From TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART
The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) has named Jennifer McCary as the institution’s inaugural chief people and culture officer. In the new role, McCary will partner with the leadership team and board of directors to expand and operationalize existing diversity and inclusion strategies and promote a culture of performance and accountability. Her appointment begins Jan. 30, 2023.
McCary comes to TMA from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she has served as the chief diversity and belonging officer since 2019. She also serves by mayoral appointment to the city’s Welcome BG Steering Committee, where she contributes to developing inclusive approaches to economic development, workforce participation, local school culture and more. She was among Toledo’s 2019 Top 20 Under 40 and named a top diversity officer by the National Diversity Council in 2021.
“Jennifer’s organizational acumen and experience with people and culture at institutions large and small will help the Toledo Museum of Art advance a culture of belonging and of high performance in all of our activities,” said Adam Levine, the Museum’s Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey director and CEO.
Among her responsibilities, McCary will lead several teams at the Toledo Museum of Art to further the institution’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion (DEAI) initiatives. She will work with the department of belonging and community engagement to help develop a data infrastructure to track the effectiveness and impact of the Belonging Plan, which ensures the Museum’s outreach, collections and staffing practices align with the institution’s DEAI goals.
In her work with the learning and interpretation department, McCary will lead efforts to engage historically underrepresented populations and enhance repeat visitation to the Museum. She will also partner with the curatorial team to help them maintain a vision that complements the Belonging Plan and manage the human resources team, ensuring hiring, professional development and compensation practices position the Museum as an employer of choice in both its region and its field. The manager of access initiatives also will work under her leadership.
“Creating equitable and inclusive spaces has been a part of my professional mission for many years. I have spent more than 15 years in higher education and enjoyed partnering with various organizations throughout Toledo to help people feel empowered to shift cultures. I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues to continue operationalizing the DEAI strategies at the Toledo Museum of Art. As an artist and DEAI leader, my heart could not be fuller,” McCary said.
In her previous role as BGSU’s chief diversity and belonging officer, McCary supported the University’s strategic plan by partnering with the academic and student affairs divisions to engage students, faculty and staff in issues related to diversity. She also oversaw diversity councils and committees; collaborated with academic and administrative leaders to recruit and retain students, faculty and staff; and fostered relationships with external communities and stakeholders. McCary joined BGSU’s staff in 2018 and served as the assistant vice president for student affairs and Title IX coordinator.
McCary also held several roles at Gettysburg College, including associate dean for violence prevention and resolution, Title IX coordinator, director of the women’s center, assistant dean of college life and director of student rights and responsibilities. She also served as assistant director in the office of student life at Loyola University Maryland and area coordinator in the office of residence life at John Carroll University.
McCary is pursuing doctoral studies in organization development and change at Bowling Green State University. She holds a master’s degree in college student personnel, a graduate certificate in instructional design and a bachelor’s degree in art education and stone sculpture, all from Bowling Green State University.
