MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.- Jennifer Meese of the Chronicle reported that “The MMA Foundation Board of Trustees has unanimously recommended Judith Hayner, the museum’s interim director, be appointed executive director. The new management proposal is scheduled to be reviewed by the Muskegon school board April 20.   

At the same time, the board announced a nationwide search for a "museum professional" to fill an expanded curator position. Officially titled "director of exhibitions and collections and senior curator," the new curator would have expanded responsibilities and report to the executive director. The new position will replace former curator Jim Houghton, who recently resigned for personal and family reasons.  

The museum board has placed an ad for the senior curator position on the American Association of Museums Web site and in its April publication, Ostrom said. The senior curator would play a "greater public role in community relations, education and fund development," he said.  

"The senior curator will serve as the public face of the art museum."  

As for the recommendation of Hayner for the executive director position, Gary Ostrom, the art museum board’s current chairman said "she has done an exceptional job as interim director of the museum."  

"We were faced with a number of organizational challenges when Judy stepped into the interim job last spring," Ostrom said. "Within a few months, she had turned the museum around administratively and financially, and it’s now in the best shape it’s been in years."  

Hayner, 55, said she was "extremely thrilled" at the recommendation.