CORNING, NY (607NewsNow) — The Corning Museum of Glass is getting a new leader in the new year. Dr. Jessica Levin Martinez will step down as director of Cornell’s Johnson Museum of Art to become the next president and executive director in February.

“Dr. Martinez is passionate about museums and what it takes for a museum to connect with audiences. She possesses a spirit of bold experimentation that approaches the museum broadly as an innovation laboratory, not as a temple,” CMoG Board Chair Dr. Jeff Evenson said. “The Board’s Search Committee undertook a rigorous months-long process to find the ideal candidate, and we strongly believe that Dr. Martinez is the perfect fit for the Museum. As we enter our 75th anniversary year, I am confident that she will build on Karol’s outstanding legacy, making CMoG’s future even brighter.”

In April, Dr. Karol Wright announced her plans to retire. “Jessica is an energetic, collaborative leader with deep expertise in the museum field and a true appreciation for its purpose,” Wright said. “Her regional arts experience, along with her strong curatorial and research background, will serve her well as she steps into the leadership role at CMoG.”

Martinez says she’s looking forward to taking on the role. “The institution’s mission to transform the way the world understands the art, history, and science of glass on a global scale resonates deeply with my own experiences. I look forward to joining this remarkable team of dedicated professionals who, like the glass artists who push the boundaries of the medium, advance museum practice with real ingenuity. It will be a privilege to bring forward Karol Wight’s brilliant contributions to the Corning Museum of Glass and to the field of art museums more broadly.”