TAMPA, Fla. (July 9, 2024) — The Tampa Museum of Art today announced Cornelia Corbett has been named chair of its ambitious Centennial Capital Campaign. Corbett steps into the leadership role following the recent passing of the campaign’s former chairman, A. G. “Jerry” Divers, who died after a brief illness in mid-May.
Corbett has been a steadfast supporter of the museum for over a quarter of a century. She has previously served as chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees and is a current member of the Tampa Museum Foundation Board. Her deep involvement in the ongoing Centennial Campaign as a member of the Centennial Campaign Cabinet positions her well to steer the campaign toward its transformative goals.
Reflecting on the legacy of her predecessor, Corbett remarked, “Jerry Divers spent decades as a champion of the Tampa Museum of Art, and I have been honored to work with him on not one but two capital campaigns over the past two decades to ensure that Tampa has a world-class art museum.”
“Jerry never missed an opportunity to share his excitement and enthusiasm about what the museum could accomplish with the bold expansion of the facilities this capital campaign will underwrite.” The Centennial Campaign will allow the museum facilities to grow from 69,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet and to expand the exhibition and collection spaces from 14,800 square feet to 43,000 square feet. Once the expansion is complete, the new facilities will allow the Museum to serve 24,000 Hillsborough County school students annually.
Corbett’s vision for the future is clear: “I am honored and humbled to take on this role and to continue working with the Tampa Museum Foundation Board and the Museum Board of Trustees to accomplish the mission that Jerry Divers’ dedicated leadership has provided since the campaign was launched in 2019.”
Michael Tomor, Ph.D., the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art, expressed his confidence in Corbett’s leadership: “Cornie Corbett is a deeply committed, no-nonsense advocate of the missions she undertakes. By becoming the leader of the Centennial Capital Campaign at this crucial time, the museum is confident that her perseverance will ensure that Jerry Divers’ vision of a stunning expansion will be achieved at the Tampa Museum of Art.”
###