Jessica Kay Ruhle

Jessica Kay Ruhle is the Executive Director at the Yellowstone Art Museum. Jessica has previously worked as the Director of Education at the Nasher Museum of Art from November 2014 to December 2021. In this role, they directed the Nasher Museum of Art's educational initiatives, setting the vision and approach for innovative gallery programming and audience engagement, with a focus on museum accessibility for visitors of all ages and abilities. Jessica founded and led the Reflections Program for visitors with dementia and their care partners.

Jessica supervised the members of the education department, including full-time staff, a 25-member paid part-time Gallery Guide staff, and university student interns. Jessica created and managed departmental budget for education programs, publications, and special events. Jessica collaborated across museum departments to support the Nasher's mission to engage Duke and Durham communities as a laboratory of learning, reviewed interpretive materials related to exhibitions and programs, and worked closely with Development team to secure and maintain donor relationships and pursue grant funding opportunities.

Jessica sustained transdisciplinary partnerships across the university campus to better understand how visitors engage with museum exhibitions and programs, including shared work with the Art Therapy, Geriatrics, and Neurology departments at Duke University Medical Center. Jessica presented the museum's work at regional, national, and international conferences, continued mentoring of former students, interns, and colleagues, contributions to printed publications and online initiatives, and in the engagement of individual donors, grant funding organizations, and board members.

[ Jessica Kay Ruhle ]

Jessica Kay Ruhle is a museum educator who holds a Master's in Arts Administration and Museum Education from The George Washington University and a Bachelor's in Art Jessica'story from Davidson College.

Some individuals on their team include Diana Geiger - Leadership Associate, Lisa Ranallo - Curator of the Permanent Collection, and John Greenberger - Finance & Administration Director.