Mid-America Arts Alliance Welcomes Deborah McNulty as Senior Vice President
By Sarah Mote
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Deborah McNulty as its new senior vice president.
In this role, Deborah will work with M-AAA’s leadership team to create, expand, and amplify programs that strengthen and support artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout the region and beyond. As an executive management team member, Deborah will help M-AAA accomplish our strategic goals and ensure the continuation and fulfillment of our mission. Her role will involve working closely with the president and CEO, board, staff, and partners to expand M-AAA’s reach and impact across our six-state region and beyond.
“This newly created position for Mid-America Arts Alliance requires someone with a background in program leadership and management, organizational effectiveness, strategic alignment of resources, development, policy and process development, legal compliance, and fiscal planning and accountability,” says Todd Stein, M-AAA’s president and CEO. “Deborah is the right fit for the breadth of responsibilities in this role.”
Todd added, “She brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in the nonprofit sector, particularly in the arts and cultural affairs. Her leadership has made significant impacts in various organizations and communities, and we are excited to have her join our executive management team.
“I am honored to join Mid-America Arts Alliance and contribute to its mission of promoting and supporting the arts,” says Deborah. “The arts are a vital part of our communities, and I look forward to working with the talented team at M-AAA to create opportunities for artists and cultural organizations to thrive.”
Deborah is a seasoned nonprofit executive recognized for her ability to guide organizations toward growth and success through creative strategies. She has worked with mayors, boards, CEOs, and community leaders across diverse areas including arts, collective impact, cultural policy, philanthropy, and public-private partnerships. Her exceptional contributions have been acknowledged by prestigious organizations such as the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Americans for the Arts.
As director of cultural affairs for the City of Houston, Deborah led the implementation of the city’s first Cultural Plan and initiatives critical in helping the cultural sector navigate and adapt through Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 crisis recovery.
In addition to this role, she was instrumental in developing funding strategies focusing on arts and culture and human services as a Houston Endowment program officer. And separately, she established a successful consulting practice, helping public sector and nonprofit clients reach new communities, improve governance, and become more sustainable and efficient, including the creation of the previously mentioned Cultural Plan.
While Deborah is a new addition to M-AAA’s permanent staff, she has long been important to the organization’s efforts.
Most recently, Deborah consulted with M-AAA on arts education initiatives and played a key role in facilitating M-AAA’s strategic partnership with Arts Connect Houston, enhancing the collaboration between the two organizations.
As a direct result of her leadership at the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, M-AAA partnered with Fresh Arts, which led to the first iteration of Artist INC in Houston. Additionally, during the first year of the pandemic, M-AAA worked closely with Deborah and the City of Houston to distribute $3 million in CARES Act funding to musicians and music venues. And during her tenure with Houston Endowment, M-AAA worked with the foundation to create an urban-focused, capacity-building program, Engage Houston, that benefitted 70 Houston-area small to midsize arts and cultural organizations.
“Deborah’s appointment comes at an exciting time for M-AAA as we develop our next strategic plan and continue the evolution of our service to the region and nation through the ongoing expansion of our programs and initiatives,” adds Todd. “With her leadership and expertise, we are poised to enhance our existing efforts and embark on new ventures to serve the diverse needs of our communities.”