatorial, fundraising and programming skills, Laura Domencic is an accomplished visual artist. She received her MFA from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and her BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

“We are all impressed with Laura’s track record of working with artists and engaging the community in cultural and educational programming,” said Andona Zacks-Jordan, President of the Board of Directors. “She brings a commitment to community dialogue, as well as experience building institutional operations, areas where we are focused here at the museum.”

“It is an honor for me to be invited to be a part of the Erie Art Museum,” said Domencic. “I look forward to working with the staff and Board to deepen the connection of the museum within community life and grow its financial resources. The Erie region and the museum have a great synergy, and are catalysts in each other’s growth. The museum has the potential to build dynamic programs that lift up many voices and strengthen its role as a regional cultural destination.”

Domencic will take the reins from Pam Masi who has served as Interim Executive Director since March of 2020. Masi has overseen management of the museum through the difficult COVID-19 pandemic, working with staff to create online content and to temporarily shut the museum down and then re-open it on two occasions. The Board is grateful for Masi’s service and stewardship of the museum.

The search committee was chaired by Matthew Levy, Ph.D. and included three other Board members: Mary Elizabeth Meier, Ph.D., Kristen Santiago, and Andona Zacks-Jordan, Esq. For the nationwide search, the museum retained executive search consultants Museum Search & Reference of Boston, MA and Washington, D.C. Domencic’s appointment was unanimously approved by the museum’s Board of Directors.

Located in the heart of Erie’s downtown cultural district, the Erie Art Museum is known for its distinguished and eclectic programming and for its LEED-certified facility. The museum houses a collection of approximately 8,000 items and works extensively with regional artists. The Erie Art Museum is open on a limited schedule due to COVID-19, with visitation by appointment Fridays, 2 pm to 8 pm and Saturdays, 10 am to 5 pm. To learn more, visit www.erieartmuseum.org.

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Peter A. Mello appointed Executive Director

The Board of Trustees of the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA, has named Peter A. Mello as its new Executive Director. Mello succeeds Charles Weyerhaeuser, who has held the position for over 50 years. Mello began his tenure at the ACM on September 9. The nationwide search was led by Senior Search Consultant Lora Urbanelli.  

Mello joins the museum from WaterFire Providence, where he has been the Managing Director, co-CEO, and a Board Member since 2011. WaterFire Providence is a public art experience that draws thousands of visitors to the rivers and parks in downtown Providence, RI. 

In addition to the large public art event, Mello led the project team that created the WaterFire Arts Center, a 37,000-square-foot, multi-use arts center. He led the concept development, planning, design, and construction of the center, which opened in 2017. Mello also led the team that develops the exhibitions, programming, partnerships, and revenue generation strategies for the center. 

A strong supporter of young artists, Mello created WaterFire Accelerate, a professional development program for artists under 30, and ArtLab@WaterFire, a leadership and workforce development program for underserved high school students. 

 With the next Executive Director in place, Charles Weyerhaeuser will take on the new role of Chief Historian of the Art Complex Museum. In this position, he will collaborate with the museum’s Collections staff to document the history of museum, its collection, and additional acquisition details of key objects in the collection. 

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Magdalena Moskalewicz appointed to the position of Chief Curator and Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Magdalena Moskalewicz to the position of Chief Curator and Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the Sheldon Museum of Art.  Moskalewicz was selected for the Sheldon position after a national search led by Suzanne Tan, senior search consultant at Museum Search & Reference.

Moskalewicz is an art historian, professor, and an internationally recognized curator, as well as a widely published researcher of modern and contemporary art. Most recently, she was Chief Curator of FRONT International, a contemporary art triennial based in Cleveland. Before that she served as a full-time visiting professor and adjunct associate professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as a visiting professor at Carnegie Mellon University School of Art, and as an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In her native Poland, Moskalewicz was a visiting curator at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw and served as curator of the Polish Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015, among other appointments. Moskalewicz was awarded both a Doctorate and a Master’s degree in Art History from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. 

“Magdalena brings to the Museum deep expertise and a compelling, progressive vision,” said Susan Longhenry, director of Sheldon Museum of Art. “Her commitment to simultaneously honoring and reframing Sheldon's collection, and to interrogating the art history canon, will take the Museum to the next level of scholarship, engagement, and impact.”

Moskalewicz has stated her interest in developing exhibitions and programs at Sheldon that “reflect the complexity of America today: globally connected and relevant,” aiming to “use art as a trigger that speaks to the moment,” and “delivering socially responsive curating that is stimulating and thought-provoking.”

She began her appointment in January 2025, joining a senior leadership team composed of the Museum’s Director and the newly hired Chief Curator and Associate Director for Learning, Engagement, and Public Practice.

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Racine Art Museum and Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
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Robb Woulfe Appointed Director

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Robb Woulfe as Executive Director of the Racine Art Museum Association, Inc. (RAMA) in Racine, Wisconsin, which holds the largest craft collection in America . He will direct both the Racine Art Museum (RAM) in downtown Racine, and the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts (Wustum) two miles from RAM.

