On April 10, 2018, Suzanne LeBlanc, President of Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) began her tenure as President of the Museum Association of New York’s (MANY) Board of Directors at their annual conference. LeBlanc is preceded by Robert Cassetti, Senior Director of Creative Services and Marketing at the Corning Museum of Glass. Cassetti served as the president of the Museum Association of New York’s Board for four years.

LeBlanc brings with her over 40 years of experience in the children’s museum field, having worked in leadership positions at children’s museums in Boston, Brooklyn, and Las Vegas. LeBlanc earned an MA in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College and a BS in Journalism and Photojournalism from the School of Public Communication at Boston University.

In the 14 years she’s been at the LICM, LeBlanc has been a member of the Community Advisory Council of the Junior League, and a member of the Early Years Institute Advisory Committee. She was also named one of the “50 Most Influential Businesswomen of Long Island” by the Long Island Business News. LeBlanc is a member of the New York State Regents Museum Advisory Council and has served as the Vice President of the Association of Children’s Museums and as President of the Nevada Museums Association.

Erika Sanger, the Executive Director of MANY, said she is looking forward to working with LeBlanc. “Suzanne’s commitment to diversity in museum content and staffing serves as a model for the field, and her expansive experience at museums and museum associations across the country will benefit all of MANY’s members,” Sanger said.

LeBlanc has been a member of the MANY Board for six years, acting as the chair of the Governance Committee and serving on the Audit and Finance Committee. On her new tenure as Board President, LeBlanc said, “This is an exciting time in the history of the Museum Association of New York. Working with all the members of the Board, Executive Director Erika Sanger, and MANY staff members Sarah Heikkinen and Rachel Bournique, I hope to help lead the organization to new levels of growth, advocacy, and service delivery.”

LeBlanc’s previous position as Vice President has been filled by Tom Shannon, Director of Facilities at Dia:Beacon. In addition to his duties as Vice President, Shannon is the chair of MANY’s Programming Committee and serves on the Executive Committee.

MANY is also welcoming four new museum professionals from across the state to the board: Eliza Kozlowski, the Director of Marketing and Engagement at the George Eastman Museum; Sheila McDaniel, the Deputy Director of Finance and Operations at the Studio Museum in Harlem; Natalie Stetson, the Executive Director of the Erie Canal Museum; and Thomas P. Schuler, the Chief Government Affairs Officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“With 24 board members from the state’s ten economic development regions, MANY’s board represents the full range of the geographic, content, and budget size diversity of New York State’s museums,” Sanger said.

Beth Levinthal, an Arts Management Consultant and former Secretary of the MANY Board, joined Andrew Saluti, Assistant Professor at the School of Design at Syracuse University and Robert K. Cassetti in retiring from the board after six years of service. Sara Pasti, the Neil C. Trager Director of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, is replacing her as Secretary of the 2018-2019 Board.

Photo courtesy of Erich Camping, 2018.