Marissa Reyes
by Tyler Hale
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has named a new chief education officer to its leadership team. Marissa Reyes has been selected to serve in the museum’s new leadership role.
Reyes will join the museum effective Monday, Dec. 9.
As chief education officer, Reyes will be tasked with overseeing the museum’s overarching vision for education. She will be responsible for managing the museum’s education division, including its public programs, school programs, community outreach and more.
“I am thrilled to join Crystal Bridges. The museum is a vibrant platform for creativity, lifelong learning, and civic and cultural engagement,” Reyes said in a statement. “I look forward to working across the institution to help create transformative experiences through art.”
In addition, Reyes will head up the Willard and Pat Walker School Program, which provides schools with reimbursement for transportation, museum tours and free lunches at Crystal Bridges.
“We’re excited to welcome Marissa to the leadership team — I know she will bring new learning opportunities for students, teachers, and visitors and help further the study of American art,” Rod Bigelow, Crystal Bridges executive director, chief diversity and inclusion officer, said. “This new and expanded role will help connect the range of educational programs to the mission of providing access to the arts. Marissa has successfully demonstrated her ability to increase arts through community collaborations and innovative programs that have positively impacted diverse audiences.”
Reyes joins Crystal Bridges from the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA), where she served as the director of learning and public programs. According to her LinkedIn page, Reyes was employed at MCA since 2007. She received the 2014 Illinois Museum Educator of the Year Award.
She previously was the associate director of programs for Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education in Chicago and the theatre program coordinator for the Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre and the Evanston Children’s Theater in Evanston, Ill.
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Photo by Ironside Photography / Stephen Ironside
