DAYTON, OH.- The Dayton Art Institute announced that, following a thoughtful nationwide search process, Jessimi Jones, Director of the Springfield Museum of Art, has been named the museum’s new Director & President. Led by the DAI Board of Trustees Search Committee and including community leaders, museum donors and local artists, the search process resulted in Jones’ selection from a highly talented pool of candidates. She will officially begin her role as Director & President of the Dayton Art Institute on October 19, 2026.

Jones brings more than a decade of museum leadership, with a background spanning education and public programs, community engagement, fundraising, capital development and institutional leadership. She has served as Director of the Springfield Museum of Art for the past six years, where she led the completion of a $7 million comprehensive capital campaign, oversaw the renovation and reinstallation of the museum’s North Wing and expanded opportunities for community engagement.

“The board was particularly impressed by what Jessimi has accomplished as the Director of the Springfield Museum,” said Dayton Art Institute Board of Trustees Chair Stacey Lawson. “Leading a $7 million capital campaign, overseeing a significant renovation and reinstallation and expanding the museum’s engagement with its audiences takes vision, persistence and the ability to bring people together around a common goal. She has demonstrated that she can lead major initiatives while keeping the mission of the museum at the center.”

At the Springfield Museum of Art, Jones helped advance an institutional philosophy centered on the belief that Art Belongs to All People. Under her leadership, the museum reimagined its North Wing to create more welcoming and participatory spaces for visitors. Attendance increased by 98% in the first year following the reopening.

Jones also expanded the museum’s exhibition and community programming, including Black Life as Subject Matter II, conceived and curated by Dayton artist Willis “Bing” Davis. The exhibition brought together art, dialogue, learning and community connection and was recognized as the Best Exhibition in Ohio from the Ohio Museums Association.





Before joining the Springfield Museum of Art, Jones served as the Director of Education and Public Programs at the Philbrook Museum of Art (now the Philbrook Museum and Gardens) in Tulsa, where she oversaw community outreach, school and family programs, public programming, interpretive initiatives and campuswide engagement experiences serving more than 65,000 people annually.

Earlier in her career, Jones spent more than a decade in the education department of the Columbus Museum of Art. During that time, she launched teen programs, established a year-long institute for teachers and helped open the Center for Creativity.

Her career in museum education and community engagement has shaped her approach to museum leadership, with a focus on creating meaningful connections between people and art.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the Dayton Art Institute and lead an institution with such a rich history and such a strong foundation,” said Jones. “I’ve always believed that museums are most meaningful when they are deeply connected to the people and communities they serve, and I’m looking forward to getting to know DAI’s audiences, supporters and partners and working together to build on that foundation while crafting the museum’s next chapter.”

An Ohio native, Jones grew up less than an hour from Dayton and has spent her career serving communities across Ohio and the Midwest. Her connection to the region also includes her work in Springfield, where approximately one-third of the Springfield Museum of Art’s visitors came from Dayton and Montgomery County.

Jones said the DAI’s collection, building, history, people and strong community support provide a meaningful foundation for the museum’s future. “I want DAI to be known as a place where extraordinary art and people come together,” said Jones. “I want people to feel that they belong at DAI, and equally importantly, that DAI belongs to them and to this community.”

As she begins her tenure, Jones plans to build on the DAI’s more than 100-year history while exploring opportunities to deepen the museum’s role as a cultural resource for Dayton and the surrounding region.

“Throughout my career, I’ve seen how much a museum can mean to a community when people feel a genuine sense of connection and belonging,” Jones said. “When people see themselves reflected in a museum’s programs, collections and exhibitions, they feel welcome and know that the museum is a place for them. I’m looking forward to listening to the Dayton community, learning what people love about DAI and finding new ways to invite even more people into the life of the museum.”

For more information about the DAI, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and exclusive offers.

Jessimi Jones is an accomplished museum leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning museum education, public programs, community engagement, fundraising and institutional leadership. She has served as Director of the Springfield Museum of Art since 2020, where she led a $7 million capital campaign, oversaw the renovation and reinstallation of the museum’s North Wing and expanded the museum’s engagement with its community and audiences.

Previously, Jones served as Director of Education and Public Programs at the Philbrook Museum of Art (now the Philbrook Museum and Gardens) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she oversaw community outreach, school and family programs, public programming, interpretive initiatives and campus-wide engagement experiences. Prior to Philbrook, she spent more than a decade in the education department of the Columbus Museum of Art, where she launched teen programs, established a year-long institute for teachers and helped open the Center for Creativity.

Jones has also demonstrated a strong commitment to civic, professional and community leadership. She is a founding member of Professional Women of Clark County and serves on the boards of Conscious Connect and the Springfield Convention and Visitor Bureau. She has also served with Springfield Public Arts and the Dayton Region Priority Development and Advocacy Committee (PDAC) and Quality of Life Committee. At the state and national level, Jones has served four years on the Ohio Art Education Association’s Board of Directors and three years on the Museum Education Roundtable’s Board of Directors.

Throughout her career, Jones has been recognized for her leadership and commitment to expanding access to the arts and strengthening communities. Her honors include the Springfield Foundation’s inaugural Catalyst for Change Award and Art Possible Ohio’s inaugural Arts Partner in Accessibility Award.

Jones holds a B.A. from Kent State University and an M.S.Ed. in Leadership in Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education. Her career has been grounded in the belief that museums are most meaningful when people see themselves reflected in the institution and have opportunities to connect with art, ideas and one another.