Posted in Blog, General

Leadership Transition

The Board of Directors of the Museum of Arts and Sciences is delighted to announce the recent appointment of Susan Torrance Welsh to be the next Executive Director of MAS. Welsh was selected, following a comprehensive international search, because of her professional experience and accomplishments, particularly in business development and management roles inside and outside of large institutions. Welsh will assume her duties as Executive Director on July 9, 2012.

Tom Wight, President of the Board, said, “We announce Susan Welsh as the Museum’s new Executive Directive with great enthusiasm. She brings a unique combination of community involvement and professional leadership, as well as experience across educational and non-profit sectors, that will benefit the Museum, its programs, and the community it serves.”

“The Museum of Arts and Sciences is one of our state’s finest cultural assets and makes a serious contribution to the economic development and success of this community,” stated Welsh. “Thanks to an inspired history and a powerful educational mission, the Museum is well supported by a diverse network of volunteers and philanthropic partners, plus a team of dedicated professionals on staff. I am confident that together we will lead the Museum into a new and exciting phase of innovation and growth.”

Susan Welsh comes to the Museum from Wesleyan College, where she served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and provided leadership and strategic direction for the offices of development, alumnae relations, and marketing communications. In this role, she directed a major comprehensive campaign and the Annual Fund, among other fundraising programs. Prior to leading the division of Institutional Advancement, Welsh served as Wesleyan’s Director of Communications and implemented numerous new communication and business strategies to advance the goals of the college.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Welsh also studied studio art and art history at Wesleyan and has exhibited work throughout the region. Complementing her passion for painting, Welsh also taught elementary school fine arts through private instruction and programs with the Bibb County Public Schools, MAS, and Mid Summer Macon. She served as the Artist-in-Residence at Sonny Carter Elementary in Macon, and also designed and installed a series of educational public murals in several local elementary schools.

Welsh will succeed Suzanne Jones Harper, retiring Executive Director, who served in the position from 2006 and in several other positions from 1984 to 2000. Harper’s many accomplishments include spearheading the complete overhaul of the Museum’s Mark Smith Planetarium, one of Georgia’s premiere science attractions.

“Susan Welsh is the right person to lead the Museum of Arts and Sciences into the future,” noted Suzanne Harper. “Her experience in building quality programs and engaging the community will ensure that the Museum is well positioned to fulfill its mission and enable the institution to continue as an invaluable resource for Central Georgians.”