Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director

The Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University seeks a collaborative, visionary, interdisciplinary arts leader to serve as its second Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director (Executive Director). Founded in 2017 as an interdisciplinary catalyst for artistic education, exhibition, research, and practice at Rice University, the mission of the Moody Center for the Arts (Moody) is to encourage creative thinking and original expression, enrich curricular innovation, and promote cross-campus and community collaboration through transformative encounters with the arts. In support of its mission, the Moody is also a public-facing institution designed to connect Rice to the greater Houston community through the creative intersection of art and ideas. The Moody mounts three exhibitions a year in its galleries, curates numerous temporary and permanent public art installations throughout Rice's campus, and hosts performances, conversations, classes, and hands-on workshops.

Reporting to the Provost and leading a team of 12 and a budget of $3.5M, the Executive Director will work broadly across a range of constituencies at Rice, including deans, faculty, students, administration, donors, alumni, and members of the Houston community to chart the next chapter of the Moody as a place of arts education, invention, experimentation, and creation. Major priorities for the next Executive Director include developing a bold strategic plan for the Moody’s next chapter, amplifying interdisciplinary collaboration across campus, strengthening and diversifying its financial base, raising the Moody’s visibility as a leading arts venue in Houston and beyond, leading and empowering staff, and advancing the Rice Public Art Initiative.

The Executive Director is responsible for all activities of the Moody and represents the Moody to various external constituencies, most notably the Advisory Board, alumni and friends of the arts, public audiences throughout the region, and the museum and arts professions at large, cultivating donors and patrons to secure philanthropic support. Overall, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership for the Moody, ensuring that the institution’s mission is clearly understood and that its objectives are fully articulated and effectively pursued within the context of Rice University’s goals and mission.

Rice has retained the national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in the recruitment of its next Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director of the Moody Center for the Arts.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

Ben Tobin is leading this search with Claire Hennessey and Alaine Small.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.