New trustees bring deep Museum connections and strategic expertise to advance DelArt’s mission.
Delaware Art Museum Members recently voted in a slate of new trustees for three-year terms. The appointments reflect a refined trustee selection process that prioritizes individuals with demonstrated commitment to the Museum through volunteer leadership, philanthropy, committee service, and longstanding engagement with Museum exhibitions and programs.
“This year’s class of trustees reflects an intentional evolution in how we build the Delaware Art Museum’s Board,” said Executive Director Molly Giordano. “They understand our mission because they have helped advance it, and they bring the experience, perspective, and commitment needed to guide DelArt into the future.”
Elected to serve a fourth year as Board President, Christine Moritz adds, “A strong board is built on more than professional expertise–it is built on a shared commitment to the institution. These trustees have already demonstrated their dedication to the Museum and to Delaware’s cultural community. Their diverse backgrounds and thoughtful leadership will strengthen our governance while helping us expand our impact and serve new audiences across the state.”
The seven trustees who joined the Delaware Art Museum board this spring are:
Nina Appel, a longtime supporter of the Delaware Art Museum, Nina Appel and her late husband, Alfred Appel, Jr., have made enduring contributions to the Museum through the gift of an important collection of artwork by Leonard Baskin and the establishment of the Alfred Appel, Jr. Curatorial Fellowship. A nationally recognized legal scholar and former dean of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Appel dedicated her career to higher education and legal scholarship.
Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson‘s connection to the Delaware Art Museum began through the Gilliam Foundation, where she serves as President and Director. The Foundation’s support helped make Imprinted: Illustrating Race and its related programming possible. A respected civic and educational leader, she currently serves as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Delaware State University and has held numerous leadership roles throughout Delaware, including serving terms as the state’s Secretary of Labor and as a founding member of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.
Donald A. Goldsmith‘s longstanding relationship with the Delaware Art Museum is rooted in his passion for British Victorian art, particularly the Pre-Raphaelites. Through his roles with private foundations, like the Amy P. Goldman Foundation, and as a member of the Museum’s Collections Committee, he has helped support several Pre-Raphaelite exhibitions and led the creation of the endowed Amy P. Goldman Pre-Raphaelite Fellowship, which provides annual fellowship opportunities that advance scholarship and research at DelArt.
Ronald Meickis a practicing artist, retired financial advisor, and member of the Delaware Art Museum’s Collections Committee. In addition to a 20-year career as a financial advisor, he has served in leadership roles with numerous arts and community organizations, including Northern New England Repertory Theater, The Delaware Contemporary, and the Washington Print Foundation.
Carol Rothschild returns to the Delaware Art Museum’s Board of Trustees after years of dedicated service to the Museum. A former educator and co-founder of Science Alliance, she has held leadership roles with numerous nonprofit and cultural organizations, including the Delaware State Arts Council, the Delaware Children’s Museum, and the National Board of Ben-Gurion University. She also shares a longstanding connection to DelArt, where her late husband, Steven Rothschild, served as Board President in the late 1980s.
Julie Sulzbacher Russ has been an active Museum supporter through her service on the Art of the Cocktail Committee. A University of Delaware graduate and AmeriCorps VISTA alumna, she served as House Administrator at Woodburn, Delaware’s Governor’s Residence, before joining the University of Delaware’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Most recently, she served as Chair of the Board of Delaware Shakespeare, bringing extensive leadership experience from Delaware’s arts and cultural community.
Beth Wells has been a longtime supporter of the Delaware Art Museum as a member, class participant, and attendee of Museum exhibitions, programs, and fundraising events. She currently serves on DelArt’s Sussex County Advisory Committee, helping guide the Museum’s efforts to expand its presence and deepen community engagement in southern Delaware. A former president of the Delaware Center for Horticulture, Wells brings extensive experience in strategic planning, board governance, and organizational leadership from the nonprofit sectors.
The Museum is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
For more information about the Museum’s board, visit our website.
About the Delaware Art Museum
The Delaware Art Museum is a nationally recognized regional museum that connects people through art and experience. Founded in 1912 to honor illustrator Howard Pyle, the Museum now houses over 13,000 works, including the largest Pre-Raphaelite collection outside the U.K. and a growing contemporary art collection. Its campus features galleries, a six-acre sculpture garden, labyrinth, and event spaces—creating a dynamic center and vibrant cultural resource, offering exhibitions, classes, and community programs that reflect and engage the diverse Delaware community and beyond. Visit delart.org to for the latest exhibitions, programs, and performances or connect with us via social media.
Clockwise, from top-left: Nina Appel, Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Donald A. Goldsmith, Beth Wells, Julie Sulzbacher Russ, Carol Rothschild, and Ronald Meick