Oakland Museum of California Foundation Announces New Chair
Museum Also Names New Development and Marketing Directors
Civic leader Sheryl Wong is the new chair of the Oakland Museum of California Foundation board of trustees, effective in October. Wong replaces Lance Gyorfi, who served two consecutive one-year terms.
“During this time of exciting change for the museum, we are delighted to welcome new leadership, both on the staff and volunteer fronts,” said Executive Director Lori Fogarty.
“Sheryl Wong brings great passion for the museum’s mission, as well as strong community relationships and a longtime affiliation with our educational programs. The addition of Catherine Millar as director of development and Ann Dickson as director of marketing and communications complete the restructuring of our senior management team and position us for significant growth during a major capital campaign project and fundraising campaign.
“We thank Lance Gyorfi for his outstanding contributions as chair for the past two years, during a time of major transition for the museum, and we are delighted that he remains on the board as vice chair,” Fogarty said.
Sheryl Wong’s longtime association with the museum began in 1978, when she became a docent. She joined the Foundation board in 1995 and served as chair from 2000 to 2002. She rejoined the board in 2005.
Wong’s leadership with the museum board, staff, and volunteers helped get Measure G, a $59 million bond measure with the Oakland Zoo and Chabot Space & Science Center, passed in 2002. The measure provided $23.6 million as part of an overall $53-million museum renovation and gallery reinstallation to take place over the next five years. Wong also chairs the “Campaign for the Museum of California,” slated to raise $30 million in other public and private support for the project.
Wong gradated Cal Berkeley with a degree in English in 1967, and she has been an active alumna since. She co-chaired the Alameda-Contra Costa campaign committee for the UCB “Campaign for the New Century” (1995–2000) and has served as a trustee on the UCB Foundation since 1999. Wong served on the UCB Library Advisory Board from 1995 to 2006, and as its chair from 2002 to 2004. She lives in Piedmont with her husband, Robert Wong, a principal partner with BSA Architects.
Catherine Millar joined the museum as director of development in June. Her experience with Bay Area nonprofit organizations includes serving as executive director of Intersection for the Arts and development positions with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Exploratorium, and most recently the Chabot Space & Science Center.
Millar has a BSA in art from the University of Michigan. A Californian since 1981, she lives in Oakland with her family.
Ann Dickson was appointed director of marketing and communications in August, after serving as the museum’s corporate relations manager and marketing specialist for three years. She has worked as an independent marketing consultant and instructor for the National Arts Marketing Project and held positions as marketing and special relations manager for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and senior project manager for Guthy-Renker, Inc.
Dickson earned a BA in music education from Indiana University. She began her career as a communications coordinator for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles. She lives in Oakland with her husband, Dr. Ronnie Dickson, a real estate analyst for Kennedy Wilson.
The Oakland Museum of California is a public/private partnership between the Oakland Museum of California Foundation and the City of Oakland. The City supports approximately 50% of the museum budget, including fundamental museum operations such as curatorial staff, building maintenance, security, and operations. The Oakland Museum of California Foundation raises funds through earned and contributed revenue for museum exhibitions and educational programs.