Jacob is an artist and administrator working to build communities of support for students & artists. With over 14 years of experience leading and collaborating, across several industries, to achieve diverse goals, Jacob is sincerely invested in the work he engages in and is often seen as an integral member of the teams he works with.
EDUCATION
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, NYU, New York, NY 2020
- MA Visual Arts Administration program developing professional skills focused on non-profit and business leadership practices. Courses include Development in the Visual Arts, Strategic Planning and Governance, Audience and Community Engagement, and Financial Management.
- Received the Samuel Ershborn Service Award: For superlative and extraordinary service, exhibiting the value of strong leadership in school activities.
- BFA in Photography, minor degree in Art History, Degree Cum Laude. Visual Arts focus with a broad scope of additional courses focusing on the history of photography, philosophy, and social evolution.
- Victoria Foundation Emerging Leaders Fellowship consisting of a year-long monthly non-profit leadership skill development workshops led by industry leaders. Workshops include developing personal leadership style, financial management, and strategic planning
CURRENT WORK EXPERIENCE & PROJECTS
Associate Director & DSO, Student & Academic Services, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, NY
January 2021 – Present
- Responsible for proper function of Student Services Department and best practices in student support.
- Designated School Official (DSO) responsible for coordinating international student data with SEVIS to issue I-20s and advise students on securing F-1 Visas, OPT, & CPT.
- Track student needs with a special focus in international students and learning accommodations.
- Collaborate to build & maintain custom Student Information Services software on Salesforce platform.
- Designed Monday board to streamline Student Services departmental functioning including tracking annual deadlines, Leave of Absences, and F-1 student data & timeline tracking.
- Travel with upwards of 85 students as on-the-ground liaison for Field Study trips to Morrocco, Spain, Italy, and Hong Kong with itineraries that include museums, galleries, private collections, and historical sites.
- Coordinate largescale student events including leading graduation ceremony and new student orientation.
- Track FERPA protected information and reporting to the NYSDOH on vaccination status of all students.
- Partnership with Admissions to present to prospective students and coordinate onboarding new students.
- Lead organizer of Student Ambassador program empowering students to originate community events.
- Former member of DEI Council advising internal equity practices and community building efforts.
January 2022 – Present
- Collaborate and coordinate workflow for largescale public art projects including budgets and timelines.
- Manage communication with artists including developing timeline of development and issuing contracts.
- Develop largescale, multi-national open calls managed via Submittable.
- Coordinate multi-phase community engagement process to develop concepts for artists to work with.
- Collaborate to arrange presentation items for both funding stakeholders and community members.
- Research and engage with fabricators in complex workflows and arrange for multi-organizational collaborations in artwork creation and installation.
- Develop working knowledge of public engagement and safety in designing hardscapes with artwork embedded in installed stonework.
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
Director of Operations, Gardenship, Kearny, NJ
January 2021 – January 2025
- Responsible for developing infrastructure for newly established arts residency and fabrication studio.
- Support legal team in completing 501(c)(3) non-profit application. Special focus on financial reporting for Gardenship including creating pro-forma budget and strategic plan.
- Primary lead on implementing project management protocols, POs and invoices, website upkeep, grant applications, studio residency management, and public program logistics.
- Project budgets and manage financials using Quickbooks.
- Research and apply for grants from private foundations and state/federal institutions.
- Implementing social media strategy, internship program, and develop educational program.
- Originate new community programming designed to serve local communities and engage corporate partners at Kearny Point Development.
February 2019 – May 2020
- Responsible for itemizing, preparing, and processing reimbursements through AP Workflow software.
- Experience with domestic and international reimbursements including managing exchange rates.
- Involved in managing departmental invoices. Processing invoices includes on-boarding new vendors, itemizing each expense, and assigning departmental accounts for payment.
- Created collaborative, department wide, multi-million dollar budget for tracking and projecting expenses.
January 2020 – March 2020
- Aid the Development Operations team in supporting the work of the entire Development department through its database and filing system, research projects, list and mailing management, event administrative support, financial processing, donor stewardship and recognition, and statistical and analytical reporting.
- Special training in Raiser’s Edge, The Museum System, Digital Asset Management, and Library Archiving.
