The American Visionary Art Museum has elected Rachel Perić as its board chair, succeeding longtime chair Christopher Goelet.
Other new board members include Sarah H. B. Kahl, a partner with the law firm Venable LLP; Jim Conley, President and CEO of Bert Davis Executive Search; Jason A. L. Timoll, an attorney, and Elfreda Winstead Massie, a nationally-recognized education leader and author who served as a Distinguished National Faculty member at the National Center on Education and the Economy.
The infusion of new leaders marks the start of a new chapter for the Inner Harbor museum as it advances a five-year strategic plan under Executive Director Ellen Owens, who was appointed in 2025.
With Owens’ appointment, the museum is advancing a five-year strategic plan that’s designed to strengthen AVAM’s role as a national cultural institution while expanding its reach, relevance and impact throughout the greater Baltimore region. The plan is organized around five pillars:
- Broaden Inclusive Reach, Connection and Representation
- Grow Opportunity Across Offerings
- Elevate Visitor Experience
- Secure Long-Term Revenue Streams
- Bolster Organizational Capacity
“AVAM has always been a place where art can challenge assumptions, expand our understanding of one another and reveal the extraordinary creative capacity within every person,” Perić said in a statement.“As AVAM enters its next chapter, I’m deeply honored by the opportunity to build on its incredible legacy as a center of art and community-building that uniquely harnesses the power of creative expression to build a more just and joyful world. Under the capable leadership of Ellen Owens and the creative, dedicated staff, along with a growing powerhouse of board members and community champions, AVAM is a jewel in Baltimore’s crown that is only going to dazzle more brightly.”
‘Intuitive, self-taught artistry’
Opened on Nov. 24, 1995, at 800 Key Highway, AVAM has been designated by the U. S. Congress as “America’s official national museum, educational center and repository for intuitive, self-taught artistry,” celebrating works produced by individuals without a formal education in art and acting on innate creative vision.
Designed by Rebecca Swanston and Alex Castro, its initial building reimagines the museum experience as a vibrant exploration of human imagination, combining monumental sculptures, intricate works and kinetic installations. Its changing mega-exhibitions present art and narratives intended to challenge and inspire.
Perić brings to AVAM more than two decades of nonprofit executive experience and a career dedicated to strengthening communities, advancing civil and human rights, and creating greater opportunity for people to belong and participate fully in the places they call home
She currently serves as Executive Director of Welcoming America, where she works with local leaders across the country whose approaches to community building in an era of migration have informed her advocacy, public writing and leadership. Her work has been featured and published by USA Today, CNN and numerous other media outlets. She has also been recognized for her work on the Eames Institute’s Inaugural Curious 100 List in 2025, honoring individuals whose curiosity and creative approaches are contributing to a better future.
Before joining Welcoming America, Perić served as Executive Director of the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy and led the United Way campaign in Montgomery County, Maryland.
A Maryland native, she earned a Bachelor’s degree at Johns Hopkins University and a Master’s degree in Public Management from the University of Maryland. Besides becoming the board chair of AVAM, she serves on the boards of Refugee Council USA and Art and Remembrance.
‘Commitment to the arts’
In an announcement about Perić, AVAM said “her commitment to the arts as a force for community building and social change has been a defining element of her professional and civic work. At Welcoming America, she championed the use of arts and creative placemaking to build connections among immigrants, longtime residents and communities, and to create places in which people can see themselves and one another as belonging.”
That commitment also extends to “the preservation of public memory and the telling of histories that have too often been overlooked,” the museum said. “In her own Montgomery County neighborhood, Perić helped bring attention to the history of the Rollingwood Burial Ground for Enslaved People, working with neighbors and community partners to ensure that the lives and history of those buried there are recognized and remembered.” Her efforts were covered by National Public Radio in 2024.
Perić’s also has a deeply personal connection to AVAM. The museum noted in its announcement that AVAM was the first museum to exhibit the work of her grandmother, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz, whose fabric artworks recount her experiences as a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust.
AVAM first presented Krinitz’s work in 2001, helping introduce her story and art to a broad public audience. The museum subsequently developed Esther and the Dream of One Loving Human Family, an expansive exhibition that places Krinitz’s work in dialogue with artists and stories addressing genocide, displacement, racism and human dignity. AVAM continues to present the work on long-term loan in its second-floor gallery.
“Rachel’s life and work embody so much of what makes AVAM visionary,” Owens said in a statement. “She understands that art is not simply something we look at—it can be a catalyst for connection, conversation, healing, imagination and change. Her experience working with communities and leaders to find creative solutions to some of our most challenging social issues will be an extraordinary asset to AVAM as we pursue our strategic vision.”
‘Tremendous leadership’
Goelet will continue to serve AVAM as Board Emeritus – an honorary, non-voting title given to a retiring board members to acknowledge their service and keep their expertise available.
“Serving as Chair of AVAM has been an extraordinary privilege,” he said in a statement. “This is an institution unlike any other, and I am immensely proud of the work accomplished by our Board, staff and supporters these past years. I am especially pleased to pass the leadership of the Board to Rachel. Her experience, values and deep connection to AVAM’s mission make her an exceptional leader for this ambitious next chapter.”
Under Goelet’s leadership, AVAM strengthened its Board and prepared the institution for its next phase, following the retirement of museum Founder and former Executive Director Rebecca Hoffberger, and culminating in Owens’ selection as Executive Director.
“Christopher has provided AVAM tremendous leadership, commitment and care,” Owens said. “We are grateful for his service and personal generosity, and delighted that he will remain connected to the museum as Board Emeritus. At the same time, we are energized by Rachel’s new leadership role and by the opportunity to bring her experience, perspective and passion to the work ahead.”
