Brooklyn Academy of Music, President

We are pleased to announce that the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Board of Trustees has appointed Tamara McCaw as the institution’s new president following an international search.

A seasoned executive leader with over 25 years of experience, McCaw has served as BAM’s interim CEO since June 2025. As president, she will work closely with the board and senior leadership team to guide the organization’s strategic vision and institutional priorities.

McCaw returns to BAM after previously serving as the director of government and community affairs from 2008 to 2016. She then spent eight years at The Shed as its inaugural chief civic program officer, where she was a key member of the founding leadership team. Most recently, McCaw served as the co-founder and chief strategist of Public Assembly, where she advised boards, executive leaders, and nonprofit teams on strategic planning, governance, organizational design, and program development. Her decades of experience in the cultural sector and deep knowledge of BAM uniquely position her to lead the organization at a pivotal moment for cultural institutions nationwide.

Sarah James and Benjamin Tobin led this search with Tiffany Weber and Siobhan Hanley.