When long-time executive director, Anne Brennan, announced her retirement earlier this year, she had at her side her steady Deputy Director, Heather Wilson. Wilson took over the Interim roles, and now Wilson sits in the lead seat.
Conducting a search with a known internal candidate not only gives credibility to the process, it also lends validity to the ultimate hiring decision and the candidate herself.
CapDev’s deep knowledge of the museum, gained from conducting its campaign feasibility study, gave that process a big boost.
Wilson holds a Master of Fine Arts from UNC-Wilmington, where she co-founded the nationally known literary journal, Ecotone. She received a BA from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, where she graduated with Highest Honors.
Wilson has been an integral part of the CAM leadership operations since 2006 when she was hired as a Development Officer and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2019. She led the museum’s most recent strategic planning process and procured numerous grants for the museum. She also led a needs assessment of the museum’s programming and led its diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts as deputy director.
CAM Board of Trustees Chair Gregory C. Miller said, “After an intensive search and review of a few well qualified candidates, our Search Committee was unanimous in selecting Ms. Wilson to lead the Cameron Art Museum into the future. Her vision, knowledge, expertise, and commitment to CAM and the Cape Fear Region assure us a level of continuity and progressive leadership moving forward.”