Frank H. Goodyear, Ph.D., appointed Executive Director

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum (LAAM) has appointed Frank H. Goodyear, Ph.D., as its next Executive Director, effective October 26, 2026. The appointment follows an extensive national search led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yeager and Laurie Pasteryak. 

A nationally recognized museum leader, curator, scholar, and author, Goodyear comes to the Lyman Allyn following a distinguished career at the forefront of American art and museum practice. He most recently spent thirteen years as Co-Director, with Anne Collins Goodyear, of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. Under their leadership, the Museum acquired more than 5,000 works of art, including major gifts of contemporary art and photography, and received major grants and recognition. Goodyear also helped establish the New Media Arts Consortium, enabling academic museums in New England to jointly acquire and share video and digital artwork.

Before joining Bowdoin in 2013, Goodyear served as Curator of Photographs at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. He holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His scholarship focuses particularly on the history of photography and American art. He has curated more than 40 exhibitions and is the author or co-author of thirteen books and exhibition catalogues.

Goodyear joins the institution at a pivotal moment. He succeeds Sam Quigley, who announced his retirement earlier this year following twelve years of transformative leadership. LAAM is currently completing the development of Lyman Allyn Park, a twelve-acre urban green space designed to extend the Museum’s mission beyond its walls. The project fulfills founder Harriet Upson Allyn’s vision of a park and museum for the “free use and enjoyment” of the people of New London. It will create new opportunities for sculpture, environmental learning, public programs, and community gatherings. 

“We could not be more pleased to welcome Frank Goodyear to the Lyman Allyn,” said Eliza Sharp, President of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “Frank brings an extraordinary combination of curatorial expertise, scholarship, leadership, and an uncommon understanding of the role museums play in the life of their communities. His experience at Bowdoin and the Smithsonian, his national network of colleagues, and his commitment to making museums welcoming and relevant to broad audiences make him an exceptional fit for the Lyman Allyn at this important moment in our history.” 

Jessica Kinsey appointed Executive Director 

The Museum of the Southwest (MSW) has named Jessica Kinsey, an experienced museum leader with a strong track record of institutional growth and community engagement, as its next Executive Director. She will assume her position effective October 1, 2026. The nationwide search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger.

Kinsey most recently spent eight years running the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), where she grew operating revenue by 89% while helping secure over $1 million in philanthropic support and expanding the professional staff. Under her leadership, SUMA also landed a major sculpture by renowned Chiricahua Apache artist Allan Houser for its redesigned sculpture court. 

Since 2025, Kinsey has been an Assistant Professor of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Oklahoma, teaching museum leadership and strategic planning, and she serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries. She holds an M.A. in Museum Studies and a B.A. in Art History, both from the University of Oklahoma.

“Jessica impressed us with her energy, creativity, and proven ability to build an organization while bringing people together around a shared vision,” said Doug Schmidt, President of the MSW Board of Trustees. “She understands that the Museum of the Southwest is a multidisciplinary institution serving art, science, children, families, and the broader West Texas community. We believe she is the right leader to build on the Museum’s strengths and lead us into its next chapter.” 

Kinsey will live in Midland and looks forward to spending time at her family’s property in West Texas near Fort Davis. She succeeds Interim Executive Director Dwight Alworth, who steered the Museum through its leadership transition.

Jeff King appointed Executive Director

The Board of Trustees of Memphis Museums of Science & History (MoSH) has appointed Jeff King as the organization’s next Executive Director, effective October 1, 2026. King has served as Interim Executive Director since December 2025. His appointment follows a comprehensive national search conducted by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Ida Tomlin.

King joined MoSH in August 2021 as Director of Guest Services and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in July 2023. In that role, he oversaw education, exhibitions and collections, marketing, theater and planetarium operations, public programming, and other operational functions across the organization’s properties. 

