Middlebury Welcomes Deborah Barkun as Director of Art Museum

Middlebury College has hired innovative art educator Deborah Barkun as director of the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Barkun, who succeeds interim museum director Katy Smith Abbott, will begin her position in June 2026.

Barkun is currently creative director of the Berman Museum of Art, director of museum studies, and associate professor of art history at Ursinus College. In her museum role, she acts as chief curator of exhibitions and academic programs. She also oversees the museum’s annual visiting artist-in-residence program and creates and implements a schedule of public programs to complement the exhibitions.

“Deborah’s experience developing innovative and collaborative exhibitions and programming with students and faculty across a range of disciplines stood out to the search committee,” said Erin Sassin, associate professor of history of art and architecture, and chair of the search committee. “She is committed to the transformative power of art in a liberal arts education, and her past work has deepened engagement with diverse campus and local communities.”

Barkun will arrive at Middlebury shortly before construction of the new Marna O. Davis Museum begins. Student-focused programming will remain central to the new museum’s mission, including the Museum Ambassadors Program, which features interns working in curation, engagement, design, publicity, administration, and visitor services.

“I am thrilled to join the Middlebury Museum of Art team at this exciting time as we prepare for the construction of an expansive new home,” said Barkun. “The new museum building will serve as a pedagogical and cultural hub, fostering community, facilitating critical thinking, creative problem solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and inspiring curiosity and wonder across campus and beyond.”

Barkun earned her BFA in studio art from Carnegie Mellon University and her MA and PhD in the history of art from Bryn Mawr College. Prior to her work at Ursinus, she held teaching positions at Millersville University and the University of the Arts and was a visiting scholar-in-residence at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.

In recent years, she has curated and cocurated numerous exhibitions at the Berman Museum, including the forthcoming Syd Carpenter: Home Bound in Wood, Steel, and Clay; in 2025, New Neighbors: David Aipperspach & Sarah McEneaney; Cari Freno & Hironaka/Suib; Sarah Kaufman & Chad States; Sarah Pater & Tony Bragg; and Colette Fu: A Day in the Terraced Rice Fields. She is a sought-after guest lecturer and presenter at universities and conferences around the world.

“With a new teaching museum on our horizon, we are very pleased to welcome Deborah to our arts community and to envision new ways to engage with students, faculty, staff, and the public,” said Pieter Broucke, professor of history of art and architecture and associate dean for the arts.

Sassin noted her gratitude to the members of the search committee. “Every member was essential to the success of the search and we deeply appreciate their time, energy and expertise.” In addition to Sassin, members of the committee included Rebekah Irwin, Katy Smith Abbott, Mike Dash, Sarah Rogers, Michelle Leftheris, Liza Sacheli, and Sophie Maris ’26.