Following an extensive nationwide search, the Board of Directors of the National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) announced the appointment of Melanie Leigh Mathewes as its new Executive Director. The Virginia native who brings a wealth of art and art management experience to her new position, looks forward to making a valuable contribution to the NSLM.

"I'm here to make sure everyone on our team can be successful," said the lovely and charming Virginian. "I look forward to proceeding with the details of our American Alliance of Museums accreditation, to expanding and broadening the reach of the Museum to the nation and to ensuring that we become a truly valuable community resource for visitors and patrons of all ages."

Melanie's family roots are in Gloucester County, Virginia, where she continues to spend time each year with her husband, Perry, and daughters, Clare, a 15-year-old ballerina, and Leigh, an engineering student at Virginia Tech who is interning for GE.

Classically trained in ballet, she knew she wanted to "be an archeologist and work in a museum" by age five. Fascinated with sculpture, environmental art and architecture, she is inspired by the NSLM campus and the history of Vine Hill.

Formerly, Ms. Mathewes served as Executive Director of the Hermitage Museum & Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia, for the last eight years. During her tenure, she oversaw the first strategic plan for the Hermitage, which resulted in numerous improvements in the physical plant, and a dramatic increase in membership and visitation.

Prior to her work at the Hermitage, she was events and exhibition specialist at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

In addition to leading the Hermitage, Ms. Mathewes joined the Virginia Association of Museums as council director for the Tidewater and Eastern Shore region in 2011. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Tidewater Community College, teaching courses in art history since 2010.

Her twenty-year career with museums includes work at Agecroft Hall, The Museum of the Southwest, Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum, Craven Arts Council, Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens, and Norfolk Botanical Garden.

She holds a bachelor's degree in art history from Virginia Tech and a master's degree in Museum Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.

In a statement announcing the appointment, Manuel H. Johnson, chairman of the NSLM Board of Directors, said: "We are very pleased that someone of Melanie's background and experience will become our Executive Director. Her record in Norfolk is most impressive, and when we interviewed her, we could see why she was so successful there.

"We look forward to working with her to take the National Sporting Library & Museum to an even higher level."