ASU Art Museum names new interim director

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University is pleased to name Heather Lineberry interim director of the ASU Art Museum, beginning Jan. 1, 2008. She currently is the museum’s senior curator and brings to the position more than 20 years’ experience curating contemporary art; 17 years at the ASU Art Museum. Lineberry replaces Marilyn Zeitlin, who steps down Dec. 31, 2007, following a 15-year career curating and directing the ASU Art Museum.

“Heather’s experience and expertise are invaluable as we enter a period of transition at the museum and embark upon a search for new leadership,” says Kwang-Wu Kim, dean of the Herberger College of the Arts. “I am grateful for her willingness to serve in this important capacity and I look forward to working with her.”

Lineberry’s service to the Herberger College and the museum were recognized this year by ASU President Michael Crow. She received the 2007 President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness at Arizona State University for her work with ASU Art Museum curator John Spiak, with whom she co-curated, New American City: Artists Look Forward. The exhibition included outreach programs and featured works by 23 Maricopa County artists that reflected personal impressions of living and working in the Phoenix-metropolitan area.

In addition to her expertise working with contemporary art, Lineberry also administers the museum’s historic American art collection. During 2003, she managed the Americas Gallery re-installation with thematic groupings from the museum’s permanent collection. Lineberry helped establish the ASU Art Museum’s Ceramics Research Center in 2002 and curated its inaugural exhibitions. University and community groups also benefit from her lectures and teachings on museum exhibitions and museum-studies topics. Lineberry has an M.A. in art history and a B.A. in the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Founded in 1964, The Katherine K. Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University comprises four nationally ranked academic units: School of Music, School of Art, Department of Dance and School of Theatre and Film, plus the Arts, Media and Engineering Program, and ASU Art Museum. Nearly 2,600 students attend the college, which has 170 faculty and 150 staff. Since 2004, 25 National Merit Scholars and 13 National Hispanic Scholars have chosen the Herberger College as their place of study. To learn more about the college, visit http://www.herbergercollege.asu.edu 

Media Contact:
Wendy Craft 
Media Relations 
480.965.0478
wendy.craft@asu.edu