The Lawrence Arts Center board of directors has named Thomas (Tom) Huang as interim executive director of the center.
Huang is an associate professor at KU, and he has taught for 22 years in the industrial design program in KU’s School of Architecture and Design, according to a Thursday news release from the board.
“I am extremely excited to be working closely with the incredible staff that constitutes the Lawrence Arts Center,” Huang said in the release. “Their dedication to this community organization (and the work of those who have come before) have made this important 50 year-old organization a vibrant, creative, joyful, and highly significant part of the fabric that is Lawrence, KS.”
The board said in the release that Huang “brings national and local experience in arts organizations and a deep commitment to our community arts center. His belief in building relationships through art, collaboration and organizational development will be invaluable in guiding the LAC forward in its mission of providing art for everyone.”
Huang holds a Master of Fine Arts in furniture design from the Rhode Island School of design, and a Bachelor of Arts in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. He has served on the arts center’s board, taken classes and taught a hand-carved wooden spoon class, according to the release.
“Huang’s parents emigrated from Taiwan in 1968, and he was born in Philadelphia and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. He moved to Kansas in 2002, and raised two children who have both participated in Arts Center programing over the years,” according to the release. “Huang enjoys outdoor activities, particularly paddling and camping along the Kaw River. He is also a member of the Desoto Baptist Church Choir.”
Huang fills the position that Margaret Weisbrod Morris left at the end of July. Morris served as CEO of the Arts Center for more than six years.
Meredith Lang, board president, said in July that the board would begin the task of identifying a successor by naming an interim director within the next month, then forming a search committee to find the next CEO.
Huang’s position was effective Monday, according to the release.
Learn more about the arts center on its website, lawrenceartscenter.org. See some of Huang’s work on his website at tomhuangstudio.com.
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