Placed Leaders

Alethea Rockwell

Keith Haring Director of Education and Public Engagement

New Museum of Contemporary Art

We partnered with the New Museum of Contemporary Art on the search for its Keith Haring Director of Education and Public Engagement. Founded in 1977, the New Museum is a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan’s only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program.

Our work resulted in the recruitment of Alethea Rockwell to the role.

In this role, Rockwell works collaboratively across departments to expand the education initiatives and dynamic public programs for which the New Museum is known. She leads the Education and Public Engagement Department to develop and implement programs for families, youth, students, and teachers; collaborate with local nonprofits to host Community Day programs; coorganize an annual artist residency; and convene public programs between artists, curators, writers, and other boundary-pushing creatives. Rockwell holds a key leadership role in planning for the New Museum’s OMA-designed expansion.

Rockwell joined the New Museum after spending seven years with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where she was Associate Educator, Public Engagement and Artist Programs. During her tenure, she organized a range of public programs and managed the Creativity Lab program, a learning space activated by artists, partner organizations, and audiences. She coorganized a participatory artwork by Amanda Williams for MoMA’s Atrium and developed public engagement projects by artists including Chemi Rosado-Seijo, Salome Asega, and Michael Rakowitz.

Prior to MoMA, Rockwell was a curatorial assistant at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Rockwell holds a Master’s degree from the Courtauld Institute of Art and has lectured and published on the intersections of education and contemporary art.

Headshot: onwhitewall.com