September 2019 – January 2020
- Support Development Department to cultivate, support, and steward new and existing donors.
- Extensive research in potential foundation support and developing TDC's new membership program.
- Responsible for tracking donors, updating gifts and data in Salesforce, and tracking gift transmittal workflows for acknowledgements and receipts.
- Support in The Drawing Center’s special events including the annual fundraiser and board meetings.
May 2012 - August 2018
- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Gallery as well as managing programmatic goals. Created comprehensive Production Breakdown and Promotion Timeline using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
- Originated programming and curated exhibitions including off-site collaborations. Coordinated and lead tours through exhibitions and artist studios. Supported all in-house programming and educational events.
- Managed Studio Residency operations including originating open calls, fielding applications, interviewing, and onboarding new studio residents. Maintained proper safety and operations of studio facilities.
- Lead manager on all exhibition agreements, artwork shipments, and installations/deinstallation.
- Primary support for programming logistics including in-house events and rentals by community members. Events included poetry readings, fundraiser auctions, music/performing arts, yoga classes, and much more.
- Liaison between artists, curators, collaborators, vendors, interns, and volunteers to complete program goals, tasks, and deadlines. Managed tasks and timelines according to the program’s specific details.
- Created 2018-20 ADA Plan including collaborating with Newark Arts to start an ADA Advisory Board. Represented Gallery Aferro in ArtPride NJ’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
- Grant Program Collaboration/Facilitator: Creative Capital Professional Development Program, Sustainable Arts Foundation & Scholastic Art and Writing Award.
January 2016, 2017 & 2018, Hosted by Gallery Aferro
- Responsible for coordinating volunteer panels to judge Scholastic Art and writing Awards submissions by high school aged artists from across the country.
- Managed all deadlines and panel trainings for proper compliancy to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards specifications.
CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
Process and Practice, Group Exhibition Curated by Evonne M. Davis, 2019
Gallery Aferro, Newark NJ
- Group Exhibition survey of Gallery Aferro Studio Residency.
- Installed large scale photography installation entitled After Tidal.
Elevator Music Installation @ Gallery Aferro, Newark NJ
- Originated and organized open call for artists.
- Processed dozens of applications and conducted interviews.
- Collaborated with local artist to create custom hardware for immersive exhibition experience.
Main Gallery @ Gallery Aferro, Newark NJ
- Conducted studio visits and extensive planning with artist.
- Organized artwork transportation, layout in gallery, and installation of over 40 artworks.
- Created consignment agreement, press materials, exhibition card, etc.
Arts Guild of New Jersey, Rahway NJ
- Organized invitation to artists and compliance with AGNJ administrative infrastructure.
- Coordinated artwork delivery, oversaw artwork layout and installation in historic building.
Main Gallery @ Gallery Aferro, Newark NJ & Summit: The High Focus Institute, Brooklyn NY
- Collaborated on conceptualizing anarchic sound art “game” inspired by John Zorn’s Cobra.
- Created unique open call for multimedia “sound object”.
- Originated game rules and guidelines for participation.
- Constructed and transported large game show style spinning wheel.
Main Gallery @ Gallery Aferro, Newark NJ
- Worked as part of a 3 person curatorial team.
- Created unique exhibition invitation for a large 15 person exhibition.
- Oversaw installation and coordinated transport to and from Gallery Aferro.
- Created consignment agreement, press materials, exhibition card, etc.
Index Art Center, Newark NJ
- Invited as artist collaborator with group of NJIT Architecture Students.
- Collaborated as a creative director in collaborating with students to design installation.
- Oversaw securing material and installation of exhibition.
85 Market Street, Newark NJ
- Curated in collaboration with Evonne M. Davis, Artistic Director and Founder of Gallery Aferro.
- Organized open call, reviewed applications, selected artist to exhibit.
- Oversaw and assisted with transport and installation.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Electrician at TriPoint Electric, Artist/Curator in residence with Oculus Art Collaborative, Public Speaking workshop funded by TD Bank grant through Gallery Aferro, Artist in Residence at Gallery Aferro, freelance copy work photographer, proficient with Microsoft Excel to create budgets, production schedules, and promotional timelines, experience with Filemaker Pro, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge, Premier, Salesforce, and Raisers Edge.
