NEW YORK, NY.- The Board of Trustees of the American Folk Art Museum announced that it has added two new members: philanthropist and educator Joyce Berger Cowin, a former member of the AFAM Board (from 1992 to 2017), and attorney and civil rights advocate Gail Wright Sirmans.

“Joyce Berger Cowin has been an exemplary and generous benefactor throughout her relationship with the Museum, and we are honored that she has re-joined the Board as we celebrate the 30thanniversary of the Museum’s location at 2 Lincoln Square,” said Board President Monty Blanchard. “Gail Wright Sirmans brings both an energy and a wealth of experience working with many communities in New York – legal, social, cultural, educational. Both trustees will make vital contributions to the Museum as we seek to expand its presence and influence.”

Cowin, in addition to her work for AFAM, was also a Trustee and benefactor of Teachers College at Columbia University, where she earned her master’s degree in education. She serves on the Board of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and for many years was on the Board of the New York Historical Society. According to AFAM director Jason T. Busch, “Joyce Berger Cowin is an inspiring philanthropist who has developed the American Folk Art Museum into the thriving artistic and cultural institution that it is today. We are honored to work with her in charting the next chapter of the Museum.”

Sirmans is a lawyer, scholar, and certified neutral mediator. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Sirmans is an employment law consultant to federal agencies as well as public and private employers. She was chair of New York State Bar Association’s Civil Rights Committee as well as associate counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. She and her late husband collected both traditional and contemporary art from the African diaspora. “Gail Sirmans has introduced and partnered the Museum with several organizations and individuals to broaden its reach into New York communities,” says Busch. “She is a vital connector of people, institutions, and ideas.”