Dallas, TX—July 16, 2025— In a recent election held by the Dallas Museum of Art Board of Trustees, the 2025-2026 Board slate was approved, including new and returning officers and trustees whose diverse backgrounds, perspectives and expertise will collectively advance the DMA’s mission and help shape its enduring role in the cultural landscape.
The Officers Nominating Committee, chaired by Board President Gowri Natarajan Sharma, announced Sharon Young was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board. Ms. Young succeeds Jeffrey S. Ellerman, who remains on the Board of Trustees as Former Chairman. Sheryl Adkins-Green was reelected and will continue to serve as Vice President. Trustees Nancy Carlson and Daniel O’Grady were unanimously elected as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Ms. Carlson succeeds Venu Menon, who has served as Secretary for the past three years, and Mr. O’Grady succeeds Brendan McGuire, who has served as Treasurer for the past two years.
"On behalf of the Dallas Museum of Art, I extend our deepest gratitude to Jeff for his exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication. His guidance as a partner in leadership was instrumental in setting the vision for our future,” said Gowri N. Sharma. “We are profoundly thankful for his service and steadfast commitment to our mission."
Gowri Natarajan Sharma will continue to serve as President of the DMA’s Board of Trustees, a role she has held since 2022. She is Chair of the Executive Committee and serves on all other standing committees of the Board. During her tenure as Board President, Ms. Sharma has contributed to the Architect Selection Committee and the Master Facilities Plan Task Force and has an active role in the oversight of the Museum’s expansion project. She currently serves on the committee leading the search for the next Eugene McDermott Director of the Museum. Ms. Sharma joined the DMA Board in 2017 and held numerous leadership positions prior to her service as President, including Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee (2020-2021) and Chair of the Learning & Engagement Committee (2018-2020). For the past 10 years, she and her husband, Alex N. Sharma, have participated in the DMA Acquisition Fund established by the Dallas Art Fair. Outside the DMA, Ms. Sharma is a dedicated civic leader who has held board and advisory roles with organizations focused on women, education and the arts, while also serving as an architectural advisor to her family’s business interests.
Newly elected Chairman Sharon Young began her service on the Board of Trustees in 2004. She is currently Co-Chair of the DMA’s Director Search Committee and a member of the Budget & Finance Committee. Ms. Young previously chaired the Audit and Development committees, chaired the Museum’s Contemporary Art Initiative, and was a member of the Investment Committee. She chaired TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art in its early years, which led to her transformation of the Museum’s Beaux Arts Ball to the Art Ball. She has been a member of the Nasher Sculpture Center’s Program Advisory Council since its founding, currently serving as Chair, and has co-chaired the Nasher Prize Gala. In 2024 Young was awarded the TACA Silver Cup Award for distinguished service in the arts. She has been involved in the Dallas arts and nonprofit communities for more than 20 years, serving as a member of The Advisory Board of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Charter 100 and the Board of Planned Parenthood of North Texas. Ms. Young is co-founder of Quadrant Capital Partners, along with her husband, Michael Young. They are collectors of contemporary art and have committed to gifting their collection to the DMA.
“We are standing at the threshold of a generational transformation that will define the future of the Dallas Museum of Art,” said Sharon Young. “It’s a profound honor to help carry forward the DMA’s extraordinary legacy while envisioning how we’ll continue to inspire, engage and serve the City of Dallas for generations to come.”
In recognition of her decades of service and monumental impact on the DMA, Barbara Thomas Lemmon was elected to a lifetime term as a Benefactor Trustee. The Committee on Trustees & Governance, chaired in 2024-2025 by Max Lamont, unanimously nominated and elected, and the Board of Trustees approved, the following eight individuals with distinction in business, building and design, philanthropy, local arts and culture to serve as trustees for a three-year term: William Atkinson, Chris Bancroft, Darren James, Todd Lemkin, Carol Levy, Vipin Nambiar, Deedie Rose and Kalu Ugwuomo, Jr.
Additionally, the Board of Trustees approved the election of the following trustees to a second three-year term: Victor Almeida, John Carpenter, Brent English, Gene Jones, Max Lamont, Cristina Lynch, Katherine Reeves, Marcia Dunn Sobel and Gayle Stoffel.
Representative Trustees elected to serve in the 2025-2026 Board year include Erica Smith Denton, DMA Family Forum; Diana Gutman, DMA League; Laura Wise, DMA Junior Associates; Mary McDermott Cook, The McDermott Art Fund; David Haemisegger, Nasher Sculpture Center; Lizzie Routman, Foundation for the Arts; Cindy Rachofsky, The Rachofsky Fund for Creative Enhancement of the Contemporary Art Program; and Howard Rachofsky, The Rachofsky Fund for Creative Enhancement of the Contemporary Art Program. Serving as ex-officio members are Jim Nugent, Office of Arts & Culture; Brena Ward, Junior League Dallas; and Andrea Perez, Legal Counsel.
Those trustees who completed their elected terms at the final Board meeting, and who have provided generous time, expertise and passion to the Dallas Museum of Art, include Thaddeus Arroyo, Kathryn Hall, Sophia Johnson, Brendan McGuire, Vaughn Vennerberg and Dennis Wong. Outgoing Representative Trustees and Ex-Officio members include Timothy Annick, Grace Cook, Hannah Galvan, and Rachel Osburn.
In recognition of retiring trustee Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr., the Museum wishes to acknowledge his 50 years of distinguished service as representative for the African American Museum. Dr. Robinson has exemplified extraordinary commitment, offered valued guidance and shown steadfast dedication to advancing the mission and values of the DMA.
A full list of the 2025-2026 Board of Trustees can be found here.