Daniel E. O’Leary Named New President of MWPAI

Daniel E. O’Leary, Ph.D., director of the Winslow Homer Studio Project in Scarborough, Maine, has been named president of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute by a unanimous vote of the MWPAI board of trustees.

O’Leary will begin his duties April 6, 2009. He succeeds Milton Bloch who retired at the end of 2008 after 18 years at the Institute.

O’Leary was chosen after an extensive national search which began in spring 2008. John Stetson, MWPAI board of trustees member and chairman of the search committee, said nine candidates were interviewed before O’Leary was chosen. Stetson cited O’Leary’s successful work at other art institutions, particularly in the area of development. “He has all of the experience and qualifications we were seeking,” Stetson said. “He is the perfect fit for our staff, the community and all the constituencies we serve.”

O’Leary said he was drawn to the position by the diversity and scope of the Institute’s programming and resources. “The chance to play a role in Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute's future represents an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime,” he said. “There are very few places in America where one cultural institution achieves such a full and diverse mission.”

O’Leary has more than 24 years experience managing arts institutions. He is currently pursuing completion of an $8.3 million campaign to acquire, preserve, and interpret the studio and home of Winslow Homer at Prouts Neck, Maine.

Prior to that, he served 15 years leading the Portland Museum of Art in Maine. Over his tenure he strengthened staff and increased the endowment significantly. He raised $13 million for the restoration of two of the Museum’s historic buildings.

As assistant director of the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, he coordinated a four-year effort that increased annual attendance from 280,000 to 575,000 and completed a major capital campaign. While serving as director of Artrain USA in Ann Arbor Michigan, he raised corporate donations 250% and doubled national attendance.

“This is an exciting time for the Institute,” Michael Cominsky, chairman of the MWPAI board of trustees, said. “Dan has a long history of successes and we look forward to what his many strengths will bring to us.”

“MWPAI offers extraordinary opportunities for many thousands of people,” O’Leary added. “I look forward to finding ways that these great assets can be even more widely shared and celebrated.”

After exploring the greater Utica region with his wife, artist Kathy Bouchard, O’Leary became enthusiastic about the area. “In addition to the cultural resources of MWPAI and the extensive natural resources of the area, we have found the warmth and appeal of the people here to be extraordinary,” he said. “We look forward to becoming very active and caring members of this community."

O’Leary holds a Ph.D. in history of art from the University of Michigan; an M.B.A. in marketing and management, an M.A. in history of art and an M.A. in English literature, all from the University of Michigan; and a B.A. in history of art from Princeton University.