The Walters Art Museum’s Board of Trustees today announced the selection of Kate Burgin as the museum’s new Executive Director and CEO, following a seven-month national search. Burgin currently serves as President of the Talent Stream division at Catalyte, Inc., a Baltimore-based technology services and workforce company. Prior to joining Catalyte in 2022, Burgin served in several executive positions at the Walters beginning in 2016. In her most recent role at the Walters, Burgin was Deputy Director of the museum. She succeeds Julia Alexander, who served as director from 2013 until October 2024. Burgin will start in her new role as the Andrea B. and John H. Laporte Director in late-January 2025.
“I am thrilled that Kate Burgin will join the Walters as our new Executive Director and CEO,” said Peter L. Bain, President of the Walters Art Museum’s Board of Trustees. “It is truly extraordinary that among the remarkable pool of candidates—distinguished by their exceptional quality, diverse experiences, and impressive expertise from across the nation—the ideal choice for this vital role was right here in Baltimore. Kate’s vision, leadership, and deep connection to our institution make her uniquely suited for this position. Having spent several years away gaining valuable experience in other sectors, she brings fresh ideas and innovative approaches that will undoubtedly help advance the Walters’ mission.”
Added Sheila Vidmar, Walters Trustee and Chair of the Search Committee, “This was a highly competitive national search, and Kate emerged as the clear and unanimous choice. Her passion for the arts and their ability to enrich lives, combined with her deep commitment to Baltimore, made her stand out among an impressive field of candidates. We are excited to welcome her back to the Walters and are confident that her leadership will have a transformative impact on the museum and the broader community.”
In Burgin’s current role at Catalyte, she leads the company’s apprenticeship and workforce division that helps organizations build high-performing workforces, and expands career opportunities in technology fields for individuals coming from underrepresented communities. Under her leadership, the company increased its job training and apprenticeship offerings, and established new partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and the public sector. Burgin also led Catalyte’s partnership with the State of Maryland on an innovative workforce initiative to create new technology apprenticeships in state and local governments.
During her prior tenure at the Walters, Burgin led a series of transformational initiatives for the museum, including the development and initial implementation of a new diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) plan, and the successful completion of a $10 million capital fundraising project. Working with the Executive Director and other members of the museum’s leadership team, Burgin created new Visitor Experience and Learning & Community Engagement departments to increase outreach to the wider Baltimore community.
“The Walters Art Museum is an essential part of the arts and culture ecosystem in Baltimore and the State of Maryland, and I am deeply honored to lead this great institution,” said Kate Burgin. “When I joined Catalyte in 2022, I never imagined that this opportunity would present itself. My experiences outside the museum field have provided me with a broader perspective and the flexibility to approach opportunities differently–whether by rethinking job training and mobility, developing partnerships with an array of businesses and organizations, or engaging in and working to support our city’s and state’s goals to grow Baltimore as a vibrant cultural destination. I am excited to work alongside the exceptional team at the Walters to shape its future as a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking institution dedicated to preserving and presenting its exceptional collections and exhibitions for our entire community.”
Burgin’s earlier career included roles at TDC, a nonprofit consulting firm where she served as Senior Vice President, Director of Research and Special Initiatives, and at Boston Consulting Group, where she was a Consultant, Project Leader, and Learning & Development Manager between 2008 and 2014. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in History and Literature from Harvard College. A Baltimore City resident, she currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Baltimore Committee representing Catalyte, and as a Trustee for the Bryn Mawr School. Between 2023 and 2024, Burgin served on the Board of Trustees of the Walters Art Museum, formally recusing herself from Board business once her interest in the museum’s Executive Director position advanced.
The Walters Art Museum’s search process began in April, when then-Executive Director Julia Alexander announced her appointment as the President of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation; she formally departed the museum on September 13. The Search Committee of the Board of Trustees, led by Sheila Vidmar, and including six other trustees, selected Russell Reynolds Associates to lead the national search. Russell Reynolds had 22 candidates from across the country express interest in the position. From this group, seven of these were interviewed virtually, narrowing to a final group of four who were invited to participate in in-person interviews.
About the Walters Art Museum
The Walters Art Museum is a cultural hub in the heart of Baltimore, located in the city’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The museum’s collection spans more than seven millennia, from 5,000 BCE to the 21st century, and encompasses 36,000 objects from around the world. Walking through the museum’s historic buildings, visitors encounter a stunning panorama of thousands of years of art, from romantic 19th-century images of French gardens to mesmerizing Ethiopian icons, richly illuminated Qur’ans and Gospel books, ancient Roman sarcophagi, and serene images of the Buddha. Since its founding, the Walters mission has been to bring art and people together to create a place where people of every background can be touched by art. As part of this commitment, admission to the museum and special exhibitions is always free.
