The Association for Visual Arts announced Thursday that Christa Mannarino is resigning as executive director effective June 11. She has accepted a position with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as the director of development for major gifts for the Office of Development.
Her new duties will entail working with the College of Engineering and Computer Science to raise funds for programs and scholarships of the college, Ms. Mannarino said.
“It’s been 10 years (with AVA), and I felt like the time was right,” she said. “I think nonprofits need change and new energy.”
The College of Engineering and Computer Science has not had a dedicated development person, she said.
“To me, they are gonna be the new rock stars in town with Volkswagen and everything else that is happening,” she said.
Ms. Mannarino said she plans to enter the doctoral program in learning and leadership at UTC this fall. She will study the changing nonprofit sector.
Ms. Mannarino first became involved with AVA in 1992 as an artist member and a volunteer. She has served as the executive director since 2000, according to a news release.
A search committee has been formed, and a national search for the next AVA executive director will begin immediately, the news release stated.
Until a replacement is found, current AVA senior staff members will manage the nonprofit organization for professional artists, emerging artists and the community at large, officials said.