RICHMOND, VA.- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announced the election of Lynette L. Allston to the role of president of the museum’s Board of Trustees. In the 86-year history of the institution, Allston is the first Native American person to hold this position and the first Native American board chair of a top 10 U.S. comprehensive art museum.

“We are tremendously delighted to have Lynette serving as our president of the Board of Trustees,” said Alex Nyerges, VMFA’s Director and CEO. “Through her many accolades in Virginia’s diverse Native American community, Lynette will be not only a great leader, but will help ensure that the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a museum that embraces all visitors.”

Allston has served on the VMFA Board of Trustees since 2017 as a member of the Education Committee, Fiscal Oversight Committee, Nominating Subcommittee and Executive Committee. In 2021, she advised the External Affairs Committee to develop VMFA’s land acknowledgement, which was installed in November of that year.

“I am excited and honored to be elected as the president of the Board of Trustees,” said Allston. “The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts tells the story of people and their cultures through art, and it is my hope to continue to offer guidance about Virginia’s and the country’s rich cultural heritage.”

Allston serves as the current Chief and Chair Emeritus of the Tribal Council of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, one of 11 tribes officially recognized by the Commonwealth. Under her leadership, the Nottoway Tribe of Virginia has been able to offer educational outreach and opportunities to close the gap in understanding the history and culture of the Nottoway Indians. Allston is co-author of DoTraTung, a book that offers a captivating story about the history, culture and lifestyle of the Nottoway Indians. She is also currently the president of the Board of Rawls Museum Arts in Courtland, Virginia, one of VMFA’s 24 art museum partners across the state.
She spent her formative years on her family’s farm in Drewryville, Virginia, and graduated from Duke University with a degree in history and certification in secondary education. After two decades of business ownership and civic engagement in Columbia, South Carolina, Allston retired to her family farm.