Sarah Turner has been selected to be the next President of the North Bennet Street School (NBSS), a professional trade school located at 150 North Street in Boston’s North End.
In this position, Turner will spearhead expansion of the School’s public programs and community partnerships within the craft-education world, while continuing the School’s 137-year legacy of training students for careers in traditional trades and fine crafts.
In a statement released by NBSS, Turner expressed excitement about what’s to come in her new role saying, “My heart lies in leadership work; helping studio-craft institutions draw together the contributions of all members to make something unique, useful, and forward-looking.”
Turner brings with her more than 20 years of experience in contemporary craft and design at a number of institutions including Cranbrook Academy of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Oregon College of Art and Craft, and the State University of New York at New Paltz. She has a BA in Sociology from Smith College, a Certificate in Metalsmithing from the Oregon College of Art & Craft, and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art.
At Cranbrook, Turner redesigned the academic programs and implemented an international teaching fellowship to bring art and design thinkers to studio practice. She also launched a new public lecture series, instituted regular symposia on changing topics, and developed new community and institutional partnerships.
Sarah Turner will succeed Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, the School’s first leader to also be a graduate, who will retire in December. Gómez-Ibáñez held the position for 12 years, during which he secured and led the renovation of the School’s new 64,000 sq. ft. facility, established strategic partnerships, and oversaw the School’s recent $20 million fundraising campaign, which will help to fund $1 million in student scholarships annually.
