The Ava Gardner Museum Board of Directors recently announced the new Ava Gardner Museum Executive Director, Dr. Karen Miller Anderson, according to a news release.

She has joined the Ava Gardner Museum as the organization's new Director, effective November 1, 2008.
According to the news release, Miller Anderson holds a Ph.D. in Textile Technology Management from the North Carolina State University and holds a M. S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University, and a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the College of the Dayton Art Institute. Dr. Miller Anderson began her doctoral education after moving to Smithfield in 2001, and has continued to live here with her family upon graduation in 2006.

Dr. Miller Anderson was the unanimous choice of both the search committee and the Executive Board. She comes to us with leadership experience in industry and education and has a proven dedication to the Ava Garner Museum and to Smithfield, N.C.

"I look forward to working with a collection that is clearly one of the most comprehensive collections for Ava Gardner's life and career in the world," states Anderson.

The Ava Garner Museum will benefit from her community and educational contacts, and commitment to Johnston County and the town of Smithfield, NC. A background in business/marketing, fine-arts and textiles and as a professional educator/speaker and board member, gives her the experience to not only fulfill the duties of Ava Garner Museum Director but also to maintain and enhance the vision that is the Ava Garner Museum.