By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published May 15, 2015 at 3:26 PM

This afternoon, Marquette University announced that Susan Longhenry – currently the director of the University of New Mexico affiliated Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, N.M. – has been named as the new director of the Haggerty Museum of Art.

She replaces former director Wally Mason, who ended his seven-year tenure at Marquette University last September to take the same position at the Sheldon Museum of Art at the University of Nebraska.

A Milwaukee native, Longhenry previously held department head positions with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, in addition to roles at the Georgia Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. She also holds a master's degree in modern art history, theory and criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in comparative literature from Indiana University. 

"Susan is an experienced museum director and educator," said Gary Meyer, vice provost for undergraduate programs and teaching. "She has published in the areas of museum education as well as in modern and contemporary art, and brings the combination of passion for art and the administrative and academic experience we sought. Marquette is excited to bring to the Haggerty her leadership in museum education and community engagement, as well as experience as director of an academic museum." 

"I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the Haggerty Museum and to build upon the remarkable interdisciplinary work that has been nationally recognized," Longhenry said. "The Haggerty holds a strong collection of art from Renaissance to modern, and the museum is a keystone of the university’s academic work. I look forward to working closely with leadership to help meet the university’s goals, to being part of the community and to collaborate with faculty across Marquette."

Longhenry will relocate and begin her work with the Haggerty Museum on Aug. 3.