Dr. Heidi Lung, President of the Iowa Museum Association, announced today that two mid-term appointments have been made to the IMA Board.
Dr. Lung appointed Todd Behrens, Executive Director of the Sioux City Art Center, and Anna Villareal, Collections Coordinator, Project Art, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Lung said, “Both Todd and Anna are leaders in the museum industry. Todd currently serves as Executive Director at the Sioux City Art Center and Anna previously served as Executive Director at the Harlan Lincoln House in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Both rose to those positions through the ranks, and will therefore bring a broad range of experiences to their board service that will assist the IMA in further developing its programs and services to serve the Iowa museum industry."
Todd Behrens is Executive Director at the Sioux City Art Center. He previously served as Curator, from 2009-2020. He received his B.A. in Art History and Economics from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and his M.A. in Art History. His work in art institutions began during graduate school, when he served as curator for on-campus galleries supervised by the Department of Art and Art History. After graduation, he worked as Curatorial Assistant at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, Florida. He then served as Assistant Director at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood in south Florida. From 1999-2009, he worked at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida, serving most of that time as Curator of Art.
Anna Villareal is Collections Coordinator at Project Art. While a student at Iowa State University in Anthropology and History, Anna interned at Salisbury House & Gardens, Des Moines, and the Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn. She received her Masters Degree in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University before serving as the Research Coordinator for the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. Upon her return to Iowa, she accepted leadership of the Harlan Lincoln House at Iowa Wesleyan University, in Mt. Pleasant. In March 2021 she moved to her present position at Project Art, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, overseeing more than 6,500 artworks enjoyed by patients, visitors, and staff.
Cynthia Sweet, Executive Director of the Iowa Museum Association, said, “As with any nonprofit, our board members are of vital importance to the IMA, keeping us abreast of needs in the field and helping us develop services that respond to those needs. The time and talents given by IMA Board members shine through all IMA programs and services. We would not be the energetic, involved association we are without their hard work and support.”
Sweet went on to say, “The Iowa Museum Association has provided support for the Iowa museum field for 45 years. As the industry changes and the needs of those working in our institutions change, the IMA responds with new initiatives, educational offerings, and new technologies. IMA Board members are vital to this process, bringing fresh and unique perspectives and assisting IMA to provide the services and support sought by the museum community.”
The mission of the Iowa Museum Association is to work in the interests of Iowa museums to build organizational capacity, advocate to heighten awareness of the field, and foster community.
Iowa’s museums include art centers and art museums, botanical gardens, children's museums, historic sites, history museums, historical societies, living history sites, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, science and technology centers, and zoos.
For more information about the Iowa Museum Association, visit www.iowamuseums.org