Stacey Otte-Demangate, incoming Roger Tory Peterson Institute CEO, is pictured during a party in her honor at the California Nature Art Museum in December. Otte-Demangate served as the California museum’s executive director since 2010. Photo courtesy California Nature Art Museum Facebook page

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute has hired its new CEO, Stacey Otte-Demangate.

“The RTPI Board is delighted to welcome Stacey as our new CEO, who succeeds Arthur Pearson and will continue to lead the growth of the institute,” said Diane Carlson, RTPI board chairwoman.

Since 2010, Otte-Demangate served as the executive director of the California Nature Art Museum. During her tenure, she led a capital campaign to move the museum to Solvang, Calif., and triple the size of its building. She curated more than 40 exhibitions, including juried competitions celebrating California’s National Parks and Monuments. With a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Arizona State University and a masters degree from the Cooperstown Graduate Program/ Museum Studies, Otte-Demangate also served as eDirector df the Catalina Island Museum for a decade.

“We are thrilled that our nationwide search led us to Stacey,” said Wilson D. Mudge, chair of the RTPI CEO Search Committee and chair of the RTPI Foundation. “She has the deep experience in leading nature and art museums that will help us build on the successes of the last five years as we continue to maximize RTPI’s potential.”

The mission of Roger Tory Peterson Institute is to foster an appreciation for nature through exhibitions of art. The Jamestown museum is home to the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson’s original artwork and related archival materials.

“I am a lifelong birder with a passion for connecting people to nature through art,” Otte-Demangate said. “I am well acquainted with the role that Roger Tory Peterson played in helping legions of people connect to nature through his artwork and guides. I look forward to being part of the team that stewards Roger’s legacy.”

Otte-Demangate and husband, Eric, have relocated to Chautauqua County with their dog and cat.

Pearson began his tenure as CEO in March 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other notable items during his time at the RTPI include; developing a new strategic plan to help them realize the Institute’s potential as an educational museum, launching their significant annual exhibit, “Art that Matters to the Planet” that helps to honor Roger Tory Peterson’s legacy and nurture the next generation of nature artists, and launching other new programs such as the Summer Swaree, Rodger’s Bird-Day Bash Music Festival, the Plein Air Festival and the Holidays at the Lodge event. Most recently, the RTPI also created a large mural downtown to honor Roger Tory Peterson.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is located at 311 Curtis Street Extension. For more information visit rtpi.org, or call 716-665-2473.