King has extensive experience in museum operations, strategic planning, staff development, financial oversight, visitor engagement, and organizational management. Before joining MoSH, he held several leadership positions at the Denver Art Museum (DAM), including Director of Operations. During his time at DAM, he managed large-scale visitor and sales operations for an institution serving as many as one million visitors annually and led teams of up to 250 employees. He holds a B.A. in Fine and Studio Arts, with a minor in Art History, from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

“Jeff brings a rare combination of institutional knowledge, operational expertise, and a deep, genuine love for each of our museum properties,” said Gwyn Fisher, Chair of the MoSH Board of Trustees. “Throughout his interim leadership, he has demonstrated that he understands not only where this organization has been, but also the tremendous opportunity ahead. The Board is confident that Jeff has the vision, experience, and commitment to lead our museums into their next chapter—expanding our reach, strengthening our impact, and ensuring these treasured institutions continue to serve our community for generations to come.”

Laura J. Mueller, Ph.D. appointed Executive Director of the Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Laura J. Mueller, Ph.D. as the new Executive Director of the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC. Mueller recently served as the Interim Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Art and Vladem Contemporary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She officially takes the helm as Executive Director on August 3, 2026. Senior Search Consultant Ken Turino led the national search.

Mueller is a museum executive, curator, and art historian with more than twenty years of leadership experience in art museums and cultural institutions. She has overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, led major fundraising initiatives and capital projects, curated nationally recognized exhibitions, and cultivated strategic partnerships that expand community engagement. An internationally recognized scholar of Japanese art, she has published extensively and lived and conducted research in Japan. Mueller holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Economics from Gustavus Adolphus College, a Master of Arts in Arts Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. in the History of Art from the University of Wisconsin. 

“The CMA Board of Trustees is delighted to welcome Dr. Mueller to the Museum,” says Therese Griffin, Board President.” In addition to her well-rounded museum management and curatorial experiences, the Board was drawn to her strong world view, cultural leadership, and work around strengthening museums through strategic positioning and capacity building.”  

“We celebrated the CMA’s 75th anniversary in 2025 and the reinstallation of its impressive art collection this year, so Dr. Mueller will assume leadership at a pivotal moment in the Museum’s history,” says Griffin. “We look forward to embracing her vision as she guides the CMA to the next level of strategic growth and sustainability.” 

“I believe museums have the power to inspire curiosity, foster empathy, and bring people together through shared experiences,” says Mueller. “I am excited to work alongside the Board, staff, members, donors, artists, and our community to ensure the Museum continues to be a welcoming, dynamic, and inspiring cultural resource.”

Lacy Schutz appointed Interim Executive Director

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Lacy Schutz as the Interim Executive Director at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) Cincinnati. Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger led the national search. Schutz will begin her new role on May 18.

Schutz brings nearly twenty years of cultural-institution leadership to the role, with a track record of advancing artistic ambition alongside organizational and financial strength. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of ATHR Gallery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the leading contemporary art galleries in the Gulf region. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of the Shaker Museum in New York, where she stabilized operations, rebuilt donors and community trust, and launched a transformative capital campaign. She has also held senior leadership roles at the Museum of the City of New York.

“We are genuinely thrilled to welcome Lacy to CAC,” said Emily Kokenge and Rick Michelman, co-presidents of CAC’s Board of Trustees. “She understands what makes CAC singular, and she has the experience to protect that while building the foundation this institution needs to take its next leap. We couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

Schutz has a deep commitment to the civic role of contemporary art institutions and to CAC’s history of courageous programming. “CAC has been making bold choices since 1939,” Schutz said. “It has shown work that wasn’t safe, stood its ground when that mattered, and earned a particular kind of trust that very few institutions can claim. I am coming to Cincinnati to help build on that, to strengthen the foundation that makes the risk-taking possible, and to make sure this place continues to be what it has always been: somewhere the future gets rehearsed.”

Daryl Ward appointed Executive Director

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Daryl Ward, Ph.D., as the new Executive Director of The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum (formerly the Polk Museum) at Florida Southern College. Senior Search Consultant Dana Friis-Hansen led the national search. 

Ward has served as the Interim Executive Director since June 2025. He will officially take on the Executive Director position on March 2.

Ward is an established figure in the regional arts community. He worked in Polk County Public Schools for 32 years, including seven years as principal of Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland, before retiring in 2020.

 After a brief stint at Southeastern University, in 2022 Ward became Executive Director of the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance, which is the nonprofit organization that advocates for local arts and culture entities and oversees the Polk Arts and Culture Hall of Fame.

