Taft Museum of Art

Taft Museum of Art

Rebekah Beaulieu appointed Louise Taft Semple President/CEO

The Board of Trustees of the Taft Museum is pleased to announce the selection of Rebekah Beaulieu as the Museum’s next Louise Taft Semple President and CEO. Beaulieu currently serves as the Director of the Florence Griswold Museum, an AAM-accredited National Historic Landmark house museum and modern exhibition space dedicated to American art, history, and landscape in Old Lyme, CT, where since her appointment in 2018, she has made substantive changes in the depth of programming and connection to the community. She also serves as an Accreditation Commissioner from the American Alliance of Museums, Vice-President of the New England Museum Association, Treasurer of the American Association for State and Local History, and series editor for the AASLH imprint from Rowman & Littlefield Press. She is the author of Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017) and Endowment Essentials for Museums (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022).

Royal Ontario Museum

Royal Ontario Museum

Valerie Huaco named Deputy Director for Collections & Research and Chief Innovation Officer

We are pleased to announce that the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Toronto, has appointed Valerie Huaco as its new Deputy Director for Collections & Research and Chief Innovation Officer. Huaco was selected following an extensive international search led by Museum Search & Reference Principal Marilyn Hoffman and Senior Search Consultant Connie Rosemont. Huaco began work at ROM on June 1, 2022.

Wright Museum of World War II

Wright Museum of World War II

Peggy Hennelly-Maniates appointed Executive Director

We are delighted to announce that the Wright Museum of World War II, Wolfeboro, NH, has selected Margaret (Peggy) Hennelly-Maniates as its new Executive Director, selected after a nationwide search conducted by Museum Search and Reference Senior Search Consultant Connie Rosemont. Ms. Hennelly-Maniates' appointment was unanimously approved by the museum's Board of Directors. Hennelly-Maniates will start work in her new position on July 1, 2022.

Missouri Historical Society

Missouri Historical Society

Jody Sowell, PhD, appointed President

After an extensive nationwide search lead by Museum Search & Reference senior search consultants Dan Keegan and Ida Tomlin, the Trustees of the Missouri Historical Society (MHS) in St. Louis have unanimously appointed Jody Sowell, PhD, to be the new president of the Missouri Historical Society, which operates the Missouri History Museum, MHS Library & Research Center and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, effective July 11, 2022, following the retirement of President Frances Levine, PhD.

Art Complex Museum

Art Complex Museum

Lori Ledoux appointed Communications and Programs Coordinator

Lori LeDoux began her new position at the Art Complex Museum in March 2022. She will oversee communications and will be the chief strategist for outreach and program coordination for the museum, which celebrates its 51st anniversary this year. The museum is preparing for its grand re-opening in May 2022 after two years of major interior and landscape renovations.

Denver Art Museum

Denver Art Museum

Jennifer R. Henneman, PhD appointed Curator of Western American Art and Director, Petrie Institute of Western American Art

Jennifer Henneman, previously serving as associate curator at the Denver Art Museum, assumed her new leadership position in February 2022. “During my six years at the DAM, I have worked to expand the scope of the western American art canon,” Henneman said. “I look forward to continuing these efforts and am committed to inclusive storytelling and collaborative curation to highlight important stories of the West.”

Heckscher Museum of Art

Heckscher Museum of Art

Heather Arnet appointed new Executive Director & CEO

Museum Search & Reference is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Arnet to be the next Executive Director & CEO of The Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, Long Island, New York. Robin T. Hadley, Chair of the Board said, “Heather brings a wealth of leadership experience, innovative thinking, and community engagement to the Museum. We are fortunate to be adding someone of her caliber to The Heckscher Museum.” Arnet will join the Museum in June 2022.