In her new role as the Museum’s Director of Education and Community Engagement, Donna will play a key role in exploring and establishing new, innovative ways to broaden our studio programs and community reach. She joins us with more than 14 years of experience in museum education, global arts and culture festivals, and academia.
Donna served as the Education Coordinator of New Media at the New Museum in New York City, as Assistant Educator and Program Director at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts in Madison, NJ as the Manager of Community and Public Programs at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, and as the Festival Production Coordinator of the Lunenburg Doc Fest in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
Meet Donna de Ville:
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in NJ but have lived elsewhere for much of my life. Most recently, I lived in Canada, where I earned my doctorate and taught Film Studies.
What are you most looking forward to doing in your role?
I’m eager to expand our program offerings and bring in new audiences. I’d also like to diversify our studio class offerings with different mediums, practices, and subjects. I’d love to incorporate film into our programming.
Tell us about your connection to art. Are you an artist? Collector? Enthusiast?
I studied photography and still shoot occasionally in analog. I’m also an enthusiast and collector of sorts. When I travel, I try to bring back one piece of local art from each destination.
Do you have any hobbies?
Not exactly a hobby, but I’m a yogi.
What recent art/book/movie was emotional for you?
I recently saw EO (2022), a Polish film that shows the highs and lows of humanity through the eyes of a donkey.
What/who inspires you in life?
In general, people working toward the betterment of society inspire me. I greatly admire young activists who are fearless in furthering their causes, like Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai.
Anything else you’d like people to know about you?
I have a deep affection for animals, and because of this, I’m vegan.
Donna has a Ph.D. in Communications Studies from Concordia University in Montreal, an M.A. in Media and Film Studies from the University of Texas in Austin, a M.A.T. in Art/Museum Education from The George Washington University in Washington, D. C., and a B.A. in Psychology from Lehigh University in Bethlehem.
