SUMA Director Jessica Kinsey Joins University of Oklahoma Faculty
Published: July 15, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 4 minutes
After eight transformative years at the helm of the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Executive Director Jessica Kinsey is embarking on a new journey. This August, she will join the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma as an assistant professor of Arts Management & Entrepreneurship. While we are thrilled for her next chapter, Jessica's departure marks the end of an extraordinary era at SUMA.
Jessica joined the Thunderbird family in 2017 as SUMA's only full-time staff member. Since then, she has not only grown the team by three additional full-time staff but has increased the museum's operating revenue by 89% and brought attendance to record-breaking levels. Her visionary leadership has elevated SUMA's presence regionally and nationally through landmark exhibitions, strategic acquisitions, and meaningful campus and community partnerships.
"I have loved working with Jessica and seeing the cool things that have happened at the museum in her eight years," said Jim Aton, SUU Professor Emeritus. "I know if Jimmie [Jones] were here and could have witnessed her guidance, he would be thrilled at what his vision has blossomed into."
Jessica's legacy includes major exhibitions like Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians, James Surls: Across the Universe Divide, Jeanne Jo: What Am I Doing Here? and Al Farrow: Wrath & Reverence, as well as vital additions to the museum's permanent collection from artists like Allan Houser, Billy Schenck, Lennart Anderson and Brett Weston. Jessica also reimagined the Stillman Sculpture Court into a space of reflection and inspiration, transforming it into a true outdoor gallery.
Jessica says it was SUU's students who drew her to the job and who kept her inspired every step of the way. "They made me believe that it was possible to take experiential learning from a mission statement and put it in practice every day," she said. "In my new role, I'll be mentoring the next generation of arts leaders, hoping to bolster my own legacy in the arts. This opportunity was made possible by my time at SUMA."
To honor Jessica's incredible contributions and say goodbye, all are invited to a special sendoff celebration during the Final Friday Art Walk on July 25, 2025, from 5-8:00 p.m. at SUMA. Stop by to express your thanks, explore the Utah Division of Arts & Museums Statewide Annual, and toast to Jessica's next adventure.
"Jessica's insight and guidance have been instrumental in shaping what SUMA is today," said College of Performing & Visual Arts Dean Michael T. Schmidt. "Her work has put SUMA on the map. We are grateful for her legacy."
As she moves forward to educate and inspire the next generation of arts leaders, Jessica leaves behind a museum and community forever changed by her dedication, creativity, and heart.
About Southern Utah Museum of Art
Southern Utah Museum of Art, on the campus of Southern Utah University, features the artwork of regional artists known for their landscapes, faculty and student artists from the SUU Department of Filmmaking, Art, & Design, as well as emerging and distinguished artists from around the country and the world. Strengths of the nearly 2,000-object permanent collection include several works by famed Western artist Maynard Dixon, important regional women artists Eve Drewelowe and Edith Hamlin, and a comprehensive collection of work by Jimmie F. Jones that exemplifies his notable career in the region. Within SUMA's holdings is an especially robust collection of prints that includes well-known artists such as Marc Chagall, James McNeill Whistler, Kawase Hasui, Thomas Hart Benton, and Käthe Kollwitz, among others. A number of gifts and acquisitions have focused on photography, such as Brett Weston, Gary Edward Adams, and a portfolio called DE | MARCATION: A Survey of Contemporary Photography in Utah. Named the best-designed museum in Utah by Architectural Digest, SUMA's building, designed by Brooks + Scarpa and inspired by the region's famed slot canyons, is an artwork in and of itself.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.
Tags: SUMA Staff Southern Utah Museum of Art Art Community College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu