STATE COLLEGE — Erin M. Coe, the director for the last seven years of the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, announced her departure from the museum, noting that she will next take on the executive director role of the Rockwell Museum (a Smithsonian Affiliate) in Corning, New York.
“Throughout her tenure, Erin has demonstrated an unwavering vision for the Palmer Museum of Art,” said B. Stephen Carpenter II, Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean in the College of Arts and Architecture. “Under her guidance, the Palmer has transformed from a respected regional university art museum into a visionary arts and cultural asset of national and international visibility.”
Joyce Henri Robinson will step into Coe’s shoes as interim director for the museum starting on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Robinson has worked for close to 30 years at the Palmer, organizing more than 75 exhibitions and authoring exhibition catalogues, according to a news release from Penn State.
“The Palmer has been my home base for nearly three decades, and I’m excited to work with our remarkable staff during this period of transition,” Robinson said in a statement on Penn State News. “In our new home in the Arboretum, we will continue to welcome record numbers of visitors, engage community members and foster meaningful encounters with art for students, faculty and staff across campus.”
In addition to her work at the Palmer, Robinson has served as president of the board of directors of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, worked as a volunteer pledge host for WPSU-TV and WPSU radio, is a member of the Schlow Library gallery committee and has worked as a juror for art exhibitions.
“With her long and impressive history at the Palmer, Joyce is uniquely prepared to guide the museum as it builds on its success at the new location,” Carpenter said in a statement. “She has been integral to many of the museum’s accomplishments over the years and will now play a key role during this transitional period.”
Carpenter also noted his gratitude for Coe’s work upon the announcement of her departure.
“We are deeply grateful for Erin’s contributions and the legacy she leaves behind,” Carpenter said in a statement. “As she embarks on the next chapter of her impressive career, we wish her continued success and thank her for elevating the Palmer Museum of Art to new heights.”
