BALTIMORE, MD.- The Baltimore Museum of Art Board of Trustees has elected Elizabeth J. Himelfarb Hurwitz as its next Board Chair. She succeeds James D. Thornton, who served as Chair since 2022. A Baltimore native, interior designer, and dedicated arts supporter, Hurwitz has served in several leadership and volunteer roles at the BMA for more than a decade, helping to shape the institution’s strategic vision, strengthen audience engagement, and advance its commitment to building meaningful connections through art.

Since joining the BMA Board of Trustees in 2020, Hurwitz has taken on key leadership roles across the institution. Most recently, she led the museum’s 2026 strategic planning initiative that encapsulates the vision for the BMA’s future. She is also a past chair of the Board’s Marketing and Audience Development Committee and has been a longstanding member of the Accessions Committee for the Arts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific Islands (AAAPI).

Hurwitz’s connection to the BMA began long before her board service. As a child she spent countless hours exploring the galleries, with her face pressed to the vitrines of the renowned Cheney Miniature Rooms and her eyes turned upward toward the museum’s celebrated Great Mother Headdress D’mba. Since 2014, she has supported the museum as a member of the Friends of AAAPI (FAPA), a non-trustee member of the Board’s Marketing Committee, and a member of the Party of the Century BMA 100th Anniversary Planning Committee.





“Art has the power to transform how we see ourselves, one another, and our city,” said Hurwitz. “I have long believed that art is a tool of civic alchemy, helping communities unlock creativity, empathy, and possibility. The BMA has been an important part of my life since childhood, and it is an extraordinary honor to serve as Board Chair. I look forard to working alongside my fellow trustees, the museum’s leadership, staff, supporters, and community partners to advance the BMA’s mission and ensure that it remains a vibrant and welcoming cultural resource for all.”

In addition to her BMA service, Hurwitz has demonstrated a deep commitment to education, equity, and civic engagement across Baltimore. She is currently a trustee of The Bryn Mawr School, where she has served as Vice Chair and led the Committee for Community, Equity, and Inclusion. As a trustee of Baltimore Center Stage for over a decade, she chaired committees focused on Education and Family Engagement.

“Elizabeth’s leadership, intellectual rigor, and generosity of spirit make her an exceptional choice to lead our Board of Trustees,” said Asma Naeem, the BMA’s Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director. “She approaches art with boundless curiosity, empathy, and a profound belief in its capacity to bring people together. Through her leadership of our strategic planning process and her longstanding commitment to the museum, Elizabeth has shown a deep understanding of the BMA’s role as both a steward of extraordinary collections and a welcoming civic space. I am thrilled to partner with her as we continue building a museum that is more relevant, responsive, and connected to our communities.”

Hurwitz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University. Her professional career has spanned publishing, public health, and innovation, with particular focus on HIV, disability, and health equity. Today, she brings that interdisciplinary perspective to her work as an interior designer and community leader.

Hurwitz and her husband, David, are the parents of two children. One, she notes, has already caught the museum bug. She is still working on the other.