Arts Ed NJ appoints Wendy Liscow as Executive Director

(WARREN, New Jersey) — Arts Ed NJthe state’s voice for arts education, announced April 12 that it had named Wendy Liscow its new executive director, effective July 1. She assumes the position held by Arts co-founder Ed NJ and former chairman of the board, Robert Morrison, who announced this past January that he would step down effective June 30, 2022, after nearly two decades at the helm. rod.

A champion of the transformative power of arts education for students and educators, Liscow most recently served 17 years with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, based in Morristown, New Jersey, a strong supporter of the arts in New Jersey. Liscow began his work in Dodge’s arts grantmaking field, eventually becoming an education program manager, directing its education and technical assistance programs. She has led statewide initiatives advancing the integration of culturally relevant and appropriate arts and practices, especially for children attending the most disadvantaged school districts in the state. She also developed adult sequential learning opportunities to help ensure nonprofit staff and boards deepen their organizational impact and helped Dodge launch its equity-focused training series. .

In her philanthropic role, Liscow has become a strong ally of Arts Ed NJ, helping its growth since her formative years and working with the organization on a grassroots level.

She worked with a team of arts education leaders to produce “New Jersey’s Arts Integration Think and Do Workbook” and recently developed with Sanaz Hojreh the “Culturally Responsive Arts Education Workout” offered by Arts Ed NJ.

Additionally, Liscow led the development of an arts education data collection dashboard to complement the Arts Ed NJ Census, collective impact assessment tools, and a series of trainings aligned with the Arts Ed NJ. arts education assessment for nonprofit arts education partner organizations.

After earning his education degree from the University of Michigan and before joining the Dodge staff in 2003, Liscow spent 25 years gaining experience in the nonprofit sector as an administrator, stage and professional theater producer. She was Associate Artistic Director, Playwright and Resident Director at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick for 12 years, then served as Director of Programs and Services for the New Jersey Theater Alliance.

She has served on many boards and committees over the years, most recently on the Arts Education Partnership Equity Committee, Arts Education Impact Group of Grantmakers for Education, Arts Ed Newark, Arts for Any Given Child Trenton and to the Newark STEAM coalition. Additionally, she is a proud graduate of Lead New Jersey and a founding member of the Metuchen Farmers Market in her hometown.

Liscow is also the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education Award presented at the New Jersey Governor’s Annual Arts Education Awards.

“On behalf of the Arts Ed NJ Board of Directors, I share our excitement over the selection of Wendy Liscow as the next Executive Director!” said Dr. Mary Reece, Chair of Arts Ed NJ’s Board of Directors. “Wendy brings to the organization a deep understanding of arts education, a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access for all stakeholders, and a rich network of educators and arts advocates – both locally and nationally. We look forward to working with Wendy as Arts Ed NJ continues to grow and thrive!”

Arts Ed NJ is the unified voice for arts education in New Jersey. The mission of Arts Ed NJ is to create the conditions for learning the arts in New Jersey. Formerly the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, Arts Ed NJ was founded in 2007 by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Department of Education and Music for All Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.