December 4, 2020 

Sheila McDaniel was recently appointed as Administrator of the National Gallery of Art and began her tenure this September. As Administrator, McDaniel oversees the divisions of administrative support, architecture and capital improvement, facilities, horticulture, personnel, procurement, and security, which comprise more than one-third of the museum’s staff.

About her appointment, she says “I have dedicated my entire career to serving communities through art and education. Now, coming to Washington, I will have the honor of working for a community that encompasses all the United States. The National Gallery of Art is a treasure that belongs to every American, and unlike most other treasure, it becomes more valuable the more it is shared.”

Since 2004, McDaniel has been the deputy director of finance and operations at The Studio Museum in Harlem. Her areas of expertise include change management, human resource development, nonprofit financial management, and organizational development. At The Studio Museum in Harlem, she is a member of the leadership team responsible for implementing the museum’s strategic plan and managing the construction of a new facility that spans 80,000 square feet. McDaniel previously served as the associate executive director for operations at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, where she was part of the team that opened Harvey Milk High School. McDaniel has also served as treasurer on several nonprofit boards, including those of ArtTable, Bronx Council on the Arts, and North Star Fund. McDaniel holds a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College. A lifelong learner, she is pursuing a Doctor of Education in adult learning and leadership at Columbia University.