Ward holds a doctorate from the University of South Florida, and he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from Florida State University and a Master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. A photographer who has exhibited his work publicly, Ward also serves as an adjunct professor in the education department at Florida Southern College.

As Interim Executive Director, Ward oversaw such initiatives as the Ela’s Forest project, a memorial sculpture honoring a local family affected by domestic violence, and the FSC Voices Symposium, which pairs Florida Southern faculty expertise with exhibitions at the Museum.

After considering “a strong pool of candidates,” Florida Southern President Jeremy Martin decided that Ward should become the full-time leader. He said, “As we were interviewing candidates, I found that I was in effect asking, ‘Will you continue the great work that Dr. Ward has been doing?’ When I passed that compliment on to Dr. Ward, we discussed how deeply invested he had become in the Museum in recent months.” Martin added: “From there, it became clear that we had the right leader in place — someone who understands The AGB, values its mission, and is committed to advancing the arts at Florida Southern and throughout our community.”

Fabio Fernández appointed Executive Director

The National Sculpture Society of New York City has appointed Fabio J. Fernández as the new Executive Director, following a nationwide search led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger. Fernández assumed his position on January 26, 2026.

Fernández brings more than two decades of leadership experience across arts and cultural organizations. He previously served as Director of Greenwich House Pottery in New York and Executive Director of the Society of Arts + Crafts in Boston, where he led strategic planning, fundraising, and organizational development to support artists and creative communities.

Trained in both business and the visual arts, Fernández earned his Bachelor’s in Business Management from Seton Hall University and a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art. His dual perspective has informed his commitment to supporting artists, strengthening creative communities, and advancing institutions dedicated to the arts.

“Fabio brings a rare combination of administrative rigor, deep respect for artists, and an understanding of how membership organizations can thrive,” said Gregory Glasson, Board Chair of the National Sculpture Society. “He understands our mission, appreciates our history, and is well-positioned to help advance our strategic priorities, including the evolving needs of our members.”

Fernández succeeds outgoing Executive Director Gwen Pier, who over nearly four decades guided the organization through extraordinary growth. During her tenure, Pier played a central role in growing the endowment from $365,000 to more than $15 million, thus strengthening the Society’s programs, exhibitions, publications, and member services. She has stewarded the organization through significant changes in the field and overseen strategic planning, the revitalization of the Society’s magazine, Sculpture Quarterly, the development of awards, scholarships, residencies, ambassador groups, and juried exhibitions, all of which have directly benefited generations of sculptors.

Alana Ryder appointed Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that the Mystic Museum of Art (MMoA) has appointed Alana H. Ryder as its new Executive Director. The nationwide search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant Dan Yaeger. Ryder will assume her position on December 1, 2025.

‍Ryder joins MMoA following her tenure as Director of Fellows and Cohort Programs at the Art Bridges Foundation, a major national arts philanthropy dedicated to expanding access to American art. There, she launched and led the Foundation’s signature programs supporting emerging museum leaders and institutional partnerships across the country. Previously, Ryder held management and curatorial roles at the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center at SUNY Buffalo, where she created the Community Gallery program to showcase and support local artists.

Ryder brings to MMoA a strong record of innovation in museum programming, leadership development, and audience engagement. At Art Bridges, she built a new department and oversaw program strategy and budget, helping partner museums across the United States strengthen access, equity, and professional pathways in the arts. Earlier in her career, she directed university and public programs at the Wexner Center, where she managed endowed lectures, major grants, and initiatives linking artists with academic and community audiences. Ryder holds an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University; an M.A. in History with Museum Studies from SUNY Buffalo; and a B.A. in History of Art from the University of California, Berkeley.

“Alana is a dynamic and forward-thinking leader who combines a deep understanding of the museum field with a genuine passion for community connection,” said Breck Perkins, President of Mystic Museum of Art’s Board of Directors. “Her national perspective, creative energy, and proven ability to build partnerships will be invaluable as we advance MMoA’s mission and strategic vision for the future.”

“I am honored to join Mystic Museum of Art and to carry forward its legacy as a center for creativity and connection,” said Ryder. “Mystic’s artistic heritage and its active community of artists create a unique opportunity for dialogue, learning, and inspiration. I look forward to working with the Board, staff, and community partners to expand the Museum’s reach and deepen its impact in the region and beyond.”