SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.- The Board of Trustees of the San Diego Museum of Art has named Heath Fox, the Museum’s current director of administration, as its acting director. The appointment becomes effective October 10 when Executive Director Don Bacigalupi officially steps down in order to assume his new position as President, Director, and CEO of the Toledo Museum of Art. Fox will function as SDMA’s acting director until a new executive director is appointed by the Board of Trustees.

“Heath Fox’s high-level involvement in all aspects of museum programs and operations over the past two and a half years and his strong leadership qualities make him a natural choice to continue and build on the current direction the Museum is going, which started under Bacigalupi. He has not only earned the respect of the Museum’s board members since coming to SDMA, but of the Museum’s staff as well. The Board remains committed to the Museum’s mission and programming as it has developed over the past four years and will be searching for a new director to continue that vision,” says the president of SDMA’s Board of Trustees, Charles L. Hellerich.

Fox will assist the efforts of the Board of Trustees’ search committee to find a successor for Bacigalupi. Trustees on the search committee include Hellerich, Vice President Jerry L. Horton, Lois Roon, Mark Jackson, Ellen Whelan, Dan Stephen, Katy Dessent, Elsie Weston, and Lyn Gildred.
Since joining SDMA as its first director of administration in February 2001, Fox’s responsibilities have included institutional planning, staff leadership, human resources and financial management, and coordination of legal affairs.

Fox came to SDMA from the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, where he served as the associate director for administration (1997–2001). Prior to his museum positions, Fox completed a career as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps (1976–1996), retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Finance) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and studied European art history at Sotheby’s Institute, London.
 
New Director of Development Hired - The San Diego Museum of Art also announces the hiring of Lynda L. Stansbury as director of development. An experienced fundraiser, Stansbury most recently held the position of director of development at the University of California, San Diego, Arts & Humanities Division (2001–2003). Prior to that she was director of operations for the Food Marketing Institute (1990–2000), an international trade association, and was president and CEO of LL Stansbury Fund Raising Consultants (1982–1990). She received a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.