PROVIDENCE, RI.- John W. Smith, Director of the RISD Museum, announced the appointment of Amee K. Spondike as the Museum's Director of Development and External Affairs. In this newly created role, Spondike provides strategic leadership in the Museum's philanthropic, business, and community outreach, with a view to increase membership, donor engagement, and visitation.

"I am thrilled to welcome Amee as the newest member of the RISD Museum's leadership team," says Smith. "Amee joins us at a significant moment in the Museum's growth, with many opportunities to help expand our public profile and shape our vision. I'm confident that her commitment to the arts, collaboration, and community engagement will build upon the Museum's strengths and help move us forward in new and dynamic ways."

Smith says this new position streamlines the Museum's fundraising and external communications efforts, with the aim of improving awareness, understanding, and support of the RISD Museum among the general public and key stakeholders, locally and nationally. In this new leadership structure, Spondike oversees the Museum's offices of development and membership, marketing, special events, and visitor services ---- as well RISD WORKS, the Museum store.

Spondike, who begins her position April 14, 2014, says, "I realized long ago that my passion lies with connecting people to, and through, art and design. I am excited to bring this enthusiasm to the RISD Museum, offering thoughtful strategies and creative solutions that build a successful case for philanthropy and increased visibility both locally and globally."

She adds that she and her husband, Bryan, look forward to moving to Providence with their daughter, Beatrice, and Tonkinese cat, Henri.

Spondike comes to the RISD Museum from the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), in Ann Arbor, where she has been Associate Director of Development for Individual and Corporate Giving since 2008. She successfully managed a large portfolio of UMMA's individual and corporate donors, cultivated philanthropic stewardship, established new endowments for exhibitions and programs, and secured major gifts of art. Among her significant accomplishments, Spondike designed the museum's first corporate giving program and secured major relationships with local and national banks within its first year. She also oversaw the museum's multiple high-profile re-opening events in 2009, following a $61M capital campaign to expand and restore the building.

Prior to joining UMMA, Spondike served as the Major Gifts Officer for the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Membership and Donor Relations Manager. She also worked in special events management and visual merchandizing for fashion brands Dolce & Gabbana and Diesel, and with stores including Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus in New York City.

Spondike studied photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and Wayne State University in Detroit, and landscape design at the New York Botanical Garden. She has volunteered her fundraising skills for the Trust for Public Land in New York and Preserve Our Parks in Michigan.