Art historian Daniel Weiss to depart Johns Hopkins to lead Philadelphia Art Museum

Art historian Daniel H. Weiss, Homewood Professor of the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University and a driving force behind a major, ongoing initiative designed to elevate the arts across the university, has been named the next director and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Image caption: Daniel H. Weiss

Weiss, formerly the dean of JHU's Krieger School of Arts and Sciences who returned to Hopkins in 2023 following eight years as president and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, will begin this new role on a part-time basis next month. He will also continue full-time at Johns Hopkins through May—leading the university's Office for the Arts, advancing the recommendation of the Taskforce on the Arts that he chairs, and teaching in the Kreiger School.

"I am thrilled for Dan and for the Philadelphia Art Museum, which has gained one of Hopkins best—a distinguished scholar of art and art history with a passion for creativity that is matched only by his equipoise and acumen as an institutional leader," Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels said. "Beginning in his years as a graduate student through his exceptional service as dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and his recent return as Homewood Professor of the Humanities and chair of our Taskforce on the Arts, Dan has made an immeasurable impact on our university. While I will miss having Dan's daily participation in our academic community and his wise counsel, I can think of no better leader in arts administration to take the reins at the Philadelphia Art Museum in this moment."

Added JHU Provost Ray Jayawardhana: "Dan has brought an unparalleled combination of scholarly depth, wide-ranging expertise, and distinguished leadership in the arts, helping to catalyze a vibrant new era for artistic and creative expression at Johns Hopkins. His deft guidance is already setting in motion essential work to weave the arts more fully into Hopkins' academic life, student experience, and community partnerships—generating palpable excitement and real momentum as we celebrate Hopkins' 150th year."

The Philadelphia Art Museum was founded in 1876—the same year as Johns Hopkins University—and holds an extensive and diverse collection of more than 240,000 objects spanning 2,000 years. The art museum serves approximately 700,000 visitors annually and plays a vital role in Philadelphia's cultural and civic life. It is also home to the iconic Rocky steps, so named for the memorable training scene in the 1976 film.

"I am enormously grateful for the opportunity to advance the place of the arts at Hopkins as we have these past few years," said Weiss, who also serves as senior advisor to provost for the arts at JHU. "The Office of the Arts is making excellent progress with genuine momentum for the work ahead and widespread enthusiasm across the university.  I look forward to supporting this work in the future, even from my new role at the Philadelphia Art Museum.  It has been deeply gratifying to see how the arts have become such a central part of this great university under the leadership of Ron Daniels and Ray Jayawardhana."

Arts initiative

Read the full report

The Johns Hopkins Taskforce on the Arts: Final Report and Recommendations (PDF)

Weiss initially joined the faculty of JHU's Department of the History of Art in 1993 and served as dean of the Krieger School from 2002 until 2005, when he became president of Lafayette College. In 2013, he was appointed president of Haverford College, serving until 2015, when he joined the Met.

A specialist in the art of the Middle Ages, particularly French art in the age of the Crusades and during the reign of Louis IX in the 13th century, Weiss has also published widely on a variety of other topics, including higher education, museums, and American culture. His most recent books include Why the Museum Matters (2022), In That Time: Michael O'Donnell and the Tragic Era of Vietnam (2019), and Remaking College: Innovation and the Liberal Arts (2013).

Weiss was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021. Also that year, he was one of the inaugural recipients of George Washington University's Monumental Alumni Award, the highest form of alumni recognition the university gives to honor living alumni who have made an impact on the world through their work and service. He was elected to the Society of Scholars at Hopkins in 2018 and is the author of seven books.