WORCESTER, MASS.- The Worcester Art Museum elected two new members to its Board of Trustees at its 125th annual Corporators meeting, held virtually on Wednesday, November 10. The newly elected trustees are Jennifer Davis Carey, executive director of the Worcester Education Collaborative and a resident of Worcester, and Lawrence H. Curtis, president and managing partner of WinnDevelopment and resident of Boxford. In addition to the business meeting, guest speaker Worcester City Manager, Edward M. Augustus Jr., gave his insights on Worcester’s cultural vibrancy and how the city has remained strong throughout COVID. He also emphasized the importance of arts in our local community.
The over 150 attendees who joined the Zoom meeting heard Board President Dorothy Chen-Courtin discuss the challenges and successes of the Museum in this past year of unprecedented pandemic restrictions. The continued impact of COVID-19 on operations and public programming did not overshadow the positive news—from exhibition openings that garnered national and international press, to new acquisitions that diversified the Museum’s collection, to WAM being a place of comfort and connection through art during these challenging times.
“Through it all, the Worcester Art Museum continued to be a cultural anchor for our City – and beyond,” said Dorothy Chen-Courtin. “During the winter while museums in Boston were closed, WAM was a respite from the pandemic and a destination for cultural nourishment and engagement.”
The Museum finished the year with a small net operating surplus of $68,473. Operating revenue for the year was $9,183,902, with $8,995,429 in expenses. An additional $120,000 was spent on capital improvements.
New Corporators elected
In addition, the Museum elected 26 new Corporators: Kolawole Akindele of Dudley, MA; Robert C. Alario, CPA of Cotuit, MA; Andrew A. Athy of Washington, DC; Eric A. Butler of Worcester, MA; Stephen S. Casey of Natick, MA; Rodmia Cesar of Leominster, MA; Donna E.Cohen of Westwood, MA; Sandra Connell Sanders of Worcester, MA; Joshua Croke of Worcester, MA; Jennifer Davis Carey of Worcester, MA; Paul M. DePalo of Worcester, MA; Allen J. Falke of Worcester, MA; Karen S. Falkeof Worcester, MA; Kate Hutchinson of Roslindale, MA; Nancy Fifield Jeppson of Worcester, MA; W. David Kelly, DMD of West Boylston, MA; Dr. Siobhan Dennis of Holden, MA; Christopher R. Mitchell of West Boylston, MA; Stephanie Opalka of Harvard, MA; Giselle Rivera-Flores of Worcester, MA; J. Thomas Selldorff of Needham, MA; Shlomit Schaal, MD, Ph.D. of Northborough, MA; Susan Strickler, Ph.D. of Manchester, NH; Hank L. von Hellion –of Leicester, MA; Rev. Dr. Esau Vance of Worcester, MA; and Charles S. (Chick) Weiss of Holden, MA. These appointments bring the total number of Worcester Art Museum Cooperators to 231.
The newly elected trustees
Jennifer Davis Carey, Ph.D.
Ms. Davis Carey currently serves as the Executive Director of the Worcester Education Collaborative an independent, non-partisan education advocacy and action organization. She holds Masters and Doctoral degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. In 1998 Carey served as Special Assistant to Governor Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts and a year later became Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations under Governor Jane Swift. She also served in Governor Mitt Romney’s administration for four years and briefly in Governor Deval Patrick’s administration as Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. From 2007 until 2009, Carey oversaw the development of education and training solutions at Commonwealth Medicine, a division of University of Massachusetts Medical School. Before joining Massachusetts state government, she enjoyed a long career in education and worked at Ohio University, Harvard University and at Bancroft School in Worcester. An active member of her community, Ms. Davis Carey serves on several non-profit boards including Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Quinsigamond Community College, St. John’s High School, and the Worcester Cultural Council.
Lawrence H. Curtis
Mr. Curtis is President and Managing Partner of WinnDevelopment and member of the Board of Directors of WinnCompanies. He has led a full range of real estate development and acquisition activities of affordable housing, mixed income housing and historic rehabilitation developments for thirty years. Under his leadership, WinnDevelopment has transformed historic properties and rehabilitated thousands of units of housing valued at $500 million. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Multi-Housing Council.
