Graham Beal, former director, president and CEO of the Detroit Institute of Arts, has been appointed Visiting
 Hannah Distinguished Professor for this academic year, the most prestigious faculty appointment at the university.

With an appointment in the Department of Art, Art History and Design in the College of Arts and Letters, Beal will also serve as senior adviser to the provost.

Beal will work with the college’s faculty to encourage collaboration with the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and enhance opportunities for programs and units across campus to engage with the museum.

In addition, Beal will assist with the search for a new director of the Broad Art Museum.

“We look forward to Mr. Beal’s creative counsel to the College of Arts and Letters and the Broad Art Museum, as well as the extraordinary contributions we anticipate him making to both our students and faculty,” said MSU Provost June Pierce Youatt.

A native of Great Britain, Beal joined the DIA in 1999. Under his leadership, the museum saw two capital campaigns and he helped organize exhibitions such as “Van Gogh: Face to Face” and “Magnificenza! The Medici, Michelangelo and the Art of Late Renaissance Florence.” And in 2003, Beal curated “On the Edge: Contemporary Art from the DaimlerChrysler Collection.”

The breadth and depth of his experience will enable us to deepen our collaborations with the Broad Art Museum and enhance our new master’s degree program in arts and cultural management.

CHRISTOPHER P. LONG

Prior to his tenure at DIA, Beal served as director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, director of the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, and as chief curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

“Mr. Beal’s extensive experience in the arts provides faculty and students at MSU the opportunity to learn from an innovative leader,” said Christopher P. Long, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “The breadth and depth of his experience will enable us to deepen our collaborations with the Broad Art Museum and enhance our new master’s degree program in arts and cultural management.”

This article appeared orginally on MSU News Web Page. Writen by: Kristen Parker and Ryan Kilcoyne