BOSTON, MASS.- Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has announced that Makeeba McCreary has been appointed the Patti and Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement. A native Bostonian, McCreary comes to the MFA from Boston Public Schools, where she was the Managing Director and Senior Advisor of External Affairs, reporting directly to the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools. Starting at the Museum on January 14, 2019, McCreary will oversee staff across four departments: Education; Volunteer and Community Engagement; Lectures, Courses and Concerts; and Film. The newly created position of Chief of Learning and Community Engagement will embrace and champion the Museum’s vision of making the visitor experience central to delivering the goals of MFA 2020—the Museum’s strategic plan which aims to boldly combine art and ideas with a commitment to welcoming new and diverse audiences.

“Makeeba’s passion for education, art and philanthropy is an inspiration, and we’re thrilled to have her join the MFA in this important new leadership position,” said Teitelbaum. “Not only does she have deep experience in both education and public service, she has demonstrated a profound personal and professional commitment to the city of Boston and its many diverse communities.”

McCreary’s role will center on developing innovative learning and engagement opportunities for a variety of audiences—creating reciprocal relationships between the MFA and visitors, students, partners and the community at large. By integrating diverse perspectives into the Museum’s programs and educational offerings, her team will work to foster a better understanding of the issues of today through the lens of art. McCreary will oversee a slate of distinctive and creative programming—such as MFA Late Nites, school group programs and incisive City Talks with local thought leaders—with the goal of sparking visitors’ curiosity and creating meaningful personal experiences through the Museum’s collections. Her leadership will unite previously separate teams at the MFA, including Education—which encompasses Studio Arts, Gallery Learning, Interpretation, School Programs and Academic Engagement—along with programmatic areas such as concerts and film, as well as community engagement initiatives such as cultural celebrations, the intern and volunteer program, and the Teen Arts Council and STEAM Team, which provide paid opportunities for Boston teens at the Museum.

Prior to joining the MFA, McCreary was responsible for building lasting partnerships with the private sector and providing the Boston Public Schools community with valuable philanthropic tools. Her dedication to piloting new programs and fundraising directly improved the educational experience for thousands of students. In addition to focusing on STEM initiatives—including stewarding the opening of Boston’s first-ever STEM-focused college and workforce high school—she has supported programs that directly benefit boys of color, homeless teens and students with special needs. At the MFA, McCreary will continue the Museum’s work to expand the definition of STEM to include arts education, developing STEAM programs for Boston students.

“It is my hope that with this renewed commitment to learning and community engagement, the MFA’s beauty will find its way into the neighborhoods of Boston and beyond, so that everyone will know they are welcome and celebrated here,” said McCreary. “As a lifelong resident of this city, it’s an honor to be the first person to assume this new role, and I can’t wait to begin sharing the gifts the MFA has to offer.”

In addition to her work at Boston Public Schools, McCreary was the Founder and Senior Director of AbekaM Consulting, a non-profit foundation designed to execute grant management for clients targeting large-scale change for urban youth and families. She has also worked as an Educational Policy Consultant for Compass Consulting and Director of Philanthropic Services for EdVestors Boston. McCreary currently serves on the Board of Directors for a variety of local organizations including the Cotting School, Scholar Athletes and My Brother’s Keeper Boston. She received her doctorate in Education from the Teachers College at Columbia University, her master’s degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.