On Monday evening, the United States Senate confirmed Anne-Imelda Radice, Ph.D., a skilled administrator, art historian, and museum professional, to be Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute, an independent United States Government agency, is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 15,000 museums.

"I am honored to have been appointed by President George Bush to serve as the third Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It will be a great pleasure to work every day to serve the American people and with those in the museum and library fields to enhance all our citizens' intellectual and aesthetic development, which is essential to success in a knowledge society."

Dr. Radice has a strong record of public service. She was most recently Acting Assistant Chairman for Programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Before joining the National Endowment for the Humanities, Dr. Radice served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. In the early 1990s, she served as the Acting Chairman and Senior Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. From 1989 to 1991 Dr . Radice as Chief of the Creative Arts Division of the United States Information Agency (USIA). And she was the first Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1983-1989). Dr. Radice has also been Curator and Architectural Historian for the Architect of the Capitol and An Assistant Curator at the National Gallery of Art..

"Anne Radice is an experienced museum professional who understands and appreciates the vital work that our nation's museums do to enrich the lives of people and build community," said Edward H. Able, Jr., president and CEO of the American Association of Museums. "She is an excellent choice to lead the Institute and Museum of Library Services and we look forward to working with her to advance support of America's museums."

"The American Library Association extends its warm congratulations to Anne Radice on her appointment as Director of the Institute of Museum an Library Services," said Michael Gorman, President of the American Library Association (ALA). "...[H]er commitment to museums is paired with a deep understanding of the importance of America's libraries. Under Dr. Radice's directorship, a library was created at the National Museum of Women in the Arts - the library has extended the mission of the museum, ringing information about the contributions of women to the visual arts to the public. We at ALA very much look forward to working with Dr. Radice in the coming years on behalf of America's libraries and museums."

Anne-Imelda Radice has a Ph.D. in Art and Architectural History from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, an MBA from American University, and a BA in Art History from Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts. Dr. Radice also has an MA from the Villa Schifanoia in Florence, Italy.

Dr. Radice succeeds Dr. Robert S. Martin, a library professional, as Director of the Institute and will serve for a four-year term. The directorship of the Institute alternates between individuals from the museum and library communities. Click www.imls.gov/news/2006/031406_bio.shtm to view Dr. Radice's photograph and biography.