University of Iowa News Release

June 25, 2010

Photo: For a high resolution image of Lydecker, click on the image below.

UI Museum of Art director candidate Lydecker to speak at forum June 29

Kent Lydecker, Ph.D., former Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Associate Director for Education at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, will visit campus Monday through Wednesday, June 28-30, as a finalist for the position of University of Iowa Museum of Art director.

During a public forum at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 29 in room W151 of the Pappajohn Business Building, Lydecker will speak on “Issues for Leading University Art Museums in the 21st Century.”

Lydecker earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Rice University, and his Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University.

From 1990 to 2008, he directed the educational work of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. During his tenure, the museum offered more than 20,000 events each year, enhancing public, K-12, and higher education. Prior to taking the position in New York he was executive director of museum education at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Additional candidates for this position will visit campus in July. Information about each candidate will be released prior to his or her visit.

Dean David C. Johnsen of the College of Dentistry is chairing the search, and Interim Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Carroll Reasoner is vice chair.

The UIMA director oversees the management and care of collections and the curatorial, pedagogical and administrative activities of the UIMA. The director will play a leading role in planning and fundraising for a new museum building. The position reports to the provost.

More information about the search and the candidates is available at http://provost.uiowa.edu/search/uima/.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 371, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephen J. Pradarelli, 319-384-0007, stephen-pradarelli@uiowa.edu