Prior to the Twain Museum, Debra Was Curator of Education at the Wadsworth Atheneum In

DEBRA PETKE

Debra Petke came to Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts as President & CEO in 2007 from a career in museums and teaching. She joined the staff of the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT in1993 as Director of Education and later served as Chief Curator, Deputy Director, and then Executive Director. During her tenure, she oversaw all aspects of operations and was responsible for the significant expansion of education programs, restoration, and the establishment of an international exhibition program.

Prior to the Twain Museum, Debra was Curator of Education at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT for three years, and before that was an Adjunct Professor of Art History at Hartford College for Women, the University of Hartford, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Central Connecticut State University from 1985 to 1997, and a Visiting Scholar at the New Britain Museum of American Art. During her career, she has lectured, written and curated exhibitions on a variety of topics.

She has a B.A. in art history from Providence College and an M.A. in art history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a concentration in American art and architecture.