WORCESTER, MASS.- Matthias Waschek, director of the Worcester Art Museum, has named Susan L. Stoops to serve as Interim Chief Curator, effective immediately. Stoops is the Curator of Contemporary Art and will retain those responsibilities in addition to the temporary duties of Chief Curator.

As Chief, Stoops will represent the curatorial department in the overall restructuring of the museum and contribute to the creation of a new strategic plan.

“Susan is my third appointment since my arrival as director in November of 2011,” said Waschek. “I always admired her curatorial work and look forward to initiating the next phase in the museum’s growth with Susan and our other WAM team members.”

Through her contemporary program, Stoops contributed substantially to the museum’s global profile, with projects ranging from the Wall at WAM and the re-installation of WAM’s art since the mid-20th century collection to exhibitions featuring the work of Louise Bourgeois, Jim Hodges, Yun-Fei Ji, and Rona Pondick. Stoops has authored numerous exhibition catalogues including essays on Tony Feher, Martha Rosler, Kiki Smith, and David Thorpe.

She earned a B.F.A. from Syracuse University, and an M.A. in art history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Stoops is a member of the Association of Art Museum Curators.