March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 50 F

Maryland Hall names new Executive Director

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts (MHCA) Board of Directors today announced the appointment of experienced nonprofit executive Margaret B. Davis as its new President and CEO. The Board selected Davis after a nationwide four-month search led by a professional search firm. She will begin her new position on November 1, 2017.Davis brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, communications and resource development as Maryland Hall’s new President and CEO. She succeeds Linnell Bowen, who retired in June after 21 years in that role. Since 2009, Davis has served as the President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the nation’s oldest and largest need-based scholarship provider for military children, doubling the revenue during her tenure. Previous positions include Director of Development and Community Engagement for the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois. The Festival is the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While there, she planned and implemented a $16 million capital campaign. In addition, she was of counsel to Arena Stage’s and National Children’s Museum’s recent capital campaigns. She also served as Associate Dean for Cathedral Advancement at the Washington National Cathedral and was a founding director of the Chicago Children’s Museum.

Davis has local involvement in the South River Federation, Anne Arundel Women Giving Together and the Annapolis Yacht Club. She has been active in volunteer family support work with the Marine Corps and as a result, was awarded the Department of the Navy Superior Public Service Medal, the second highest civilian medal awarded by the Navy.

A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, she and her husband, retired Marine Major General Andrew “Drew” Davis, live in Annapolis, MD.

As MHCA President and CEO, Davis will manage a staff of approximately 20 full and part- time employees who plan and deliver more than 700 arts classes and workshops; almost 100 performances and events; 25 exhibitions and gallery programs; and a wide variety of community-based and artistic events throughout the year. She will be responsible for management of all day-to-day operations for Maryland Hall and will lead The Campaign for Maryland Hall, an $18 million capital campaign to modernize and expand MHCA’s 1932-era building. The campaign, now in its third stage, has already resulted in the modernization of the main theatre, with construction currently underway for a new production wing expected to be complete in Spring 2018.

“Margaret’s depth of experience in fundraising, management and community relations, coupled with her passion for the arts, make her the ideal candidate to now lead Maryland Hall,” says MHCA Board Chairman Alan Friedman. “Our board and staff are excited to work with Margaret to further strengthen Maryland Hall’s wide array of performances, visual arts and education programming. She will bring valuable fundraising and leadership skills to the capital campaign as we continue to enhance our historic building.”

“It is an honor to succeed Annapolis legend Linnell Bowen and have the opportunity to grow an excellent community resource even further,” says Davis. “Art for all is both the hallmark of Maryland Hall and an essential element in our community.”

Dedicated to delivering “art for all,” Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts is the community’s arts center, providing lifelong opportunities in the arts for all ages. Serving 100,000 people each year, Maryland Hall educates, enriches and enhances lives through performances in our newly-renovated theatre, exhibitions in several galleries, education classes and workshops for all ages, and outreach programs that bring the arts to underserved students. For more information on Maryland Hall, go to www.marylandhall.org.

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