COLUMBIA, SC.- The board of trustees of the Columbia Museum of Art announces the appointment of Laura J. Mueller, Ph.D., as the museum’s new executive director. Mueller most recently served as the interim executive director of the New Mexico Museum of Art and Vladem Contemporary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She officially takes the helm as executive director on August 3, 2026.
“The CMA board of trustees is delighted to welcome Dr. Mueller to the museum,” says Therese Griffin, board president. “In addition to her well-rounded museum management and curatorial experiences, the board was drawn to her strong world view, cultural leadership, and work around strengthening museums through strategic positioning and capacity building.”
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The appointment culminates an extensive seven-month search that drew interest from both national and international candidates. Upon the announcement of the former executive director’s departure in October of last year, the CMA board of trustees formed a search committee to thoughtfully identify a new executive director. Led by Ann Marie Stieritz, board vice president, the committee secured the Boston-based firm Museum Search & Reference, which specializes in museum leadership recruitment, on December 31. The search launched in late January.
“We celebrated the CMA’s 75th anniversary in 2025 and the reinstallation of its impressive art collection this year, so Dr. Mueller will assume leadership at a pivotal moment in the museum’s history,” says Griffin. “We look forward to embracing her vision as she guides the CMA to the next level for strategic growth and sustainability.”
Mueller is a museum executive, curator, and art historian with more than 20 years of leadership experience in art museums and cultural institutions. She has overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, led major fundraising initiatives and capital projects, curated nationally recognized exhibitions, and cultivated strategic partnerships that expand community engagement. An internationally recognized scholar of Japanese art, she has published extensively and lived and conducted research in Japan for more than six years. Mueller holds a Bachelor of Arts in international economics from Gustavus Adolphus College, a Master of Arts in arts administration and a Master of Business Administration, both from Southern Methodist University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in history of art from the University of Wisconsin.
“I believe museums have the power to inspire curiosity, foster empathy, and bring people together through shared experiences,” says Mueller. “I am excited to work alongside the board, staff, members, donors, artists, and our community to ensure the Columbia Museum of Art continues to be a welcoming, dynamic, and inspiring cultural resource for generations to come.”
