Melanie Mathewes, M.A., will join Shenandoah University as director of development at Shenandoah Conservatory on Oct. 1, 2018.
In this role, Mathewes will assist in the achievement of the conservatory’s strategic vision by coordinating and managing all development efforts for the conservatory, further strengthening the culture of philanthropy around the conservatory, and further advancing the conservatory’s reputation as Virginia’s conservatory and a world-class center for excellence in music, dance, and theatre training and performance.
Mathewes most recently served as executive director of the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia, for five years. Skilled at fundraising, friend-raising, economic development, board building, marketing, educational programming, curating, and collections care, she has raised more than $25 million to expand staffing, exhibitions, educational programs, and capital improvements, and engaged with donors to secure six-figure gifts resulting in endowed staff positions and increased funding for acquisitions. She also held the executive director position at the Hermitage Museum & Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia, from 2004 to 2013. Her 30-year career in the museum field lends well to her new position at Shenandoah.
“I am thrilled that Melanie is joining our conservatory team,” said Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak, Ed.D. “Her professionalism, her ability to think strategically, her patience and great sense of humor, her passion for the arts, and her demonstrated ability to bring people together around exciting causes, all make her a great fit for us. She is wonderfully positioned to work with our conservatory, as well as with current and prospective donors to help move our advancement efforts to the next level.”
Mathewes serves on the Visit Loudoun board of directors, and is an advisory board member for The Virginia Horse Center, a Middleburg Economic Development Advisory Committee member, and a Middleburg Business Association council member.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in art and architectural history from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in museum studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently finishing an M.B.A. from William and Mary.
