Linnea Grim to lead as new President and CEO

Strawbery Banke Museum announced January 11th the appointment of Linnea Grim as president and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair. Grim currently serves as Vice President of Guest Experiences for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the private nonprofit that owns and operates Monticello in Virginia. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, and a Master’s degree in history museum studies from The Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY, Oneonta, NY. She takes over on March 6, succeeding Lawrence J. Yerdon, who is retiring after 18 years in the position.

Dr. Clarisse Fava-Piz appointed Assistant Curator of European and American Art Before 1900

Dr. Clarisse Fava-Piz is the new Assistant Curator of European and American Art before 1900 at the DAM. She began her position in July 2023. MS&R Senior Search Consultant Connie Rosemont led this nationwide search.

Andrew Eschelbacher appointed Director of Collections and Exhibitions

After a national search led by MS&R senior search consultant Lora Urbanelli, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (the Carter), a dynamic cultural resource in Ft. Worth, TX with a preeminent collection of American art, has announced the appointment of Andrew Eschelbacher as the Museum’s Director of Collections and Exhibitions. Currently the Director of Curatorial Affairs at the American Federation of Arts (AFA), he will assume his role at the Carter beginning September 2022. As Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Eschelbacher will leverage his extensive experience managing internationally touring exhibitions, conducting curatorial research, and stewarding collections to further the Museum’s work of sharing the rich history of artistic creation in America. He will lead the Carter’s Curatorial, Conservation, Registration, Art Services, Exhibitions Management, Publications, and Archives departments, spearheading the Museum’s exhibitions program and overseeing acquisitions for the permanent collection in collaboration with Executive Director Andrew J. Walker, the Carter’s leadership team, and the Museum’s Board of Trustees.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.