Eric Esrailian elected Chair, Karen Hillenburg as Vice Chair, of Hammer Museum Board of Directors

Eric Esrailian.

LOS ANGELES, CA.— The Hammer Museum at UCLA announced today new leadership of its Board of Directors: Dr. Eric Esrailian will serve as Chair, and Karen Hillenburg will serve as Vice Chair. Dr. Esrailian, who previously served as Vice Chair, succeeds Marcy Carsey, who led the board for 12 years. Although she has stepped down from her leadership role, Carsey remains on the Board of Directors.

In addition to these leadership appointments, the museum also welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors: philanthropist Leslie McMorrow, attorney Alicia Miñana de Lovelace, and Joan Weinstein, Vice President of Program Planning at Getty. The Board of Directors is the museum’s governing body; the addition of these new members brings the number of board members to 24.

At the same time, the Hammer is pleased to announce five new members of its Board of Advisors, which offers guidance on the development of the museum’s programs and collections. These new members include Robyn Field, Jordan S. Goodman, Allison Gorsuch Corrigan, Ayesha Selden, Akio Tagawa. The appointment of these new members brings the Board of Advisors to a total of 34.

Esrailian and Hillenburg’s election to their new leadership roles within the Board of Directors follows on the heels new staff leadership appointments at the museum, starting with Ryan’s appointment as museum Director in January 2025, and Michael Wellen as Chief Curator and Regan Pro as Chief of Learning, Engagement and Research, both hired in spring 2026.

Hammer Museum director Zoë Ryan said, “From the moment I arrived at the Hammer nearly two years ago, Eric Esrailian and Karen Hillenburg have been passionate and dedicated partners in shaping this institution, and I am thrilled that they have taken on these leadership roles on the Board of Directors. Eric possesses a deep belief in the power of the arts to shape communities, and his role at UCLA offers a strong bond between the museum and the university. Karen has strong relationships with artists and a keen understanding of how the museum’s collections and exhibitions are the beating heart of the institution. The addition of three new members of our Board of Directors and five new members of our Board of Advisors is a sure sign of the Hammer’s current momentum, and I’m happy to welcome each of these new members into the Hammer fold.”

Hammer Board Chair Dr. Eric Esrailian said, “I am honored to take on the role of Chair of the Hammer’s Board of Directors, and I am beyond grateful to my friend Marcy Carsey, who held this position for the last 12 years and led this board with grace, wit, generosity, and vision. As the museum continues into its new era under the leadership of Zoë Ryan, I am proud to work alongside my fellow members of this extraordinary board as we strive to make the Hammer a keystone of the Los Angeles art world and position UCLA as the flagship global university for the arts.”