New Trustees Appointed at Norman Rockwell Museum
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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Jill Hai and Louis Henry Mitchell have joined the Norman Rockwell Museum board of trustees.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome these two outstanding members as trustees of Norman Rockwell Museum," said board Chairman Robert T. Horvath. "Their diverse talents and networks will enhance the museum's mission as the leading museum of illustration art and help to reach new audiences, honoring the legacy of Norman Rockwell and American illustration art."
In addition to Horvath, officers elected for one-year terms to the museum's board of trustees include returning President Alice Carter, First Vice President Jamie Williamson, Treasurer John V. Frank and newly appointed Second Vice President, Peter C. Williams, and John Hyson, who succeeds Williams as clerk.
Brian Alberg, Robert Babcock, Peter Blum, Alexander Brown, Terry Burman, Alice A. Carter, Anthony M. Consigli, Walter and Mary Jo Engels, John V. Frank, William W. Hargreaves, and Peter C. Williams were re-elected to three-year terms.
Hai is vice-chair of the Lexington, Mass., Select Board, a trustee of the Cary Memorial Library, former chair of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee and a member of Lexington Town Meeting. She serves on the board of directors of Repair the World and as a committee chair of the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network. She has served on Combined Jewish Philanthropies Board of Directors and is a member of CJP's Organizational Development committee, Governance and Nominating Committee and Commission on Strategic Priorities. She has also served on the Lexington Education Foundation board of directors.
Hai was a labor and employment attorney at Edwards and Angell in Boston, and Counsel and Director of HR Operations and Labor Relations at Lechmere. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Vanderbilt University Law School.
She and her husband, Marc Rubenstein, live in Lexington and Stockbridge, Mass. They have two children, Paul and Elise.
As creative director of character design, Mitchell directs and oversees all aspects of character art for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind "Sesame Street." From designing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons to directing "Sesame Street" muppet photo shoots, Louis has been at Sesame Workshop since 2000. Prior to that, he freelanced for the organization since 1992. Sesame Workshop and Norman Rockwell Museum are each celebrating 50 year anniversaries this year, educating and inspiring a deep commitment to human values.
Most recently, Mitchell designed the character Julia, the first "Sesame Street" character on the autism spectrum. Julia was first designed exclusively as an illustrated character for an autism outreach book and then Mitchell expanded his design and directed the Jim Henson Company in building the actual muppet for the show including Julia’s entire family. Among the skills he uses to accomplish his work are drawing, painting, and sculpting. In addition, he creates and art directs in traditional and digital media.
Mitchell attended The School of Visual Arts and The Art Students League and notes that Norman Rockwell has had a profound impact on his life, inspiring him to become an artist. Louis resides in Rego Park, Queens, with his wife Yvonne.
In recognition of their devoted and outstanding service to the Museum, after serving as members of the board for 11 years, George and Valerie Kennedy have been elected to Emeritus status. “As we welcome our new board colleagues, we express our immense gratitude for the tremendous service and support of our retiring members,” says NRM Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt. “We can’t thank George and Valerie enough for their boundless friendship and immeasurable contributions to NRM and we look forward to continuing to receive their guidance and insight.”
In addition to the Trustee Board Meeting, The National Council and Trustees held their annual meeting and a 25th anniversary celebration for Deputy Director/Curator Stephanie Plunkett to honor her devotion to and professional work on behalf of Norman Rockwell Museum. Art collectors and artists who have donated important artworks to build the museum's unparalleled illustration collection were invited to the launch of the Collectors Circle in appreciation of those who have generously donated artworks to grow the permanent collection.
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