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PRESS RELEASES:

Arkansas Arts Center Board Hires Ellen “Nan” Plummer as New Executive Director

For more information contact:

Doug Buford, President, 501-212-1239
Arkansas Art Center Board of Trustees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arkansas Arts Center Board Hires Ellen “Nan” Plummer as New Executive Director

(LITTLE ROCK, AR) –

Dr. Ellen (Nan) Plummer has been named Executive Director of the Arkansas Arts Center. Doug Buford, president of the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees, announced the appointment today following the joint meeting of the Arkansas Arts Center Board of Trustees and Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Board of Directors. Plummer was appointed following a unanimous recommendation from the Search Committee, chaired by Curt Bradbury. She will begin her duties November 1, 2002.

Plummer succeeds Townsend Wolfe, who will retire on October 31, 2002.

Dr. Plummer is an art historian, educator and administrator from the Toledo Museum of Art. She has a PhD and Masters of Art degree in History of Art from the University of Michigan. She earned a Bachelors of Art degree in History of Art from Mount Holyoke College.

Dr. Plummer served as Head of Education at Toledo Museum of Art where she had oversight of the museum’s educational effort including School of Art and Design, gallery education, early childhood and family education, outreach and public programs. As a member of the Toledo Museum Directorship, the museum’s leadership team, Dr. Plummer shared responsibility for the museum’s strategic direction, operational planning and financial oversight. She also worked closely with the Museum’s development department for donor relations and grant writing for education-related proposals.

Dr. Plummer served as Executive Director of Artrain, Inc., a traveling art museum on a train, from 1989 to 1990. She was responsible for all operations of the program including financial and personnel management, fundraising, curatorial and educational programming. From 1990 until 1996, she served as assistant director for programs at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. She also served as associate director of the Museum Practice Program and as a lecturer in the Department of History of Art.

In 1996 she joined the Toledo Museum of Art as programs administrator and served in that capacity until 1999 when she became Head of Education.

The Search Committee was appointed in December 2001, and charged with interviewing and recommending to the Trustees the most exemplary candidate for the Center’s leadership. Bradbury said Dr. Plummer stood out in every area and gained everyone’s respect with her leadership and vision.

Plummer resides in Ann Arbor Michigan. Her husband, James Willard Spencer, is a recording engineer. They have a son age 15 and daughter age 12.