Syracuse University Art Museum will have a new executive director this fall

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Maika Pollack — an art historian, critic, and curator — will join Syracuse University this fall as executive director and chief curator of the Syracuse University Art Museum.

Pollack will assume the duties that Vanja Malloy previously held. Malloy who had served as director and chief curator since August 2019, accepted a position at the University of Chicago last September, per a Syracuse University news release at the time. Emily Dittman has been serving as interim director and Melissa Yuen as interim chief curator since last Sept. 23, the university said in the release.

“Maika Pollack brings the talent and vision to support and expand the important role that Syracuse University Art Museum plays in campus life and in the greater Syracuse community,” Gretchen Ritter, Syracuse University’s vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, said in a statement. “I look forward to working with her and watching the museum flourish under her leadership.”

Pollack, who grew up in Central New York, comes to Syracuse from the University of at Mānoa in Honolulu. In Honolulu, she serves as the director and chief curator at John Young Museum of Art and University Galleries.

Pollack said she is looking forward to joining the Syracuse University community and returning to her home area.

“I am honored to take this role,” Pollack said. “Syracuse University has a long history of graduates who are enormously influential in the arts, from Clement Greenberg and Sol LeWitt to LaToya Ruby Frazier. I’m excited to help make this unique history more visible through exhibitions and publications, and to work with the museum’s talented staff and leadership.”

In her new role, Pollack will report to Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives. Haddix’s portfolio includes, among other things, all university-wide arts and humanities affiliates and programs.