New director chosen for Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary
SHREVEPORT, LA — Alissa Brown Klaus, a 2015 Centenary graduate, has been named director of the Meadows Museum of Art. Klaus will begin her tenure as director on August 1.
“As a student at Centenary, I dreamed of returning to campus to work at the museum, so I am thrilled to have this opportunity,” said Klaus. “The director position combines several of my skills and passions, including community engagement, increasing access to the arts, and fundraising and strategic planning for arts organizations. I am excited to return to Shreveport and Centenary’s campus, bringing with me the knowledge and skills I have developed over the past six years.”
After graduating from Centenary with a degree in religious studies with a minor in visual culture, Klaus earned a master of arts management degree from Columbia College Chicago. She served as gallery manager at The Hokin Gallery in Chicago where she was a member of the senior management team and responsible for writing and editing exhibition copy, marketing exhibitions, and designing and marketing virtual exhibitions through the gallery’s website.
Klaus has also worked as a new media manager in the business and entrepreneurship department at Columbia College Chicago, as a development intern for the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, and in several positions with the Noel Community Arts Program at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church in Shreveport. She is also the owner of Alissa Klaus Ink, a custom calligraphy and hand lettering business.
“We are thrilled to have Alissa assume this important leadership role at Centenary,” said Dr. Karen Soul, provost and dean of the College. “The campus and community will benefit from her expertise and creative direction, as well as her commitment to education and outreach. I know that the patrons and friends of the Meadows Museum will appreciate Alissa’s knowledge of the Meadows collection and that students in our Museum Management program will value her as a teacher and mentor.”
Klaus has a clear vision for the Meadows Museum’s future that draws on her experiences both as a former Centenary student and as an arts professional.
“One of my goals is to strengthen connections between the Meadows and the community by creating engaging programming and facilitating partnerships with other local arts organizations,” explained Klaus. “Another goal is to serve the campus community by providing hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in arts management and by creating opportunities for cross-departmental collaborations.”
About the Meadows Museum of Art
The Meadows Museum of Art is located on the campus of Centenary College of Louisiana at 2911 Centenary Boulevard in Shreveport, Louisiana. For more information or to schedule field trips, call the Museum at 318.869.5040 or visit themeadowsmuseum.com.