Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has announced two new hires, naming a senior and deputy director. Sandy Edwards has been appointed to serve as senior director with Jill Wagar named as deputy director.
Edwards has been a part of the Crystal Bridges team since 2007, helping in the “conception, planning, building and opening of Crystal Bridges, according to a news release. She has served as the museum’s deputy director, overseeing audience growth, fundraising, community development and promoting Crystal Bridges’ profile.
She previously served as the management team for the University of Arkansas’ development team, heading up the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. From 1992 to 1998, Edwards held a role at Penn State University, where she created the first comprehensive advancement program in the continuing and education field.
Wagar is moving from chief strategy officer to the role of deputy director. In this role, she will oversee the museum’s strategic plan, in addition to maintaining oversight of development, membership, audience research and fundraising.
She joined the museum as director of advancement before being named chief strategy officer in 2015. Wagar served as the associate vice president for development and communications at Northwest Arkansas Community College before joining Crystal Bridges.
“We have seen Crystal Bridges and Momentary teams strengthen at a time when we are all managing extraordinary challenges,” Rod Bigelow, executive director and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in a statement. “With Sandy and Jill’s new roles, we have the opportunity to look toward the next decade with a new strategic plan process and an increase on fundraising efforts to support innovative new initiatives.”
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