Benjamin Neely Appointed President and CEO

We are pleased to announce that the York County History Center has appointed Benjamin Neely as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Neely brings significant experience in museum management and historical programming to his new role. He most recently served for six years as Chief Executive Officer of the Berks County History Center in Reading, PA. Before that, he was with the Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg, PA for fourteen years, the last seven as Chief Executive Officer. His background in central Pennsylvania’s cultural institutions provides him with valuable insight into the unique challenges and opportunities facing regional history centers. Neely holds an M.A. in Applied History from Shippensburg University, PA, and a B.S. in Marketing from the State University of New York, Oswego.

Throughout his career, Neely has shown a commitment to making history accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. His experience spans various aspects of museum operations, including collections management, educational programming, and community outreach. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin Neely to lead the York County History Center into its next chapter,” said Dennis Baughman, Chairman of the History Center Board. “His extensive experience in museum leadership and his proven track record of engaging communities with their local history make him the ideal candidate to advance our mission of preserving and sharing York County’s rich heritage, and to lead the History Center’s continued growth and evolution as a vital cultural resource for the region.”

“I am honored to join the York County History Center and look forward to working with the dedicated staff, volunteers, and community members who make this organization so special,” Neely said. “York County has such a rich and fascinating history, and I’m excited about the opportunity to help share those stories in new and engaging ways while building on the strong foundation that already exists.”

Neely succeeds Joan Mummert, who retired at the end of April. Terri Altland, Vice President of Visitor Engagement, served as interim President and CEO since May 1 and will continue to support the organization during the transition period.

Mindy N. Besaw appointed Director

We are pleased to announce that Mindy N. Besaw, Ph.D., is the new Wilma E. Kelley Director of the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University Bloomington.

Besaw brings more than two decades of curatorial and museum leadership experience with a focus on innovative exhibition design, expansive storytelling, and academic collaboration. She will assume her position on August 15, 2025. The search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant, Suzanne Tan.

Besaw currently serves as Director of Fellowships, Research and University Partnerships and Curator of American Art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since joining the institution in 2014, she has curated major exhibitions that examine wide-ranging narratives in American art and has championed initiatives that center underappreciated artists and voices. She has been instrumental in leading the Museum’s Tyson Scholars of American Art Fellowship Program, and in the foundation of the University of Arkansas’ Master of Arts in Art History, which specializes in arts of the Americas in partnership with Crystal Bridges. Earlier in her career, Besaw served as curator at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, where she oversaw the Whitney Western Art Museum. Her work has explored intersections of place, identity, and history in American visual culture.

Besaw earned a doctorate in American art history from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and holds a master’s degree in art history and museum studies from the University of Denver. At the Eskenazi Museum, Besaw succeeds David Brenneman, who became Director and CEO of Telfair Museums, Savannah, on September 1, 2024.

As Director, Besaw will oversee all facets of the Eskenazi Museum of Art’s strategy, operations, and engagement, including exhibitions, collections, teaching partnerships, and public programming. Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, she will guide the Museum’s next chapter as a dynamic center for visual arts education, interdisciplinary scholarship, and cultural dialogue. 

“Mindy is a visionary leader whose curatorial excellence and collaborative spirit make her an exceptional choice to lead the Eskenazi Museum of Art,” IU Bloomington Provost Rahul Shrivastav said. “Her deep commitment to expansive practice, community engagement and academic partnership will further elevate the Museum’s impact at IU and across the region.”

Noel Herden appointed as Executive Director

The Ellen Noël Art Museum (ENAM) has named Nicole Herden as its Executive Director. She began work on April 14. The national search was led by MS&R Senior Search Consultant, Dan Yaeger.

She most recently served as Executive Director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, where she ran a multidisciplinary organization with an accredited art museum, theater, and art school. Her previous experience includes Executive Director at the Museum of Nebraska Art as well as curatorial and collections roles at Boise Art Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and Arizona State University Art Museum.

Herden is an accomplished museum executive with over twenty years of experience in leadership, curatorial practice, and institutional transformation.

“Nicole has a blend of skills in museum management, art scholarship, fundraising, and community building that are an excellent fit with our Museum,” ENAM Board President Karmen Bryant said. “Her leadership will help us move into our new facility and chart a course for the coming years.”

ENAM is currently constructing a new 36,000-square-foot facility set to open in late 2025, which has been funded through a $20-million capital campaign. Bryant cited Herden’s experience with large-scale museum construction projects and fundraising. “She checked all the boxes for us,” Bryant said.

In addition to opening the new museum and launching new exhibitions in the galleries, Herden is charged with leading a strategic-planning effort that focuses on new opportunities generated by the new facility, galvanizing community support, and leveraging the Museum’s status as a Smithsonian Affiliate and AAM-accredited institution to serve visitors and the community.

Scott O’Donnell appointed Executive Director

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Scott O’Donnell as Executive Director of the Museum of the Southwest. He will begin work on April 1, 2025. Dan Yaeger, Senior Search Consultant for Museum Search & Reference, led the national search.

O’Donnell brings more than 30 years of experience in organizational leadership, museum administration, and event management. Most recently, Scott served for eleven years as the Executive Director of Circus World, a 64-acre living-history museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the historic headquarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Museum is the largest and most comprehensive circus museum in the world with more than 11,000 works of art, historic artifacts, and ephemera in addition to twice-daily seasonal circus performances.

In addition to his museum work, Scott served in leadership positions at Live Nation, an international entertainment and event-production company, where as Vice President of Festivals, he oversaw major music festivals, concerts, and venue operations around the country. He was also General Manager of the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, as well as Vice President and General Manager of the Big Apple Circus, a nonprofit touring circus with an international following.

As Executive Director of MSW, O’Donnell will lead the Museum’s efforts to prepare for its 60th anniversary in 2026 with a new strategic plan and branding, an initiative to create a new Visitor Center to unify its campus of museums, and by leveraging the Museum’s status to serve visitors and the community as an institution accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.