VisArts (155 Gibbs St. in Rockville Town Square), a hub for artistic exploration and social impact that has been bringing people together through shared creative experiences since 1987, has announced it has selected its new CEO after a national search. Lisa Mary Ryder will be taking on the role starting May 27th. She will be taking over for the recently retired Alice Nappy, who was with VisArts for 15 years. Heller An Shapiro, who previously led a board development project for VisArts, is guiding programming until Ryder starts her new role. The full announcement, made by VisArts on social media, can be seen below:
VisArts is thrilled to announce that Lisa Marie Ryder will be taking on the role of CEO, starting May 27. After an extensive national search led by Good Insight, Lisa Marie will lead VisArts into its next chapter. With her deep experience in nonprofit management, art and museum education, and community engagement, she is poised to continue VisArts’ commitment to fostering creativity, community, and social impact.
Thank you to Alice Nappy for her 15 years of unwavering dedication to VisArts and our mission to transform lives through the visual arts. Recently retired, Alice led VisArts from a grassroots start to a thriving creative hub, enriching the lives of artists, students, campers, and community members. Her vision expanded our programs, including ceramics, the Center for Craft Studies, our Studio Artist program, and VisAbility Art Lab for neurodiverse artists.
In the interim, nonprofit leader Heller An Shapiro, who previously led a board development project for VisArts, is guiding our programming. Her expertise in nonprofit management and her recent work with VisArts’ strategic initiatives have been invaluable as we transition to this exciting new chapter.
The future of VisArts is bright, and we’re excited for the journey ahead with Lisa Marie at the helm!