FSU Alumna Denise Drury named executive director of Western Carolina University Fine Arts Museum

Denise Drury

We are proud to announce that Arts Administration masters program alumna Denise Drury has been appointed executive director of the Western Carolina University Fine Arts Museum (WCU FAM). Ms. Drury had served as executive director of 621 Gallery in Tallahassee’s Railroad Square prior to becoming employed at WCU FAM as a curatorial specialist in 2010.

Ms. Drury attended FSU from 2005-2007 and studied under Dr. Pat Villeneuve. When speaking of her experience at FSU, Drury stated “I’m grateful to have had such great faculty at FSU to build that foundation that brought me to where I am today.” She shared that she particularly enjoyed visiting lectures from professionals in the arts administration field, such as public policy courses taught by Susan Munley, legislative policy analyst for arts at the Florida legislature.

Drury has been involved in a number of organizations since graduating from FSU. She has acted as art section chair for the North Carolina Museums Council, sat on the boards of the Center for Craft, Creativity, & Design, and the Asheville-Area Arts Council. She has consulted and reviewed grants for the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the North Carolina Arts Council. Drury was also recently appointed as a curator representative of the Southeastern United States for the Curators Committee of the American Alliance of Museums.

Ms. Drury has already made a lasting impact upon WCU FAM. She has encouraged community engagement through original programs such as initiating art education programs for children at the Jackson County Farmers Market and a nationally recognized exhibit of North Carolina glass artists.

For more information about Ms. Drury’s recent appointment, click here.