Robb began his new role on January 13, 2025. A veteran arts leader, Woulfe was appointed by the RAMA Board following a rigorous national search led by Senior Search Consultant Ida Tomlin. 

Woulfe follows longtime Executive Director and Curator of Collections Bruce W. Pepich, who is retiring after five decades of service. Pepich will continue as a Consultant for Permanent Collection Projects throughout the spring before fully retiring. John Crimmings, RAMA Board President said, “Robb understands the legacy that Bruce built, and he brings a high level of enthusiasm, experience, and vision for RAMA’s continued excellence. The institution will continue to flourish under Robb’s leadership.”

“I am thrilled to have been selected as the next director of RAMA and cannot wait to work with its talented team and vibrant community as we embark on this new chapter together,” said Woulfe, a native of Saint Paul, Minnesota. “It is particularly meaningful to me to return to the Midwest where I grew up and first began my career in the arts, starting in Milwaukee more than 30 years ago. I have such admiration for all that Bruce W. Pepich, the staff, Board, and donors have accomplished, and I look forward to honoring and building on that legacy.”

Woulfe brings the extensive arts-management background needed to enhance programming and the Museums’ reach, accessibility, and impact in the community and beyond. He comes to Racine having served since 2020 as Executive Director of the Santa Cruz (CA) Museum of Art & History. During his tenure, he successfully navigated the Museum through the pandemic and into recovery. Previously, he served as Arts and Culture Development Advisor with Park City Municipal in Utah; Founding President and CEO of Breckenridge Creative Arts in Colorado; Executive and Artistic Director of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in Michigan; and he held senior management and programming positions with other institutions in the Midwest. With a three-decade history of working with diverse artists from across genres and disciplines, Woulfe has organized and produced a wide range of projects in galleries, on stages, and in digital and site-specific contexts. He has also served as a panelist and juror for various agencies and organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Arts Midwest, Colorado Creative Industries, and Minnesota State Arts Board.

Sheldon Museum of Art
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Randy Guthmiller Associate Director for Learning, Engagement, and Public Practice

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Randy Guthmiller to the position of Associate Director for Learning, Engagement, and Public Practice at Sheldon Museum of Art. Guthmiller was selected after a national search led by Suzanne Tan, senior search consultant at Museum Search & Reference.   

A dedicated and passionate art museum professional, Randy has had significant work experience in both museum learning and the visitor experience at three major institutions in Texas. Most recently, he served as the Manager of Experiences and Programs at Ruby City in San Antonio, a contemporary community art center that opened to the public in 2019. Prior to that, Randy worked at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas, first as an educator and then as the Manager of Visitor Experiences, while also working for eight years as an artist educator at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Guthmiller holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Education from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Randy to Sheldon’s team,” said Susan Longhenry, Director of the Museum. “His uniquely integrated expertise in community engagement, academic engagement, and the visitor experience aligns perfectly with our commitment to centering and deeply engaging visitors and members of both academic and non-academic communities.”

Randy began his appointment in January 2025, joining a senior leadership team composed of the Museum’s Director and the newly hired Chief Curator and Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs.

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The Rockwell Museum

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Erin Hammerdtedt appointed Executive Director

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According to David Katz, Board Chair of Canterbury Shaker Village, Hammerstedt will lead the organization into “a new phase of vision and energy.” This new phase includes a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, backed by a feasibility study that ensures the stability of the Village’s historic preservation, collections, visitor experience, and endowment. “Erin has tremendous experience in community relations and the rehabilitation and management of historic properties, which makes her the perfect hire for the Village,” said Katz. “We look forward to her leadership.” 

 Previously, Hammerstedt served as Executive Director of Historic Harrisville, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the unique historical and architectural heritage of Harrisville, New Hampshire. Among other duties in this capacity, she managed the rehabilitation, maintenance, leasing, and operation of twenty-two historic buildings that contained approximately 75,000 square feet of leasable commercial space and twelve residential rental units. 

 “Erin has the financial management and leadership experience we need to expand our educational outreach and properly protect and maintain the Village’s core physical assets,” added Katz. “The present and future look very bright at the Village.” 

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Michael Bowers appointed Chief Operating Officer

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) appointed Michael Bowers as the nonprofit’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). He joins the DZS after spending the past seventeen years at Corewell Health, serving most recently as its Vice President of Planning, Design and Construction. Bowers was chosen after an extensive search led by Senior Search Consultant Ida Tomlin. He began work in August. 

 As COO, Bowers will lead and oversee a number of teams, including the nonprofit’s construction, facilities, operations, security, and sustainability departments—all dedicated to the DZS’s mission of “creating meaningful connections between people, animals, and the natural world, so all can thrive.” Bowers stated, “At the core of facility operations in healthcare, our role was to provide safe, compliant and comfortable environments for patients, visitors, and staff, and those same principles apply to operations at the DZS, concentrating on the critical and unique habitats and environments for the animals under our care.”  

