Roger Mandle

Earl Roger Mandle (May 13, 1941 – November 28, 2020),[1][2] better known as Roger Mandle, was an American museum administrator, curator, art historian, and college president. He was president of the Rhode Island School of Design from 1993 to 2008.[3] He was director at Toledo Museum of Art (1977–1988), and deputy director and chief curator of National Gallery of Art (1988–1993).[4]

Roger Mandle
Born
Earl Roger Mandle

(1941-05-13)May 13, 1941
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
DiedNovember 28, 2020(2020-11-28) (aged 79)
Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States
Other namesE. Roger Mandle
Known forart historian, curator, academic administrator
SpouseGayle Wells Mandle
Children2

Early life and education

Earl Roger Mandle was born on May 13, 1941, in Hackensack, New Jersey,[1][5] son of Earl Simmon Mandle (1913–1980), a graphic designer who went into the family meat business, and Phyllis Key (née Olberg) Mandle (1915–1995), who worked in apparel design.[6] Mandle received a BA degree in 1963 from Williams College and MA degree and a certificate in Museum Training in 1967 from New York University.[3] A specialist in the history of Dutch art, he earned a PhD in 2002 in art history from Case Western Reserve University.[7] His 2001 dissertation was supervised by Walter Gibson and Catherine Scallen.[8]

Career

Mandle taught as instructor of art at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts 1963–1964, and at the McBurney School in New York, 1964–1965.[9] He began his career in museum leadership as an associate director of the Minneapolis Institute of Art from 1967 to 1974, before becoming associate director at the Toledo Museum of Art from 1977 to 1976. He was director at Toledo from 1977 to 1988.[10][3][11][12] From 1988 to 1993, as deputy director and chief curator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, Mandle was outspoken arts activist. While in Washington, Mandle sat on the National Education Goals Panel that prepared the National Standards for Arts Education, which would become part of the National Educational Goals (or Goals 2000). Presidents Ronald Reagan[13] and George H. W. Bush appointed Mandle to the National Council on the Arts, one of many policy and advisory groups where he served.[14][15]

Rhode Island School of Design

In 1993, Mandle was named president of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence.[3] During his tenure at RISD, Mandle oversaw the development of ambitious projects (such as the creation of a museum building by Rafael Moneo), and was recognized for increasing selectivity in the School's acceptance rates. He was also credited with initiating programs with nearby Brown University, including a dual-degree program to allow students to earn a B.F.A. and a B.A. from the respective institutions. In 2008, Mandle was succeeded by John Maeda.[16] In May 2009, Mandle was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Rhode Island School of Design.[17][18]

Qatar Museum Authority and late career

After leaving his post at RISD in July 2008, Mandle assumed the directorial position at the Qatar Museums Authority where he remained until 2012.[2] He oversaw many museums in Qatar including the Museum of Islamic Art, the Qatar Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Qatar.[2]

His work has helped develop the world's first non-profit, tuition-free, online academic institution that seeks to revolutionize higher education by making college-level studies accessible to students worldwide. He served on the boards of the American Association of Museums, the Williams College Museum of Art, the Clark Art Institute, and the Silk Road Project.[6]

Awards and honors

Mandle received honorary degrees from the University of Toledo (DFA, 1983), Kenyon College (DFA, 1986), Brown University (DFA, 2003),[19] Maryland Institute College of Art, Bryant University (Doctor of Human Letters, 2011),[20] Rhode Island School of Design (2009), and Virginia Commonwealth University (Doctor of Human Letters, 2009).[21] He was made Knight of the Order of Isabel la Católica by King Juan Carlos of Spain in 1985,[22] and was Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[23]

Death

Mandle died on November 28, 2020, in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, at age 79.[2] He was survived by his wife, artist Gayle Wells Mandle, and two children.[2]

References
  1. "Nomination of E. Roger Mandle To Be a Member of the National Council on the Arts". The American Presidency Project. September 8, 1988. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. Kole, William J. (December 1, 2020). "Acclaimed art scholar, ex-RISD president Roger Mandle dies". KIRO 7, Cox Media Group. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. Richards, Paul (May 25, 1993). "Gallery's No. 2 Man Resigns". Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  4. Lane, Tahree (April 14, 2005). "Former Head of Museum Returns for Bowling Green State University Speech". Toledo Blade. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  5. "PN1352 - Nomination of Earl Roger Mandle for National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities". Congress.gov. October 22, 1988. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  6. Pogrebin, Robin (January 24, 2021). "Roger Mandle, 79, Who Helped Bring Art to Quatar, Dies". New York Times. Vol. 170, no. 59948. p. 22.
  7. "President Roger Mandle". University of the People. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  8. Mandle, Earl Roger. "Aesthetics and Exhortations: Dutch Artists' Academies in the Eighteenth Century." Ph.D. diss. Case Western Reserve University, 2002.
  9. Who's Who in American Art. New Providence, NJ: Marquis. 2015. p. 869. ISBN 978-0837963143.
  10. "Wittmann of the Toledo Museum, Director for 18 Years, Retires (Published 1977)". The New York Times. January 18, 1977. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  11. "Toledo Museum of Art Directors" (PDF). Toledo Museum of Art. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  12. Muchnic, Suzanne (April 2, 1992). "Two L.A. Museum Directors on National Gallery List". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Hogue, Henry B. (February 4, 2013). "The Noel Canning Decision and Recess Appointments Made from 1981–2013" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  14. "Director Conversation: Brian Kennedy with Roger Mandle". The Toledo Museum of Art. May 24, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. Kole, William J. (December 1, 2020). "Acclaimed Art Scholar, Ex-RISD President Roger Mandle Dies". Centre Daily Times (AP).
  16. Tischler, Linda (April 20, 2011). "RISD Old Guard Clashes With Its Tweeting President John Maeda". Fast Company. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. Archived April 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "RISD Honorary Degree Recipients". RISD Alumni. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  19. Sweeney, Tracy (May 15, 2003). "02-138 (Honorary Degrees)". www.brown.edu. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  20. "Mandle, Roger". Bryant Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients. January 1, 2011 – via Digital Commons@Bryant University.
  21. VCUQatar. "VCUQatar Confers Hononary Doctorate Roger Mandle". qatar.vcu.edu. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  22. Kaplan, Ruth (July 13, 1988). "National Gallery of Art News Release" (PDF). National Gallery of Art. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  23. "President Roger Mandle". University of the People. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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