BOISE, ID.- “Melanie Fales, Interim Executive Director and Curator of Education for the Boise Art Museum (BAM), has been promoted to Executive Director,” Amy McDevitt, president of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, announced today.

“After careful deliberation, the Board determined Melanie is absolutely the right person at the right time to lead the Boise Art Museum,” McDevitt said. “During the periods she has served as our interim director, and over her 12 years at the Museum, she has proven herself as a leader who has the respect of her colleagues and the trustees. She is a natural choice to lead the Museum on our journey to be nationally recognized for leadership, innovation and excellence in the visual arts.”

Fales, who began her career at BAM in 1996 as an art educator, was named Associate Curator of Education in 2000 and Curator of Education in 2002. Under her leadership, the educational programs and partnerships of the Museum have expanded to reach new and underserved audiences from toddlers, teens and seniors to students and teachers in rural classrooms and the growing Hispanic community. Fales served as BAM’s Interim Executive Director and Curator of Education for 14 months from 2006-2007, working in collaboration with staff, board and the community to make improvements in all areas of the Museum including leading the process for successful national re-accreditation.

Fales graduated cum laude from Boise State University with a degree in art emphasizing painting and art history. As the recipient of a Rotary International Ambassadorial Graduate Scholarship, she studied art history and museum studies at the Ecole du Louvre in Paris. In 1996 she graduated summa cum laude from Boise State University with a Master of Arts degree focusing on museum education.

Fales serves as an officer on the board of the Western Museums Association and was instrumental in the development of the Cultural Network, a consortium of cultural institutions in the community. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member for both Boise State University and the University of Idaho.