 Bowers has twenty years of experience in the construction and project-management fields, having previously worked at Beaumont Health (before its merger with Spectrum Health to transition to Corewell Health) and Lausman Homes. He is an expert in planning, designing, and executing complex projects and has led teams throughout his career—spearheading many projects including the development of Corewell Health’s strategic and master plans. 

 “Mike has achieved many notable accomplishments throughout his career, and we are thrilled to have him join the DZS team,” said Dr. Hayley Murphy, Executive Director and CEO. “As we continue to shape the future of the DZS through our strategic and master planning processes, Mike will be an invaluable addition, as we work toward igniting positive change for animals and nature.” 

 Bowers is a native Michigander who grew up in Troy, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Building and Construction Management from Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Daniel Kurt Ackermann appointed Director

Daniel Kurt Ackermann has been named director of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, the historic house museum for American decorative arts at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. MS&R Senior Search Consultant Connie Rosemont led the national search.

Stark Museum of Art
Stark Museum of Art

DIRECTOR OF EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS

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Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum

Leela Outcalt appointed Chief of Collections Care

We are pleased to announce that, after an international search led by Museum Search & Reference Senior Search Consultant Ida Tomlin, the Royal Ontario Museum has appointed Leela Outcalt as Chief of Collections Care. In this newly created role, Outcalt is responsible for the direct management of ROM’s extensive permanent collections, including over 13 million objects and specimens in 27 different disciplines spanning art, culture, and nature. A member of the senior management team and a key partner in long-range institutional planning, the CCC reports to the Deputy Director, Collections & Research and Chief Innovation Officer. 

Art Complex Museum
Art Complex Museum

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Cahoon Museum of American Art
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Leeann Ream appointed Curator

The Cahoon Museum of American Art on Cape Cod has appointed Leeann Ream as Curator. She will begin in July 2024. MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger led the nationwide search.

Ream has enjoyed a successful career in museums across the Midwest, including stints at the Toledo Museum of Art, Chicago History Museum, and most recently in Wisconsin at the Logan Museum at Beloit College as Assistant Curator as well as Postgraduate Fellow for the Center for Collections Care. Her curatorial interests have been in art-focused issues of gender, labor, and Indigenous art. She is also experienced in collections management and interpreting art for the public. Ream holds an M.A. in Museum and Exhibition Studies from the University of Illinois Chicago and a B.F.A. from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Cahoon Museum Executive Director Sarah Johnson said, “We are so happy to have Leeann join us in this important position. Her deep knowledge and love of American art, as well as her experience in collections and visitor services, will make an important contribution to moving the Cahoon Museum into the next phase of its success.” Johnson noted that for more than ten years she has acted as both Executive Director and Curator, so Ream’s hiring represents the first time the museum has had a dedicated curator.

“I am excited to contribute to the Cahoon Museum, which is such a gem of a museum and so important to Cape Cod and beyond,” said Ream. “The story of Ralph and Martha Cahoon is significant in the history of American folk art, making the museum, which is located in their home studio, a special place.”

Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Application Deadline: CLOSED

C.M. Russell Museum
C.M. Russell Museum

Chris Warden appointed Executive Director

The C.M. Russell Museum board of directors named Chris Warden as the museum’s new executive director. He will begin July 30th. Warden is a Great Falls native with a 30-year career in business and decades of nonprofit board service. Warden will relocate to Great Falls and will begin work in July 2024. He was selected after a national search led by Senior Search Consultant, Suzanne Tan.  

Warden has served two decades as vice president of technology at the Washington Companies in Missoula, where he has led the technology, communications, and continuous improvement teams for the Dennis Washington-owned companies across North America. He and his family returned to Montana in 2004, after working in Silicon Valley, Calif.  

In addition to serving on the C.M. Russell Museum board, Warden has served on the boards of the Foundation for Montana History, Leadership Montana, Watson Children’s Shelter, and Missoula Sunrise Rotary. He also has also sat on advisory boards at the University of Montana and currently serves on the Montana steering committee for the Jeannette Rankin Foundation. Warden recently received the Tom Scott Award for Excellence in Leadership, named in honor of the founder of First Interstate Bank and a founder of Leadership Montana, for his significant contributions to Leadership Montana and the state. Warden is a graduate of C.M. Russell High School and the University of Montana. 

Warden has served two decades as vice president of technology at the Washington Companies in Missoula, where he has led the technology, communications, and continuous improvement teams for the Dennis Washington-owned companies across North America. He and his family returned to Montana in 2004, after working in Silicon Valley, Calif.  

In addition to serving on the C.M. Russell Museum board, Warden has served on the boards of the Foundation for Montana History, Leadership Montana, Watson Children’s Shelter, and Missoula Sunrise Rotary. He also has also sat on advisory boards at the University of Montana and currently serves on the Montana steering committee for the Jeannette Rankin Foundation. Warden recently received the Tom Scott Award for Excellence in Leadership, named in honor of the founder of First Interstate Bank and a founder of Leadership Montana, for his significant contributions to Leadership Montana and the state. Warden is a graduate of C.M. Russell High School and the University of Montana. 

Diane Covell