The Dayton Art Institute has selected Jessimi Jones to serve as its next director and president, the museum announced. Jones is scheduled to begin her duties on Monday, Oct. 19.
Experienced museum leader with regional ties
Jones arrives from the Springfield Museum of Art, where she served as director for six years. An Ohio native who grew up less than an hour from Dayton, she brings more than a decade of experience in museum leadership with a background spanning education and public programs, community engagement, fundraising, capital development and institutional leadership.
During her tenure in Springfield, Jones led a comprehensive capital campaign, directed a major renovation and reinstallation of the museum’s North Wing and broadened opportunities for community involvement. The campaign she oversaw reached $7 million, according to museum announcements.
Board cites demonstrated results and community focus
Dayton Art Institute officials said Jones’s record of delivering projects and growing audience engagement factored into the hiring decision.
“The board was particularly impressed by what Jessimi has accomplished as the Director of the Springfield Museum. Leading a $7 million capital campaign, overseeing a significant renovation and reinstallation and expanding the museum’s engagement with its audiences takes vision, persistence and the ability to bring people together around a common goal. She has demonstrated that she can lead major initiatives while keeping the mission of the museum at the center.”
The comment came from Stacey Lawson, chair of the Dayton Art Institute Board of Trustees, in a press statement released by the museum.
Programming and outreach track record
Jones expanded the Springfield museum’s exhibitions and community programming during her tenure. Among the initiatives noted by museum officials was the exhibition “Black Life as Subject Matter II,” which was conceived and curated by Dayton artist Willis “Bing” Davis and recognized by the Ohio Museums Association as the state’s Best Exhibition.
- Previous role: Director, Springfield Museum of Art (six years)
- Major accomplishment: Led a $7 million capital campaign
- Noted programming: Expanded exhibitions and community engagement, including a statewide award-winning show
Before her Springfield appointment, Jones worked at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma (now the Philbrook Museum and Gardens), where she served as director of Education and Public Programs. In that role she managed school and family programs, public programming and campuswide engagement initiatives that served tens of thousands of visitors annually.
What this means for Dayton
The Dayton Art Institute is one of the region’s largest cultural institutions. Leadership changes at the top can affect exhibition planning, fundraising priorities and community partnerships. Jones’s background in capital campaigns and gallery reinstallation signals an emphasis on both institutional development and audience-facing improvements.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incoming director | Jessimi Jones |
| Start date | Oct. 19 |
| Previous institution | Springfield Museum of Art |
| Noted campaign | $7 million |
Museum patrons, donors and community partners will be watching how Jones shapes exhibitions, educational programs and outreach in Dayton. Her appointment follows a pattern among regional museums of selecting leaders with track records in both fundraising and community engagement.
The Dayton Art Institute did not release additional details about Jones’s initial priorities for the museum beyond the board’s statement. Her first months on the job are likely to include meetings with staff, trustees and community stakeholders as plans for future exhibitions and capital projects are assessed.
