Barbara Rothermel is Director of the Daura Gallery and Associate Professor of Museum Studies at Lynchburg College, Virginia. Dr. Rothermel holds a BA in art and cultural history from Hood College, an MLS, museum studies emphasis, with a concentration in art history from the University of Oklahoma, and a PhD in museum studies from the University of Leicester, where her dissertation concerns the university art museum as a catalyst for interdisciplinary faculty collaboration. Dr. Rothermel is vice-president of the University Museums and Collections of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-UMAC), and a member of the Board of the Association of College and University Museums and Galleries (AAMG).
Dr. Rothermel has been Director of the Daura Gallery at Lynchburg College since 1997. During her tenure, the Daura Gallery has expanded its mission, collections, and programming. The Gallery has become a significant presence on the campus and in the community through compelling exhibitions and educational opportunities, and perhaps most significantly, the Daura Gallery has been integrated into the College’s strategic plan. As associate professor and coordinator of museum studies, she was responsible for the establishment of an undergraduate minor in museum studies, which now attracts students from major disciplines throughout the liberal arts who go on to both graduate programs and professional careers.