Appleton Museum Director Announces Resignation

May 20, 2008

Robin Muse McClea, director of the Appleton Museum of Art of Central Florida Community College, announced she will be leaving the museum effective June 30.

McClea, former education director for the Barnes Foundation in Pennsylvania, has been at the Appleton since October 2005. She broke the news to museum staff on Monday.

Dr. Charles Dassance, CFCC president, said that the college will immediately begin a national search for a new director and that, in the interim, the museum will continue normal operations with existing staff.

In a statement to staff, Dassance thanked McClea for her “contributions to strengthening museum operations.” He also said there will be a more formal show of appreciation before McClea leaves.

“I am leaving at the end of our fiscal year to pursue some other interests I am really excited about,” said McClea, who was hired to fill the post following a three-year vacancy created by the departure in 2002 of then director Jeffrey Spaulding. Jim Rosengren, the museum’s assistant director at the time, served as interim director until McClea joined the museum on Oct. 17, 2005.

During her tenure at the Appleton, McClea launched the museum’s accreditation process, oversaw extensive renovations to the 20-year-old facility, and spearheaded creation of the first comprehensive database of the museum’s collection. Also, under her leadership, the Appleton held its most successful single exhibition, “Diana, Princess of Wales: Dresses for a Cause.”

McClea, herself a painter, has a master’s degree in leadership in museum education from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City and a bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of Arts in Philadelphia.

The Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, is owned and operated by CFCC. For more information about the museum, call 352-291-4455, ext. 1835, or visit www.appletonmuseum.org.