Clark Art Institute Names New Chief Advancement Officer

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Photo courtesy President and Fellows of Harvard College

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute has named Thomas H. Woodward to serve as chief advancement officer, leading the Clark's philanthropy and membership programs.

Woodward comes to the Clark from the Harvard Art Museums, where he currently serves as director of institutional advancement. He assumes his new role on March 1.

"We are so pleased to have Tom join our staff in a key leadership position at this exciting moment in the Clark’s life," said Olivier Meslay, the Felda and Dena Hardymon director of the Clark. "He brings tremendous energy and experience to the work, but more importantly, he shares our passion for the vital role the arts can play in educating, enlightening, and enriching the lives of individuals and the life of its communities. We look forward to imagining the next chapter of the Clark's future with him as we work to further the Institute's mission regionally, nationally, and internationally."

Woodward is a seasoned fundraising professional, bringing more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning and advancement for museums, higher education and the federal government to his new role at the Clark.


"I am thrilled and honored at the prospect of joining the Clark Art Institute at this moment," Woodward said. "The Clark has been brilliantly reconceived to better serve visitors, scholars and students alike. I look forward to working with the trustees, the institute's leadership and talented staff, and its many partners in the arts community to help sustain this dynamic institution and its exciting exhibition, education, and research programs."

Woodward joined the Harvard Art Museums in August 2011, serving as the director of institutional support for three years before assuming his current position in 2014. In leading institutional advancement activities, Woodward played a central role in strategic planning and leadership toward a comprehensive fundraising program for the museum. Prior to joining the Harvard Art Museums, Woodward was the director of development for the Harvard Divinity School, where he worked closely with senior administrators and faculty to plan and execute all development operations and shape its external relations programs.

Early in his career, Woodward joined the National Park Service, where he gained experience in cultural and natural resource management for historic sites and parks that included the Olmsted, Longfellow and Kennedy National Historic Sites in Boston, the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation in Brookline, Mass., and the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock, Vt.

Woodward's affinity for the landscape and garden history community and the National Park Service is central to his personal interests, most notably through his involvement with the Friends of Fairsted, a group that advances the mission of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline. He currently serves as the president of the board for the Friends and provides leadership for their various educational and outreach programs.

 


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Williams College Receives Anonymous $25M Gift to Support Projects

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College has received a $25 million gift commitment in support of three major initiatives currently underway on campus: constructing a new museum building, developing a comprehensive plan for athletics and wellbeing facilities, and endowing the All-Grant financial aid program. 
 
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college. 
 
"This remarkably generous commitment sustains our momentum for WCMA, will be a catalyst for financial aid, and is foundational for athletics and wellness. It will allow us to build upon areas of excellence that have long defined the college," Mandel said. "I could not be more appreciative of this extraordinary investment in Williams."
 
Of the donors' total gift, $10 million will help fund the first freestanding, purpose-built home for the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), a primary teaching resource for the college across all disciplines and home to more than 15,000 works. 
 
Each year, roughly 30 academic departments teach with WCMA's collection in as many as 130 different courses. 
 
The new building, designed by the internationally recognized firm SO-IL and slated to open in 2027, will provide dedicated areas for teaching and learning, greater access to the collection and space for everything from formal programs to impromptu gatherings. The college plans to fund at least $100 million of the total project cost with gifts.
 
Another $10 million will support planning for and early investments in a comprehensive approach to renewing the college's athletics and wellbeing facilities. 
 
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