Jeff Lambson Appointed Deputy Director of NEHMA at Utah State University Amid Expansion

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University is updating its leadership roster with the appointment of Jeff Lambson as the new deputy director, an announcement that lands amid the institution's broad growth trajectory, including the inauguration of the Wanlass Center for Art Education and Research and a push to augment the museum's programming and exhibitions for the university community and beyond. Lambson, who arrives with a decorated career peppered with accolades such as the Salt Lake City Mayor's Award for Service in the Arts and recognition as one of Utah's movers and shakers by Salt Lake Magazine, is poised to apply his 25 years of museum experience to propel NEHMA's goals forward.

During his tenure at the University of Colorado Denver's University Art Galleries, Lambson's influence was palpable; he not only quadrupled attendance figures but also expanded exhibition spaces and garnered esteemed national and international media attention, the university noted its galleries becoming integral to its strategic vision, an affirmation that his vision extends beyond the conventional walls of an art venue. Before his Colorado stint, Lambson founded contemporary art at Brigham Young University and contributed to the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; his contributions resulted in a work of art being acquired and named in his honor. This storied past demonstrates his aptitude for curatorial and leadership roles within the art domain.

According to USU Today, NEHMA Executive Director and Chief Curator Katie Lee-Koven expressed great enthusiasm for the new deputy director, “Jeff brings together the experience, visionary thinking, passion and kindness that I was looking for to join me in leading our museum as we enter this new era of engagement and expansion with our Wanlass Center for Art Education and Center. We are so thrilled to welcome him and Ann to the USU and Cache Valley community.” The couple, with Ann Lambson's ties to Providence, Utah, and her own museum education prowess, seems well-suited to blend into the Cache Valley life.

In Lambson's own words, the lure of Logan and USU presents a rare and coveted opportunity, “The draw of Logan and USU is one of those dream opportunities that do not come along very often,” he said, as per USU Today. The museum's local and national significance is not lost on him, as he prepares to work alongside an "amazing team" to cultivate the next chapter of USU's artistic impact on students and community members. Lambson's career intersects with engaging the community through compelling exhibitions, his work exploring contemporary themes that resonate with today's dialogues, a philosophy aligning with NEHMA's mission to foster dialogue around modern and contemporary art.