Dallas, TX: Indian American Gowri Natarajan Sharma was appointed chair of the Dallas Museum of Art Board of Trustees at a recently held election. She became the first person of color to be elected so in the institution’s 119-year history.
A June 26, 2022 press release shows the 2022–2023 Board of Trustees that was approved, includes another Indian-American, Venugopal Menon, as Secretary of the Board.
A total of four new officers and 12 elected trustees representing diverse backgrounds, international leadership expertise and distinction in business, technology, building design and creative industries, constitute the new appointees.
“Sharma is the first person of color to be elected President of the DMA’s Board of Trustees, and the 2022–2023 elected officers are the most diverse in the Museum’s history,” the press release said.
A member of the DMA Board of Trustees since 2017 and previously served on the Executive Committee as Vice President, Sharma was co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee with Tom Lentz and chaired the Learning & Engagement Committee.
She currently serves on the Building & Grounds Committee and is a member of the DMA Acquisition Fund created by the Dallas Art Fair.
A founding board member of UNICEF North Texas and Central Plains Region, Sharma has been an Executive Member of the Orchid Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) and will be on the Executive Board and Programs Committee Chair at TXWF in the coming year.
She is Chair of the Construction Committee and an Executive Committee Member at The Lamplighter School. She currently sits on the Advisory Board of talkStem.
Sharma has a Master’s in Architecture and serves as an architectural advisor for her family’s business interests.
