The Queens Museum has named Debra Wimpfheimer as its next executive director. She replaces Sally Tallant, who departed last month ahead of taking on the directorship of the Hayward Gallery in London.
Wimpfheimer, a Queens native, has worked for the museum for more than two decades. She first joined as the institution’s director of external affairs in 2002, a role she held until 2006, when she left to serve as director of special projects at Lincoln Center for just over a year, according to her LinkedIn.
She rejoined the Queens Museum in 2008 as director of strategic partnerships. She has twice served as the museum’s interim director, first in 2014 for nine months and then in 2018 for just over a year. After both stints in the top position, she assumed the role of deputy director.
“No one knows the Queens Museum like Debra,” Queens Museum board chair Paula Kirby said in a statement. “Her many years of dedication have already shaped the Museum’s successes and as we look to the future, her experience and deep-rooted connection to Queens will be integral to reinforcing our role as a community-led institution.”
In addition to overseeing the museum’s strategic vision and day-to-day operations, Wimpfheimer will also be in charge of the completion of the Suna Children’s Museum, a 15,000-square-foot expansion that will be housed within the museum’s wider umbrella. A release noted that during her tenure at the Queens Museum, Wimpfheimer has been responsible for significant fundraising drives for both capital projects and exhibitions, as well as education initiatives.
“The Queens Museum’s continued growth is deeply personal to me, and I am honored to lead the institution’s next chapter, as we work to serve even more residents of this vibrant borough through our forthcoming expansion,” Wimpfheimer said in a statement. “Queens is the most ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse area in the world and as Executive Director, I am committed to ensuring the Museum’s place as an exciting, engaging, and accessible space for artists and visitors alike. Everyone should feel welcome here.”
