Mystic Museum of Art’s Deputy Director Appointed to Connecticut Humanities’ Board of Directors

Connecticut Humanities, the state’s nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has announced the appointment of Dawn Salerno to the nonprofit organization’s Board of Directors. Salerno joins two others as new board members, who began their three-year terms on August 1.

Salerno, who lives in Cranston, RI, is the Deputy Director for Public Engagement and Operations at the Mystic Museum of Art. She has been responsible for leading multi-year strategic planning projects and has grown program attendance to 6,000 annually. She has a B.A. in Classical Studies and Religion from Boston University and an M.A. in Museum Education Leadership from the Bank Street College of Education in N.Y.

Salerno also spent six years working at the Wadsworth Atheneum, where she built diverse audiences ranging from urban youth to suburban adults and broadened the museum’s connections within the community. She co-founded MUSE, Museum Understanding School Education, an alliance of museums to serve Hartford Public Schools.

“We are fortunate to have Dawn Salerno join the Connecticut Humanities Board of Directors,” said Doug Fisher, Connecticut Humanities’ Executive Director. “We look forward to the expertise, experience and energy she will bring to our organization.”

Salerno, who will chair the board’s Application Review Committee, joins New Haven’s Frank Mitchell and Danbury’s Lewis J. Wallace, Jr. as new board members.

Connecticut Humanities’ Board of Directors meets quarterly and is responsible for reviewing grant applications, setting policies, reviewing budgets, assisting in the fundraising process, participating in committee work and serving as an important link between Connecticut Humanities and the public.