Terry Deppner Hardin , HMA Board of Trustees member who chaired the national search for a new executive director , agrees with Brownfield ’ s assessment .
“ Our board of directors is thrilled to welcome back a leader of Liz ’ s caliber to our community to guide the Huntington Museum of Art ,” Hardin says . “ The search for a qualified CEO for a nonprofit arts institution with the skills , experience and heart necessary for an organization like ours led to a national search . This search resulted in several exceedingly qualified applicants .”
As curator of art and engagement at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences since 2021 , Simmons was in charge of exhibits and programming for the Juliet Art Museum and Susan Runyan Maier Sculpture Garden . Her accomplishments leading the Juliet Art Museum included planning seven exhibitions a year and overseeing the publication of the exhibition catalog titled “ Ellie Schaul : Reimagining the Familiar .” More than 20 new works were added to the Juliet ’ s permanent collection under her direction .
Simmons follows Geoffrey Fleming as HMA executive director .
“ I ’ m thrilled to serve as the next executive director at the Huntington Museum of Art and continue its great legacy of fostering the arts for the city of Huntington ,” Simmons says . “ The museum ’ s deep collection and expansive exhibitions are unparalleled in our region .”
Reese Family Gifts $ 100,000 Toward Established Scholarship
Marshall University has announced a gift of $ 100,000 bequeathed by Martha Sedinger Reese to support the Matthew A . Reese Jr . and Martha Sedinger Reese Scholarship . The scholarship is named in honor of her and her late husband , both 1950 graduates of then-Marshall College .
The scholarship , originally named the Matthew A . Reese Jr . Scholarship , was established in 1997 . Since then , 28 students have been awarded scholarships amounting to nearly $ 60,000 .
Tim Reese presented the check to Marshall University President Brad D . Smith with Nico Karagosian , president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation , and Matt Rowsey , director of philanthropy for the Marshall University Foundation , in attendance .
Tim Reese presents check to Brad D . Smith with Nico Karagosian and Matt Rowsey in attendance .
“ We ’ re incredibly thankful to Martha Reese and the entire Reese family for their generous $ 100,000 gift to support their scholarship at Marshall University ,” Smith says . “ This gift will make a tremendous difference in the lives of many of our students , and we ’ re so thankful for the Reese family and their continued support and dedication to our university .”
The recipient of the scholarship must be a West Virginia native who has graduated from a West Virginia public high school . First preference is given to a full-time student in the College of Liberal Arts who has demonstrated sustained involvement in the political life of their community on behalf of progressive causes , such as organizations or candidates that are concerned with issues of peace , justice or social welfare .
The award is renewable up to four years , or eight semesters , if the recipient maintains good academic standing of a 3.0 GPA or higher . The dean of the College of Liberal Arts , or their designee , selects the recipient and renews the award in cooperation with the Office of Student Financial Assistance .
“ My parents had a passion for progressive politics and wanted to seed a scholarship that rewarded West Virginians in the work on issues associated with peace , justice and social welfare ,” Tim says . “ Mom and Dad loved Marshall , and this scholarship is their legacy to our state ’ s future .” •
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