Courtney Kessel named executive director of Kennedy Museum of Art

Ohio University has named Courtney Kessel Executive Director of the Kennedy Museum of Art, recognizing her leadership during the past five months as interim director, her more than 10 years of teaching in the School of Art + Design and her vision for the museum’s future. Kessel will lead the museum while continuing to advance its role as a center for artistic discovery, interdisciplinary learning and community engagement.

“One of the things that has become especially clear to me during my time as interim director is the enormous potential of the Kennedy as a university museum,” Kessel said. “It can be a place where art, teaching, research, experiential learning and community engagement genuinely intersect. I’m excited to devote my full attention to strengthening those connections.”

Kessel brings more than a decade of teaching experience in the School of Art + Design and a strong record of connecting academic programming with student engagement. During her time as the director of Experiential Curriculum Integration in the Office of Experiential Learning, she has collaborated with faculty and campus partners to expand experiential learning opportunities and support student success across the University. She is also widely recognized for her work as an artist, educator and advocate. 

Kessel brings a practitioner’s perspective to curriculum design and faculty development, drawing on her expertise in interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Her scholarly and creative work is rooted in reflection, collaboration, process-driven inquiry and applied learning. An interdisciplinary artist, Kessel’s work has been exhibited and presented nationally and internationally. Working across sculpture, performance, photography, video and sound, her practice explores the often-unseen labor of motherhood. Her long-running performance series, “In Balance With” (2010–present), is an example of her evolving creative relationship with her daughter. 

As director, Kessel will focus on advancing the Kennedy Museum of Art’s exhibitions and programming while strengthening its impact as a cultural resource for the University, the region and broader communities. Her leadership will emphasize connections among the museum’s collections, academic programs, student experiences and community partnerships, expanding opportunities for teaching, research and engagement through the arts.

“We are thrilled that Courtney is shifting to serve as our full-time Executive Director of the Museum. I am confident that her passion skills will serve us well,” Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, dean of the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts, said. “She has served the college in a variety of capacities during her time at Ohio University, and her strong background as both an artist and advocate positions her well to lead the Kennedy into its next chapter.”

Alongside Kessel, the Kennedy Museum of Art team includes Lisa Quinn, museum registrar; Mateo Galvano, head of learning and engagement and Lori Spencer, who supports museum operations and facilities. Together, the team will build on the museum’s enduring legacy while strengthening connections between its collections and programs, university teaching and research, creative practice, and the broader community.