This week, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Dr. Jane Chu, President and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, as the next Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.Obama to pick Kansas City's Jane Chu to lead National Endowment for the Arts
Chu, a veteran arts administrator, has held her current position with the Kauffman Center since 2006. As chair of the NEA, which has been without a permanent director for more than a year, she would oversee the federal funding of cultural organizations and programs that increase access to the arts.
Here's some more on Dr. Chu's background:
Dr. Jane Chu, Nominee for Chairman, National Endowment for the ArtsIf confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Chu would certainly have her work cut out for her. The endowment is often a cultural flashpoint and has been the frequent target of conservative legislators for budget cuts or elimination.
Dr. Jane Chu is President and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, a position she has held since 2006. She was a Fund Executive at the Kauffman Fund for Kansas City from 2004 to 2006, and Vice President of External Relations for Union Station Kansas City from 2002 to 2004. She was Vice President of Community Investment for the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation from 1997 to 2002. Dr. Chu is a Trustee at William Jewell College and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ewing Marion Kauffman School and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Kansas City's Nonprofit Connect recently announced her as their Nonprofit Professional of the Year. Dr. Chu received an A.A. in Visual Arts from Nebraska Wesleyan University, a B.M. in Piano Performance and a B.M.Ed. in Music Education from Ouachita Baptist University, an M.A. in Piano Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University, an M.B.A. from Rockhurst University, and a Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University.
The NEA's current acting chairperson is Joan Shigekawa.
More here: Jane Chu's balancing act would serve the National Endowment for the Arts