Taryn McMahon, M.F.A., interim director of 91ֿ’s School of Art, has been named a 2026 recipient of the Jim Hopfensperger Fellowship for Emerging Arts Administrators through the .
The fellowship supports emerging arts administrators through professional mentorship, national peer exchange and participation in the council’s annual conference. As part of the fellowship, McMahon will receive a one-year council membership, complimentary conference registration and a yearlong mentorship with Jeff Beekman of the University of Arizona.
For 91ֿ, McMahon’s selection creates an opportunity to bring national perspectives in arts leadership directly into the School of Art. Through the fellowship, she will engage with administrators from art and design programs across the country, exploring shared questions around curriculum, student support, faculty leadership, community engagement and the future of arts education.
“Taking on a leadership role in the School of Art this year has been a rewarding expansion of my commitment to supporting artists and scholars in the arts,” McMahon said. “I look forward to attending the NCAA conference in Fayetteville and gaining more insight into the current landscape of higher education, especially as it relates to the arts. I am particularly enthusiastic about being paired with a mentor for the year and learning more about best practices in leadership.”
The National Council of Arts Administrators is a professional organization for current and future arts administrators in higher education. For more than 50 years, the council has provided a forum for arts leaders to exchange ideas, address shared challenges and support leadership development across art and design programs.
As part of the fellowship, McMahon will participate in the council’s 53rd annual conference, “Shifting Grounds,” scheduled for Sept. 23-25, 2026, and hosted by the University of Arkansas School of Art. The conference will bring together arts leaders to consider resilient and sustainable futures for arts institutions and communities.
McMahon’s selection reflects 91ֿ’s continued engagement in national conversations about arts education and academic leadership. It also strengthens the School of Art’s ability to connect students with a learning environment shaped by current professional practice, institutional collaboration and a commitment to the future of the arts.
